Changes

: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>[https://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>[https://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, and the former term is often used to refer to the latter.  Polygynous marriages are found in the [[Old Testament]], especially among the early Hebrew kings.  The first recorded polygamist was [[Lamech]] ({{bibleref|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:

Polygamy, in ancient times, was widespread, but has become less common over time.  The most common form of polygamy is polygyny, and the former term is often used to refer to the latter.  Polygynous marriages are found in the [[Old Testament]], especially among the early Hebrew kings.  The first recorded polygamist was [[Lamech]]<ref>{{bibleref|Genesis|4|19}}</ref>, 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.   

"[[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 [https://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 [https://www.nationalreview.com/kurtz/kurtz200503230746.asp]</ref>

The Bible clearly states that marriage, as recognized by God, involves only one man and only one woman;<ref>({{bibleref|ICorinthians|7|2}})</ref> therefore, any other type of "marriage" (whether or not formally legalized) is prohibited, notwithstanding some liberal denominations holding to the contrary.

The Bible clearly states that marriage, as recognized by God, involves only one man and only one woman;<ref>{{bibleref|ICorinthians|7|2}}</ref> therefore, any other type of "marriage" (whether or not formally legalized) is prohibited, notwithstanding some liberal denominations holding to the contrary.

==References==

==References==