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Polygamy in Different Cultures
Posted on Nov. 23, 2005 at 4:12 AM
In most of the Christian world, polygamy is steadily becoming an
obsolete social practice. As modern society continuously develops certain
“universal” norms, polygamous cultures are being driven further into
extinction. Many Christian religions, including the once liberal Protestant
sects, have slowly evolved into a stricter monogamous ideal, probably
due in part to the growing complexities of society, civil rights and
legal systems. It is no longer pragmatic, in the face of today’s modern
consciousness, as well as the various economic crises, to encourage the
complicated and potentially destructive practice of obtaining polygamous
marriages.
Apart from this general rule that is slowly being formed in today’s
civilized world, there are some cultures that continue to propagate the
teachings involving polygamy. The more fundamental offshoots of the
Mormon Church, for one, openly indulge in polygamous marriages until the
present time. The Church of the Latter Day Saints used to cohesively
espouse polygamous ideals as having basis in the bible. In fact they made a
declaration of this ideology in 1852 and continued with the custom
until just before 1890, at which time they finally denounced the practice.
However, some of the more adamant members of the sect continue to
practice it regardless of the Mormon’s threat of excommunication.
Aside from the Mormons, the Jewish community also has to contend with
continuous polygamous practices even after most of their sects have
banned them. The problem lies mainly in the fact that many Jewish families
who are residents of Muslim predominated societies, commonly enter into
polygamous marriages. Muslims, on the other hand, follow a strict rule
that only men who can provide adequately for his families may take more
wives. Moreover, while polygamy is permitted as long as the husband
exercises fairness in dealing with his wives, some still believe monogamy
to be the preferable type of marriage for Muslims. Muslims residents of
India are also permitted to have polygamous marriages even if Hinduism
has discontinued its practice. In the ancient times, Hinduism tolerated
polygamy, but the practice itself was usually concentrated on those of
royal blood.
In many African cultures, polygamy is still being practiced to this
date. However, more and more African countries are rethinking the
correctness of the custom in the face the increasing density of their
populations and the rapid spread of HIV. The custom used to be widely practiced
in Africa because of several reasons. Firstly, polygamy was once
advisable because of the high infant mortality rate and the relatively short
life spans of both men and women. Moreover, since agriculture was a key
aspect of society and men were scarcer than women, the idea of having
more wives to breed more children seemed like the ideal solution to
manpower problems in the farm. Another reason for polygamy in Africa is the
fact that a man’s social status was determined not only by the number
of possessions and material wealth, but also by the number of wives and
children he had.
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