Plight Of The Black/afam Family And Single Mother

THE CRISIS IN THE BLACK FAMILY - Few Marriageable Men:EXTREMELY INDEPENDENT SINGLE MOTHERS, RAMPANTSTDS, ABSENT OR INADEQUATE MALES, and the PLIGHT OF THE SINGLE AFROAM WOMAN WHO WANTS TO MARRY IN LIGHT OF THE BIBLICAL POLYGYNY OPTION. The abbreviated version ends at "&&&&"Copyright (c) 01/14/'95; 01/12/96 (Revised) 01/20/09This file, in its entirety, may be posted on or copied off of computer networks like Internet or WWW by anyone so inclined as long as it isn’t changed and the author is [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/OrthodoxBiblicalMarriagePolygamy http://groups.google.com/group/BiblicalChristianPolygamyPolygyny http://www.etext.org/Religious.Texts/Polyamory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!MY EXPERIENCEShe is black, dark brown, dark reddish brown---so many delicious shades. Her skin looks like the richest of soils and I wonder, "Is she Mother Earth?" I love to see my white hand on her lovely skin. She moves gracefully with strength and purpose in her steps, unaware of her awesome beauty. She turns and looks me in the eye and then suddenly smiles so radiantly I almost lose my breath. How I love her eyes and her mouth, filled with kindness and gentleness----from which I never need fear hurt or unkindness. She laughs and it sounds like music. We touch and my heart soars. We embrace and I put my lips on her delicious skin. As the Sun shines on her clean, soft and oiled skin I'm fascinated by the tiny tints of red, orange, yellow and all the browns that twinkle up at me. She is sooooo soft and firm, so full of life! We look into each others eyes, hers sparkling----we look long and deep---and then a cloud of uncertainty, self-doubt, personal fears, and haunting memories moves across her face and the lovely pools of her eyes are troubled. I kiss her passionately and hold her ever so close, wishing I could pull right into my heart and soul. I look again and the cloud has passed and her face is radiant. We two as one set out together to face and deal with our world. She lives and is loved in the deepest depths of my soul and my mind is filled with wonderful memories of her and us---and my heart rejoices. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++SOLOMON’S EXPERIENCE He "white and ruddy" -------------Song 5: 10 My beloved is white and ruddy, The chiefest among ten thousand. -------[with hair as black as the raven/crow], -------------Song 5:11 His head is as the finest gold; His locks are flowing, black <07838> as the raven; ---------[and she as black as his hair and the raven/crow.]Song 1:5 I am black <07838>, but comely, daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, As the curtains of Solomon. Song of Solomon 1:1* ¶ The song of songs, which is Solomon's.[ The Black Shulamite to her friends]2. He should kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; [The Black Shulamite to King Solomon]For your lovemaking is better than wine. Your ointments smell sweetly; Your name is an ointment poured forth: Therefore do the virgins love you. 4. Draw me [to you], [Her friends, the Daughters of Jerusalem ]--we will run after you! [The Shulamite to her friends]The king has brought me into his chambers*--[Solomon's concubines/wives to Solomon]-We will be glad and rejoice in you, We will remember* your* lovemaking more than wine. [ The Shulamite to Solomon]They love you uprightly.* 5 I am black [as the raven*] , but comely, daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, As the curtains of Solomon.6* Look not upon me, because I am black [as the raven*]; Because the sun has looked upon me. My mother's children were angry with me: They made me keeper of the vineyards; Mine own vineyard have I not kept.7* ¶ Tell me, you whom my soul loves, Where you feed [your flock], Where you make it to rest at noon; For why should I be as one veiled Beside the flocks of your companions?[ Solomon,the shepherd lover ] 8* If you know not, you fairest among women, Go out your way by the footsteps of the flock, And feed your kids* beside the shepherds' booths. [The Shulamite] 12* ¶ While the king is at* his table, My spikenard sends forth its fragrance.13* A bundle of myrrh is my beloved unto me; He* shall pass the night between my breasts. 14 My beloved is unto me a cluster of

henna-flowers In the vineyards of Engedi.[ Solomon]15* Behold, you are fair, my loving friend; Behold, you are fair: your* eyes are [as] doves. [The Shulamite ] 16* Behold, you are fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant; [Solomon] 2:2* As the lily among thorns, So is my loving friend among the daughters.[The Shulamite ]3* ¶ As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, So is my beloved among the sons: In his shadow* have I [ecstatic] rapture* and sit down; And his fruit is sweet to my taste. [The Shulamite to her friends, the Daughters of Jerusalem] 4* He has brought me to the banqueting house*, And his banner over me is [affectionate] love*. 5* Sustain me with raisin-cakes, Refresh me with apples; For I am weak* from [affectionate] love*. 6 His left hand is under my head,And his right hand embraces me.7* I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem,By the gazelles, or by the hinds of the field,That you stir not up, nor awake [romantic] love*, Till it* please. SO WHAT IS THE WORLD LIKE TODAY IN WHICH SUCH BLACK BEAUTIES FIND THEMSELVES? It was 1995 and the Black women living in Bosnia, Rawanda, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and in Black inner city ghettos are all facing the same critical shortage of marriagable males in a patriarchal society where most of them want no part of lesbianism. In 1990, it was found that 33% of all black males aged 20 - 29 were either incarcerated, on parole, or on probation.>1a. I got more information from a local newspaper>1b. 1.) Approximately 1 out of every 25 black males is in prison; 2.) Between prison and death, there are significantly more Black females available for marriage than Black males; 3.) The vast majority of the Black males in prison range in age from 20 - 40, with most in the 2535 age group; 4.) Most of the imprisoned Black males will return to prison. Just this week (12/1/∂95) it was on national TV news and in the local paper that 6.8% of all Black males are in prison. This means a very significant number of Black males are unavailable for marriage or parenting their children during the normally most productive years (20-40) due to imprisonment or death. Perhaps that is why only 30% of married Black females have their spouse present in their homes, half the Caucasian/white rate (57%); while 9% of the married Black females have spouses that are absent from the home (four times the Caucasian/White 2% rate); and 39% of the Black females never married >1c.[Footnote: >1a The San Diego Union-Tribune, 10/5/'95, page A-5, quoting from The Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice in San Francisco. >1b Parade 8/13/'95; Parade Publications, 711 Third Ave., NY NY 10017. >1c Census Bureau/World Almanac. ]One out of every thousand Black people is dying of AIDS>1d making it the number one killer of Blacks in America. The AIDS virus is currently responsible for approximately on third of all deaths of all deaths of Black men aged 25 to 44, and for approximately one fifth of deaths of Black females aged 25 to 44, according to the CDC.>1e In terms of numbers that means a death rate of 177.9 deaths per 100,000 Black men (18 per 10,000; 2 per 1000), and a death rate of 51.2 deaths per 100,000 Black females (5 per 10,000; one per 1000).>1e That means approximately 30,000 Blacks will be dying each year from HIV/AIDS, a horrendous slaughter far worse than Viet Nam or WWII! Condoms fail 30% of the time [see the book by Doctor Lorraine Day, MD], and then on stationary artificial genitals according to federal test results, so they give very little protection. But when you add crack or speed or other mind altering drugs to the equation, so the users can∂t even think straight to appraise their risk or use them carefully and correctly, then condoms can∂t even give their miserable little 60% protection. One official in the AIDS office of the County Health Dept. told me that condoms have a documented 17% user-failurerate (failed to protect the user). And the AIDS rolls on through the urban Black communities like the plague. [Footnote: >.1d San Diego Union Tribune, ll/25/'95 page A-8, quoting the US Center Disease for Control and Prevention. >1e Associated Press in the San Diego Union 2/16/96]The second major killer of Blacks in America, especially the males, is Black-on-Black homicide, especially gang and drug killings and domestic violence. The third major killer of blacks in America today is abortion, where almost as many Black babies are being killed/aborted as are being born. According to Beverly LaHaye of Concerned Women for America, the original founder

