Changes

'''Polygamy''' is an inclusive term for several variant forms of [[marriage]]. It encompasses '''polygyny''', the practice of having multiple wives, '''polyandry''', the practice of having multiple husbands, and '''group marriage''', the practice of having multiple husbands and wives.  Any marriage of three or more people is polygamous.

'''Polygamy''' is an inclusive term for several variant forms of [[marriage]]. It encompasses '''polygyny''', the practice of having multiple wives, '''polyandry''', the practice of having multiple husbands, and '''group marriage''', the practice of having multiple husbands and wives.  Any marriage of three or more people is polygamous.

In modern times, opponents of "[[gay marriage]]" worry that if legalized it would be a step down the slippery slope to polygamy.<ref>[http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/002/938xpsxy.asp Beyond Gay Marriage], [[Stanley Kurtz]] </ref>

In modern times, opponents of "[[gay 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>

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>.  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.)

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>.  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.)