P Polyamory (Polygamy and development of many values among the members Polyandry) of relationship, such as fidelity, trust, honesty, dignity, respect, intimacy, equality, communi- Georgios A. Orfanidis cation, negotiation, and non-possessiveness Department of Theology, Faculty of Theology, (Kleese 2011, 2016). Polyamory constitute an Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, umbrella term for various forms of non- Thessaloniki, Greece monogamous, multi-partner relationships or non- exclusive sexual or romantic relationships, such as polygamy (from the greek word Polyamory (poly- = “many” in greek and -amor = “polugamίa” [poligamía]), which states the prac- “love” in latin) is the practice or desire of devel- tice of marrying multiple spouses, divided into: oping love affairs among at least three people (1) polygyny (from the greek word “polugunίa” (triad), with the knowledge of all partners (Sheff [poliginía]), (2) polyandry (from the greek word 2016). This concept of relationship has been “poluandrίa”[poliandría]), which report respec- described as consensual, ethical, and responsible tively in the relationship accrued when a man non-monogamy (Kleese 2011, 2016). People who is married to more than one wife or a woman identify themselves as polyamorous reject auto- is married to more than one husband at a time, matically the view that sexual and relational and (3) group marriage, if this includes multiple exclusivity is necessary for deep devoted and husbands and wives. long-term love relationships, which usually lead The first reference of the polyamorous sense to “compatible” and westerner social models, appeared in the article of the Neopagan commu- defying many times the point of view that the nity leader, author, lecturer, and priestess of polyamorous status should be classified an orien- the Church of All Worlds, Morning-Glory Zell- tation or identity (like the general communities Ravenheart (born as Diana Moore), titled “A of heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual Bouquet of Lovers,” published in May 1990 in people; including, also, their subcategories). Green Egg Magazine. However, in this text does According to the latest opinion of Social Sciences, not appear the word “polyamory” but a derivative those who are characterized by a wider horizon of this, the adjective “poly-amorous.” Few years of thoughts and considered as emotionally/ later, in 1999, when the Editor of the Oxford psycological suited for adopting an alternative/ English Dictionary asked Zell-Ravenheart what polyamorous lifestyle, they are not possessed means exactly the term “polyamory,” she reported by a loose and reprehensible morality, because as following: they make any possible effort to ensure the © Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2019 D. A. Leeming (ed.), Encyclopedia of Psychology and Religion, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27771-9_200097-1 2 Polyamory (Polygamy and Polyandry) The practice, state or ability of having more than at the same time (e.g., Collection of Ḥadīth: al- one sexual loving relationship at the same time, Bukhārī no.2721; Muslim no.1418; al-Tirmidhī with the full knowledge and consent of all partners ū āʼū ī ḥā ī involved. This term was meant to be inclusive, and no.1352 and Ab D d no.3594; Takhr ja d th in that context, we have never intended to particu- Majmūʻat fatāwá Shaykh al-Islām no.3.90). larly exclude ‘Swinging’ per se, if practitioners Admittedly, the Prophet Muhammad was monog- thereof wished to adopt the term and include fi ... amously married to Khadija, his rst wife, for themselves The two essential ingredients of the fi concept of polyamory are more than one; and lov- twenty- ve years, till she died. After her death, ing. That is, it is expected that the people in such he remarried many times, but never at the same relationships have a loving emotional bond, are time, having until the end of his life nine legal involved in each other’s lives multi-dimensionally, spouses. and care for each other. This term is not intended to apply to merely casual recreational sex, anonymous In the Bible world, polyamory is a practice, orgies, one-night stands, pick-ups, prostitution, characterized each time by a different sign, posi- “cheating,” serial monogamy, or the popular defini- tive or negative. More specifically, on the tion of swinging as ‘mate-swapping’ parties. one hand, the polygamy is mentioned in the Old Nevertheless, until nowadays there is not only Testament, having as occasion different events a common definition of the words polyamory, (famine, widowhood, or female infertility), fig- -ous, and -ist among the various editions of dic- ures (e.g., Esau, Jacob, Elkanah, David and tionaries, because the semantic broadness of the Solomon), and customs (e.g., inheritance and term “polyamory” does not allow easily the spe- first-born child), and without specifying whether cific determination of the emotions, the values, it is moral or immoral; probably as an act