of Planned Parenthood had as her original purpose the use of government funded abortion to keep the minority populations small, especially the Black population.The Black population in America has increased very little in the last twenty years, one % in twenty years, to the delight of the bigots. Tragically all of the facts cited above (AIDS, Gangs, drugs, abortion) mean that Blacks are killing more Blacks per year now than the number of Blacks killed by Caucasian bigots and the KKK during any one year from 1800 to 1940, to the delight of the bigots. In 1880, according to the census bureau, Blacks accounted for 13.1% of the total population, whereas today Blacks account only for 12.5% of the total population. One hundred ten years later and the Black community has not yet recovered from the 1880∂s 13.1% (of the total USA pop.) drop to the 1895∂s 9.5% (of the total USA pop.) that lynchings, Jim Crow, and Western-Canadian-Mexican migrations caused in the Black community. More than a fourth of the Black population just dropped off the census charts during that time and the Black community has never made it back up to 13.1% of the total USA population. 14 million AfroAm babies were murderedby abortion in their AfroAm mothers' wombs from 1973 through 2003. Not much chance of a population increase given the present circumstances.

[www.nbccongress.org/features/abortion_silent_no_more_01.asp http://www.physiciansforlife.org/content/view/9/26/ http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-548304431.html http://www.abortiontv.com/AbortionPictures6.htm http://www.abortionno.com/http://www.priestsforlife.org http://www.usconservatives.about.com http://www.prolife.org.au/support.htmhttp://www.knoxpregnancy.com/ http://www.gospelcom.net/projectgrace/newsitem.php?RecordID=22 http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/YoloLINK/programs/pAbortiRecoveSuppor7644.htmlhttp://www.pregcare.com/SupGroups/SupGroupsPAR.html] This means a very significant number of Black males are unavailable for marriage or parenting their children during the normally most productive years (20-40) due to imprisonment or death. This results in significantly more Black females than males being available for marriage and parenting children, many of whom are single parents raising a family without a present or stable father figure. According to the Census Bureau and Focus on the Family radio program, 39% of Black women never marry, and 46% of Black men never marry>.1f On 11/26/'95, Focus on the Family's Michelle said that the Essence magazine gave the figure of 40% of Black women never marrying>.1f. We still live in a racist society 20 years after the death of M.L.King. Black females are not sought for as wives by a significant number of Black males and non-Black males in America. [Footnote: >.1f Focus on the Family (American On Line) ]This leaves a significant number of marriagable Black females with no suitable male to marry and help raise their children. Normal young, Black females with affectionate and passionate needs do not have enough suitable and marriageable males for monogynous marriages so that leaves neurotic frustration, celibacy, promiscuity, lesbianism or bisexuality for many Black women. Through ignorance, bigotry, fear of society, and bad taste the wonderful grace, beauty, deliciousness, elegance, wit, strength, charm and intelligence of most Black women is NOT appropriately esteemed or appreciated by most Americanmales, so you do not find most white, Hispanic, Asian orJewish males seeking Black women as wives. Most white, Hispanic, Asian or Jewish males would seek white, or Hispanic, or Asian, or Jewish wives before they would consider seeking a Black wife. Black women are, for the society as a whole, seen a lovers and sex objects far more than they are seen as wives and mothers. A saying in the white community about Black Americans is,

"Look, dream, or fantasize but DON'T TOUCH! If you touch, DON'T MARRY! Take them to bed but never bring one home for dinner!" It hasn't changed much since slavery. The Black woman interested in marrying has a 40% chance of never marrying, and the older they get, the more children they have, the deeper their poverty, the less chance they have of ever marrying. Many single Black mother on welfare would rather have her own independent welfare income with independence from males, rather than have a man around who could mess up her dependable welfare check. Lastly, many single Black mothers never learned at home or in the community how fragile the male ego is, and the last thing they want to do is to show a Black male honor and respect as the man of the their house. Many Black mothers, bitter and resentful towards the men in their lives who they feel have wronged them, with barbed tongues shred the souls of their men, dominate them, belittle them etc. Of course the verbally inferior Black male responds to her superior verbal violence with his superior physical and inferior verbal violence. What about that whole generation who grew up without a positive and nurturing dad? They saw that their mother's men were transients without any lasting commitment to them or their mother. They learned that men were not, therefore are not, necessary to raising a family----or at least to surviving as a family. Many single mothers are so bitter against the men who they feel have wronged or failed them that the proclaim "Men! Who needs them!" and their sons hear them and learn that men are not necessary, at least not to women and mothers. They grow into men who believe that they are not necessary to the women in their lives and act accordingly, some even turning from women to men to feel needed and desired, homosexuality.Mothers are supposed to be natural nurturers, comforters and supporters of their male children, but many single Black mothers, filled with bitterness and resentment at the men in their lives who have wronged them, dump this frustration and rage on their sons using their superior verbal skills to intimidate and guilt trip them when their sons are small, and then bruise and batter their souls/egos when they are big in their teens. So many of these women, frustrated and irritated with their sons, day-in and day-out stay locked into this angry mode and rarely if ever hug their sons, look them in their eyes smiling and say "Son, I love you!" with a big warm and long hug. They seem to be afraid that if they do this it will be taken as a sign of weakness and make it harder for them to control this little man of theirs. Their sons grow up into men who feel unloved with no real reason to live, and/or unloved by women so when men offer them love and acceptance that they need so desperately, they accept it in homosexuality.Many learned from their single mothers that sex outside of marriage is the norm------that personal freedom and love-without-commitment is better than love with commitment to and responsibility for a marital relationship. So what role model did they have? The uncommitted, irresponsible, selfish, self-centered transient lover-boys that many of their mothers accepted. What motivation would such a male have to feel morally and financially responsible for his women or his children? Little to none. Is there any hope?Some suggest finding support groups (churches, fellowships, 12 step etc.) to help the single parent cope, and for some that works so they can carry on a meaningful life. Some find significant help from counselors. Some take James Dobson's advice by single mothers finding acceptable male role models for their sons, or by single fathers finding acceptable female role models for their daughters. Some of these role models can be found on a volunteer or token pay basis through one's extended family, one's church, one's support groups, local schools or etc. But these substitutes lack the sense of permanent commitment, "I'm here for you for life", that real parents can give. There is another substitute, another option. Two single moms who also are the best and dearest of friends (Women are so much better than men at building successful relationships!) decide to join forces and households , having realized that they will probably be a part of the 40% of Black women who never marry or a part of the 70% that never successfully marry, moving both of their families into one dwelling. If they are both working (even if only part time), or

