Changes

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. 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. 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 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>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: