Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world.

[theja]

I think God had an issue with Onan's attitude.

If Onan had no intention of impregnating her, he should refrain from sleeping with her in the first place. Two nonos: deception and wilfully depriving his brother's cultural right to posterity.

Sex should be enjoyed. But in Onan's case, violation is involved (mentioned above).

(wait a minute, I'm not talking about sex for procreation alone. Family planning by va-or-masectomy is acceptable. Not abortion though. Sex can be enjoyed between married couples without having to produce children).

[Cowshoes]

I think I want(a modern version of) one of those 'concubines' those old timers from the Old Testament had. Is it still allowed today? If not, why?

[theja]

Cowshoes, in the past even before and after the Law God allowed multiple wives and concubines to some like Jacob, David, and Solomon (whose privilege you desire). But Jesus made it clear that God's original design was one-man one-woman, by affirming the passage in Genesis.

So now we go by this teaching.

However, for example, if you live in a culture where a man have two wives, and all of them become Christians, you need not tell them one wife should leave. If one decide to leave on her own, fine; if not, let them be together.

i think what theja is implying, cowshoes, is that you would consider her for a concubine, or maybe just a slave

[theja]

No, what I'm implying is that they should live as equals till death do them part.

Also, in the same culture, if a person is already a Christian, he should NEVER seek two wives (polygamy)

[DruidSmith]

I guess between the Old and New Testaments God wasn't sure, and changed His mind...

uh-huh...

Originally posted by theja
No, what I'm implying is that they should live as equals till death do them part.

Also, in the same culture, if a person is already a Christian, he should NEVER seek two wives (polygamy)

then perhaps maybe just some indentured servitude?

Ever wondered what would happen (ans it's already happening) when the number of women exceeds the number of men?

And what is that ratio in the aftermath of war of women to men?

Hey, I'm from Saudi, and most of the men I know have a wife only (who needs extra headaches?) However, there are cases that only a divine wisdom would be aware of...


Polygamy: Why Is It Permitted in Islam?

http://www.islamonline.net/fatwa/eng...hFatwaID=12490

Parts from the article:

"......you can hardly find one Muslim out of tens-of-thousands who is married to more than one wife. But, he cannot have affairs or dating with any woman. In non-Muslim societies, more than 65% of married men have affairs with more than 2, 3 or 4 women. There are more than 45% of women who have affairs the same way outside of marriage. All these practices are correct for the people of reason. They admit any zina (fornication/adultery) but they don't admit any alternative for keeping people in cleanliness and pure solutions...."


"...The reason for the allowance for a man to marry more than one woman is because Islam is a realistic religion and one which is not based upon idealistic notions which would cause real problems of everyday life without solution or treatment. It is very probable that a man marrying a second wife could be solving a problem, in that his first wife is incapable of bearing children or has extended menstruation cycles which result in his sexual needs being unsatisfied. The first wife could be ill and thus, instead of divorcing her and leaving her alone, could marry a second wife and remain next to his first wife, and so on. This allowance also solves the problem of a widow who needs a husband to care for her but does not wish for an unmarried young man, similar to a divorced woman with children. Indeed this allowance may solve a social problem which arises from the high proportion of good women who want to marry in comparison to able men...."

However, there are conditions that a man should comply to in case he seeks another wife......

And what happens to a woman who has committed " zina" in your country?

And as for referring to a second wife as " having an extra headache" does this mean that your first one is also? Seems to me that between Islam and the Christian right, that the female gender is relegated to a lesser class personage....

[DruidSmith]

My wife and I are blissfully happy with each other, equals in every regard... Not bad for being a couple of "unwashed heathens" and Catholic Church dropouts... Something to be said once again for rejecting the big institutionalized religions...

[DruidSmith]

Too much work is making this poor Smudger a dull boy (and a worn-down, tired, stressed-out and sick boy...) Thankfully a job change is coming shortly

Originally posted by flybynight
And what happens to a woman who has committed " zina" in your country?

The punishments are equal for women and men in Islam:

“The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication,- flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by Allah, if ye believe in Allah and the Last Day: and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment.”(An-Noor:2).


However, God made it very difficult for a Zina crime to be witnessed, and it's almost impossible to prove:

Slandering Innocent Women

http://www.islamonline.net/fatwa/eng...hFatwaID=11672

If they slander that innocent girl, accusing her of zina, then they are criminals. This is a major sin and an abhorrent forbidden action, because it is a slander against her honor and a transgression of the limits set by Allah. The Qur'an says,"...and those who accuse honorable women but bring not four witnesses, scourge them with 80 stripes and never afterwards accept their testimony. They indeed are evildoers." (An-Nur: 4) In another verse Allah says, "Lo! As for those who slander virtuous, believing women who are careless, cursed are they in the world and in the hereafter. There's will be an awful doom." (An-Nur: 23)

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Avoid the seven sins that doom one to Hell.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, what are they?” He said: “Associating others with Allah (shirk), witchcraft, killing a soul whom Allah has forbidden us to kill, except when it is lawful, consuming riba, consuming the orphan’s wealth, running away from the battlefield, and slandering chaste believing women who never even think of anything touching their chastity.” (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)


Not even pregnancy could be taken as a sole proof for Zina:

Pregnancy: A Sole Proof for Zina?

http://www.islamonline.net/fatwa/eng...hFatwaID=79895

Those extra measures were taken to the advantage of women compared to men.

Originally posted by flybynight
And as for referring to a second wife as " having an extra headache" does this mean that your first one is also? Seems to me that between Islam and the Christian right, that the female gender is relegated to a lesser class personage....

I'm not married yet. I was about to last year, but things didn't work out at the end, i.e. not destined to each other, but no regrets.

I was trying to be humorous when using the word "headache", even at the job you love you could have headaches, but this is part of the enjoyment.

The "headache" that I'd really think of if getting married to another is giving up some of life's luxuries and the scarce spare time when being too committed. You cannot go to those nice restaurants, do some serious travelling, take long walks, and just relax on the sofa as frequent as before.

For you guys you think that polygamy is about having a Hareem or so, while some men in your societies enjoy extramarital relationships without any responsibilities and without paying attention to the other woman's feelings in case she fell in love with him while he knows that he can take being a husband and having another family as a good justification to retreat whenever he pleases, or leave his family for the new woman.

And not at all, women are never a lesser class personage to me, but they still have their own issues...

[Cowshoes]

Islam is not growing very fast in my neighborhood. In fact, I don't think there are any Muslims at all in my 'hood. My neighbors in the houses to the left and right of my house are Indians. The ones to the left own a convienience store that sells beef food products, so I doubt they're Hindus. The ones on the right are Cristians. I trade with the ones on the left and my 11 year old nephew is best friends with the young son of the ones on the right. We're all friends.
Is it true that people who refuse to 'convert' to Islam are considered evil by many Muslims and are to be destroyed? What does the Muslim Holy Book say about this?