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In modern times, opponents of [[same-sex marriage|same-sex "marriage"]] worry that if legalized it would be a step down the slippery slope to polygamy. Recent events to support this claim includes the [[Netherlands]] in 2005 four years after introducing same-sex 'marriage' gave three-people relationships legal recognition through a "[[cohabitation]] agreement". Stanley Kurtz wrote:

In modern times, opponents of [[same-sex marriage|same-sex "marriage"]] worry that if legalized it would be a step down the slippery slope to polygamy. Recent events to support this claim includes the [[Netherlands]] in 2005 four years after introducing same-sex 'marriage' gave three-people relationships legal recognition through a "[[cohabitation]] agreement". Stanley Kurtz wrote:

:Among the likeliest effects of gay marriage is to take us down a slippery slope to legalized polygamy and "polyamory" (group marriage). Marriage will be [[marriage privatization|transformed into a variety of relationship contracts]], linking two, three, or more individuals (however weakly and temporarily) in every conceivable combination of male and female.<ref>[http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/002/938xpsxy.asp Beyond Gay Marriage], [[Stanley Kurtz]] </ref>

:Among the likeliest effects of gay marriage is to take us down a slippery slope to legalized polygamy and "polyamory" (group marriage). Marriage will be [[marriage privatization|transformed into a variety of relationship contracts]], linking two, three, or more individuals (however weakly and temporarily) in every conceivable combination of male and female.<ref>[http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/002/938xpsxy.asp Beyond Gay Marriage], [[Stanley Kurtz]]</ref>

Polygamy, in ancient times, was widespread, but has become less common over time.  The most common form of polygamy is polygyny.  Polygynous marriages are found in the [[Old Testament]], especially among the early Hebrew kings.  The first recorded polygamist was [[Lamech]] ([[Genesis]] 4:19), in the seventh generation from [[Adam]].  The book of [[Deuteronomy]] gives an inheritance rule for polygynous families.<ref>Deuteronomy 21:15-17 [http://www.bartleby.com/108/05/21.html#15]</ref>  The culmination was [[Solomon]] with 700 wives and 300 [[concubine]]s; however, the fact that they were from the pagan nations led him down the path of corruption.<ref>I Kings 11:1-3 [http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/1Ki/1Ki011.html#top]</ref>  There was also a practice of giving a maid servant to a husband to sire children in the period of the patriarchs; [[Holy Scripture|Scripture]] refers to such a maid servant variously as a wife<ref>Genesis 30:4 [http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Gen/Gen030.html#4]</ref> and as a concubine<ref>Genesis 35:22 [http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Gen/Gen035.html#22]</ref>. [[God]], speaking through the [[prophet]] [[Nathan]], addressed [[David]]'s polygamy without expressing disapproval:

Polygamy, in ancient times, was widespread, but has become less common over time.  The most common form of polygamy is polygyny.  Polygynous marriages are found in the [[Old Testament]], especially among the early Hebrew kings.  The first recorded polygamist was [[Lamech]] ([[Genesis]] 4:19), in the seventh generation from [[Adam]].  The book of [[Deuteronomy]] gives an inheritance rule for polygynous families.<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/108/05/21.html#15 Deuteronomy 21:15-17]</ref>  The culmination was [[Solomon]] with 700 wives and 300 [[concubine]]s; however, the fact that they were from the pagan nations led him down the path of corruption.<ref>[http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/1Ki/1Ki011.html#top I Kings 11:1-3]</ref>  There was also a practice of giving a maid servant to a husband to sire children in the period of the patriarchs; [[Holy Scripture|Scripture]] refers to such a maid servant variously as a wife<ref>[http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Gen/Gen030.html#4 Genesis 30:4]</ref> and as a concubine.<ref>[http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Gen/Gen035.html#22 Genesis 35:22]</ref>  [[God]], speaking through the [[prophet]] [[Nathan]], addressed [[David]]'s polygamy without expressing disapproval:

{{Bible quote|And Nathan said to David, Thou [art] the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if [that had been] too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.   

{{Bible quote|And Nathan said to David, Thou [art] the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if [that had been] too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.   

|book=2Samuel|chap=12|verses=7-8|version=KJV}}

|book=2Samuel|chap=12|verses=7-8|version=KJV}}

There are examples of polygamy in the [[New Testament]] and it is stated that a deacon is to be the husband of one wife.  That the church leaders saw fit to suspend the practice for such a small group, but allow it for everyone else speaks volumes.<ref>I Timothy 3:2 [http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/popup.pl?book=1Ti&chapter=3&verse=2&version=kjv#2]</ref><ref>Titus 1:6 [http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Tts/Tts001.html#6]</ref> (in some Christian denominations today, that has been taken to mean that divorced men and in some cases even widowed men can not be deacons if they remarry.)

There are examples of polygamy in the [[New Testament]] and it is stated that a deacon is to be the husband of one wife.  That the church leaders saw fit to suspend the practice for such a small group, but allow it for everyone else speaks volumes.<ref>[http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/popup.pl?book=1Ti&chapter=3&verse=2&version=kjv#2 I Timothy 3:2]</ref><ref>[http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Tts/Tts001.html#6 Titus 1:6]</ref> (in some Christian denominations today, that has been taken to mean that divorced men and in some cases even widowed men can not be deacons if they remarry.)

[[Ashkenazi]] Jews banned polygyny around A.D. 1000.  [[Sephardi]] Jews continued to practice it in [[Islam]]ic lands for some time after that.  [[Yemen]]i and [[Ethiopia]]n Jews practice it to this day.  [[Israel]] forbids polygyny, with the exception that a man with multiple wives who moves to Israel may remain married to his existing wives but not marry additional ones.<ref>Judaism 101: Marriage [http://www.jewfaq.org/marriage.htm#Relationship]</ref> However, this is due at least in part to an Israeli Supreme Court ruling that requires recognition of all marriages performed abroad, whether they would be legal in Israel or not. (This also applies to [[same-sex marriage]]).

