Why is polygamy, bigamy, polyamory, etc. immoral?

[Caitlin.ann]

Why are these things considered immoral, unethical, sinful, etc.? How do you feel about them?

 

[salida]

Because the bible says it is.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Why are these things considered immoral, unethical, sinful, etc.? How do you feel about them?

I'm a bit dubious about these practices, as they seem to increase the complexity of relationships geometrically with each added partner, and divide up their romantic focus. But if people want to risk that... it's their business. Reality will decide if they had chosen wisely or not.

I just wonder what would happen if polygamy were to become common. One might end up with many men unable to find any partner. That could be asking for trouble.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[janman345]

I'm a bit dubious about these practices, as they seem to increase the complexity of relationships geometrically with each added partner, and divide up their romantic focus. But if people want to risk that... it's their business. Reality will decide if they had chosen wisely or not.

I just wonder what would happen if polygamy were to become common. One might end up with many men unable to find any partner. That could be asking for trouble.


eudaimonia,

Mark

Still waiting to see a chineese civil war due to the lack of women becuase female babies are aborted and the poverty due to gov. Not due to polygamy but I suspect the same results would apply.

 

[littlecaesar]

For me I prefer to have one mate, because having more than one companion will most likely cause problems.

 

[Belk]

Because the bible says it is.

Where?

 

[Omceer]

Its a show of faith. By being polyamorous, you basically are showing little to no faith with any of your 'lovers'.

If you had faith you would pick one and stick with them, side by side, inseperable through thick and thin.

 

[SithDoughnut]

Its a show of faith. By being polyamorous, you basically are showing little to no faith with any of your 'lovers'.

If you had faith you would pick one and stick with them, side by side, inseperable through thick and thin.

What if you are loyal to two people? Polyamorous doesn't mean 'however many you want', it just means more than one.

 

[Belk]

Its a show of faith. By being polyamorous, you basically are showing little to no faith with any of your 'lovers'.

If you had faith you would pick one and stick with them, side by side, inseperable through thick and thin.

You must be using a different meaning of the word 'faith' then I am used to. How does having only one lover show 'faith' while having multiple shows a lack of such?

 

[Colin]

Where?

Matthew 19:5 .

 

[katautumn]

Still waiting to see a chineese civil war due to the lack of women becuase female babies are aborted and the poverty due to gov. Not due to polygamy but I suspect the same results would apply.

Which has absolutely nothing to do with this thread, but kudos for trying to sneak an abortion debate derail into the topic.

Matthew 19:5 .

Which is about divorce, not loving more than one person.

 

[keith99]

I'm a bit dubious about these practices, as they seem to increase the complexity of relationships geometrically with each added partner, and divide up their romantic focus. But if people want to risk that... it's their business. Reality will decide if they had chosen wisely or not.

I just wonder what would happen if polygamy were to become common. One might end up with many men unable to find any partner. That could be asking for trouble.


eudaimonia,

Mark

Some political analysts think this is already happening with Islam. Multiple wifes are allowed and older, richer men acquire several. The result is young men have poor prospects for finding a mate. Add in rampant persecution of homosexuality and plenty of young men with no outlet for their sexual desires.

Unless you count promises of 40 dark eyed virgins.

 

[Belk]

Matthew 19:5 .

I see nothing in there about polygamy, bigamy, or polyamory.

 

[Mr. Ripley]

Well, I would have to ask, what would be the point in legalizing these things? At least in Western culture, for the most part, relationships have remained between one individual and another individual (of course there are exceptions, but it is a rarity). Since multiple partners is not really something that citizens have requested or care about, I would question why bring it into a political debate when there are so many more important issues to focus on?

 

[Gwenyfur]

Because the bible says it is.

Abraham had multiple wives as did David, Solomon, Saul, ... the list goes on of polygamous marriages in the Bible ... and in fact was still practiced in Jesus' day by many...

How then is this "immoral" or "sinful"?

yes, polygamy is illegal in the US...

but then what's wrong with polyamorous relationships...considering more people are opting to *not* get married...even in the christian churches...

I'm sorry, but "the bible sais so" just doesn't cut the mustard considering what's in the bible.

 

[citizenthom]

Married people are "one flesh." Their bodies no longer belong to themselves alone, but also to each other. That relationship alone is inconsistent with multiple marital obligations.

A specific example: married people are called to please each other sexually whenever their partner is in need. What happens when, say, the husband is busy satisfying his second wife, and his first wife needs sex? He cannot fulfill both of them at the same time.

If you've ever watched the show "Big Love" (the early episodes, anyway), you see these sorts of problems crop up all the time.

 

[Caitlin.ann]

He cannot fulfill both of them at the same time.
.

Uhhh..the more the merrier? I think if one got really creative he could do exactly that.

 

[Exiledoomsayer]

Married people are "one flesh." Their bodies no longer belong to themselves alone, but also to each other. That relationship alone is inconsistent with multiple marital obligations.

A specific example: married people are called to please each other sexually whenever their partner is in need. What happens when, say, the husband is busy satisfying his second wife, and his first wife needs sex? He cannot fulfill both of them at the same time.

If you've ever watched the show "Big Love" (the early episodes, anyway), you see these sorts of problems crop up all the time.

I could be way off here but doesnt the bible pretty much label woman as objects that please their man and should be silent? That would solve the problem mighty quick. The problem is bringing in modern morals

Ephesians 5:22-24
22 Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything.

course my bible-fu is weak so im sure i totally missed the message of love, compassion and equal rights thats in between the lines.

but supose we take my uneducated version of it. Then it would seem to be perfectly compatible with multiple wifes

 

[Skaloop]

Its a show of faith. By being polyamorous, you basically are showing little to no faith with any of your 'lovers'.

If you had faith you would pick one and stick with them, side by side, inseperable through thick and thin.

Why? People don't pick one friend or one family member or one child because they cannot have enough "faith" with more than one. Rather, they have many friends, family members, and children whom they love, trust, and are faithful to. How is that different for multiple lovers?

 

[Mr. Ripley]

How many people here want multiple wives or husbands?