Theology of Polygamy

[Maranatha]

jcaz:

One needs to be very careful about what you say. It would be advisible for Christians to look at their Bible regarding polygamy before discussing how it is a “moral shot fall.”

How many BIBLICAL prophets practiced polygamy? How many? Were the prophets not the BEST representations of character? Yes, all humans can make mistakes. But so many Biblical prophets participated in polygamy. Now ask, are you better than the prophets that God sent? Is your character better than them?

It is very clear that Jesus Christ came to hold man to a higher standard than the laws laid out in the OT. We can see this concerning marriage specifically in MT. 19:4-8 and in other matters of moral conduct. Only Jesus Christ’s moral code mirrors the perfection that is God and it has been kept uncorrupted by his Church since it’s founding.

 

[StJeanneDArc]

Joseph_Alison:

Salaam everyone;

For the theological reasons behind polygamy, I suggest reading this thorough article .

…

Salaam.
Joseph.

Thank you, Joseph, for the reference article and also for steering this thread back onto topic.

I read the article, and I must say that the first sentence, being false, damages the credibility of the whole article. Wanting to be fair, however, I read the whole thing, and realized that it doesn’t answer my question.

Remember I asked for theological reasons for polygamy, not pragmatic. Even if I could take the article as truthful (which many of the historical facts are not), it merely presents the following pragmatic reasons for allowing polygamy:

1. At certain times due to war, etc. there are more women then men, so who will take care of the women.
2. Some women are barren, so if a man wants children, it’s better for him to take a second wife rather than divorce his first.
3. Some women take ill and are unavailable sexually, so repeat # 2.

In summary, men and women have certain, ahem, needs. Better to allow polygamy rather than risk widespread immorality.

In contrast, Christianity has an entire developed theology as to why a marriage is a life-long union between one man and one woman. I guess I was hoping Islam would be able to present some transcendent reasons as to why a man would be permitted to take up to 4 wives.

 

[mark_a]

StJeanneDArc:

I’ve asked this question in previous threads, but I’ve yet to see the answer.

What are the theological reasons for polygamy in Islam?

So far I’ve only seen pragmatic reasons (i.e. not enough men, women unable to take care of themselves, etc.). There must be some developed theology behind it. Would any of the Muslim posters care to comment on this?

May Muslim women have multiple husbands?

 

[StJeanneDArc]

mark a:

May Muslim women have multiple husbands?

In the article that Joseph cited, the answer is no. Actually, that’s the only part of the article that hints at a theological reason, stating that the husband is the head of the household, which can’t have multiple heads. The rest is pure pragmatism, i.e. in the case of children, determining the father.

 

[Joseph_Alison]

StJeanneDArc:

Thank you, Joseph, for the reference article and also for steering this thread back onto topic.

I read the article, and I must say that the first sentence, being false, damages the credibility of the whole article. Wanting to be fair, however, I read the whole thing, and realized that it doesn’t answer my question.

Remember I asked for theological reasons for polygamy, not pragmatic. Even if I could take the article as truthful (which many of the historical facts are not), it merely presents the following pragmatic reasons for allowing polygamy:

1. At certain times due to war, etc. there are more women then men, so who will take care of the women.
2. Some women are barren, so if a man wants children, it’s better for him to take a second wife rather than divorce his first.
3. Some women take ill and are unavailable sexually, so repeat # 2.

In summary, men and women have certain, ahem, needs. Better to allow polygamy rather than risk widespread immorality.

In contrast, Christianity has an entire developed theology as to why a marriage is a life-long union between one man and one woman. I guess I was hoping Islam would be able to present some transcendent reasons as to why a man would be permitted to take up to 4 wives.

Salaam StJeanneDArc;
Sorry Sister, that’s all I am capable of. If you want, I can ask a Scholar for a more in-depth answer or you can do it yourself by e-mail to islamonline.net

All I can say is that polygamy in Islam is not totally prohibited nor totally allowed without restrain, it is subjected to a condition: justice between the wives.If there is fear not to be just, then one is the norm.

