WHEN many of us make our sacred vows in front of many we say it to one. But for some one other one other half isn't enough.
Here's is everything you need to know about polygamy.
What is polygamy?
Polygamy is the act of marrying multiple spouses, so having more than one husband or wife at the same time.
It is the opposite of monogamy which is the more common practice of having just one spouse at any given moment.
The habit was once quite widespread across parts of the globe and is still practiced by some to this day.
In most countries, polygamy is now illegal or not officially recognised.
What forms does polygamy take?
There are generally assumed to be three forms of polygamy: polygyny, polyandry and group marriage.
- Polygyny is when a man has multiple wives.
- Polyandry is when a woman has multiple husbands
- Group marriage is a bit of a free for all where the family unit consists of a mish-mash of spouses from both sexes
Is polygamy legal in the UK?
Polygamy is not explicitly a criminal offence in the UK but bigamy is.
Bigamy is the practice of marrying someone whilst still married to another and is punishable by up to seven years in prison.
Kody Brown is famously known for having six wives and stars in the reality TV series Sister Wives.
It was stated in a written answer to the House of Commons that: "In Great Britain, polygamy is only recognised as valid in law in circumstances where the marriage ceremony has been performed in a country whose laws permit polygamy and the parties to the marriage were domiciled there at the time.
"In addition, immigration rules have generally prevented the formation of polygamous households in this country since 1988."
The practice is however not recognised by the benefits system.
Which cultures practice polygamy?
Polygamy was once a widespread way of structuring a family unit.
References, particularly to men with multiple wives, can be found in the Bible, Torah, Koran, and Rig Veda holy texts.
Despite its presence in the Old Testament, most branches of Christianity do prohibit the taking of more than one wife or husband.
A notable exception to this rule are some adherents to the Church of the Latter Day Saints or Mormons.
Some fundamentalist Mormons continue the practice despite the church ending the practice in 1890.
Islamic doctrine states a man may have a total of four wives but puts restrictions on who those women can be and insists he must be able to provide for them all.
Many Muslim majority countries allow the practice with Kuwait being the only one that imposes no restrictions.
However it is prohibited in the Islamic nations of Turkey, Tunisia, Albania, Kosovo and Central Asian countries.
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What is the difference between polygamy and polyamory?
Polyamory is the act of having multiple partners where all parties are aware of that fact but without the official act of marriage.
It differs from polygamy in the sense that those involved will not be husbands or wives but simply partners in an intimate relationship.
Many people who practice polyamory have a different view of sexual fidelity than is traditionally held, not regarding sexual exclusivity as a part of it.
Because there is no official, religious or legal ceremony involved there are no laws in the UK restricting polyamory.
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