What are the positives/benefits to women and families, of polygamy - a man having more than one wife/woman?
450504
For the man the positive is more sex and the negative is more PMS to deal with. For the women the positive is they won't have to see and deal with the man every single day, but the negative is they can't form an intimate relationship because she has to share him with other women. If there are children involved they have no positives, but a huge negative because they can't form a close relationship with their Dad because they have to share him with other famlies.
312967
hey.. in islam .. men are allowed to have only 4 wives.. no more than that..\nbut nowadays rarely men marry more than 1 women...\nand that thing u wrote under ur question.. \nmen are NOT ALLOWED 2 HAVE MORE THAN 4 WIVES... him havin 10 and all those children ..is forbidden and wrong in islam..
102389
The answer is so obvious.\n\nPolygamy is not wrong.\n\nGod gave David wives, blessed Leah for giving her husband another wife, and shows a preference for polygamous men throughout the Old Testament.\n\nGod legislated marriage, including the cases where a man would take another wife.\n\nGod illustrates his relationship with his people as a polygamous one. \n\nHow could he do any of that if it was sinful?\n\nThink about it.\n\nGod Bless,\n\nRobert
697813
It is a matter of record that some of the OT people had many wives. But what is recorded in the Bible should not be confused with what is approved and commended in the Bible. Polygamy was never God's original intention for man.
976330
Black Africa, as I am an African American and I favor that which only a Black man can have in abundance...Black African Polygamy. Why? It is what will resurrect my family/extended family the quickest after long-term colonization/platationism  when I return to Africa permanently in early 2007. As the Black male and the Black female in America have been duped or put in the trick bag for so many centuries now, they are only about battling each other now, no harmony. \nMost in America discussing or trying to do polygamy know very little if anything about it really. Even Africans in africa today are so colonized and polluted by euro-religions/education, they too have forgotten the value of polygamy in most cases. True polygamy is centered around Vodou and agriculture. Traditions say a man can not have sexual relations with his wife when she is pregnant. She is to go live with her family until the baby is born and wait a few months thereafter to return to the husband's house.  I am just going to touch a few reasons for polygamy. Such a lifestyle also keeps women from needing jobs and being under other men for most of the day instead of their husband; increasing divorce which is the most common in monogamous America and secondly, Britain. Polygamous Vodoun women have the time to take care of their Ancestors and upkeep of the shrines of the various dieties. At periodical times of the year, each wife has to prepare and transact a festive celebration for the particular diety she is initiated to. So time with her husband is limited or not at all for that period. Polygamy erases the need for senior citizens homes and baby-sitting daycare services. Polygamy give a husband tons of options to develop a variety of home-based businesses for his wives, especially online. Polygamous wives have far more freedom to be themselves than monogamous wives any place on Earth. Polygamy bring large groups of people/families together for the good of the whole and cuts down community crime. The real reason you hear the old saying, "It takes a village to raise a child". I could add plenty more reasons but by now you understand my position.\nWhile I am in Africa, have been many times and stayed up to one year at a time, I will pick my wives form several African countries and tribes/clans. Why? To unite Africa through her women. The real wealth of Africa! A knowledgeable Afr. American man can take a group of African women and gain enough wealth within 5 years and past up Oprah Winfrey on the world's richest people's list, no problem!
1009664
I am not actually quite convinced that being widows and orphans are the right reason to marry them in order to save them from their sad predicament. This is quite an illogical reason to  justify multimarraige or polygamy. During wars, we cannot expect only about 20 or 50 or a hundred widows and orphans? There will be thousands. So, it's just beyond my comprehension that if it was really the reason, then why only chose 6 or twelve and leave the rest.  In my own honest opinion,  help can always be extended to these people without the benefit of marraige because making someone your wife is not a prerequisite to an act of extending help or assistance. That makes some of them fortunate than those who were not chosen or never had the chance to be chosen. Meaning there will always remain grieving widows and orphans. So if widows and orphans are the main concern of those who survive wars, then all of them should be given equal treatment and not only the selected few.  Doesn't this logic satisfy or justify the act more than reason?
