Monogamy is when you are married to, or in a sexual relationship with, one person at a time. Humans are one of the few species that practice monogamy. Well, sometimes. You may have heard of something called polygamy, which is having more than one spouse at a time.
The word monogamy derives from the Greek μονός, monos ("alone"), and γάμος, gamos ("marriage"). The term "monogamy" may be referring to one of various relational types, depending upon context. Generally, there are four overlapping definitions. marital monogamy refers to marriages of only two people.
Monogamy is a relationship with only one partner at a time, rather than multiple partners. A monogamous relationship can be sexual or emotional, but it's usually both. Many modern relationships are monogamous.
The Biblical authors, and by implication those drawing up the Constitution, have given everyone the freedom to choose for themselves how many wives they may have. Although polyandry is not mentioned in the Bible, the practice of this belief/custom also cannot be denied.
polyandry, marriage of a woman to two or more men at the same time; the term derives from the Greek polys, “many,” and anēr, andros, “man.” When the husbands in a polyandrous marriage are brothers or are said to be brothers, the institution is called adelphic, or fraternal, polyandry.
The word “polygamy” is ancient Greek for “married to many” or “often married”, and refers to a situation where a person has more than one concurrent marriage. Polygamy in Australia is illegal. Polygamy is legal in many African, Asian and Middle Eastern countries, and usually involves more than one wife.
Fraternal polyandry is practiced among Tibetans in Nepal and parts of China, in which two or more brothers are married to the same wife, with the wife having equal "sexual access" to them. It is associated with partible paternity, the cultural belief that a child can have more than one father.
Because it can produce sperm competition, polyandry creates the potential for conflict over female-mating rate—for example, males may attempt to prevent their mates from mating with another male. Sexual conflict over female-mating rate may, therefore, be stronger in polyandrous than monandrous species.
God's only "prescriptive" for marriage is found in multiple places in the Bible and only references the union of one man and one woman (Gen 2:24, Matt 19:5, Mark 10:7, Eph 5:31, 1 Tim 3:2 & 12, 1 Corin 7:2).
"In the case of polygamy, there is a universal standard – it is understood to be a sin, therefore polygamists are not admitted to positions of leadership including Holy Orders, nor after acceptance of the Gospel can a convert take another wife, nor, in some areas, are they admitted to Holy Communion."
Monogamy, after all, does not come naturally; it is not the norm unless a society enforces it as such. There are immense benefits to doing so. But it is unclear how well we humans can achieve this aim in the present environment.
Instead, biological indicators suggest a mating system where both sexes form a long-term pairbond with a single partner (Møller, 2003). And while polygyny was likely present in the human past, as it is across contemporary human societies, the weight of evidence seems to support social monogamy.
These include the statutory marriage; customary marriage; church marriage; and Islamic marriage. However, it is common in Nigeria for a single couple to conduct at least three different kinds of marriages together. Customary Marriage is also known as Traditional Marriage.
The disadvantages of polyandry can include increased conflict between the woman and her husbands, as well as potential feelings of jealousy or guilt. It can also be difficult for the woman to maintain a balance between her multiple husbands, as well as for the husbands to maintain a balance between each other.
Polyandry, which refers to wives having more than one husband, is even rarer than polygamy and mostly documented among small and relatively isolated communities around the world.
The standard doctrine of the Church is monogamy, as it always has been, as indicated in the Book of Mormon (Jacob chapter 2): “Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none. …
This is because, according to the UN, polygamy undermines the freedom of women to marry who they wish with free and full consent. "Polygamy violates the dignity of women. It is an inadmissible discrimination against women.
A second marriage may be seen as an act of sin by some, but this perspective is not universally accepted. Even the Bible does not explicitly deny remarriage; many people find happiness in their second marriages. God will bless a second marriage if it is entered into with respect, love, and faithfulness to one another.
Still, they can benefit directly from polyandry in a number of ways. Females that mate with several partners can receive more paternal care and protection for themselves and their offspring [20]. Mating with several males can also increase egg production, owing to nutrients in the ejaculate or nuptial gift [30–32].
Polyandry can also improve female fertility, because mating with multiple males generates a greater supply of sperm [31,35]. This may be particularly important in externally fertilizing species, in which sperm numbers can be severely limiting [36].
The benefits of polyandry can be categorised into those that increase a female's fitness directly and those that do so indirectly. The most obvious direct benefit is the acquisition of sufficient sperm to fertilise all of a female's ova.
Polyandry is a marriage practice where one woman has more than one husband at a time. Polyandry is observed in very limited communities. However, in societies where this is practiced, it is usually because there is a shortage of women to men.
Polyandry is a form of polygamy in which a woman takes two or more husbands at the same time. For example, fraternal polyandry is practiced among Tibetans in Nepal, parts of China and part of northern India, in which two or more brothers are married to the same wife, with the wife having equal “sexual access” to them.
According to Ken Munyua, a Nairobi-based psychologist, men can have a sense of attachment and commitment to more than one romantic partner, which they will define as love. “A man may be able to emotionally commit and attach himself to two women at the same time.