When I look at the practical side of the question, if find that it answers some of the societal needs as you have read in the article and it is hard to determine when the sexual drive alone is the cause. In any case it should be done with the agreement of the woman, as no woman should be married to someone against her will, and as I said before, we all love our daughters, sisters, relatives and want them to have their own houses and their own man not to be shared with any other woman, that’s why we search the marital status of any pretending.

Salaam.
Joseph.

 

[StJeanneDArc]

Joseph_Alison:

Salaam StJeanneDArc;
Sorry Sister, that’s all I am capable of. If you want, I can ask a Scholar for a more in-depth answer or you can do it yourself by e-mail to islamonline.net

All I can say is that polygamy in Islam is not totally prohibited nor totally allowed without restrain, it is subjected to a condition: justice between the wives.If there is fear not to be just, then one is the norm.

When I look at the practical side of the question, if find that it answers some of the societal needs as you have read in the article and it is hard to determine when the sexual drive alone is the cause. In any case it should be done with the agreement of the woman, as no woman should be married to someone against her will, and as I said before, we all love our daughters, sisters, relatives and want them to have their own houses and their own man not to be shared with any other woman, that’s why we search the marital status of any pretending.

Salaam.
Joseph.

Thank you for your honesty and charity. I have no doubt that Muslims, like all people love their sisters, daughters and other female relatives. And I do understand that polygamy is not required, but merely an option under certain limited conditions. However, any institution is subject to abuse. Polygamy, which caters to the baser instincts of men, would invite such abuses. Also, how can a boy properly revere women when, given the right circumstances, his father could righteously take another wife besides his mother? I know that Islam requires a man to treat all his wives equally and justly, but the one-to-many relationship (or even the possibility of it) necessarily makes the woman less equal than the man. In this case it can cause more societal problems than it solves. That’s why I was seeking to learn the theological reasons for polygamy.

 

[LtTony]

Well, to my HUGE surprise this thread is a keeper!! Thanks everyone. Particularly Joseph and StJeanneDArc. Joseph, your initial post really got the thread back on track.
Thank you, Joseph, for your explanation and link. I now understand the Muslim perspective. I it is theologically incorrect, however, largely due to the reasons cited by StJeanneDArc.
Because I’m satisfied with and respect your reply, Joseph, I don’t want to debate. But if you’re interested in my thoughts, read on…
Catholic christianity believes marriage is a sacrament that brings us closer to God. Christ taught us to put everyone else first, above ourselves; it is pleasing to God. If my wife is barren, I have to ask myself of another wife going to make wife #1 happier/closer to God? I also have to consider of wife #2 would be happier/closer to God in a monagamy.
Catholicism has taught me we all “have our crosses to bear.” That the barren wife has a purpose that will bring me closer to the Lord; children weren’t meant for me.
I agree with Maranantha, that Christians are to be held to a higher standard than OT practices. Also, the Catholic concept of “sacred tradition” tells me poligamy isn’t permitted. That is, though the Holy Spirit, the Church has interpreted Christ’s message to reject the practice. I would invoke, "Its secret simply lies in its Divine Source, God Most High, who knows in entirety what human needs and problems are. Man can reject the guidance of God, become his own god, and establish his own standards of morality. " from the article.
I read the article as addressing pragmatic, societal needs not spiritual. So pragmatically, if a people want to handle those problems in this manner, then fine. I just think there are better ways, pragmatically and spirtitually.
Barren couples: adoption. I wonder about a sterile man. (Again, I’m not posing debate questions.)
Orphans: see above
Widows: single men. Care through the community.

"*Like Judaism and Christianity, Islam does not provide an explicit prohibition of Polygamy. *Scholars in the past and at present, Muslims and Non-Muslims have consistently pointed out such cases. The following are a few examples, which are tied in with the general approach of Islam to individual and social problems.
“Islam being against immorality, hypocritical pretence of morality” “Rather than requiring hypocritical and superficial compliance, Islam delves deeper into the problems of individuals and societies”
“In a situation like this, it is doubtful that any solution would be better than polygamy, which is, after all, and optional solution.”

