Why is polygamy illegal?

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Comments

  • Vedd Hedd
    Vedd Hedd Posts: 4,631
    The root of everything is MONEY.

    Do you think insurance companies want to cover 3 wives on a family policy?

    Religion, politics, those play parts.

    But the overall reason is MONEY.
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  • Kann
    Kann Posts: 1,146
    That stuff wouldn't work in a society where men and women are treated as equals :
    Let's say I am allowed to marry 4 women and I do get married 4 times. Each of my 4 wives, as to be equal, each get to marry 4 times as well. From a 5 person familiy we just went up to 20 people. But the husbands of my wives, why shouldn't they be allowed to marry 4 times as well? And boom, before you know it everyone's married with everyone and the whole world is a conjugal bed. Which, though it may have some upsides, definitely has a lot of inconvenients.
  • Derrick
    Derrick Posts: 475
    There are many advantages, such as shared household resources, shared emotional commitments, shared responsibilities, shared income, etc. This is assuming you can get past any psychological boundaries that society has ingrained into you. The funny thing about relationships is that a lot of great marriages that failed would probably not have failed if monogamy wasn't society's norm...human beings, by nature, are NOT monogamous.

    The government also dislikes it from the point of view of spousal insurance claims and immigration loopholes.

    Life is short. Do what makes you happy. If you aren't hurting anyone, go for it. If someone asks what you are doing, just say you are renting a room out in your house.
  • Math
    Math Posts: 71
    I understand your point "Human beings being polygamous by nature". But I don't relate to it.

    I mean that back in the caves, we were polygamous to procreate. To insure the survival of the species.

    We're now in 2000 and counting and this does not really apply anymore.

    I personnaly find it beautiful to dedicate your life to one human being as far as love is concerned. That does not mean disregarding the rest of humanity.

    'Cause, even if "Love" and the common definition of romance is a made up concept to keep us home and working hard, I find it beautiful and worth mastering my "impregnating everything that moves" impulses.
    "Not only is there no God, but try getting a plumber on weekends" - Woody ALLEN
  • Derrick
    Derrick Posts: 475
    Instinct applies whether there are 100 humans on earth or 6 billion. There is no off switch, also regardless of what year it is. And the instinct goes beyond the basic physical instinct of the desire to procreate. The non-manogamous instinct delves into the emotional and the psychological needs/desires.

    Monogamy is definitely an effort to appreciate and respect...but do keep in mind you are working against the grain of your biological makeup. And that's perfectly ok if you are happy with that.
  • Kann
    Kann Posts: 1,146
    Derrick wrote:
    Instinct applies whether there are 100 humans on earth or 6 billion. There is no off switch, also regardless of what year it is. And the instinct goes beyond the basic physical instinct of the desire to procreate. The non-manogamous instinct delves into the emotional and the psychological needs/desires.

    Monogamy is definitely an effort to appreciate and respect...but do keep in mind you are working against the grain of your biological makeup. And that's perfectly ok if you are happy with that.

    Not all animals are polygamous, for some it is their instinct to be monogamous.
  • sponger
    sponger Posts: 3,159
    Because it's not fair when some rich guy with a gigantic penis has like 50 wives when the rest of us schmuks are having trouble finding one. If there was a female to male ratio of, say, 100:1, then yes I would be all for polygamy. But it's slim pickins as it is and this is a "please take 1" society.
    reigning champion

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  • KosmicJelli
    KosmicJelli Posts: 1,855
    I think i should be able to have as many husbands as I want. Make them duke it out everynight to whom get to sleep with me... NOT! Cant even find one decent man let alone 5. Im not saying that relationships are always permanent and none are. However, there has to be something to be said about monogamy... the beauty of two souls travelling through life together. Whether it be 2 months or eternal... its all about the trip.
  • nuffingman
    nuffingman Posts: 3,014
    ???? Why would anyone want polygamy to be legal?

    My wife's a nutter (a beautiful one though), the thought of 2 of them or more would be a nightmare. :eek:
  • xscorcho
    xscorcho Posts: 409
    nuffingman wrote:
    ???? Why would anyone want polygamy to be legal?

    My wife's a nutter (a beautiful one though), the thought of 2 of them or more would be a nightmare. :eek:
    maybe youd be into it if you didnt pick "nutters" for wives ;)
  • anotherclone
    anotherclone Posts: 1,688
    Does it have anything to do with the fact that in some rural communities, you eventually have people marrying their relatives and having children that are genetically messed up because of it?

    I watch "Big Love" on Showtime. Granted, that show is fiction, but it really does seem like a normal thing the way they portray it.
  • Brain of J.Lo
    Brain of J.Lo Posts: 3,259
    I guess it's illegal because abuse has so often coincided with that lifestyle.

    But I think people should be with whomever they wish, as long as everyone is treated equally.
  • Derrick
    Derrick Posts: 475
    Brain of J.Lo wrote:
    I guess it's illegal because abuse has so often coincided with that lifestyle.

    But I think people should be with whomever they wish, as long as everyone is treated equally.

    Well, abuse and association with underage and/or unwilling partners. But yeah, issues such as abuse, age of consent, and forced relationships should each be separate topics...unfortunately they all get lumped together with other relationship topics and build the build the negative stigma. You could probably add planned marriages in the same category. I think the OP is talking about a situation where these things are not factors.

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