I would like to see these questions answered:
What is marriage?
What is adultery?
What is polygamy?
What is divorce? What is "putting away"?
What is the difference between adultery & polygamy?
If polygamy is not wrong or sinful, what makes it ok? In what circumstances would it be beneficial, desirable, acceptable, good, honorable, etc? And likewise, in what circumstances would it NOT be acceptable or good or honorable, etc?
Does Jesus say anything for or against polygamy in the New Testament?
What does it mean to be "one flesh" with someone?
What does it mean to "tear asunder"?
What does the Bible mean when it says that the husband's body belongs to the wife?
For a wife who finds herself in a situation where the husband is seeking another wife, how should she be counseled?
Those are all the questions I have for now....there may be more as time & discussions go on.
I am with khix and would like to hear what the answers to some of these questions may be. And lest some be tempted to sweep aside my request by telling me to ask my husband, I have his blessing to ask my question here. :-)
With that said, it is my humble opinion, that even though we came upon some of these questions due to a specific person's circumstance, it may be more productive to de-personalize these questions. In other words, let's look at them from the perspective of the logic of the Bible, the parameters of what cultural restrictions the Bible allows, and not be afraid to say "I don't know" if there is no clear Biblical answer. Not to be swayed in any way, pro or con, due to the situation of any person or culture. What is the TRUTH.
I think so much of this particular discussion and similar discussions has devolved from the honest and original questions of the OP(s) and turned in to emotional bickering between many on this board. I have been grieved by this.
I have also seen some posters try and silence OPs questions by openly challenging their motives. At that point, nothing is being accomplished but alienation of the OP and the folks who also may want to know the answer to the question. Unless it is glaringly obvious that the person asking the question is doing so with an intent to hurt another or to covertly "teach" in a way that is non-Biblical, what can be the harm in enlightening one who may be seeking truth? Even if you find that truth to be irrelevant or un-necessary. That is YOUR opinion, not necessarily reality.
Anyway, lest I derail the thread, now I have said my piece, and I really hope someone will logically address the questions that khix posed. There are many of us who have the same honest questions.
