Why can't I have more than one wife?

Question

There are several references to men having several wives in the bible. How did it become the one wife rule of today?

Answer 1

simple...

More than one Mother -in law, enough said

Answer 2

Islam has been brought up several times, but just a small FYI: Islam set out set consitions that a man must meet before he can take another wife, which include:
a valid excuse other than lust (can't have kids w/1st wife, other woman living in poverty that has no where to go, need another woman for household reasons ie. man's established two homes, etc..)
the agreement of the first wife from the beginning
the ability to comfortably provide for both wives and children
the ability to keep the peace at home.

Unfortunately, the rules arern't paraded around anymore, and when men get married again, its more of a symbol of affluence rather than an Islamic marriage.

Besides, reasons for polygamy are slowly going away, since women have moved outside the home and entered the workforce, which means less desire for kids. In the Middle-East, it happens more often in soap operas than in real life.

Answer 3

Actually, the Bible suprisingly does not outright speak against polygamy among men-I've looked. However, like most ancient texts, there are plenty of negative references against women who have tried to live a similar lifestlye, i.e. Jezebel. Hence the need for an explanation of a 'virtuous woman' in Proverbs. (This is the reason why I had considered becoming a Wiccan, where women are CELEBRATED, not villianized-unfortunately I couldn't get into the polytheistic thing-more than 1 God, so I chose to be spiritual instead).

Another thing people don't talk about too much is that as a Christian, you are not supposed to eat pork or scavengers(shellfish), either(Leviticus). Yet people constantly associate ommiting these things from your diet as a Muslim or Jewish thing.

Answer 4

Perhaps because many men seem to have a hard time taking responsibility for the families (children included of course) they've created with only ONE nagging wife. Just think...you could have 20 screaming teenagers, ten nagging wives, and 1001 excuses why she's not in the mood tonight! Why in the hell would you wan't so many wives...God...I don't even want one husband! Being single is where it's at!

Answer 5

Number 1. join the Muslim religion or The Mormons

Number 2. Make sure your love for them will be equally given

Number 3 Make sure you can afford to support them including your children.

Number 4. Make sure you stay in a country where polygamy is accepted norm.

Number 5. Make sure each of your children has equal opportunity for your time as a father not only as a provider and not as a husband to every wife but as a loving partner.

The only thing my friend at this time when economy is dwindling in every part of the world, even those people who belong to the religion that allows polygamy are already thinking of adopting to the idea of monogamous life because the responsiblity to raise a famliy is becoming really very hard.
In the Old Testament, Kings have wives more than a hundred not because of love or his libido but because it is one of the effective ways to make peaceful co-existence with warring tribes. Marry the daughter of the enemy. Like King Solomon of Israel or King Saud of Saudi Arabia.

Answer 6

Have you ever seen the show "Big Love"? The guy has three wives, and can hardly keep up! He ended up in the hospital E.R. one time for taking too much Viagra, and he constantly has to deal with the quirks, jealousy, and demands of three women. Do you honestly think you could live that kind of lifestyle? If so, then move to the Middle East and become a Muslim. You could have up to four wives then. (But you must love them all equally.)

Answer 7

If you're asking a question like that it means you aren't ready to have even ONE wife, let alone more than one.

When a man meets a woman that he is truly in love with and doesn't think he could ever do any better, he'll be satisfied with just her.

Unless he is a dog.

Then he needs kicked in the groin and discarded.

Things were different in Bible times, thank God, and all those people are dead now anyways, so look where it got them.

Answer 8

The bible doesn't make rules or laws and was written by a bunch of men back in the day...it is not morally, ethically or legally right to have more than one wife. Marriage is the devotion of oneself to another human being for life,,, a joining of 2 souls. Not a menageatois. Jerk off.

Answer 9

just because people had several wives doesnt mean that God was happy about. Many of the people in the bible did things that were wrong yet were still honored by God. It was'nt for the bad but the good.

Answer 10

honey u cant afford three 3 wives that's how it became the rule. and of all the things in the bible why did you choose this and its not a rule any way why did u call it a rule., in the bible or out of the bible.

Answer 11

I believe it is illegal and even if it was legal why would you want to have sex with 3 or 4 different women, too many disease out here.

Some men are married and have women on the side. I think that is just like having more then 1 wife....