receiving child support or welfare, this dramatically reduces their cost of living, enables them to divide up the household chores, enables them to have more relaxed time with the kids for parenting, enables them to give each other breaks from the care of the kids, gives them a helper if they are temporarily disabled by illness, gives them an adult companion with whom they can share their trials and joys (Women are such good listeners!), and enables them to achieve a higher standard of living than they could independently. The savings and efficiencies are increased if three or more such single moms move into a larger dwelling with their families. Many misunderstanding can be avoided if the single moms involved sit down together first and reinforce their commitments to the shared living arrangement by drawing up, having signed and witnessed a contract that clearly spells out each others responsibilities, privileges and accountability in the arrangement. Of course the down side of this is that they are sexual and affectionate beings who will need to hug, hold and touch each other, basic human needs. The danger of them becoming lesbians or bisexual is greatly increased, and a factor with which they must deal and recognize if they choose to join forces in their struggle with life, family and work. Sometimes these substitutes work, but many times they are just better than nothing. Sometimes these part-time substitutes don't cure the empty bed blues, the absent parent blues. Even God said it wasn't good for people to be alone. There are other ways of solving this problem where there is lifetime commitment both for the parents and for their children. There may be some value, some lessons to be learned, some ideas worth considering in an anthropologicalconsideration of how other people in other cultures andcountries deal with this shortage of men who are interestedin and willing to seriously and effectively commit to marriage. Let’s consider a few of these.There is the Moslem solution. My Islamic and polygynist friend R--- in SE Asia shared with me that the Quran states:"....Several times in recent years the subject of marriage was brought up in the International Shura (Consultative Assembly) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The reason was that most Communities faced the problem of having a surplus of girls unable to find husbands. The problem is/was of course more serious with widows and divorcees but also exists even with unmarried virgin girls. The fact that this subject was brought up for consultation again and again proves that in this respect the health of the society could be/needed to be improved. During the Assembly the Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community had inquired from various delegates whether this problem existed in their local communities. All representatives had to agree, with the exception of the African representatives. As Polygamy is practiced in Africa the communities there did not face any problems in this respect."Use your find option and go to *** for the rest of the Muslimsolution.The Old Testament Jews had a very similar practice underthe Patriarchs OT PATRIARCHS: ". . . a man's 'house' might consist of his mother; his wives and the wives' children; his concubines and their children . . . and slaves of both sexes. Polygamy was in part the cause of the large size of the Hebrew household; in part the cause of it may be found in the insecurity of early times, when safety lay in numbers . . . Polygyny and bigamy were recognized features of the family life. From the Oriental point of view there was nothing immoral in the practice of polygamy. The female slaves were in every respect the property of their master and became his concubines; except in certain cases,when they seem to have belonged exclusively to their mistress . ..At all events, polygyny was an established and recognized institution form the earliest times">8 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE, J. Hastings (Selbie, Lambert, Mathews), Hendrickson Publishers, 1989; p.259.OT PATRIARCHS: "The Bible, in tolerating polygamy, gives evidence that the practice had long been an accepted social institution when these laws were written down. In the patriarchal age polygamy is regarded as an unquestioned custom. While the Bible gives a reason for the action of Abraham in taking Hagar for an additional wife and, in the case of Jacob, for having Rachel as a wife besides Leah, it only proves that polygamy as well as concubinage, with which it was always associated, was among the mores of the ancient Hebrew

people (Gen. 16:1-4; 29:23-28). . . "CHARLES A. RUBENSTEIN----------------Bibliography:Abrahams, 1., Jewish Life in the Middle Ages (1917);FOR THE REST OF THE JEWISH SOLUTION, USE YOUR FINDOPTION AND GO TO "###" .Then there is the Christian version of this solution, withMartin Luter as its spokesman.REFORMATION: "In the New Testament Jesus neither condemns polygamous unions nor advocates a change in the system.From this noninterference attitude Luther, as late as the 16th cent.,arrived at the conclusion that he could not forbid the taking of more than one wife."CHARLES A. RUBENSTEIN-----------------Bibliography:Abrahams, 1., Jewish Life in the Middle Ages (1917);Westermarck, E., History of Human Marriage (1901);Spencer, H., Principles of Sociology idem, Descriptive Sociology;1500's *******Martin Luther Martin Luther wrote in De Wette, II, p. 459, "I confess that I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict the Scripture. If a man wishes to marry more than one wife, he should be asked whether he is satisfied in his conscience that he may do so in accordance with the word of God. In such a case, the civil authority has nothing to do in such a matter." 1500's: ***After Polygamy Was Made A Sin:The Social History of Christian PolygamyJohn Cairncross, 1974Published by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd, London¥¥¥"Phillip of Hesse felt impelled by his reverence for the sacraments to mend his first marriage by contracting a second one even while his wife was alive. And he did so with the sanction of the Fathers of the Reformation. The first palidin of German Protestantism (Phillip) was,with Luther's and Melanchthon's permission, a bigamist.Protestant historians have never recovered from the shock."(pg.31) Phillip debated this issue with the Reformer's for many years before and after his (supposedly secret) 2nd marriage. "If, he asked, it should suddenly be possible to overthrow the celibacy of the clergy, why should the institution of bigamy be a priori excluded? The only effective answer would have been that polygamy is condemned by Christian doctrine. But this was a stand that Luther and his colleagues never took - and for very good reasons. They could not. They themselves did not believe that polygamy was against divine or natural law." (pg. 48) Luther did state that "A Christian,before adopting polygamy, must first have a calling from God."(pg. 49)FOR THE REST OF THE CHRISTIAN SIDE OF THIS SOLUTION,USE YOUR FIND OPTION TO GO TO +++.Most single Black mothers/women would not choose this polygyny option, preferring to remain unmarried all of their lives ---- having recreational sex, not providing a stable male role model for their son, and not modeling a loving husband-wife relationship for their daughters. But if a woman's situation necessitates it, if circumstances in the Black community (as described above) require it, why not in America too? In Paris France they have over 100,000 practicing polygynists, according to the New York Times. So why not America? The Bible and the history of the Christian movement show that you don't have to be Islamic to choose and practice such an option . In America, bigamy and polygyny are illegal. Why shouldn't ethically moral and Biblically acceptable Christian concubinage be a viable option for such a population (30 million Blacks in l990, 12.1% of the total USA pop.) with an obvious shortage of marriageable stable and successful males, even in America?Why couldn't a wife, of any race, whose best female friend is a Black single mom, approach her husband with the request that they as a couple include her best friend + kids as part of their family, with her husband becoming the adoptive father of the kids of the single mom and becoming husband to the single mom in concubinage (she becomes his concubine by informal covenant and contract, in a ceremony of their own design with the exchange of their covenants with his wife as witness, instead of by civil or formal legal means, since bigamy and polygamy are illegal in America). The kids of the single mom get a committed and already successful father figure, and the single mom gets a husband with whom she can soulbond and count on, plus she gets to see her best friend a whole lot more. Real love can overcome jealousy and envy, if they selflessly work at the marriage, as you would have to in any marriage.A compassionately cherishing husband, who consistently compassionately cherishes his own wife, thus making her very secure

