POLYGAMY

POLYGAMY

“Polygamy (from Late Greek πολυγαμία, polygamía, "state of marriage to many spouses"^[1][2][3][4]) is the practice of marrying multiple spouses. When a man is married to more than one wife at the same time, sociologists call this polygyny. When a woman is married to more than one husband at a time, it is called polyandry. If a marriage includes multiple husbands and wives, it can be called a group marriage.

In contrast, monogamy is marriage consisting of only two parties. Like "monogamy", the term "polygamy" is often used in a de facto sense, applied regardless of whether the state recognizes the relationship.^{[n 1]} In sociobiology and zoology, researchers use polygamy in a broad sense to mean any form of multiple mating.

Worldwide, different societies variously encourage, accept or outlaw polygamy. Of societies which allow or tolerate polygamy, in the vast majority of cases the form accepted is polygyny. According to the Ethnographic Atlas (1998), of 1,231 societies noted, 588 had frequent polygyny, 453 had occasional polygyny, 186 were monogamous and 4 had polyandry;^[5] although more recent research suggests polyandry may be more common than previously thought.^[6] In cultures which practice polygamy, its prevalence among that population is often connected to class and socioeconomic status.^[7]

From a legal point of view, in many countries, although marriage is legally monogamous (a person can only have one spouse, and bigamy is illegal), adultery is not illegal, leading to a situation of de facto polygamy being allowed, although without legal recognition for non-official "spouses".

According to scientific studies, the human mating system is considered to be primarily monogamous, with cultural practice of polygamy to be in the minority, based on both surveys of world populations,^[8][9] and on characteristics of human reproductive physiology.” [from Wikipedia]

  Reading about polygamy past, present, and future I see it as historically ancient, currently practiced, futuristic . . . and typically histrionically hysterical.

  Polygamy in the USA didn’t end with the Mormon’s Utah 1890’s statehood appeals. (Wikipedia “Utah” for a more complete story.) But the Latter Day Saints is one contemporary tale.

  What of documentation in the Word of God? Does He endorse polygamy? What of Solomon’s “700 wives that were princesses and his 300 wives that were concubines”? (1Kin.11:1-3) Investigate Scripture more and you’ll discover that Sol was not alone in many beddings, his father being one of other noted practitioners.

  Is God’s word contradictory in this area? Is the overall practice like communism: all being equal with some being more equal than others. ??

  There’s no Biblical contradiction or ambiguity on the matter. How so?

·         God’s Genesis record initially clearly establishes monogamy. (Gen.2:4)

·         Jesus, God Incarnate (Jn.1:1), confirms the Genesis doctrine of monogamy. (Mt.19;3-9)

·         Then there’s the one wife leadership requirement of 2Timothy 3:2.

·         God’s Word records sin, adultery, lying etc., but never endorses or condones.

·         Deuteronomy 17:17 clearly commands the not-to and the why-so.

·         Though many Jewish leaders, patriarchs, kings practiced polygamy . . . the multiple relationships brought about dire consequences for them, their families, culture and nations.

  God did not, does not, condone polygamy.

EBB4