Polygamy

[sheya joie]

Actually with all of the divorce and remarriages and so forth we already practice a form of polygamy, just one wife at a time, but several wives during our life who are all still alive and all have may have kids from one man.

I have heard this called 'serial bigamy.'

[EricH]

This reminds me of the old marx Brothers bit:

Groucho to woman: I'll marry you, and I will marry her too

Woman: Groucho, that's bigamy

Groucho: Well, it big of me too, but I'm not bragging about it

[Treasure]

Actually with all of the divorce and remarriages and so forth we already practice a form of polygamy, just one wife at a time, but several wives during our life who are all still alive and all have may have kids from one man.

I have heard this called 'serial bigamy.'

This reminds me of the old marx Brothers bit:

Groucho to woman: I'll marry you, and I will marry her too

Woman: Groucho, that's bigamy

Groucho: Well, it big of me too, but I'm not bragging about it

serial polygamy! never heard of that but it's a good term for it.

[None]

Jesus came here to save us from our sins because there were so many and what people thought was not a sin was, in fact, a sin in the eyes of God. Men who thought it was OK to marry-divorce-marry-divorce-etc, were wrong in what they were doing and Jesus told them so. He made it clear that sexual sin was the same for a man as it was for a woman.

I think Polygamy is better than multiple divorce and remarriage, I will say that.

Wrong. What you're saying is that one sin is better than another. All sin is sin that will keep us out of Heaven. If polygamy were not a sin, neither would polyandry be a sin. Jesus came here and set straight the wicked traditions of men and shed light on the unbalanced scales so that we would see God's standards and correct the scales accordingly. This lightened the loads of some(example:women) and made heavier the loads of others(example:men), but the scales, if obeyed, are balanced. Men must not have liked the way Jesus reset the rules accurately because they keep trying to go back to the old laws that gave them as many women as their hearts desired.

[hmh]

Having more that one "what have you done for me lately" and "honeydo lists" and "it's that time of the month" would drive me to drink. Besides, why would you want more than one wife, when most of us can't handle one woman?

[Smalcald]

Jesus came here to save us from our sins because there were so many and what people thought was not a sin was, in fact, a sin in the eyes of God. Men who thought it was OK to marry-divorce-marry-divorce-etc, were wrong in what they were doing and Jesus told them so. He made it clear that sexual sin was the same for a man as it was for a woman.

I think Polygamy is better than multiple divorce and remarriage, I will say that.

Wrong. What you're saying is that one sin is better than another. All sin is sin that will keep us out of Heaven. If polygamy were not a sin, neither would polyandry be a sin. Jesus came here and set straight the wicked traditions of men and shed light on the unbalanced scales so that we would see God's standards and correct the scales accordingly. This lightened the loads of some(example:women) and made heavier the loads of others(example:men), but the scales, if obeyed, are balanced. Men must not have liked the way Jesus reset the rules accurately because they keep trying to go back to the old laws that gave them as many women as their hearts desired.

Sure I would agree that no one sin is any better than any other.

However there is not clear scriptural evidence that Polygamy is a sin; including anything from the teachings of Christ. Polyandry was a sin and called out as one, witness the conversation Jesus had with the women who had several men, in addition His discussion on marriage, and Paul's discussion on divorce. We know that polygamy was practiced during the time of Jesus; in fact it was common enough that when speaking of the requirements for a Bishop, scripture specifically says that he should be the husband of only one wife.

The reason it is a sin is that it is illegal, not because of anything specifically in scripture. Now personally I think that Christ did intend for one man and one woman to be together in marriage, and we can point to His discussion in this area of marriage where He does indeed seem to be speaking about one man and one woman alone in marriage.

But the fact is it is not clear. Some things we have to use a little wisdom about ourselves.

If you look a where polygamy is successfully practiced and it is successfully practiced, you have one older wife who serves as the leader of the household and mentor to the younger women. The man usually spends most of his time and counsel with this women.

I think it could be successful. Unfortunately the way it has been practiced in the US by the Mormon fundamentalists it is simply child abuse and child rape, where the

[None]

Post #10 should be enough to answer your whole argument, smalcald. If not, then I'm going to say we disagree on these issues and leave it at that. I don't feel it's necessary to reiterate information in the same thread.

[Smalcald]

Hi None,

But I don't see any specific scripture you posted in post 10 that we could examine. I am not promoting polygamy by the way and I don't think this should be divisive; it is more interesting to me than anything else. (on a side note as far as young women etc, it is pretty well documented that post-menopausal women have a significant drop in sex drive).

But sex is not the main reason you would look at polygamy. Anyway we should look at the versus surrounding this issue I think they are interesting.

[None]

Like I said, I'm not repeating the points I've already made. I will say, though, given the issues you, smalcald, brought up on young women and old men - most young women don't like old men. Plain and simple, they want men their own age. But I have no doubts in my mind that it was an old perverted man who made up the rule that men can have more than one wife.

[Redwolf]

Firstly, two specific examples that indicate a pattern.

Jesus points to Creation when speaking of marriage (Matthew 19:4-6)

And He answered and said, "Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, and said, 'FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH'? "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." NASB

Paul speaks of each man/woman having their own wife/husband (1 Corinthians 7:2)

But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. NASB

What are the potential problems that could arise from plurality?

Excessive indulgence, and the risk of being led astray

Increased covetousness amongst those left without wives

Greater risk of perversion and sexual immorality if a shortage of women exists

Multiple spouses not receiving sufficient emotional support and affection

Jealousy and rivalry amongst multiple partners - vying for attention

Is there any basis to support plurality in the New Testament?

What are your thoughts on polygamous relationships endorsed by certain sects in today's society?

Adam and Eve are your/our example. Not Adam, Eve, Mary, Elizabeth, Judy, Melissa, Norma, Clare, and Gertrude.