Christian attitudes toward polygamy are more controversial today than they have been for many years. As Euro-American churches debate the issue of same-sex unions, African Christians attack Westerners for their moral laxity and for caving in to secular hedonism. In response, some Western liberals retort that Africans themselves need to put their own house in order. Do African churches define marriage as a sacrosanct union between one man and one woman? If so, then why do their leaders tolerate polygamous unions?
It is a very interesting article, one which I hope you read.
http://christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=8169.
Joel L. Watts holds a Masters of Arts from United Theological Seminary with a focus in literary and rhetorical criticism of the New Testament. His interests include exploring the role of mimesis in human civilization, specifically in the study of religion and media, as well as science fiction and the way in which it has allowed mythology to be explored in light of scientific discoveries of the past century. He is the author of Mimetic Criticism of the Gospel of Mark: Introduction and Commentary (Wipf and Stock, 2013) and a co-editor and contributor to From Fear to Faith: Stories of Hitting Spiritual Walls (Energion, 2013).
Website: → Unsettled Christianity
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I’m glad you are discussing it in terms of polygamy, because a post I read earlier today explains quite clearly why polyamory is wrong…
Ha!
Ha!
I’m glad you are discussing it in terms of polygamy, because a post I read earlier today explains quite clearly why polyamory is wrong…
I’m glad you are discussing it in terms of polygamy, because a post I read earlier today explains quite clearly why polyamory is wrong…
Ha!
I know one African theologian who would definitely oppose polygamy. Clement of Alexandria!
Indeed. Tertullian too, but I think if it was up to Tertullian, we would all be unmarried anyway.
Indeed. Tertullian too, but I think if it was up to Tertullian, we would all be unmarried anyway.
I know one African theologian who would definitely oppose polygamy. Clement of Alexandria!
Indeed. Tertullian too, but I think if it was up to Tertullian, we would all be unmarried anyway.
polygamy = too many players on the team
polygamy = too many players on the team
polygamy = too many players on the team
God never prohibited polygamy. If he had wanted, he could have explicitly stated that it is wrong for a man to have more than one wife, yet he chose not to do so. For people today to treat polygamy as equivalent to homosexual marriage is wrong, because homosexuality is clearly spoken against in the Bible, while polygamy is not only allowed, but even commanded in certain circumstances, such as the levirate marriage law in the Old Testament, there being no exception for a brother who was already married, which would be very common in a society which valued marriage highly as did ancient Israel. I think Christians need to be tolerant of other cultures, especially when it involves something which is not morally repugnant according to Biblical morality.
Ethan, toleration of other cultures is fine, and no one is really being intolerant here. Polygamy, smoking, drinking, tv, earrings, Star Trek, Buddhism, etc ad nauseum is clearly spoken against in the bible as well. If you really want to discuss this, then that is fine, however, if you want to assume that you are correct and wish to remain in that presupposition, I have little time to debate.
Do let me know which are the anti-Star Trek verses. I need to share them with my religion and sci-fi class!
2nd Lucas 3.3, which sayeth in the original ‘Star Wars is better because it is more spiritual, not counting DS9 and Voyager.’
Of course, if one does ‘exegesis’ properly, he or she could perhaps even twist that.
BTW – I am a Trekker, not to be confused with Trekkie, forever. Although I suspect that because I know the difference….
2nd Lucas 3.3, which sayeth in the original ‘Star Wars is better because it is more spiritual, not counting DS9 and Voyager.’
Of course, if one does ‘exegesis’ properly, he or she could perhaps even twist that.
BTW – I am a Trekker, not to be confused with Trekkie, forever. Although I suspect that because I know the difference….
Do let me know which are the anti-Star Trek verses. I need to share them with my religion and sci-fi class!
Ethan, toleration of other cultures is fine, and no one is really being intolerant here. Polygamy, smoking, drinking, tv, earrings, Star Trek, Buddhism, etc ad nauseum is clearly spoken against in the bible as well. If you really want to discuss this, then that is fine, however, if you want to assume that you are correct and wish to remain in that presupposition, I have little time to debate.
God never prohibited polygamy. If he had wanted, he could have explicitly stated that it is wrong for a man to have more than one wife, yet he chose not to do so. For people today to treat polygamy as equivalent to homosexual marriage is wrong, because homosexuality is clearly spoken against in the Bible, while polygamy is not only allowed, but even commanded in certain circumstances, such as the levirate marriage law in the Old Testament, there being no exception for a brother who was already married, which would be very common in a society which valued marriage highly as did ancient Israel. I think Christians need to be tolerant of other cultures, especially when it involves something which is not morally repugnant according to Biblical morality.
God never prohibited polygamy. If he had wanted, he could have explicitly stated that it is wrong for a man to have more than one wife, yet he chose not to do so. For people today to treat polygamy as equivalent to homosexual marriage is wrong, because homosexuality is clearly spoken against in the Bible, while polygamy is not only allowed, but even commanded in certain circumstances, such as the levirate marriage law in the Old Testament, there being no exception for a brother who was already married, which would be very common in a society which valued marriage highly as did ancient Israel. I think Christians need to be tolerant of other cultures, especially when it involves something which is not morally repugnant according to Biblical morality.
Ethan, toleration of other cultures is fine, and no one is really being intolerant here. Polygamy, smoking, drinking, tv, earrings, Star Trek, Buddhism, etc ad nauseum is clearly spoken against in the bible as well. If you really want to discuss this, then that is fine, however, if you want to assume that you are correct and wish to remain in that presupposition, I have little time to debate.
Do let me know which are the anti-Star Trek verses. I need to share them with my religion and sci-fi class!
2nd Lucas 3.3, which sayeth in the original ‘Star Wars is better because it is more spiritual, not counting DS9 and Voyager.’
Of course, if one does ‘exegesis’ properly, he or she could perhaps even twist that.
BTW – I am a Trekker, not to be confused with Trekkie, forever. Although I suspect that because I know the difference….