Polygamy

The first documented person to practice polygamy is Lamech in the Old Testament of the Bible. His marriage to two wives is found in Genesis 4. Many other men in the Bible practiced polygamy, such as Abraham, Solomon, David, and Jacob. Polygamy is also found in many societies which do not believe in the Bible, and in most cases that practice dates to ancient times before written history.

Polygamy is slowly declining in areas of Africa where it isn't religiously mandated.

As women get rights, education and assets, they have choices. Polygamy is an inherently abusive system for women, and they avoid it.

Traditional non religious polygamy is tied to a power structure based on crops and land as wealth, and as money becomes more important, large polygamous families are very difficult to support in a way that increases your status.

Religion based polygamy depends on indoctrinating women from an early age, and will take longer to stamp out as long as religions like Islam hold political power in so many areas. They can use their political power to restrict women's choices.

No

God defined marriage in the Old Testament and it was reiterated by Jesus in the New that it is the union between one man and one woman.

Legally and religiously, you cannot. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) ended the practice of polygamy (multiple wives) over 120 years ago. If a Mormon man has a relationship with anyone that is not his one legal wife, he will be excommunicated from the Church.

Polygamy is illegal in every western country. You cannot have a legal marriage to more than one person at a time. Even living with multiple women as though you are married to them even if you are not can get you a 5 year prison sentence in many states.

Despite all this, there are some who practice polygamy. Many polygamists in the United States consider themselves 'fundamentalist Mormons'. They are not affiliated with the mainstream Mormon church, but belong to groups that broke from the Mormon church when polygamy was banned. Men in these groups typically have a legal marriage with their first wife, and then have a religious marriage ceremony to a second wife that is recognized by their church but not by the law. Exactly how this process happens depends on the particular group.

Warren Jeffs' extreme behaviors and teachings have helped to bring polygamy to the national (and international) stage. What used to be a small local issue has gained widespread concern and has given many people in abusive situations and opportunity to escape. Because what Warren did was so over the top, he was caught. This has made many of his followers leave and follow less destructive paths. It has also given a voice to the non-radical polygamists, who are able to show that their lifestyle is a valid, mutual agreement between adults rather than a tyrannical predatory cult as it has been portrayed. The concern now are those who are still following his leadership, as his directions have become even more extreme.

Polygamy means having multiple spouses at the same time. It makes sense to any tribal culture because it functions as part of the social welfare system. When women are marginalized or considered helpess, honorable men could marry them, even when they are already married, if they have the means to do so. Such men could provide for them and help protect them from the less than honorable men.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (commonly called Mormons) do not practice polygamy. This practice officially ended in the church in 1890. The reason some members of the church practiced polygamy in the 1800's is because they believed that the prophet, Joseph Smith, had received a revelation from God that they should. Members only practiced polygamy if the prophet specifically asked them to. It is thought that one reason it was practiced is to take care of the older unmarried ladies and widows, as it was difficult for them to fend for themselves in the days before women's rights.

There are a few offshoot groups not affiliated with the church (members of the LDS church found practicing polygamy are excommunicated) who do continue the practice of polygamy. They do so because they do not believe that the revelation received by Wilford Woodruff in 1890 to discontinue the practice is valid. These groups include the Fundamentalist LDS, the Apostolic United Brethren, the Davis County Cooperative Society, and the True Living Church of Jesus Christ.

To learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or to contact representatives in your area, see the link provided below under "Related Links."

Most groups that still practice polygamy do so because they feel they have been called by God to do so. There are many groups religious and secular that practice pleural marriage. Off shoots from the LDS faith, Biblical Polygamists who believe it is a true practice from the Bible, there are people of Jewish back grounds that practice polygamy and also Muslims who do. There are some who have no religious background that have decided that it makes since for them rather then having affairs to take responsibility and marry.

No. It is illegal to have more than one wife in every state, regardless of religion. Reynolds v. United States, a Supreme Court Case in 1878, ruled that religious duty was not a suitable defense against a criminal indictment - that is, you can't use religion as an excuse to break the law.

It's very rare to see this in Muslim communities in the United States or Canada, where polygamy is illegal. But it still occurs in a number of traditional Muslim cultures in Africa, as well as in countries like Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Theoretically, it can't happen without the acceptance of the first wife, but in actuality, the countries that still observe this custom often disenfranchise women; since women have little say in what their husband does, and no recourse if they complain, they may feel that it is their duty to accept his wishes.

no, but a Muslim can. it is illegal if you are christian.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have not practiced polygamy since 1890.

God has commanded humans to practice polygamy in many different instances throughout history. Readers of the Bible will remember that Abraham and Jacob Israel were affiliated with this practice. Even the great King David had multiple wives. No human can understand Heavenly Father's reasons for commanding that a man have more than one wife. However, when the representative who speaks for God a prophet says that God wants you to do something, you do it. That is what happened back in the day. God told Joseph Smith that He wanted them to practice plural marriage and so they did.

Polygamy can be advantageous to a child's education, because they have more parents at home that can help them with homework. Polygamists' children can attend public or private schools, or be home schooled, so their education really does not differ from that of any other child.

Well, truth be told there are ways to generate money being a polygamist wife. Like any other opportunity, you can create something sustainable for yourself with the right information from real experts. I have a friend who has 3 wives. I only know one of them personally. She has real estate, but the bulk of her money comes from online sales. She started out as a consultant many years ago. A lot of things have changed and are free nowadays. You will have some expense if any. I helped her create multiple streams, If you want real value, I will show you how to generate high ticket sales daily with little or no money. Just email me for the free training at smartreplys@gmail com. Make sure you state the title in the subject line so I know who it is.

Polygamy is legal and quite popular in the Middle East and Africa as well as parts of Asia.

If the person was still married to the first wife when the second marriage was performed then this is a crime (not a crime committed by the Judge unless the judge KNEW the person was already married - but a crime committed by the person who is still married). The second marriage is not legal (no matter who performed it) and the person who was still married has committed the crime of polygamy.

A marriage in which one woman has multiple husbands simultaneously is a form of polygamy called polyandry.

No. In it's early days, some members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) practiced polygamy, but this was outlawed in the 1890's. Anyone found practicing polygamy today is excommunicated from the church.

If you watch any of the shows, or know what Mormons wear, you know that they are very conservative people. So mostly high necked shirts and long pants or skirts. Nothing that is revealing to provoke another man.

Polygamy means having more than 1 spouse. It may mean 2 men married to one woman, more than 1 woman married to same man, etc. And while not legal in the US, polygamy is still practiced in some other countries.

In the third (3rd) verse in surrat An-nissa (Women) : "And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan­girls, then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one or (the captives and the slaves) that your right hands possess. That is nearer to prevent you from doing injustice".

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormon" church) do NOT practice plural marriage. This practice was banned in 1890. The practice was introduced around 1840, and it was practiced because it was believed to be a commandment from God. It was ended because the federal government made it illegal, took the church's assets, and would not allow Mormons to vote or be political candidates.

Those practicing plural marriage today often call themselves 'fundamentalist mormons', but they are not in any way affiliated with the mainstream Mormon church. These groups broke away from the mainstream Mormon church in 1890 when the ban was introduced.

Check out the "Related Links" below to learn more.