Critical reflections on polygamy in the African Christian context
Polygamy is a phenomenon often associated with African people. In almost all African societies, polygamy is an acceptable and valid form of marriage in fact, monogamy has been associated with people of lower social status. Proponents of polygamy have claimed that the more wives a man has, the more...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch University
2013-05-01
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| Series: | Missionalia: Southern African Journal of Missiology |
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| Online Access: | http://missionalia.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/12 |
| _version_ | 1828869257562161152 |
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| author | Baloyi, Elijah M. |
| author_facet | Baloyi, Elijah M. |
| author_sort | Baloyi, Elijah M. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Polygamy is a phenomenon often associated with African people. In almost all African societies, polygamy is an acceptable and valid form of marriage in fact, monogamy has been associated with people of lower social status. Proponents of polygamy have
claimed that the more wives a man has, the more children he is likely to have, and the more children, the greater the chances that the family will enjoy immortality. This is indicative of the high regard in which the tradition is held by some African people (men
in particular). The theological thinking of various Christian denominations is divided on the subject of polygamy. The intention of this article is to investigate the way in which African people have conceptualised polygamy, and how the Christian church has dealt with it. In particular, I will explore and present and argument on whether polygamy can still be regarded as acceptable in contemporary Christian communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T05:46:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ec57a3347a1243caacc9b6d3f6512bc5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0256-9507 2312-878X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T05:46:57Z |
| publishDate | 2013-05-01 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Missionalia: Southern African Journal of Missiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-ec57a3347a1243caacc9b6d3f6512bc52022-12-21T23:57:39ZengStellenbosch UniversityMissionalia: Southern African Journal of Missiology0256-95072312-878X2013-05-0141216418110.7832/41-2-12Critical reflections on polygamy in the African Christian contextBaloyi, Elijah M.0University of South AfricaPolygamy is a phenomenon often associated with African people. In almost all African societies, polygamy is an acceptable and valid form of marriage in fact, monogamy has been associated with people of lower social status. Proponents of polygamy have claimed that the more wives a man has, the more children he is likely to have, and the more children, the greater the chances that the family will enjoy immortality. This is indicative of the high regard in which the tradition is held by some African people (men in particular). The theological thinking of various Christian denominations is divided on the subject of polygamy. The intention of this article is to investigate the way in which African people have conceptualised polygamy, and how the Christian church has dealt with it. In particular, I will explore and present and argument on whether polygamy can still be regarded as acceptable in contemporary Christian communities.http://missionalia.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/12polygamyAfrican Christian contextChristian church |
| spellingShingle | Baloyi, Elijah M. Critical reflections on polygamy in the African Christian context Missionalia: Southern African Journal of Missiology polygamy African Christian context Christian church |
| title | Critical reflections on polygamy in the African Christian context |
| title_full | Critical reflections on polygamy in the African Christian context |
| title_fullStr | Critical reflections on polygamy in the African Christian context |
| title_full_unstemmed | Critical reflections on polygamy in the African Christian context |
| title_short | Critical reflections on polygamy in the African Christian context |
| title_sort | critical reflections on polygamy in the african christian context |
| topic | polygamy African Christian context Christian church |
| url | http://missionalia.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/12 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT baloyielijahm criticalreflectionsonpolygamyintheafricanchristiancontext |