with him, should be able to come to his compassionate and generous wife and ask her to thoughtfully consider such a controversial proposal as the following: "Darling, I'm very concerned about our Black sister who is struggling as a single mom and having a very hard time. I believe that the conditions in our own family would allow us to be of considerable help to her in her crisis. Please think about us accepting her and her kids as part of our family, with me as father-figure to her kids, with me as husband to her and her as concubine to me----with lifelong commitments for the sake of both her and her children." Of course this would follow the husband and wife having thoroughly discussing and considering the issue in general before any specific action is taken. It would take a very secure wife to share her husband, but compassion has moved people to heroic and selfless actions throughout history. The real needs of the fatherless children would be met. The real needs of an adult female would be met, who had been sexually loved and who may have a genuine sexual appetite with no one to meet it in a context of soul-bonding, commitment and genuine caring about her as a whole person. *You can never persuade me the single mother lifestyles described above are better than first, a one-honorable-man-onewife loving and committed relationship; or second, (if there are no honorable unmarried men willing to commit and cherish) a one-honorable-man-one wife-oneconcubine loving and committed relationship. My Black play-sister Elaine told me the easiest thing to get, for her as a Black female, is a hard dick and a panting male. I asked how easy it was to find a male who would commit maritally and honorably to her and her well being, for life. She got real quiet and acknowledged how rare it was to find such an honorable man. Given the choices of no sex, lesbianism, sex without commitment and polygyny, she said it was something to seriously consider. The "sister sororities" described above, where two or three Black "sisters"have gone in together on their housing, chores and common expenses, if they were wise enough to go into contract with each other for this joint effort, would do well to have a clause in such a contract to prevent conflict, rivalry, bitterness and jealousy if one of them meets an honorable man who is willing to commit to her. Ideally, if they have achieved that rare unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace in Christ Jesus,the one who becomes involved with an honorable man andmoves with her to commitment, that one could at least ask herman of commitment to prayerfully consider bringing her "sorority sisters" into their union as concubines, exhibitingthe same magnanimous Spirit that Solomon's "black as a raven" Shulamite exhibited including her sisterwives and concubines in the Bible's Song of Solomon. It is understoodand admitted that such a kind, unselfish and generous Spirit is possible only in and by the Lord. The alternative is every"sister" being out for herself, the winner taking the spoils, andthe losers becoming spinsters. I believe the Shulamite's wayis the nobler, the more blessed, and the most beautiful in Love.*Since we, as humans, are basically selfish, most of us would not be inclined to participate in a polygynous marriage, especially today's modern woman. Most of the 40% of Black women who never marry don't want to marry unless they can have it their own way, which would not include sharing a husband. Broad is the way that leads to family self-destruction and many there be that go that way; but narrow is the way to family-salvation and a remnant few that are willing to do almost anything to save their children (especially their sons), their moral integrity and their feminine virtue will make the hard decisions necessary. Some will find other ways (support groups, counseling, a benevolent male friend) to be the firm but loving and supportive mothers they need to be, a few will be open to the polygyny option, whether Christian, Jew or Moslem.---------------------------Polygyny is still practiced in most of the Third World and in all Moslem nations although many in the Third World do it privately and secretly because of anti polygyny laws that have been forced on them by the UnitedNations. This has greatly undermined the role and status of women in the Third World countries to the advantage of menand the disadvantage of women. Many of the polygynous wives in China, SE Asia, India and Africa wereeither dumped and and abandoned with their children, or they were

reduced to the status of mistresses, who have no legalrights for themselves or their children.Even though polygyny is illegal in the West, including the USA, there are polygynous communities that practice their polygyny "off the record", unofficially, privately and discretely, many in obedience to the principles stated inthe following PARAPHRASE [bracket items are mine]:Romans 14:20 For the sake of [polygyny] do not destroy the work of God. All things [including polygyny] indeed are pure; but it is evil to that woman who [becomes polygynous] while stumbling [in sin] because of her doubts about its rightness. 21 It is right not to [take a second wife], nor [take a third wife], nor do anything in which thy brother [or sister] stumbles [striking the toe of one's conscience against an obstacle inducing one to sin by acting in doubt], or is offended [ or stumbles or is enticed to act without faith or think unfavourably or unjustly of another and so displesed and indignant], or is made weak [morally feeble, without strength, powerless]. 22 Have you faith [to believe polygyny is right and so practice it]? Have that conviction to yourself before God. Blessed is the one who does not judge oneself in what [belief or practice of polygyny] one allows [with a firm and convinced faith in its rightness]. 23 But one that doubts [about the rightness of polygyny], if [that] one [becomes polygynous], [that one] is condemned; because that one became polygynous not because of faith [in its rightness]; but whatever [behavior or thought does not originate from] faith [in its rightness before God] is sin. 15:1 ¶ But *we* ought, we that are strong [in our polygynous beliefs], to bear the infirmities of the weak [in this aspect of the faith], and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each one of us please his neighbour with a view to what is good, to edification. 3 For the Christ also did not please himself; Some are Mormons, Reformed Mormons, Catholics,and some are Protestant Christians. The five American "wives" of an American polygynist posted the following recently on one of their web sites:>10. Polygamy is great for women because: For every 100 women of young marriageable age, there are only 70 men. >9. Polygamy is great for women because: By age 45, for every 100 available men, there are over 200 single women. >8. Polygamy is great for women because: Unattached women compete with other women, to their detriment, for a chance at the marriage lottery. >7. Polygamy is great for women because: Divorce is the only other available solution of providing husbands and fathers for the surplus of women. >6. Polygamy is great for women because: The newly divorced woman is susceptible to the predatory single man. Polygamy offers a marriage alternative. >5. Polygamy is great for women because: An alternative to single loneliness, fatherless children, and increasing violence and juvenile crime. >4. Polygamy is great for women because: There are too many homes where the father is absent, 10 million! of them. >3. Polygamy is great for women because: There are too many children growing up without a father, 50% of them. >2. Polygamy is great for women because: As a society, we reap the results of fatherlessness, as is evident in the increased crime rate. >1. NUMBER ONE REASON POLYGAMY IS GREAT FOR WOMEN: The familiar line, "all the good men are taken," won't be valid anymore because the good men can be shared."It's better for two good women to share one good man than foreach good woman to have her own jerk." My large file below explores and discusses the way that this Christian polygyny, or concubinage, can be legally practiced in America today. For the documentation that this polygyny option is a Judeo-Christian option in line with fundamental, evangelical, orthodox and dispensational Christianity please obtain the older document from the following: http://polyamory.meetup.com/389/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Poly_Polygamy_Polygny_And_Jesus http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OrthodoxBiblicalMarriagePolygamy http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PolyPolygamyPolygnyNJesus http://groups.google.com/group/BiblicalChristianPolygamyPolygyny