620268
The answer to this question is not a simple 4!. Islam is a religon which has a rational behind every command which it gives. Yes, there is room for a man to marry and have four wives, however, there are very strict conditions which are to be met before such can be done. A man in Islam was allowed to marry upto four wives because, during the initial Islamic expansion, many non muslim women were converting and hence had to leave their previous non-muslim husbands. There were few Muslim men at that time who could marry these women, hence to give them protection rather than that they become public property, it was allowed for men to have four wives. But if you hear the conditions which are to be met before a muslim man can do so, you will come to belive than even Islam encourages only one wife. \n\nA muslim man has to give all his wives absoulte equal rights and love. But normally you see a man marrying another women because he is now fed up of his current wife or doesnt find her attractive enough. In Islam one cannot have a second wife on this pretext since it would violate the condition hence the man would be commiting sin. There is not enough space on this forum to tell u folks all the other conditions, but in short, the exceptions were made only to protect women. Even today science has proven that there are more females being born today than males. You can look around your own family and you will notice the tendecy for couples to more likely have more female children. Who knows, to keep future balance in check rather than the women becoming public property was this command given by Allah. May God bless you all.
997273
He never approved of many wives.\n\nThe Bible says that God’s original intention was for one man to be married to only one woman, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Mankind quickly perverted the concept of marriage to allow for multiple wives (Genesis 4:19). The Bible does not specifically condemn the practice of polygamy until the New Testament (1 Timothy 3:2), but that does not mean God approved of polygamy before.\n\n \n\nWe see in Deuteronomy 17:14-20, that the kings were not supposed to have multiple wives. Ultimately the case can be made from Genesis 2:23-24, 1 Timothy 3:2,12 and Titus 1:6 that nobody should have multiple wives. Although the New Testament passages relate to elders and deacons we can apply it to all Christians men because these are worthy standards for all men and we should all seek to be Holy as God is Holy (1 Peter 1:16), and if these standards are holy for elders and deacons then they are holy for all.\n\n \n\nUltimately, everyone who had more than one wife was in sin and against God's will. However, God does not constantly admonish us for all sins in the same way. Everyone sins every day and sometimes we do not see the immediate response in relation to that sin. I can speed and not have a direct chastising from God, although I would certainly have conviction. In the same manner I can commit other sins and not feel the response of God, however I should always know that God hates sin and that as a Christian I know that Jesus bore my sins on the cross and I do not want to multiply those sins. I can also sin and see that God is responding immediately to cause me to stop my rebellion, repent and return to Him. It is God's decision how and when He admonishes His children and those who are unsaved.
614062
The intellectual value of the question itself aside, I believe polygamy should be allowed, but with equal rights for everyone, so that all combinations are possible. There is no real harm to it and if there are people who want it, why should it be illegal? \n\nNota Bene: No, I prefer not to have a polygamous relationship, nevertheless, for those who wish to do so, the option ought to be available.
826787
Marriage is part of capitalism.  Ignoring the moral side of the issue, think only on the economy of marriage.  A society that permits multiple spouses also consolidates vast amounts of wealth into single families.  A welthy man will attract more wives than a poor man.  For every new wife the wealthy man acquires his fortune is increased as she will have a net worth, in addition to her possesions, she will likely have an inheritence from her parents at some point.  So this wealthy man marries ten women, all whom now pool their money into this one family, if their is only one child from this 11 person family, the child will inherit a windfall amount of money.\n\nThe other economy of multilple spouses is in the avaiability of people.  The worlds population is roughly 50/50 men and women.  Societies that allow polygamy break the balance as those who wish to have many wives/husbands will reduce the availability of spouses for others.  An example is that during the early Mormon migration west young men would be left in the wilderness many,  many miles from the camp, with no provisions as a 'test' to see if they could make it back.  They most often did not, this was done because there were too few women for wives and to many single men that tended to get angry and resentful at their former friend that married four women while he still is single.\n\nThere is no enforced law in the US that prevents you from 'shacking up' with as many men or women as you want.  Form a nude commune in Montana and forget about what the government says about marriage.\n\nJust remember that it is hard enough to find that one special person and keep them happy.  Now imagine how hard it would be to keep them happy while you are out their trying to find wife number two.  And how is potential wife number two going to react when she finds out she is going to be second fiddle in the house.  Our society as a whole is not able to accecpt such a practice.  Cultures that still pracitice this are always male dominated, women are always suppressed and treated as property.
