Does Christianity allow polygamy?

Question

Read somewhere that Christianity allows Polygamy.
It disturbs me that some Mormons practice Polygamy. If it's allowed, what valid, progressive difference is Christianity from Islam?
Please cite your sources too, for my further information.

Jenova

Answer 1

it's not allowed - "adam & eve" only

Answer 2

To which Christianity are you referring? There are a colossal number of sects.

There are Biblical passages that encourage polygamy (significantly more than discourage it):

Genesis 4:19
Genesis 16:1-4
Genesis 25:6
Genesis 26:34
Genesis 28:9
Genesis 31:17
Genesis 32:22
Exodus 21:10
Deuteronomy 21:15
Judges 8:30
1 Samuel 1:1-2
2 Samuel 12:7-8
1 Kings 11:2-3
1 Chronicles 4:5
2 Chronicles 11:21
2 Chronicles 13:21
2 Chronicles 24:3
Matthew 25:1

Answer 3

There have been Christian sects that practiced polygamy. As far as I know, there is nothing in the Bible to forbid it. For that matter, Mormons are Christian, they are just a different sect.

As for what makes Christians somehow better than Mormons or Muslims, I don't know that there is any objective reason to prefer any religion over any other religion. People believe what they believe, and if they're tolerant about it, it's generally harmless.

The difference between Christianity and Islam is theological. I don't know if that fits your definition of "progressive", but it's what there is. Christians believe that Jesus was the son of God, and depending on the flavor of Christianity you're talking about, they may believe things like "There is one God, who has three parts, but each of those parts is actually the whole God, but despite the Three parts of God being God, and therefore identical to God, they none the less are not identical to each other". Muslims, on the other hand, believe that Jesus was just another prophet, and not even the best one. Another one came along 700 years later and convinced him that he was a prophet, and got them to do things his way, which was pretty much the same, but different.
Like the three parts of God. Who knows, maybe somebody lost something in translation, and Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are the trinity of non-identical twins.

Anyway, if you want to know which religions have done the most good, or the least damage, I'd be hard pressed to advise you. History is a pretty bloody business. Every group has it's share of civil blood on it's ancestral hands. Christians have slaughtered Jews and Muslims and Witches and heretics, and each other with as much enthusiasm as anyone else. Muslims have had their "good times" as well, killing and enslaving Christians, Jews, polytheists, but mostly each other. The Jews were looking pretty good until after WWII, they didn't seem anxious to kill anybody. But then there were the terrorist attacks against Britain, when they wrested Palestine from them. And then there was the ethnic cleansing of Israel, when the millions of Arabs living there somehow wandered away from home during the war and the Israelis said "finders keepers". And in '67, they got themselves some new land and decided to impose a brutal military dictatorship on the people living there. And lest you think me antisemitic, neither I nor the Arabs have forgotten that much of that brutality was paid for with American dollars, and that the bombs and the planes were proudly stamped "Made in America". And that occupation, and our support of it, continues to this day. But the Muslims hadn't grown weary either, they were busily hijacking planes and killing innocent people, throwing cripples off cruise ships, and generally being a pain in the butt.

So I guess when I look at the religions of the world, who they marry doesn't strike me as the real maker or breaker in an ethical sense. People are people, and although they're wonderful creatures one on one, in groups they are very dangerous and best avoided. Until they get over the urge to govern, and to see that nobody ever goes ungoverned, I don't see much hope for us.

Answer 4

Hi, Jenova.

Polygamy was allowed in the Old Testament but it seems that through the generations it was practiced less and less so that by New Testament times, it was virtually unknown.

There is no approval given to polygamy in the New Testament and there are several scriptures which indicate that God's will is one man with one woman. Polygamy, like divorce, was allowed in the patriarchal period of the OT but it never really had God's blessing upon it.

god bless

Answer 5

The prophets of old had many wives... Abraham himself already had at least 2, Sarah, Hagar and Keturah... he also had concubines as stated in chapter 25 of Genesis... Abraham's brother Nahor had several wives too... if you follow on down the bible you will see polygamy wasn't a taboo nor frowned upon, it was as natural to the people as drinking water from a well.

What I still cannot figure out is... WHO decides what laws from the old testaments are kept and what are discarded? Or is it pick and choose whatever suits ones purpose?

Answer 6

Pologamy was allowed in te old testament but it is not mentioned in the new but there were many things in the old testament that God allowed and then when the law was delivered they were forbidden like when Abraham married his half sister it was before the law was writted and before Moses but the law clearly forbids marriage to one's half sister,
So some people look atthe old testament and try to create a justification for their sin.
Also the bible tells us that God winked(overloked some sin at one time) but noe commands men everywhere to repent.

Answer 7

According to the Bible, God allowed polygamy. Lamech, Abraham, Jacob, David, and Soloman all had multiple wives.

Islam (Koran) is very similar to Christianity (Bible). God repeatedly commands his followers to hurt and kill others throughout the Bible.

Answer 8

No,of course it's not allowed! Do not believe everything you read,as you are sorely mistaken.
Although I do not count Mormons as Christians,neither do they practice polygamy,except for a few excommunicated sects.
"He (Jesus) said in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?"

Punter:God was angry at Solomon for having multiples wives.As well as that,you seriously taking those verses out of context.

Answer 9

Real and true born again Christians would never live this lifestyle.

Holy Bible (KJV) 1611

Here is a great website that can answer your questions about the religions you are asking about. When you get to it click in "false religion"

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com

Answer 10

no. No were- in the word of God- exists any references about polygamy!
What exist is "love the others"

Answer 11

god created one man for one woman that the original arrangement of god........
genesis 2:24.....
...That is why a man will leave his father and his mother and he must stick to his wife and they must become one flesh

(Hebrews 13:4) Let marriage be honorable among all, and the marriage bed be without defilement, for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.


1 timothy 3:2 says..........The overseer should therefore be irreprehensible, a husband of .....one wife


one wife and one husband


1 timothy 3:12...........Let ministerial servants be husbands of ..........one wife,


1 timothy 5;9 says................wife of ..........one husband


bibles principle on sanctity of marriage and being exclusive is clear