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OrthodoxBiblicalMarriagePolygamy2 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LynnAndLossRecovery http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PolyOption4ChristiansWithSTDs/ http://community.eons.com/groups/group/women-sharing-one-man-maritally http://groups.myspace.com/BiblicalChristianPoly http://www.flickr.com/groups/396188@N24/ - - personal http://www.flickr.com/groups/christian_polygyny/ http://www.flickr.com/groups/christian_polygamy/ http://www.flickr.com/groups/christianpoly/http://polygynouschristians.multiply.com/ http://biblicalpolygamy.multiply.com/ Here are summaries of some articles dealing with the subjects of Blacks and polygamy.----------------------------------------------------------------------TITLE: Can Mr. Mombasa Keep All his Wives?AUTHOR: Tim StaffordSOURCE: Christianity Today, 35:33-34 Feb 11, 1991This article deals with a conflict in the Christian church in Kenya, wheremany blacks who are converted have several wives. Originally the churchwould not baptize them, but allowed them to participate in the church.Later, the church and some members broke away from their leadership and began baptizing black polygamous men.-----------------------------------------------------------------------TITLE: Thinking the unthinkable: man-sharing: a startling report from those who do, don't, will, won't.AUTHOR: Laura B. RandolphSOURCE: Ebony 46:136+, Jan 1991The book Man Sharing: Dilemma or Choice, by Audrey Chapman, says that man sharing is common in the black community. This article discusses the emotional impact of man-sharing on black women, and says that many black women do chose this life-style because of the shortage of black men. ------------------------------------------------------------------------TITLE: Shortage of Black Men may Force Alternative to Traditional FamilySOURCE: Jet 69:33, Feb 3, 1986This article discusses the shortage of single, employed black men, and suggests that women may have to consider polygamy as an alternative. ------------------------------------------------------------------------TITLE: Woman Leader Sparks Furor about Polygamy Saving Black FamiliesSOURCE: Jet 69: 38-39 Feb 17, 1986 Hortense G. Canady, who is the leader of Sigma Theta Sorority, has created a controversy by stating that black women may have to live polygamy because of the shortage of marriagable black men in the community. ------------------------------------------------------------- &&&&End of abbreviated version ***THE MOSLEM SOLUTIONThere is the Moslem solution. My Islamic and polygynist friend Rafiq in SE Asia shared with me that the Quran states:"....Several times in recent years the subject of marriage was brought up in the International Shura (Consultative Assembly) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The reason was that most Communities faced the problem of having a surplus of girls unable to find husbands. The problem is/was of course more serious with widows and divorcees but also exists even with unmarried virgin girls. The fact that this subject was brought up for consultation again and again proves that in this respect the health of the society could be/needed to be improved. During the Assembly the Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community had inquired from various delegates whether this problem existed in their local communities. All representatives had to agree, with the exception of the African representatives. As Polygamy is practiced in Africa the communities there did not face any problems in this respect.""As many Hadith (sayings of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be on him) show it is of course a great blessing to marry widows and divorcees.. . .""And if you fear that you will not be fair in dealing with the orphans, then marry of women as may be agreeable to you, two, or three, or four; and if you fear you will not be able to deal justly, then marry only one or what your right hands possess. That is the nearest way for you to avoid injustice." (Sura 4 verse 4)."Rafiq continues:"Sura 4:4 mentions the welfare of orphans. To elaborate a bit further we can say that Sura 4:4 deals with the welfare of the society. Polygamy therefore should be encouraged when the welfare of the

society demands it.∑"Another aspect of Sura 4:4 is that it mentions polygamy as a natural way of life. It does NOT start with 'marry ONE, or two, or three or four' but it already starts with 'marry two...' From this fact it can be clearly deducted that polygamy is considered rather the norm and not the exception. One reason therefore to seek to practice polygamy may be to fulfill the personal purposes of marriage as mentioned above. However, another aspect would be to contribute to the health of the society as a whole.""Most of the prophets of the bible have several wives [Abraham, Jacob, Jacob's sons, Moses, Gideon, David, Solomon, King Joash]. Islam is in fact the only religion who has LIMITED polygamy to only four permitted wives. This in order to facilitate the first rule of polygamy in Islam: the equal treatment of all wives."----------------------------### THE REST OF THE JEWISH SOLUTION ESAU+++++++++++++++++++++++++Ge 36:2 Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, daughter of Zibeon the Hivite, . . . . 6 And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the souls of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his possessions, that he had acquired in the land of Canaan, and went into a country away from his brother Jacob.Ge 28:9 And Esau went to Ishmael, and took, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham’s son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.JACOB'S FOUR WIVES+++++++++++++++++++++Ge 37:2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, fed the flock with his brethren; and he was doing service with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought to his father an evil report of them.Ge 30:26 Give me my wives [, Rachel and Leah][for whom I have served thee, and my children; that I may go away, for thou knowest my service which I have served thee.Ge 31:17 And Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels, ABRAHAM++++++++++++++++++++++++Ge 16:1 And Sarai Abram’s wife did not bear him children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant; and her name was Hagar. . . .3 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar, the Egyptian, her maidservant, at the end of ten years that Abram had dwelt in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram, as his wife.LAMECH+++++++++++++++++++Ge 4:19 And Lemech took two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the second, Zillah. . . . 23 And Lemech said to his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice, Ye wives of Lemech, listen to my speech. For I have slain a man for my wound, and a youth for my bruise.The Old Testament Jews had a very similar practice underthe Moses, the Law and the JudgesOT JUDGES:"The relative positions of wives and concubines were determined mainly by the husband's favour. The children of the wife claimed the greater part, or the whole, of the inheritance; otherwise there does not seem to have been any inferiority in the position of the concubine as compared with that of the wife, nor was any idea of illegitimacy, in our sense of the word, connected with her children. . . . The female slaves were in every respect the property of their master, and became his concubines; except in certain cases, when they seem to have belonged exclusively to their mistress, and could not be appropriated by the man except by her suggestion or consent(Gn16:2,3). The slave-concubines were obtained as booty in time of war (Jg 5:30), or bought from poverty-stricken parents (Ex 21:7);or,possibly, in the ordinary slave traffic with foreign nations." >12[Footnote: >12. DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE, J. Hastings (Selbie,Lambert, Mathews), Hendrickson Publishers, 1989; p.259.]OT Law and the Prophets: CONCUBINAGE, "Refers to the cohabitation of a man and a woman without sanction of legal marriage. Specifically, concubinage is a form of polygyny in which the primary matrimonial relationship is supplemented by one or more secondary sexual relationships. Concubinage was a legally sanctioned and socially acceptable practice in ancient cultures,including that of the Hebrews; concubines, however, were denied the protection to which a legal wife was entitled".[Footnote: >27 1986, Funk & Wagnalls NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA.]THE LEVITE AND HIS CONCUBINE-------JUDGES 19:1 ¶ And it came to pass in those days,