[[Ashkenazi]] Jews banned polygyny around A.D. 1000.  [[Sephardi]] Jews continued to practice it in [[Islam]]ic lands for some time after that.  [[Yemen]]i and [[Ethiopia]]n Jews practice it to this day.  [[Israel]] forbids polygyny, with the exception that a man with multiple wives who moves to Israel may remain married to his existing wives but not marry additional ones.<ref>[http://www.jewfaq.org/marriage.htm#Relationship Judaism 101: Marriage]</ref> However, this is due at least in part to an Israeli Supreme Court ruling that requires recognition of all marriages performed abroad, whether they would be legal in Israel or not. (This also applies to [[same-sex marriage]]).

The [[Qur'an]] permitted polygyny <ref>"... Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four ..." Koran 4:3-4 [http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/004.qmt.html#004.003]</ref>.   The practice was also known among European tribes in pre-Christian Europe and in both China and Japan

The [[Qur'an]] permitted polygyny.<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/004.qmt.html#004.003 "... Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four ..." Koran 4:3-4]</ref>  The practice was also known among European tribes in pre-Christian Europe and in both China and Japan

<ref>Polygyny in Europe and China[http://www.trivia-library.com/b/alternative-forms-of-marriage-polygyny-part-1.htm]</ref>.  

.<ref>[http://www.trivia-library.com/b/alternative-forms-of-marriage-polygyny-part-1.htm Polygyny in Europe and China]</ref>   

In the modern world polygyny is practiced to some extent in China<ref>Lang and Smart.  “Migration and the Second Wife in South China: Toward cross-border polygyny” The International migration review  2002, vol. 36, no2, pp. 546-569 [http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=13830800]</ref>, among [[Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|certain sects of Mormons]]<ref>News story on Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints[http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2006-05-25/news/it-practices-what-they-preach/]</ref> (the mainstream [[Mormon]] Church outlawed the practice in 1890<ref>LDS official position[http://www.mormon.org/question/faq/category/answer/0,9777,1601-1-114-1,00.html]</ref>) and in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa <ref>Brown, Judith E. “Polygyny and Family Planning in sub-Saharan Africa”  Studies in Family Planning, Vol. 12, No. 8/9 (Aug. - Sep., 1981), pp. 322-326.  Abstract.  [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0039-3665(198108%2F09)12%3A8%2F9%3C322%3APAFPIS%3E2.0.CO%3B2-U]</ref>.

In the modern world polygyny is practiced to some extent in China,<ref>Lang and Smart.  “Migration and the Second Wife in South China: Toward cross-border polygyny” The International migration review  2002, vol. 36, no2, pp. 546-569 [http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=13830800]</ref> among [[Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|certain sects of Mormons]]<ref>[http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2006-05-25/news/it-practices-what-they-preach/ News story on Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints]</ref> (the mainstream [[Mormon]] Church outlawed the practice in 1890<ref>[http://www.mormon.org/question/faq/category/answer/0,9777,1601-1-114-1,00.html LDS official position]</ref>) and in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa.<ref>Brown, Judith E. “Polygyny and Family Planning in sub-Saharan Africa”  Studies in Family Planning, Vol. 12, No. 8/9 (Aug. - Sep., 1981), pp. 322-326.  Abstract.  [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0039-3665(198108%2F09)12%3A8%2F9%3C322%3APAFPIS%3E2.0.CO%3B2-U]</ref>

Polyandry is and has been less common around the world, but it has been practiced.  Polyandry is part of traditional Tibetan culture<ref>List of references [http://www.case.edu/affil/tibet/tibetanSociety/marriage.htm]</ref> and is practiced by some [[Native American]] tribes<ref>Polyandry among the [[Inuit]] [http://www.snowwowl.com/peopleinuit5.html]</ref>. The Bible prohibits polyandry.<ref>"Polygamy," from A True Church [http://www.atruechurch.info/polygamy.html]</ref>

Polyandry is and has been less common around the world, but it has been practiced.  Polyandry is part of traditional Tibetan culture<ref>[http://www.case.edu/affil/tibet/tibetanSociety/marriage.htm List of references]</ref> and is practiced by some [[Native American]] tribes.<ref>Polyandry among the [[Inuit]] [http://www.snowwowl.com/peopleinuit5.html]</ref>  The Bible prohibits polyandry.<ref>[http://www.atruechurch.info/polygamy.html "Polygamy," from A True Church]</ref>

"[[Group marriage]]" is likely the least common form of polygamy, but it is practiced.  In fact a number of Americans purport to practice just this sort of living arrangement, even though it is not legally recognized as marriage by the state.<ref>Kurtz, Stanley, “Rick Santorum Was Right Meet the future of marriage in America.” New Republic Online 3/23/05 [http://www.nationalreview.com/kurtz/kurtz200503230746.asp]</ref>.

"[[Group marriage]]" is likely the least common form of polygamy, but it is practiced.  In fact a number of Americans purport to practice just this sort of living arrangement, even though it is not legally recognized as marriage by the state.<ref>Kurtz, Stanley, “Rick Santorum Was Right Meet the future of marriage in America.” New Republic Online 3/23/05 [http://www.nationalreview.com/kurtz/kurtz200503230746.asp]</ref>

==See Also==

==See also==

*[[Polygamist]]

*[[Polygamist]]

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<references/>

[[Category:Marriage]]

[[Category:Marriage]]

[[category:Religion]]

[[Category:Religion]]

[[category:Culture]]

[[Category:Culture]]

[[Category:Sociology]]

[[Category:Sociology]]