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Polygamy
Polygamy is a heterosexual marital relationship that involves more than two partners. An example of such marriage is that of King Solomon, who is believed to have married seven hundred wives.
363 Questions
What is the percentage of countries that allow polygamy?
0%. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" Church) have been forbidden to practice polygamy for over 120 years. The practice of polygamy in the Mormon church was abolished in October 1890, and since that time anyone found entering into a polygamous marriage has been excommunicated from the Church.
Those who disagreed with the polygamy ban broke away from the Mormon Church and started their own groups. Many of these groups are still in existence today. They sometimes are called "Mormon Fundamentalists", but they are not affiliated with the Mormon church and both groups (the Mormons and the Fundamentalists) see each other as apostates and don't want anything to do with each other.
Is polygamy legal in the state of Texas?
No, polygamy is illegal in every state of the United States of America, including Texas.
Some fundamentalist Mormons and Muslims, as well as fringe cults, practice polygamy in the United States, but cannot be convicted of a crime because they are not legally married to more than one wife. Some participate in a religious wedding ceremony without a legal marriage license, and others simply live with multiple women.
Do Muslims have more than one wife?
Yes, but in exceptional cases. To have more than one wife is subject to strict conditions. The first of which is to have acceptance of former wife (or wives) and second is to treat them equally without any discrimination. This is allowed in exceptional cases. For example if your wife is life sick and can't practice sex with you or if she can't children for. Despite these examples the overwhelming majority of Muslim men prefer to continue with one wife.
How can you have two wives in Canada?
No - Polygamy is currently illegal in Canada and punishable by law up to 5yrs in prison.
What is the Christian beliefs of polygamy?
The Bible did not condemn polygamy. To the contrary, the Old Testament and Rabbinic writings frequently attest to the legality of polygamy. Regarding the New Testament, according to Father Eugene Hillman in his insightful book, Polygamy reconsidered, "Nowhere in the New Testament is there any explicit commandment that marriage should be monogamous or any explicit commandment forbidding polygamy." Moreover, Jesus has not spoken against polygamy though it was practiced by the Jews of his society. Father Hillman stresses the fact that the Church in Rome banned polygamy in order to conform to the Greco-Roman culture (which prescribed only one legal wife while tolerating concubinage and prostitution). He cited St. Augustine, "Now indeed in our time, and in keeping with Roman custom, it is no longer allowed to take another wife."
African churches and African Christians often remind their European brothers that the Church's ban on polygamy is a cultural tradition and not an authentic Christian injunction.
What Federal law prohibits polygamy?
Because legislating marriage is a right reserved to the states. If it's not an enumerated constitutional power, Congress has no authority to pass a law.*
(*nb: The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which does define marriage as a union between "a" man and "a" woman, applies only to areas in which the federal government has authority to provide benefits (ie, immigration, income tax breaks, social security benefits, etc.) to married people. It's sort of a defacto federal anti-polygamy law, though that's not its intended purpose.)
What is A person who had more than one wife or husband called?
If a man commits the criminal offense of being married to more than one woman he is a bigamist. A man who is married to more than one woman in those countries where it is legal is a polygamist. The early Mormons in the United States were polygamists but then polygamy was made a criminal offense.
A man may marry multiple times in most countries as long as each marriage ends in annulment, divorce, or death. He can only be married legally to one woman at a time. Famous example: King Henry VIII of England- six wives, but never two at the same time.
None. Polygamous marriages are not legal in the United States - period! Even if the marriages took place in a nation where they were legal, if a polygamous man moves to the United States and continues his polygamous relationships, he will be breaking the law.
Islam doesn't "support" polygamy it allows it. If a man decides to marry more than one woman, he can. But if your'e going to marry many you must treat them equally and they must agree to marry you on these terms. Alot of women are looking to marry but have no luck, so if a man thinks he can treat the women he marries with respect and equity he can marry many. But if he cannot treat them well, he must only marry one.
The main reason why Muslims are allowed to marry more than one woman is because there are a lot of women(poor or widows) (ever wondered why there are more women then men in the world?)in need of support. Especially in the time of the Prophet saws (peace be upon him)
A man needs to provide everything for his wife. There are many misconceptions, and people saying that the women in Islam are opressed. But if you take time to read and inform yourself about Islam, you realize that men must treat their wives like princesses.
In fact a woman isn't even obliged to work if she doesn't want to. The man must provide everything for her. When they get married he gives her money for herself that she dosent have to spend for the chores but the man must spend his money on his family. He must also treat her with kindness.
There are a lot of things like that and misconceptions about Islam and the status of women.
