Here is an interesting series of articles on this topic.
To briefly summarise it, there are basically two Christian positions on the issue. Roman Catholic Church and some Protestants believe that marriage creates an unbreakable bond which means that remarriage after a divorce is adultery. The Catholic Church does give annulments for cases where they argue that the true bond was not formed.
The other point of view is that of Eastern Orthodox and many Protestants. It states that while the marital bond ought not to be severed by divorce, it can, in fact, be severed. Thus remarriage doesn't necessarily constitute adultery though the guilty party can be prohibited from remarrying as a punishment. The author argues for the 2nd position, I should say, quite convincingly.
What are your thoughts on the issue? Remarriage or not?
That's some heavy reading there, but much of it seems to be based on conjecture or interpretations. My position as an agnostic is that a couple should be committed to each other if there are children between them involved and divorce should not be done casually.
ReplyDeleteAs for multiple wives like in Islam, that seems to be an issue of cultural practicality from ancient societies where the man had a duty to care of his brother's wife if he died since women for most of history had about zero economic power.
Here is another perspective. The Bible does not directly command monogamy despite what the preachers may claim. And it's interesting the Bible dudes get have harems and multiple women with God's blessing, but ordinary men have to be happy to end up with some fat nagging cow.
https://alphamale20.com/2026/02/27/non-monogamy-and-christianity-what-the-bible-actually-says/
The men with multiple wives had to have the resources to care for them and any children they produced financially. Modern men who practice polygyny -even in the east- almost always have their wives working in the marketplace to help support the family. Abraham, Jacob, Elkanah, David, Solomon, etc didn't have their wives out there working.
DeleteTo be clear, I am not advocating for the 1950s housewife template, which is itself VERY modern. I believe wives should be productive contributors to the family. But this should occur within the context of the home. If a man cannot afford to care for his wives without her having to work, he doesn't qualify, even by Biblical standards.
This is assuming you believe that the Bible is pro-polygyny, which I do not believe that it is.
The author, in fact, does argue that polygyny is Biblical.
ReplyDeleteI did catch that part in one of the links.
DeleteBiblical polygyny, though, demands a legal contract with wives being fully and equally provided for.
ReplyDelete"'If he takes another wife, he must not diminish the first one’s food, her clothing, or her marital rights.''
ReplyDeleteI think I have a comment in moderation
ReplyDelete~~ Elspeth