when there was no king in Israel, that a certain Levite, sojourning on the further side of mount Ephraim, took him a concubine out of Bethlehem-Judah. 2 And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him to her father’s house to Bethlehem-Judah, and was there some time, --four months. 3 And her husband rose up and went after her, to speak kindly to her, to bring her again; OT Law and the Prophets: Eerdmans' Douglas' New Bible Dictionary: "Concubine. A secondary wife acquired by purchase or as a war captive, and allowed in polygamous society such as existed in the Middle east in biblical times....Where marriages produced no heir, wives presented a slave concubine too their husbands in order to raise an heir (Gen. 16).Handmaidens, given as a marriage gift, were often concubines(Gen.29:24,29). Concubines were protected under Mosaic law (Exod.21:711; Dt. 21:10-14), though they were distinguished from wives(Jdg.8:31) and were more easily divorced (Gen.21:10-14)"[Footnote: >26 IVCF, Editor J.D.Douglas; 1962,W. B. Eerdmans Publishing.]OT Law and the Prophets: ". . Elkanah, the husband of Hannah and Peninnah, is an interesting example of a man of no particular position who nevertheless had more than one wife;this may be an indication that bigamy, at least, if not polygamy, was not confined to the very wealthy and exalted. At all events, polygyny was an established and recognized institution from the earliest of times.">39[Footnote: >39. DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE, J. Hastings(Selbie, Lambert, Mathews), Hendrickson Publishers, 1989;p.259.]HANNAH++++++++++++++1 SAM. 1: 1 ¶ And there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. 2 And he had two wives: the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. GIDEON++++++++++++JUDGES 8: 29 ¶ And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his house. 30 Now Gideon had seventy sons who had come out of his loins, for he had many wives. 31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bore him a son, and he gave him the name of Abimelech.OT Law and the Prophets: "Polygamy was such a well established part of the social system that Mosaic law is not even critical of it. . . . .the high priest could have only one wife and that a king in Israel should not have too many wives (Lev. 21:13; Deut. 17:17;Ex. 21:10). . . . "CHARLES A. RUBENSTEIN-----------------Bibliography:Abrahams, 1., Jewish Life in the Middle Ages (1917);Westermarck, E., History of Human Marriage (1901);OT TALMUD: "According to the Talmud the right to a plurality of wives is conceded, but the number of legitimate wives, as in the Koran, is limited to four. The taking of additional wives is held as sufficient ground for divorce for a woman who had previously been the sole wife. Where a polygamous union exists, provision must be made for adequate maintenance of each wife as well as a separate domicile. Throughout the Talmudic age not one rabbi is known to have had more than one wife. Monogamy was held to be the only ideal legal union; plurality of wives was a concession to time and condition."CHARLES A. RUBENSTEIN-----------------Bibliography: Abrahams, 1., Jewish Life in the Middle Ages (1917);Westermarck, E., History of Human Marriage (1901);Spencer, H., Principles of Sociology idem, Descriptive Sociology;Lay, Wilfrid, A Plea for Monogamy (1923)Deut. 21:15 ∫ "If a man have two wives, one beloved, and one hated, and they have borne him children, [both] the beloved and the hated, and [if] the first-born son be hers that was hated; 16 then it shall be, in the day that he makes his sons to inherit [that]which he has, [that] he may not make the son of the beloved first-born before the son of the hated, who is the first-born; 17 but he shall acknowledge as first-born the son of the hated, by giving him a double portion of all that he has; for he is the first fruits of his strength: the right of the firstborn is his.""What about Ex. 21:7-9? It was expected that the female slave would become her master's wife or concubine, or become the wife or concubine of her master's son, and the law protected her rights if he was unwilling to do so.>16. Her owner could not sell her to foreigners because he had "trifled" with her (see LXX), "seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.">17.[Footnotes:>16. Please

see the discussion in THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE COMMENTARY; p.126ff & p.172ff.; >17. Ex. 21:8; The Holy Scriptures according to the Masoretic Text].EXODUS 20:22 ∫ And Jehovah said to Moses, Thus shalt thou say to the children of Israel: Ye have seen that I have spoken with you from the heavens. . . . 21:1 ∫ And these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them. . . . 7 "And if a man sells his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the men servants do. 8 If she does not please her master, who has betrothed her to himself,then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no power to sell her to a strange nation, since he has dealt deceitfully with her. 9 And if he has betrothed her to his son, he shall deal with her as with daughters. 10 If he takes himself another [wife], her food, her clothing, and her duty of marriage shall not be lessened. 11 And if he does not do these three to her, then she shall go out free without money."The Old Testament Jews had a very similar practice underthe Kings of Israel --------------------------------OT Kings:The marriage figure applied to the union of God and Israel. . . ..implied monogamy as the ideal state. Polygamy is, in fact,always an unnatural development from the point of view both to religion and of anthropology; 'monogamy is by far the most common form of human marriage; it was so also amongst the ancient peoples of whom we have any direct knowledge' (Westermarck, Hum. Marr.p.459). Being, however, apparently legalized, and having the advantage of precedent, it was long before polygamy was formally forbidden in Hebrew society >n130 , though practically it fell into disuse; the feeling of the Rabbis was strongly against it.">n131[Footnotes:>.n129 Always? What about the divorce statistics in our modern and monogamous America? Also, Solomon and the Shulamite seemed to have a great deal of domestic happiness in their polygamy according to the Song of Solomon 6. >.n130"Polygamy was not definitely forbidden among the Jews till the time of R. Gershom (c. A.d. 1000), and then at first only for France and Germany. In Spain, Italy,m and the East it persisted for some time longer, as it does still among the Jews in Mohammedan counties". DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE, J. Hastings (Selbie,Lambert, Mathews), Hendrickson Publishers, 1989;p.584.>..n131 Loc Cit Dictionary of the Bible, Hastings: pp. 583-587.]OT Kings: "The gradual evolution in the OT of monogamy as the ideal is therefore of the highest interest. The earliest codes attempt in various ways to regulate the custom of polygyny. The Deut. code in particular actually forbids kings to multiply wives (Dt 17.17); this is the fruit, apparently of the experience of Solomon's reign.">n133[Footnote: >.n133 DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE, J. Hastings(Selbie, Lambert, Mathews), Hendrickson Publishers, 1989;p.259..]OT KINGS: God's Law forbade a king from "multiplying"wives>.75 to himself without making such a command to we non kings. It appears from later scripture about Godly and God blessed kings of Israel that God makes a distinction between MULTIPLYING wives & horses to yourself and adding wives & horses to yourself. None of us object to King David having more than one horse but many object to King David having more than one wife, yet it is the same command"he shall not multiply hoses . . . wives to himself." By 2 Samuel 5-12 God had "given" him seven wives plus a number of concubines.We see His implied blessing on David's polygyny . This implied blessing of his polygyny would have to mean that David, with concubines and seven wives, had not yet violated the prohibition against a king multiplying wives and horses to himself.[Footnotes:>75 De 17:15 "You shall only set him king over you whom Jehovah your God will choose: from among your brethren shall you set a king over you; . . . 16 Only he shall not multiply horses to himself, . . . 17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself,that his heart turn not away; neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold." NO PROHIBITION FROM HAVING SOME HORSES , SOME WIVES and some gold]OT Kings: "Polygamy meets us as a fact: e.g. Abraham, Jacob,the Judges,David, Solomon; 1 Ch 7:4 is evidence of its prevalence in Issachar;Elkanah (1 Sam.1:1ff) is significant as belonging to the middle class;Jehoida (2 Ch 24:3) as a priest. . .Legislation . . . safe guarded the rights of various wives, slave or free; and according to the Rabbinical interpretation of Lv 21:13>40. . . .the high priest was not allowed to be a bigamist. . .

