Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
v. t. e. Polygamy (from Late Greek πολυγαμία polygamía, "state of marriage to many spouses") [1][2][3][4] is the practice of marrying multiple spouses. When a man is married to more than one wife at the same time, it is called polygyny. When a woman is married to more than one husband at the same time, it is called polyandry.
Definition. Polygamy is defined as the practice or condition of one person having more than one spouse at the same time, conventionally referring to a situation where all spouses know about each other, in contrast to bigamy, where two or more spouses are usually unaware of each other. [3] Polyandry is the name of the practice or condition when ...
Polygamy is more widespread in Africa than in any other continent, being most common in a region known as the "polygamy belt" in West Africa and Central Africa, with the countries estimated to have the highest polygamy prevalence in the world being Burkina Faso, Mali, Gambia, Niger and Nigeria. [69]
Legality of polygamy in the United States. Polygamy was outlawed in federal territories by the Edmunds Act, and there are laws against the practice in all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, [1] and Puerto Rico. [2] Because state laws exist, polygamy is not actively prosecuted at the federal level.
Polygyny is most common in a region known as the "polygamy belt" in West Africa and Central Africa, with the countries estimated to have the highest polygamy prevalence in the world being Burkina Faso, Mali, Gambia, Niger and Nigeria. [4]
Mormonism and polygamy. Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, privately taught and practiced polygamy. [1] After Smith's death in 1844, the church he established splintered into several competing groups. Disagreement over Smith's doctrine of "plural marriage" has been among the primary reasons for multiple church schisms.
Additionally, it is common to see monogamous relationships widely in more modern societies as there are more women in the marriage market, and polygamy is illegal throughout most industrialized countries, while in less developed countries it is more likely to be accepted (polygamy is most common in the "polygamy belt" region in West and Central ...
Polygamy is "the practice or custom of having more than one wife or husband at the same time." [1] Polygamy has been practiced by many cultures throughout history. [2]: 3. Although the Old Testament describes numerous examples of polygynous (one male, one wife with multiple concubines) instances of polygamy among devotees to God, most Christian ...