New Trend in TV Shows: Mainstreaming Polygamy

It started with "Big Love" an HBO show, featuring a man with three wives.  This year, TLC is following a  real life "family" with one husband, four wives, and sixteen children.

Why the fascination with multiple wives?  And why is the entertainment world touting this as an acceptable and desirable lifestyle?

The Old Testament featured these type of families, and generally things did not go well.  Jacob's family was split with strife by wives who felt less desirable, unloved and those who lorded their position in the family over the others.  The strife flowed to the following generations.

By New Testament times, the standard family had resolved to one husband, one wife (at least at any given point in time, as the wife or husband may change via death or divorce).

In the Muslim world, polygamy is more common.  But the issues that plagued Jacob's family still persist in these type of families.  Jealousy.  Child Brides. Women with no choice. Children with secrets.

What I do not understand is why there is no outcry from women's groups that these lifestyles are going on.  Why is it OK for one man to have multiple wives?  Why no shows celebrating one wife, multiple husbands?  The reason, I believe, is that it strikes at the traditional fears of men (and I am not saying this is necessarily a bad tradition).

But it is not empowering to women either.  Who wants to share a husband?  Who wants to have to wait until Wednesday to see Daddy because that is the night we get him?  Who can afford to support four wives and sixteen children?  And what happens when the man dies and social security only pays one wife?

Our culture has embraced an anything goes sexuality.  Polygamy is just another step on the path toward demolishing the remaining sexual boundaries.  Once polygamy is accepted, the envelope will move to another issue.

As Christians, we need to address the polygamy issue in our culture and not just look the other way.