Briefly, men and women must live together peacefully and work as a team when they get married. If the man decides to marry more than one woman he must treat them and make them feel as if they're not neglected at all by the situation. If he can't do that then he should marry only one.
"Then (marry) only one." Al-Qur'an 4:3
What religious sect allows polygamy?
None of the mainstream Christian denominations allow polygamy, especially in countries where it is illegal. There are several offshoot cults and churches which allow polygamy, but these are usually individual small churches (<1000 people) that cannot be considered denominations. There are some individuals, religious and not religious, who practice polygamy individually as well.
How EXACTLY does polygamy work?
Polygamy is having more than one spouse at a time. Usually it is referring to a man having more than one lawful wife (Polygyny), it can however refer to a woman having more than one husband (Polyandry). In so called civilized countries it is against the law to have more than one spouse at any given time. Though the practice of having more than one wife may be acceptable in some cultures, and it might work well, the Christian society believes in the Scriptures where it says a man shalt have only one wife. " Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" Genesis2:24. Though this has not always been so in biblical times, it is nonetheless against the will of God to have more than one wife.
Jesus reminded the Pharisees of God's purpose in marriage: "For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh." Matthew 19:5. Two become one in marriage, constitutes God's plan. This was contrary to the divorce, of which they asked Jesus. He said: "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." v.6.
What state has the highest population of polygamists?
Polygamy is illegal in the United States although it is still practiced by fundamentalist groups located mainly in the Western United States: Utah, Texas, South Dakota, Nevada, Montana, Colorado, Idaho, and of course Arizona. Since the practice is illegal and the groups do not always marry legally within their jurisdictions it is nearly impossible to obtain accurate statistics.
In some cases the men marry repeatedly and divorce their wives between each marriage so that each can be rightfully be called Mrs. They continue to all live together as a single family. Polygamy often involves child abuse of young girls forced to marry older men. That aspect has been used in recent prosecutions.
Utah is likely to have the highest number.
Why do people engage in polygamy?
You should realize polygamy is the act of having multiple spouses. Such as one man, and 2 or more women as his wives (as is generally the case in polygamy). They would still have to agree to the marriage anyways, so they must find it at least somewhat acceptable.
Polygamy is usually accepted and practiced in only a few cultural regions, and/or in certain religious branches. I've only heard of some branch of the Mormon religion practiced polygamy..
If you mean why are men always chasing women, think about it from an evolutionary standpoint. You start out with two guys. Guy 1 possesses trait A, where he falls for one girl and only one girl. Guy 2 possesses trait B, where he does anything that moves (and possibly some things that don't). Now, Let's assume each son procreates like his father. Let's say guys with trait A have 3 sons with their wife. Also, let's say guys with trait B have one son with 10 women. For the carriers of trait A for generation n you have 3^n. For the carriers of trait B for generation n you have 10^n. (Previous carriers are not counted in generation n for simplicity.) Table: n - Carriers of A - Carriers of B * 0 - 1 - 1 * 1 - 3 - 10 * 2 - 9 - 100 * 3 - 27 - 1,000 * 4 - 81 - 10,000 * 5 - 243 - 100,000 * 6 - 729 - 1,000,000 Now, we made a lot of assumptions here, but after only 6 generations there are one million carriers of B and less than one thousand carriers of A. If you are a follower of the biological model of psychiatry, you can easily see how someone promiscuous can out procreate someone who is not. Of course, I have not researched this at all, it is just a pet theory of mine. Take it as you will. Also keep in mind, the B guys are the ones who are chasing you and brazenly approching you in bars. The A guys probably arn't. (Again, unresearched theory.) Actually the majority of cultures are polygamous (actually polygynous - having more than one women, polygamous- having more than one spouse, polyandrous- having more than one husband) Its just that the monogamous have the overwhelming populations. Check the anthropology texts if you don't believe me. An the overwhelming number of animal and plant species are polygynous as well - mostly for the reason given above. Humans as a species are polygynous as well as are their closest animal relatives. The simple answer I guess would be because it is in our evolutionary history and makes economical sense.
What are the advantages of Polygamy?
And marriage even more then one,is a compulsory to preserve our descendant and dignity.
When did Mormons abolish polygamy doctrine?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (commonly called the "Mormon" Church) discontinued the practice of polygamy nearly 120 years ago, in 1890.
Anyone who entered into a polygamous relationship after this date was excommunicated. This practice of excommunication of polygamists continues today.
To read the official declaration from Church President Wilford Woodruff which outlawed the practice of polygamy in the Church, please see the "Related Link" below.
