ademers1980

     An interesting, recent discussion occurred on my main blog.  I periodically try to answer questions that people ask about the Bible, and one of those was whether polygamy is an acceptable practice for Christians.  One of those who responded feels that polygamy is appropriate for Christians in this day and age.  He even felt that polygamy was a better alternative for single women than religious orders were.  Two others felt that polygamy wasn’t necessarily a sin, but was an unwholesome type of relationship, and one was of the mind that it was Scripturally and logically wrong.  In spite of the conservative Christian defenses of traditional marriage in the US, it seems that even people who profess Christianity aren’t entirely of one mind.

Here in the States, polygamy has typically been associated with the Mormons, or Latter-Day Saints.  While the LDS hasn’t allowed polygamy since the late 1800’s, several fundamentalist Mormon splinter groups still practice polygamy.  Most well-known are the Fundamentalist  Latter-Day Saints, or FLDS.

Several Christian organizations and websites advocate Christian polygamy.  These are all from groups that claim no association with the Mormon religion.  Their acceptance of polygamy is based on a literalist interpretation of the Old Testament, despite New Testament directives that seem to at least discourage plural wives.  Some who advocate a very liberal interpretation of  sexual morality feel that there isn’t even anything wrong with polyamory (an open relationship where both spouses are permitted other partners).

Polygamy has also been practiced within Islam.  Muslim men are permitted to have up to four wives according to the Quaran, but must be able to provide for all of them equally.  Some Muslim countries restrict the practice of polygamy, and many clerics favor monogamy over having multiple wives who aren’t provided for.  As in Christianity, this ends up largely being a discussion over interpretation.

While many polygamists cite only the apparent advantages of such relationships, they aren’t without their share of problems.  While the Bible has plenty of examples of polygamy, polygamous couples had plenty of troubles of their own (Rachel and Leah’s rivalry,  Hannah’s dismay over not having her own child, Solomon’s wives enticing him into following their pagan gods), and no key New Testament figure is known to have been a polygamist.  The earliest Christian documents outside of the Bible emphasize one man/one woman marriage. Polygamy has been a product of a time where women typically did not have a means to provide for themselves and often had to enter into plural marriage for their own protection. Many argue that the Bible merely records polygamy without upholding it as a standard.  Some even feel that modern polygamists simply have a problem with marital fidelity and are trying to justify their actions by redefining marriage to include multiple wives.

Carolyn Jessop , a former FLDS member, has written a book (Escape) about her experiences as a plural wife. She and other former FLDS members have reported abuse, coercive behavior on the part of the men, and rivalry among the wives.  Despite claims by many polygamist advocates, such a living arrangement sets the stage for abusive behavior. Some personal thoughts:

- Many polygamists advocate a form of male headship that effectually takes away the rights of the wives.  How can a wife freely consent to another woman being brought into the household under such an arrangement?

-Supporting multiple wives who are usually homemakers and several children is a financial strain for most. If the husband should become abusive, it’s much harder for a woman in these circumstances to leave.

-How can a man possibly provide for all of his wives and children without being more partial to some than others?

-How many polygamous marriages came into being because of a man’s inability to stay faithful?

I think these are all issues that proponents of polygamy need to start addressing very seriously.

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