Pragmatically, I find the logic faulty. “*hypocritical pretence of morality” *assumes the worst case, which is the responsibility of the individual. By the same token, hypocrisy in the application of poligamy can exist, too.
As far as problems with poligamy go, I’m more influenced by some untoward effects of it as practiced in the West (i.e., bigamy, child brides, etc.) But if another culture thinks it works…hey, go for it.

Jim

 

[LtTony]

OK, I can see in Islam where polygamy isn’t expressly prohibited. In the Bible, prohibition is implied. Is that fair to say?

Jcaz: *"Stand up, be a man, and say that polygamy is wrong “because the Catholic Church says it is. Period.” *For me, that is essentially correct. I think the truth is revealed through the church, from Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

 

[LtTony]

Just because polygamy was practiced by the OT prophets, doesn’t mean theologically permitted or an acceptable pragmatic solution to a solcial problem.

 

[JP2Admirer]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe it was the Patriarchs and not the prophets who practiced polygamy?

In the OT polygamy was not yet explicitly rejected, although the Mosaic Law aimed at protecting the wife from arbitrary domination of the husband. The Catechism states that polygamy is marriage "under the regime of sin, " i.e. that it was man’s hardness of heart that allowed it.

If you notice the Bible is written by humans who are inspired by the Holy Spirit. That Spirit is Truth. Just because people within the Bible practiced polygamy doesn’t make it God’s will, it simply makes it historical fact.

If you look at the ancient Hebrews, you will see that they specifically condemned adultery in everyday life as a result of the Mosaic Law. In fact, women who cheated on their husbands would be put to death by stoning! This too was a result of humanities hardness of heart, not God’s divine decree.

With the Bible, you have to look at the fullness of revelation. You cannot simply take a snap shot of Abraham, Jacob, David, etc, and say that God condones polygamy. Why not go to exactly God Himself and see what He has to say! Read the Ten Commandments, read where Jesus (God Himself) says if you look at a woman lustfully you have committed adultery in your heart, read where Jesus, when questioned about divorce, replies that in the beginning it was not so, that God created them man and wife! One man, one woman, that’s how God created them. He reaffirms this throughout the Bible in His own words, not in what men do with it.

Saint Paul says that God makes good come from evil. Even though the patriarchs practiced polygamy, they too did not have Christ, the fullness of revelation, to tell them that what they were doing was wrong. For whatever reason, probably because it was less important to establishing the covenant, God did not reveal the wrongness of polygamy until later (at least in what we have in Biblical revelation). Probably, because their were bigger fish to fry. Who are we to question infinite wisdom and how It reveals Itself? Nevertheless, the fullness of revelation, Christ, said it was wrong. Therefore, polygamy is wrong. My guess is it was allowed because of the hardness of our hearts.

Just because people practiced polygamy in the Bible doesn’t make it God’s will. It only comments on the fact that people are sinners. The Truth would not lie about history, and since the patriarchs are part of history and they practiced polygamy, it remains in Scripture. To my knowledge (and please correct me if I’m wrong) there is nowhere in the Bible where God commands, “You shall have numerous wives as a blessing,” or anything along those lines. The Magesterium (i.e. Holy Spirit) has commented on polygamy and says it’s wrong, so it is wrong no matter how many people, whether they are in the Bible or out of it, practice it.

Even on the teleological level, you must see that polygamy is unethical, otherwise men would have been created with numerous genetalia! There is a biological principle at work within the conjugal act. That is a oneness of being between two separate beings. Only one seed can meet one egg. One seed does not meet more than one egg. If that were the case, then maybe nature would be telling us polygamy is the right way. That is not the case, so nature tells us there is a single biological principle, and that is that one is meant for one other. Period.

P.S. I invite all the Muslims on this board to read JP2’s Theology of the Body or Christopher West’s commentaries on it. You will be amazed at how anthropologically our bodies image the Holy Trinity. That might be one place that demonstrates the wrongness, utility, and enslavement to the passions that polygamy encourages.