- NEW!
by iwnit on May 1st, 2007
It is a very legitimate question.
There are many Christian sources who try to cope with the fact that many important patriarchs in Old Testament were polygams and that polygamy is not explicitely forbidden in the New Testament, as anyone can see there for themselves.
I suppose that they try to make the Bible tell what they would like it to say.
For instance:
http://www.eadshome.com/polygamy.htm
Some Moslem scholars seem to present good arguments for the absence of an explicit prohibition of polygamy in the Bible. (Of course, their intention is to support the idea that the Christians have no reason to criticize polygamy in Islam)
This is developed in the following source:
http://www.quransearch.com/ntpoly.htm
The Mormons fundamentalists (not the Latter-day Saints) support polygamy too, but their main reference is not the Bible but the Book of Mormon.
Of course, my answer could shock:
- "people who try to make the Bible tell what they would like it to say" (for instance, supporters of the view in my first reference)
- people who do not understand why Moslem scholar should have something to say about this issue
- Mormons (LDS) who could feel hurt if I am saying that the main base of their religion is not the Bible, but first the Book of Mormon.
- Bible fans or people lacking lateral thinking who would consider that I should have looked for answers exclusively in the Bible, building my answer out of a serie of Bible quotations.
It is not my purpose to shock these people. There have already many occasions to be shocked every time that they are leaving their own universe.
I wanted maily to address those who have broader views, and present them interesting elements about the issue, which you could not obtain if you were limiting your field of research.
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You're reading Many of the Biblical patriarchs had multiple wives. Does the Bible specifically forbid polygamy?
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Comments
++Interesting. -Wonder why you were down rated.
by nowImconfused on June 26th, 2007
nowImconfused: thank you for your appreciation. Some people will always be shocked from thoughts or facts which they cannot integrate in their personal views about the world.
by iwnit on June 26th, 2007
Actually only the King of israel was commanded to have only one wife and he broke that rule too.
by The Dean on January 2nd, 2008
The Dean: interesting!
:-)
by iwnit on January 2nd, 2008
The Book of Mormon does not condone, teach or promote polygamy in any way. Rather it condems it. See Jacob 2.
by Galegao on January 11th, 2010
Galegao: thank you for your feedback and this interesting information. I did not say that the Book of Mormon was promoting polygamy, I just wanted to accentuate the importance of the Book of Mormon for the Mormons.
About this specific question, I found this:
"Although the LDS Church has abandoned the practice of plural marriage, it has not abandoned the underlying doctrines of polygamy in an eternal sense. According to the church's sacred texts and pronouncements by its leaders and theologians, the church leaves open the possibility that it may one day re-institute the practice. The church also holds that plural marriage may exist in the afterlife.
- Possibility that the LDS Church may re-introduce polygamy:
As early as the publication of the Book of Mormon in 1830, LDS doctrine maintained that polygamy was allowable so long as it was commanded by God. The Book of Jacob condemned polygamy as adultery, but left open the proviso that "For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise, they shall hearken unto these things." Thus, the LDS Church today teaches that plural marriage can only be practiced when specifically authorized by God. According to this view, the 1890 Manifesto and/or 1904 Manifesto rescinded God's prior authorization given to Joseph Smith.
However, many modern LDS adherents believe that God will re-institute the practice of polygamy at a later date, such as the Millennium. This echoes earlier teachings by Brigham Young that the primary purpose of polygamy was to bring about the Millennium.
- Plural marriage in the afterlife
LDS scripture teaches that marital sealings between two spouses will continue in force in the afterlife. Thus, LDS doctrine teaches that biblical or 19th century Mormon plural marriages which were valid at the time of the sealing will continue in force in the afterlife. In addition, there are circumstances where members of the modern LDS Church may be sealed to more than one spouse. The predominant view within the LDS Church is that these plural sealings may continue in force in the afterlife, resulting in a polygamous relationship."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormonism_and_polygamy
Further information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origin_of_Latter_Day_Saint_polygamy#Possible_revelation_in_1831
by iwnit on January 12th, 2010