99311
One of the condition that Quran allows more than wife is that you treat them equally. These verse were orginally revealed regarding orphans, when there were many in the society and polygamy was required to have these girls to get a married life.\n"If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, Marry women of your choice, Two or three or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one" Quran 4: 3. \n\nBut Quran also states in another place that it is very difficult to treat equally\n"You are never able to be fair and just as between wifes, even if it is your ardent desire: " Quran 4:129. \n\nSo there is an indirect reference to have only one wife but in rare circumstances more than one can be married. As pointed by above answers when male population in a society is less than females, polgamy may be required to have all the women lead a family life.
800020
I expect that if the issue of polygamy once again re-enters the political arena (after 200 years of being out of it), most people, whether Republican or Democrat, will oppose it.  It's not even on the radar these days so I don't think you should be worried about it coming to the forefront.
1130278
Ask me how many men are afford to marry ! right now there's 4 million single men who are older than 30 ! polygamy ? it's a big joke here, maybe only super richs can have more than 1 wives (I doubt !) !
509628
Polygamy is when somebody marries more than one person.  I wouldn't want to be in a type of relationship like that.  Here in America, it should be legal.  Since this is a free country, why not let us choose who we want to marry and how many we want to marry.  In other countries, people do it because that's how they can feed and take care of women and children.  And in the old days, in war, a man was allowed to marry his brother's wife if his brother died in war.  This was to take care of the wife and children.  Bottom line is it should be allowed everywhere in the United States.
53052
The laws against polygamy have historical roots from a number of cultures.  In terms of definitions the following applies:\n\nPolygamy is the offense of having several wives or husbands at the same time, or more than one wife or husband at the same time.  Bigamy literally means a second marriage distinguished from a third or other; while polygamy means many marriages – implies more than two.  Polygamy is a crime in all states.\nA person is guilty of polygamy, a felony of the third degree, if he marries or cohabits with more than one spouse at a time in purported exercise of the right of plural marriage.  The offense is a continuing one until all cohabitation and claim of marriage with more than one spouse terminates.  This section does not apply to parties to a polygamous marriage, lawful in the country of which they are residents or nationals, while they are in transit through or temporary visiting this State.  Reference Model Penal Code Section 230.1.\n\nIn terms of applied law this has been before the United States Supreme Court which has offered a perspective of how this is viewed by the legal system and the country in general as for example:\n\nIn 1890 the United States Supreme Court, under Chief Justice Melville W. Fuller, reviewed the case of  Davis v. Beason, The opinion of the court was delivered by Justice Field.  (If interested the entire opinion can be found at:\nhttp://www.justia.us/us/133/333/case.html )\n  \nIn summation this opinion (in part) stated:  The case of Davis v. Beason held that a Territorial statute which provided that no person should be entitled to vote at any election who was a member of any organization which encouraged its members to commit the crime of bigamy or polygamy, as a duty arising or resulting from a membership in such an organization, or which practiced bigamy or polygamy or plural or celestial marriage as a doctrinal rite of such organization, was not a law respecting an establishment of religion, in violation of this amendment.  Polygamy is a crime by the laws of all civilized and Christian countries; to call the advocacy of it a tenet of religion is to offend the common sense of mankind.
128339
Yes, more commonly than not. Mostly in the less developed areas. It is based on inheritance and ownership customs, and on the desire to have the last name carried on into the next generation. In general, women do not own property or have authority except through the men in their family. Polygamy is accepted and women who bear sons will most likely receive more support, monetary and otherwise, than those who bear daughters.
462653
Genetics are in no way even remotely related to polygamy. Societies in the past have been polygamous, and monogamous. Every society sets up it's own social rules, but there is no standard for humans. Don't try to come up with justifications, if people want more than one, they should get more than one, and visa versa.