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. Recent events to support this claim includes [[Utah]] decriminalizing polygamy from a felony to a minor infraction in 2020, and in 2005 the [[Netherlands]] (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 [[Utah]] decriminalizing polygamy from a felony to a minor infraction in 2020, and in 2005 the [[Netherlands]] (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>[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]]<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:

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: