Polygamy: is it moral?

[Gooblah]

No poll for this one.

So, polygamy, the marriage of one person to many. In much of the world, it's associated with cults, stupid people, and spousal/child abuse (sexually, physically, mental/emotionally). On the flip side, there are instances of polygamy in Hinduism (in the Mahabharatha, Draupadi had five husbands; Krishna had thousands of wives), and in Islam (IIRC) it's okay to have multiple wives (up to four) so long as all are treated equally and well - and I think there's some provision regarding widows. Dunno.

So...is it moral? Justified?

In my mind, it's the Western association of it with FLSD (sp?) Mormons in the Texas cult, or Waco (which had polygamy IIRC), and the subsequent allegations of abuse. Plus, the deepset Christian tradition of one man, one woman. In those instances, polygamy is clearly not working out, though those same people probably would have the same problems in a 'normal' marriage (in fact, 'normal' marriages between 'normal' people have the same problems!). I'm seriously reconsidering my views on this subject.

 

[PeteAtoms]

I feel it is ok. The same common sense rules apply to polygamy as to monogamy. It needs to be between consenting adults and abuse can't be tolerated.

The only problems I foresee are legal ones regarding next of kin, inheritance, and things of that nature.

 

[Bill3000]

Polygamy was lawful in the Old Testament. Of course it's moral.

 

[dutchfire]

Moral, yeah probably. Should it be legal? No, the potential for abuse is just way to large.

 

[PeteAtoms]

Moral, yeah probably. Should it be legal? No, the potential for abuse is just way to large.

What kind of abuse do you mean? Violence in the household? Or abusing it as a legal loophole of some kind for some purpose?

 

[Neomega]

What kind of abuse do you mean? Violence in the household? Or abusing it as a legal loophole of some kind for some purpose?

Generally, polygamists are on welfare.

 

[Death_Machine]

Anybody who supports same sex marriage should be a no brainer supporter of this.............. Those societies that allow polygamy have roots in strong religious beliefs and frown mightily on divorce (if it is even allowed) while most of society does not. I think that in the current (sick) culture of this country a man would have to be a F'n moron to have more than one wife. Sure the carnal pleasures could be fantastic, but if divorcing one woman cripples you financially then just imagine the problems that could arise from multiple divorces at once, or several over a few years.

I think that the only reason polygamy works for various groups of people is the strong foundation of their religious convictions. Our society can't hardly keep a man and a women together, to say nothing of a man & multiple women.

 

[Death_Machine]

Generally, polygamists are on welfare.

This makes the list of top 10 stupid things I've read in here. Back that statement up.

 

[Neomega]

I think that the only reason polygamy works for various groups of people is the strong foundation of their religious convictions. Our society can't hardly keep a man and a women together, to say nothing of a man & multiple women.

Polygamy is quite common in areas where male populations are decimated by war. Many times these are strict Islamic countries, so the carnal pleasures are at a minimum.

 

[Neomega]

This makes the list of top 10 stupid things I've read in here. Back that statement up.

Most of the documentaries I have seen, the families have been on welfare. Most of the people in the Jeffords camp were on welfare... they called it "bleeding the beast".

I guess I should have clarified, American polygamists. But polygamy is illegal, so it is usually a man with one legal wife, and many other live in girlfriends, married, but not legally.

http://www.rickross.com/reference/polygamy/polygamy5.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/783225/how_polygamy_impacts_the_welfare_system.html

 

[Stolen Rutters]

No, not moral. Ever.

 

[Lillefix]

I think polygamy is moral if it is a marriage of equals. What I mean is that in such a marriage everyone should be married to each other, not just a man with to wives, but also two women with a wife and a husband(and the other way around of course). I can't imagine how such marriages would work out in the end, when you have to take into account so many relationships, but that's not the point.

 

[Phlegmak]

Anybody who supports same sex marriage should be a no brainer supporter of this

Why? Someone can easily say marriage is between two adults humans only. So it's very easy to be against polygamy.

 

[Neomega]

No, not moral. Ever.

in many places in the world, the choice for war widows is either polygamy, prostitution or panhandling.

 

[Miles Teg]

No, it really shouldn't. For one thing, the legal mess this would bring is astounding. Can you imagine trying to work out a ten, sixteen way divorce? Or child visitation rights? More importantly, combined with gay marriage or not, it makes it nearly impossible to distinguish between marriages and tax arrangements.

Of course, there's also social pressure. With one of the major legal barriers for groups like the FLDS removed, we're going to start seeing problems. Child abuse aside, in modern majority polygamous societies, you see allot of unskilled males being kicked out the commune that sheltered them their whole life because he wanted his first wife and the pastor wanted his 5th.

 

[Death_Machine]

Polygamy is quite common in areas where male populations are decimated by war. Many times these are strict Islamic countries, so the carnal pleasures are at a minimum.

Ok, I'll be the first to admit that my knowledge of Islam is small & not likely to increase any time soon, so: If women in Islamic society are pretty much treated like pieces of meat that exist only to serve their man what makes you think it would be any different in the bedroom?

Most of the documentaries I have seen, the families have been on welfare. Most of the people in the Jeffords camp were on welfare... they called it "bleeding the beast".

I guess I should have clarified, American polygamists. But polygamy is illegal, so it is usually a man with one legal wife, and many other live in girlfriends, married, but not legally.

1. How many documentaries have you seen? Is this a subject which you have studied?
2. If a man has a wife & live in girlfriends then it is not polygamy, but an agreement by stupid women to be manipulated by a man.

 

[Berzerker]

Moral, yeah probably. Should it be legal? No, the potential for abuse is just way to large.

so punish the innocent along with the guilty?

 

[Death_Machine]

Why? Someone can easily say marriage is between two adults humans only. So it's very easy to be against polygamy.

Come on dude, what is the single biggest argument used by the gays in favor of marriage? I'll give you the answer: consenting adults should be able to blah blah blah.

So if you support gay marriage but not polygamy then you are just a bigot and discriminating against those who's love it too big to be contained by the traditional man/woman relationship. Lets face it, the only reason marriage is defined as a man & a woman is because some superstitious old book about a make believe God tells us that this is correct. We are now in the year 2009, it's time to get with the times & forget traditions. It is time to open your mind and stop being discriminatory. .................... or something like that is how it will pan out once the gays can marry.

 

[Miles Teg]

so punish the innocent along with the guilty?

As much as we punish the responsible crack heads, or the adults involved in a loving and health relationship with a 15 year old.

Whenever we ban anything, a few good people get caught in the cracks. But allot more lives are made better.

EDIT:

So if you support gay marriage but not polygamy then you are just a bigot and discriminating against those who's love it too big to be contained by the traditional man/woman relationship. Lets face it, the only reason marriage is defined as a man & a woman is because some superstitious old book about a make believe God tells us that this is correct. We are now in the year 2009, it's time to get with the times & forget traditions. It is time to open your mind and stop being discriminatory. .................... or something like that is how it will pan out once the gays can marry.[/QUOTE]

First off, that crazy old book condoned polygamy. Second, it's entirely possible to see a consistent difference when looking at things from a social angle. Statistically speaking, marriage between two individuals is a boon to community stability. Polygamous marriage on the other hand is the artifact of a distant past when men died frequently. It decreases the stability of modern society, and should not be allowed.

 

[Stolen Rutters]

No, not moral. Ever.

in many places in the world, the choice for war widows is either polygamy, prostitution or panhandling.

Can't she just move into a city and find a job there? There has to be a solution other than three terrible choices. We need to impose a right to work in these countries, do something to fix the situation. There's got to be a better way.