Why is a man allowed to have more than one wife in Islam?

[Madhuri]

Originally Posted by Caladan

Well you did say you are surprised why other societies don't practice polygamy as most men would be happy with numerous wives.

Religion. And women's influence probably.

[Caladan]

Originally Posted by Madhuri

Religion. And women's influence probably.

Not sure I got you, religion is the reason why other societies don't practice polygamy?

[Madhuri]

Originally Posted by Caladan

Not sure I got you, religion is the reason why other societies don't practice polygamy?

Religions tend to preach against lust and sexual indulgence even if they don't specifically say 'only have one wife'.
In fact, religion has greatly contributed to sexual repression.

[Caladan]

Originally Posted by Madhuri

Religions tend to preach against lust and sexual indulgence even if they don't specifically say 'only have one wife'.
In fact, religion has greatly contributed to sexual repression.

OK, I think we need to slow down.
religion contributes to sexual repression and therefore toned down polygamy, but at the same time one of the world largest religions, who many claim to be the most repressive is OK with polygamy?

[Madhuri]

Originally Posted by Caladan

OK, I think we need to slow down.
religion contributes to sexual repression and therefore toned down polygamy, but at the same time one of the world largest religions, who many claim to be the most repressive is OK with polygamy?

If you are talking about Islam, isn't our muslim friend saying that this is not the case? When we see polygamy in cultures it is most likely that the society can misinterpreted for some reason or other. Or ignored a specific instruction. If people desire something, they will find what they want to see in their scripture or law.
However, in western countries I believe it is largely Christian influence that has lead to polygamy being seen as sinful. Obviously there are various factors, but religion is certainly relevent in recent history.

[Caladan]

Originally Posted by Madhuri

If you are talking about Islam, isn't our muslim friend saying that this is not the case? When we see polygamy in cultures it is most likely that the society can misinterpreted for some reason or other. Or ignored a specific instruction. If people desire something, they will find what they want to see in their scripture or law.
However, in western countries I believe it is largely Christian influence that has lead to polygamy being seen as sinful. Obviously there are various factors, but religion is certainly relevent in recent history.

My last posts were referred to your claim though. that men would prefer to marry more than one wife, because we have crazed desires?

[Madhuri]

Originally Posted by Caladan

My last posts were referred to your claim though. that men would prefer to marry more than one wife, because we have crazed desires?

Lol, yes you men do! It's so annoying!

[Zhakir]

Originally Posted by Madhuri

Just because a scripture doesn't say 'don't do this' doesn't mean that it allows something.

And actually in Indian society it was the Brahmins who only had one wife as they were the religious cast. It was the warrior cast that ate meat, went to war, had numerous wives and behaved irreligiously. The Brahmins were focussed on God and spirituality and did not participate in polygamy as it was seen as indulging in lust, which is negative to spiritual advancement.

Yes it means so. I'm not going to repeat it again: If nothing forbids it in the scriptuers, then it is not forbidden,allowed. This statement is enough to end the discussion.
Let alone that many Hindu religious personalities, according to their scriptures, had multiple wives, they had , how could it then be forbidden ? How are the Hindus are more polygynous than Muslims,If there religion forbids it. And I'm not discussing cultuers but rather religions.

[Madhuri]

Originally Posted by Zhakir

Yes it means so. I'm not going to repeat it again: If nothing forbids it in the scriptuers, then it is not forbidden,allowed. This statement is enough to end the discussion.
Let alone that many Hindu religious personalities, according to their scriptures, had multiple wives, they had , how could it then be forbidden ? How are the Hindus are more polygynous than Muslims,If there religion forbids it. And I'm not discussing cultuers but rather religions.

Not everyone was allowed to have multiple wives. Like I said, it had to do with your cast and social expectations. The religious people either did not marry or only had one wife. Having sex with various partners IS condemned in Vedic tradition because it disrupts spiritual advancement. But the warrior caste were not expected to live simple pious lives and therefore weren't told not to do certain things.

[nameless]

Originally Posted by Zhakir

The point is that the Hindu scriptures don't prohibit Polygamy, therefore it's surely allowed in Hinduism, Many Hindu religious personalities, according to their scriptures, had multiple wives. Again this confirms that it is allowed in hinduism.The Qur’an is the only religious book, on the face of this earth, that contains the phrase ‘marry only one’. There is no other religious book that instructs men to have only one wife. In none of the other religious scriptures,Including the Vedas,does one find restriction on the number of wives,so according to these scriptures one can marry as many as one wishes. Again this why the Hindus are more polygynous than Muslims

much of the warrior caste people consumed meat, from that it cannot be assumed that vedas supported eating meat.
Similarly some characters in philosophy had multiple wives, it would be moronic if someone assume vedas supported pologomy only because of that reason. The vedas are not evolved from the culture, infact they evolved out from meditation of well renounced saints. It is true that not all people succeeded completely in applying vedic systems in their life.