Polygamy. Acceptable? Immoral? State your views here.

[GMichael]

Have you been visiting that kinky bed and breakfast place RGA has been talking about?

Not yet.

[Worf101]

Well, my views on polygamy are kinda helter skelter. I think we should look at it from a level even DEEPER than religion... genetics. To me the fundamental question has always been IS MAN A MONOGAMOUS ANIMAL? I personally don't think so. I believe certain religions and cultures have claimed that this is man's natural state but I'm not convinced. There were always "exceptions" to the one wife rule for the rich and powerfull.

Solomon in the old testament didn't have all them wives and concubines fer nothin. However there are so many factors as to why a culture or tribe is polygamous or not. In Africa you can find both schools of thought, even among ancient tribal cultures (pre Judeo/Christian/Muslim influence). The idea of monogamy got a big shot in the arm when the idea of "property" and inheritence became formost in some cultures. The ability to prove one's progeny became paramount.

As for the Mormons, Brigham Young was a devout believer in polygamy until the threat of invasion by Federal Troops let to another "vision" wherein the Mormon's changed course. Mark Twain visited early Utah and wrote that he thought he was travelling to heaven on earth until he met the women of Utah.

Puddin' was fascinated by the HBO series "Big Love". I never got into it. I had enough headaches with one woman in my life why in god's good name would I want to double or triple my headaches? Silly.

Worf

[GMichael]

Well, my views on polygamy are kinda helter skelter. I think we should look at it from a level even DEEPER than religion... genetics. To me the fundamental question has always been IS MAN A MONOGAMOUS ANIMAL? I personally don't think so. I believe certain religions and cultures have claimed that this is man's natural state but I'm not convinced. There were always "exceptions" to the one wife rule for the rich and powerfull.

Solomon in the old testament didn't have all them wives and concubines fer nothin. However there are so many factors as to why a culture or tribe is polygamous or not. In Africa you can find both schools of thought, even among ancient tribal cultures (pre Judeo/Christian/Muslim influence). The idea of monogamy got a big shot in the arm when the idea of "property" and inheritence became formost in some cultures. The ability to prove one's progeny became paramount.

As for the Mormons, Brigham Young was a devout believer in polygamy until the threat of invasion by Federal Troops let to another "vision" wherein the Mormon's changed course. Mark Twain visited early Utah and wrote that he thought he was travelling to heaven on earth until he met the women of Utah.

Puddin' was fascinated by the HBO series "Big Love". I never got into it. I had enough headaches with one woman in my life why in god's good name would I want to double or triple my headaches? Silly.
Worf

Not THAT'S what I'm talkin' 'bout.

[noddin0ff]

If a man can manage to have multiple stable, mutually pleasurable sexual relations with women I'm not gonna rain on that parade. But, that's not what polygamy is. Polygamy is an issue of family structure and includes the children of all those women and the parental love/power/control/responsibility issues that go with children. I think polygamy is horribly unfair to children. Especially in modern society.

Multiple wives and extended family probably made some sense in societies (largely past societies) where loss of a wife or child (or several) was common due to the hardships of obtaining food, disease, death from child birth, or where a 'strong man' was needed for protection. Today it's a regressive way to live and readily lends itself to justifying abuse or neglect of children and mothers. I would simply argue that it's no accident that, as society progressed to modern standards of living, monogamous relationships come to dominate. It's healthier for the society we now inhabit, thus it is the one we adopt for family structures.

Yeah, there might be a family in the world that can fuction as a polygamous one. But for the most of humanity I'm loath to confuse a male 'fantasy' with reality and responsibility.

I don't look at herd or pack animals and say to myself, "Gee, mankind should really adopt that social structure."

[Feanor]

If a man can manage to have multiple stable, mutually pleasurable sexual relations with women I'm not gonna rain on that parade. But, that's not what polygamy is. Polygamy is an issue of family structure and includes the children of all those women and the parental love/power/control/responsibility issues that go with children. I think polygamy is horribly unfair to children. Especially in modern society.

Multiple wives and extended family probably made some sense in societies (largely past societies) where loss of a wife or child (or several) was common due to the hardships of obtaining food, disease, death from child birth, or where a 'strong man' was needed for protection. Today it's a regressive way to live and readily lends itself to justifying abuse or neglect of children and mothers. I would simply argue that it's no accident that, as society progressed to modern standards of living, monogamous relationships come to dominate. It's healthier for the society we now inhabit, thus it is the one we adopt for family structures.

Yeah, there might be a family in the world that can fuction as a polygamous one. But for the most of humanity I'm loath to confuse a male 'fantasy' with reality and responsibility.

I don't look at herd or pack animals and say to myself, "Gee, mankind should really adopt that social structure."

I think you and I are taking a more socio-economic perspective on polygamy while others here have put more emphasis on the moral / religious aspects.

I guess it can be argued that there are circumstances where polygamy -- and polyandry for that matter -- have benefit. However I generally see this as a rich man / poor man issue. Rich men hoarding "wealth" of whatever type is conducive to neither economic nor social fairness or progress.