which is and the general conditions that develop before not forbidden and represented as an alternative the creation or/and during of a polyamorous solution to problematic situations as the events relationship. above (Genesis 4:19, 11:31; 16:12; 24; 25:1-6; Islam is one of the religions, which under rea- 25:5-10; 26:34; 28:6-9; 29:15-28; 30:3-4; 30: 9; sonably and fully justified economic and sociopo- 31:17; 36; 39:25; Exodus 2:21; 11:10; 21:10; litical circumstances (e.g., the financial ability Numbers 11:1; Deuteronomy 17:17; 21:15-17; of supporting more than one family, the wider 1 Samuel 1:1-8; 2:20; 25:39-44; 2 Samuel 3:2-5; protection of every family member) allows a mus- 5:13-161; 1 Kings 11:1-3). However, on the other lim husband to marry more than one woman at the hand, the three great branches of the Christian same time, without the adoption of a deed of tradition (Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Protes- divorce (Qu’ran: 3-21). tantism), which created after the appearance of However, Muslim tradition does not give the Judaism, do not allow, generally, the polyamorous same freedom to women, namely, to be able to lifestyle, according to some references in the New marry more than one man. A woman of muslim Testament. Particularly, even if there is an obvious origin may be re-married in case of a legal divorce silent about the polygamous practice, simulta- or her lusband’s death, after the end of the period neously, indirect and scattered references imply called Iddah (period of waiting). In addition, the notion that the lawful (connubial) union a Muslim woman may be married again without between a man and a woman is blessed, since divorce if her husband is a non-Muslim, even if only such an association would be able to accom- she has been beaten by violence, e.g., during plish, on the one hand, the saying of Christ warfare. In this case, the marriage process is “shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24; Matthew encouraged, as Islam condemns all forms of 19:3-9; Titus 3: 2-12) and, on the other hand, the unlawful cohabitation/sexual contact between view of Apostle Paul on the prostitution, as men and women (prostitution) (Qu’ran: 4-24). reflected in the 1 Corinthians (6:16). However, a legitimate spouse has the power to St. Augustine criticized the issue of polygamy make a marriage contract condition that her as presented in the Old Testament, because he husband is not allowed to marry another woman considers that polygamy has been a diversion from God’s original plan for human marriage, Polyamory (Polygamy and Polyandry) 3 indicating: “That the good purpose of marriage, mainly about the men of the social two higher however, is better promoted by one husband with classes (Brahmins and Kshatriyas). In fact, one wife, than by a husband with several wives, is a man of the Brahmin caste could marry up to shown plainly enough by the very first union of four spouses. Men in the two lower castes a married pair, which was made by the Divine (Vaishyas and Shudras) were only allowed a sec- Being Himself.” However, he avoids judging ond marriage if the first spouse could not bear strictly the polygamous way of life of some a child (son) (Olivelle 1999). Furthermore, in Patriarchs, because it claimed that polygamy was Hindu culture under certain circumstances, tolerated by the Creator due to the immediate it could be developed, also, the practice of poly- social need for population growth (childbearing) andry lifestyle. A particular case of polygamous (Schaff 2007). lifestyle is the phenomenon of polyandry, which, Other modern religious circles of greater if not only considered product of epic literature, is or lesser scope, belonging to the wider Christian practiced under certain conditions (e.g., incapable tradition (e.g., The Latter Day Saint Movement, of fatherhood). In fact, polyandry often included Τhe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints/ marriage between a woman and her blood LDS Church, The Council of Friends/Woolley brothers, as shown in the story of Droupadi, who Group/Priesthood Council, The Fundamentalist married all five brothers, known as Upapandavas Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints/ or Pandavaputras (Mahābhārata: Adi Parva FLDS Church, The Apostolic United Brethren/ ClXLVIII and Sauptika Parva IX; Oman 1975). AUB, The Righteous Branch of the Church The Buddhist views on marriage are very lib- of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints/The Righteous eral: in Buddhism, marriage is regarded entirely as Branch/The Branch Church/The Peterson Group/ personal and individual practice, and not as Christ’s Church, The Community of Christ/ a strictly religious duty. There are no religious Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter laws in Buddhism compelling a person to be mar- Day Saints/RLDS Church), allow or/and promote ried, to remain as a bachelor, or to lead a life of the polygamous model within societies, based on total chastity.