Polygamy

Polygamyis a word that comes from lateGreek.It can be translated asmanymarriages.It refers to any form of marriage where a person hasmore than onespouse.^[1]There is also a concept calledgroup marriage.In group marriage, all the (adult) members of the group are responsible for all the children.

A man being married to more than one woman at the same time is calledpolygyny.A woman being married to more than one man at the same time is calledpolyandry.

These terms are used inzoology.They are under the titles:Polygyny in animalsandPolyandry in animals.

Both forms have occurred in humans. Polygyny is much more common, and is practised by millions of people, mostly inMuslimandAfricancountries. According to Muslim Sharia law,a man can have manywivesat the same time. In many AfricanPagan religions,polygamy is a commoncustom,and there is also often no limit to the number of women a man can marry. In most non-Muslim and non-African countries, polygamy isillegal,and a person who has more than one spouse can be prosecuted forbigamy.Some countries, includingIndia,only permit Muslims to be polygamous.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Polygamy is one of the beliefs of MormonFundamentalists.These are Mormons (members ofThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) who strictly follow the teachings ofJoseph Smith.^[2]Smith felt it was his job to restore plural marriage to the earth. He was married to 33 women.^[2]In 1890 the Mormon church officially stopped "celestial marriages" (polygamy).^[3]Church members who continue to practice plural marriage areexcommunicatedfrom the church.

Sethepu/Isithembu

Isithembu(Sethepu) is theAfricanpractice of a man being able to have more than onewifeat the same time.^[4]A man may marry again if his current wife or wives cannot have children. He keeps his current wife or wives as divorce is not allowed.^[4]A man may marry again if his current wife or wives have not produced male children. He can marry again if a wife does not want children. In some places, if a man dies, his wife or wives are married to his brother.^[4]This way his family is cared for. TheSwaziculture says a man should have many wives. Polygamy (Isithembu) is normal for men.^[5]Woman should have children, which is normal for them.^[5]

References

↑Polygamy Archived2008-04-28 at theWayback Machineat socialsciencedictionary.org
↑^2.0^2.1Janet Bennion,Polygamy in Primetime: Media, Gender, and Politics in Mormon Fundamentalism(Waltham, MA: Brandeis University Press, 2012), p. 23
↑Sarah Barringer Gordon,The Mormon Question: Polygamy and Constitutional Conflict in Nineteenth-Century America(Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2002), p. 1
↑^4.0^4.1^4.2Fezekile Futhwa,Setho: Afrikan Thought and Belief System(Alberton, South Africa: Nalane ka Fezekile Futhwa, 2011), p. 56
↑^5.0^5.1A. R. Radcliffe-Brown; Cyril Daryll Forde,African systems of kinship and marriage(London; New York: Oxford University Press, 1950), p. 89

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[1] Polygamy Archived2008-04-28 at theWayback Machineat socialsciencedictionary.org

[Bennion23-2] 2.0^2.1Janet Bennion,Polygamy in Primetime: Media, Gender, and Politics in Mormon Fundamentalism(Waltham, MA: Brandeis University Press, 2012), p. 23

[Gordon1-3] Sarah Barringer Gordon,The Mormon Question: Polygamy and Constitutional Conflict in Nineteenth-Century America(Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2002), p. 1

[Futhwa56-4] 4.0^4.1^4.2Fezekile Futhwa,Setho: Afrikan Thought and Belief System(Alberton, South Africa: Nalane ka Fezekile Futhwa, 2011), p. 56

[Brown89-5] 5.0^5.1A. R. Radcliffe-Brown; Cyril Daryll Forde,African systems of kinship and marriage(London; New York: Oxford University Press, 1950), p. 89

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