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While the above answer is accurate, it leaves some interesting information out. When President Wilford Woodruff discontinued polygamy in 1890 a schism occurred within the Church. A small group of men felt they had been ordained by Woodruff's predecessor, John Taylor, to continue the practice of polygamy even if the main body of the Church did not. As a result they broke off from the Church and formed other congregations that are commonly referred to by the media with the common nickname, "Mormon." But in fact they have no connection to the LDS Church headquartered at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. Today, the remnants of those groups are found in the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS Church)--popular due to the recent Warren Jeff's trial in Texas--, the Apostolic United Brethren, and other Mormon fundamentalist groups.
However, there were instances that families and individuals who remained with the larger body of the LDS Church continued to practice polygamy. Some members of the Quorum of the Twelve even continued to perform polygamous marriages. For that reason Joseph F. Smith, successor to Woodruff as President of the Church, issued the "Second Manifesto" in 1904. President Heber J. Grant followed up with the "third and fourth Manifestos" that were intended to reiterate the ideals taught in 1890 by President Woodruff. But to answer your question the official date of the end of polygamy within the LDS Church was October 6, 1890.
Note: see Anne Wilde, "Fundamentalist Mormonism: Its History, Diversity and Stereotypes, 1886-Present," in Scattering of the Saints: Schism within Mormonism, edited by Newell G. Bringhurst and John C. Hammer (Independence, MO: John Whitmer Books, 2007), 260-63.
The principal division of Mormonism, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS), has never actually abandoned or repudiated the doctrine of plural marriage. The doctrine itself was not reversed, revoked or otherwise invalidated by the 1890 Manifesto of Wilford Woodruff, then-President and "Prophet" of the LDS church.
In FACT, the doctrine and practice of plural marriage were only "SUSPENDED" by the LDS on the basis of a rationale that obliged members to obey civil law, the particular civil law being the law against polygamy. It thus follows that, should that law be rescinded, Mormons would once more become subject to the "new and everlasting covenant" of plural marriage prescribed by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the Doctrine & Covenants, chapter 132.
Those questioning this are referred to an official publication of the LDS church, "Articles of Faith," by "Apostle" James E. Talmage, one of the most esteemed (at least by Mormons) of Mormon theologians. For many years, his book was a standard reference source carried by Mormon missionaries in their ubiquitous backpacks. The subtitle of the book is "Being a Consideration of the Principal Doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" It is published by the LDS's own publishing house, Deseret Book Company.
From page 384 of the 1984 edition:
"An illustration of such suspension of divine law is found in the action of the church regarding the issue of plural marriage."
A "suspension" is not a nullification or a reversal. The doctrine of plural marriage still stands; it has merely been "suspended." It would have been inexpedient to revoke the doctrine, seeing that the "Prophet" Joseph Smith, Jr. had boldly declared it to be a "new and everlasting covenant." Something fully abandoned after only a few decades could scarcely be said to be "everlasting." Faced with the need to get away from plural marriage and into statehood, the LDS circumvented the implications of the "everlasting" descriptor and adopted the expedient of "suspension." Should the courts of this nation ever hold that plural marriage is legally valid, the doctrine presumably would return in full force and effect and the LDS branch of Mormonism could than join their maverick cousins, the "Fundamentalist Mormons" in the practice of the "new and everlasting covenant."
At what time did the Jews give up Polygamy?
Askenazi Jews gave up polygamy in Europe, in the eleventh century. However, Arab Jews continued the practice right up until the twentieth century. The state of Israel banned polygamy, but made an exception for Jewish immigrants from Arab areas such as Yemen.
Polygamy is illegal in all countries of Europe.
Is it polygamy if a woman marries more than one man?
Yes. The dictionary definition of polygamy does not differentiate between a man having or a woman having more than one spouse.
The general term is polygamy. When a man marries more than one woman it is called polygyny. When a women marries more than one it is called polyandry.
There is also bigamy which is the term used for a person who knowingly marries while still married to someone else. Their "new" spouse is unaware of the existing marriage and bigamy is a felony.
What do you call the wives of a polygamous man?
The wives in a polygamous relationship often refer to themselves as "sister-wives".
What is it called when a man marries more than one women at the same time?
When a person marries knowing they are already married it is called Bigamy. You should note that the second marriage is invalid and bigamy is a criminal offense.
What is Kody of 'Sister Wives' occupation?
He works in advertising and marketing sales. For the protection of everyone involved, he will not release the name of the company he works for. The family also has an income from two of his wives, Meri and Janelle, who work outside the home.
When was polygamy made illegel?
Polygamy is being allowed to have multiple marriages at once. Some countries do in fact still support polygamy, it is legal in 58 out of nearly 200 sovereign states. Therefore it is not actually completely illegal and is hard to say when it was made illegal as each country would have done this at different times. I would search it for particular countries rather than generalising it.