The marriage figure applied to the union of God and Israel . . . implied monogamy as the ideal state. . . "[Footnote: (>.(40. Septuagint Lev. 21:13 "He shall take for a wife a virgin of his own tribe.". .>41. DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE, J.Hastings (Selbie, Lambert, Mathews), Hendrickson Publishers,1989; p.583ff.]JEHOIDA AND JOASH++++++++++++++++2 CHRON 24:1 ¶ Joash was seven years old when he began to reign; and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. 2 And Joash did what was right in the sight of Jehovah all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begot sons and daughters.JEHORAM++++++++++++2 CHRON 21:12 ¶ And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet saying, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of David thy father: Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah, . . .14 behold, Jehovah will smite with a great stroke thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy substance, ABIJAH+++++++++2 CHRON 13: 20 And Jeroboam did not recover strength again in the days of Abijah; and Jehovah smote him, and he died. 21 But Abijah strengthened himself, and took fourteen wives, and begot twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. 22 And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways and his sayings, are written in the treatise of the prophet Iddo.AHAB++++++++++++++1 KINGS 20: 1 ¶ And BenHadad king of Syria assembled all his host; and there were thirty-two kings with him, and horses and chariots; and he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it. 2 And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said to him, Thus says Ben-Hadad: 3 Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, the goodliest, are mine. . . 7 And the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeks mischief; for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not. 8 And all the elders and all the people said to him, Hearken not, nor consentREHOBOAM+++++++++++++++1 CHRON 11:17 And they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong three years; for during three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon. 18 And Rehoboam took Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David as wife, and of Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse. 19 And she bore him children: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham. 20 And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; and she bore him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. 21 And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines; for he had taken eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he begot twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.SOLOMON'S SIN OF MARRYING UNBELIEVERS1 KINGS 11:4 And it came to pass when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Jehovah his God, as the heart of David his father. 5 And Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of Jehovah, and followed not fully Jehovah, as David his father. 7 Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, on the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8 And so he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.DAVID+++++++++++++1 Chron. 3: 1 ¶ And these are the sons of David, who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn, Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jizreelitess; the second, Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess; 2 the third, Absalom the son of Maachah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; 3 the fifth, Shephatiah of Abital; the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah his wife: 4 six were born to him in Hebron. And there he reigned seven years and six months. And in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years. 5 And these were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel; 6 and Ibhar, and Elishama, and Eliphelet, 7 and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 8 and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine: 9 all were sons of David, besides the sons of the concubines; and Tamar was their sister.----------------------THE

REST OF THE CHRISTIAN SOLUTIONThe Old Testament Jews had a very similar practice during theperiod of the exile of Israel, and during the time that Jesus and the Apostles were walking on the earth in Israel.APOSTOLIC TIMES: "In Roman law, marriage was precisely defined as monogamous; concubinage was tolerated, but the concubine's status was inferior to that of a legal wife. Her children had certain rights, including support by the father and legitimacy in the event of the marriage of the parents".[Footnote: >27 1986, Funk & Wagnalls NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA.]APOSTOLIC TIMES: In the Second Commonwealth polygamy is far from general (cf. To bit and Susanna). Yet it survived far into the Christian era. In the New Testament Jesus neither condemns polygamous unions nor advocates a change in the system." CHARLES A. RUBENSTEIN-----------------Bibliography:Abrahams, 1., Jewish Life in the Middle Ages (1917);Westermarck, E., History of Human Marriage (1901);Spencer, H., Principles of Sociology idem, Descriptive Sociology;Lay, Wilfrid, A Plea for Monogamy (1923)APOSTOLIC TIMES: "Herod had nine wives at once. . .Its possibility is implied by the technical continuance of the Levirate law, [Deut. 25:5-10] and is proved by the early interpretation of 1 Ti 3, whether correct or not. Justin reproaches the Jews of his day [A.D.] with having 'four or even five wives,'and marrying 'as they wish, or as many as they wish.' The evidence of the Talmud shows that in this case at least the reproach had some foundation. ">41.[Footnote: (>.(40. Septuagint Lev. 21:13 "He shall take for a wife a virgin of his own tribe.". .>41. DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE, J.Hastings (Selbie, Lambert, Mathews), Hendrickson Publishers,1989;p.583ff.] JEHOVAH AND HIS TWO WIVES+++++++++++EZEK 23: 1 ¶ And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, there were two women, daughters of one mother. 3 And they committed whoredom in Egypt; they committed whoredom in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there were handled the teats of their virginity. 4 And their names were Oholah the elder, and Oholibah her sister; and they were mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names: Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem Oholibah. 5 And Oholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she lusted after her lovers, after the Assyrians her neighbours, . . . . . OT POST EXILE:"However, if polygamy was not forbidden it was not directly sanctioned. It was a heritage from the past and it was left undisturbed. . . . In the Second Commonwealth polygamy is far from general (cf. To bit and Susanna)."CHARLES A. RUBENSTEIN-----------------Bibliography:Abrahams, 1., Jewish Life in the Middle Ages (1917);Westermarck, E., History of Human Marriage (1901);Spencer, H., Principles of Sociology idem, Descriptive Sociology;Lay, Wilfrid, A Plea for Monogamy (1923)---------------------The European Christians during the time of Martin Luther and the Reformation had a very similar practice.EUROPEAN ROYALTY: "In modern Europe polygamy disappeared from Jewish domestic life while among Christians it remained a tolerated privilege of royalty until very late times. . . . "CHARLES A. RUBENSTEIN-----------------Bibliography:Abrahams, 1., Jewish Life in the Middle Ages (1917);Westermarck, E., History of Human Marriage (1901);Spencer, H., Principles of Sociology idem, Descriptive Sociology;Lay, Wilfrid, A Plea for Monogamy (1923) 1650's:¥¥¥Milton, author of Paradise Lost, wrote a manuscript in the 1650s, "Da Doctrina", a lengthy theological document. It was lost until 1825, when it was discovered and translated, creating a pre-Victorian uproar in London.The famous author had dared to justify polygamy! His arguments are lucid and concise: " Polygamy is prohibited to no one, even under the gospel." Milton "administers the coup degrade to his opponents when he observed that God himself (in Ezekiel 23:4) represents Himself as having `espoused two wives' which would have been unthinkable had `the practice been dishonourable or shameful'. On the contrary, he maintains,polygamy is `lawful and honourable'." (pg.129, ***After Polygamy Was Made A Sin:The Social History of Christian Polygamy John Cairncross, 1974 Published by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd,London)REFORMATION: "In the New Testament Jesus neither condemns polygamous unions nor advocates a change in the system.From this noninterference attitude Luther, as late as the 16th cent.,arrived at the

conclusion that he could not forbid the taking of more than one wife."CHARLES A. RUBENSTEIN-----------------Bibliography:Abrahams, 1., Jewish Life in the Middle Ages (1917);Westermarck, E., History of Human Marriage (1901);Spencer, H., Principles of Sociology idem, Descriptive Sociology;The Bible, Centuries 2Th through 2Th AD and Polygyny1500's: ***After Polygamy Was Made A Sin:The Social History of Christian PolygamyJohn Cairncross, 1974Published by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd, London ¥¥¥The Italian Ochino, a Franciscan until the age of 55, was a fiery orator, and a "man distinguished by the sanctity of his life, of a vast culture, venerable, whitehaired, and tall, of a majestic bearing". It was only when Ochino left the Catholic church and "fled to Switzerland where he becamea Calvinist that the move towards Anabaptism began". (pg.65-66) He wrote a brilliant thesis on polygamy that was "effervescent, witty, and convincing." He was eventually exiled for his teachings, along with his four children, during winter 1563, by the City Fathers of Zurich. Three of his children died as a result. (Chapter 4)REFORMATION: "In the New Testament Jesus neither condemns polygamous unions nor advocates a change in the system.From this noninterference attitude Luther, as late as the 16th cent.,arrived at the conclusion that he could not forbid the taking of more than one wife."CHARLES A. RUBENSTEIN-----------------Bibliography:Abrahams, 1., Jewish Life in the Middle Ages (1917);Westermarck, E., History of Human Marriage (1901);Spencer, H., Principles of Sociology idem, Descriptive Sociology;1500's *******Martin LutherMartin Luther wrote in De Wette, II, p. 459, "I confess that I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict the Scripture. If a man wishes to marry more than one wife, he should be asked whether he is satisfied in his conscience that he may do so in accordance with the word of God. In such a case, the civil authority has nothing to do in such a matter." 1500's: ***After Polygamy Was Made A Sin:The Social History of Christian PolygamyJohn Cairncross, 1974Published by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd, London¥¥¥"Phillip of Hesse felt impelled by his reverence for the sacraments to mend his first marriage by contracting a second one even while his wife was alive. And he did so with the sanction of the Fathers of the Reformation. The first palidin of German Protestantism (Phillip) was,with Luther's and Melanchthon's permission, a bigamist.Protestant historians have never recovered from the shock."(pg.31) Phillip debated this issue with the Reformer's for many years before and after his (supposedly secret) 2nd marriage. "If, he asked, it should suddenly be possible to overthrow the celibacy of the clergy, why should the institution of bigamy be a priori excluded? The only effective answer would have been that polygamy is condemned by Christian doctrine. But this was a stand that Luther and his colleagues never took and for very good reasons. They could not. They themselves did not believe that polygamy was against divine or natural law." (pg. 48) Luther did state that "A Christian,before adopting polygamy, must first have a calling from God."(pg. 49) 1500's: ***After Polygamy Was Made A Sin:The Social History of Christian Polygamy John Cairncross, 1974Published by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd, London¥¥¥Thus it was that in 1534, the "German city of Munster proclaimed polygamy as the ideal form of marriage. The event is unique in the history of Christian Europe, and the reaction to this announcement explains why the experiment was never repeated. For it was greeted with a unanimous revulsion and horror."(pg.1) the accounts of this time are filled with vitriolic denunciations of the Musterites and their morals, "in fact,Munsterunder Anabaptist rule was a centre of extremely austere morality. It's only crime, by orthodox standards, was to have introduced polygamy, and a highly Puritan type at that!" (pg .24) While this episode was over quickly, "Puritan polygamy was not extinguished under the ashes of the ruined city.The influence of the Munsterite ideas was profound." (pg.27) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++AND THEN THERE WAS THE REST OF THE STORY----THE SONG OF SOLOMON>>The Shulamite"He should kiss me with the kisses of his mouth----for your loving is better than wine! . . . .I am BLACK [AS A RAVEN], but lovely . . .because the sun has looked upon me. . . .">>SolomonBehold,

you are fair, my beloved companion!Behold, you are fair! You have dove's eyes. >>The ShulamiteBehold, you are handsome, my beloved!Yes, pleasant! . . . .His left hand is under my head, And his right hand embraces me. . . .>>SolomonHow fair is your loving, My sister, my spouse!How much better than wine is your loving,And the fragrance of your perfumesThan all spices!Your lips, O my spouse, Drip as the honeycomb;Honey and milk are under your tongue;And the fragrance of your garments Is like the fragrance of Lebanon.A garden* enclosed Is my sister, my spouse, . . . .>>The ShulamiteMy beloved should come to his garden*And eat its pleasant fruits.>>SolomonI have come to my garden*,my sister, my spouse . . . >> The ShulamiteMy beloved is WHITE AND RUDDY,Chief among ten thousand.His head is like the fines gold;His locks wavy,And BLACK [AS A RAVEN]. . . .>>SolomonHow fair and how pleasant you are,O love, with your delights!This stature of yours is like a palm treeAnd your breasts like its clusters.I said 'I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of its branches.'Your breasts should be like clusters of the vine,The fragrance of your breath like apples,And the roof of your mouth like the best wine. >>The ShulamiteI am my beloved'sAnd his desire is toward me.Come, my beloved, We should get up early to the vineyards;There I will give you my loving. . . .His left hand is under my head,And his right hand embraces me. . . [Beloved], set me as a seal upon your heart,As a seal upon your arm;For love is as strong as death, . . . . Many waters cannot quench love,Nor can the floods drown it.If a man would give for loveAll the wealth of his house,It would be utterly despised. . . .I am a wall,And my breasts like towers;Then I became in his eyesAs one who found peace. . . " Song of Solomon"Your fountain should be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth. As a loving deer and a graceful doe, her breasts should satisfy you at all times; and always be intoxicated-orgasmic-enraptured with her loving. Proverbs 5:18,19"Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works. Let your garments always be white, and let your head lack no oil. All the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun live joyfully with the wife whom you love, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun." Ecclesiastes 9:7,8,9"Wives, [if you don't want to go along with something your husbands ask, and going along with them would not be morally wrong or spiritually an error, then deny yourselves and] submit [yourselves] to your own husbands, as [you often deny yourselves to submit yourselves] to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church . . . Husbands, unselfishly and compassionately cherish your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it . . . each one of you in particular should so unselfishly and compassionately cherish his own wife as himself, and the wife should see that she respects her husband [not because he is so respectable, but as an expression of Love for Jesus]."Ephesians 5:22-33OTHER RESOURCEShttp://www.etext.org/Religious.Texts/Polyamory http://polyamory.meetup.com/389/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Poly_Polygamy_Polygny_And_Jesus http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OrthodoxBiblicalMarriagePolygamy http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PolyPolygamyPolygnyNJesus http://groups.google.com/group/BiblicalChristianPolygamyPolygyny http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OrthodoxBiblicalMarriagePolygamy2 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LynnAndLossRecovery http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PolyOption4ChristiansWithSTDs/ http://community.eons.com/groups/group/women-sharing-one-man-maritally http://groups.myspace.com/BiblicalChristianPoly http://www.flickr.com/groups/396188@N24/ - - personal http://www.flickr.com/groups/christian_polygyny/ http://www.flickr.com/groups/christian_polygamy/ http://www.flickr.com/groups/christianpoly/http://polygynouschristians.multiply.com/ http://biblicalpolygamy.multiply.com/