When Christian marriage is denigrated, everything becomes possible. At one time, Judeo-Christian societies held that sexual intimacy should be reserved for couples who entered an exclusive sacramental covenant. Promiscuity was frowned upon, adultery was considered a sin and children out-of-wedlock were shunned as a means of discouraging infidelity. Bit by bit over the last century, each of these beliefs crumbled, and promiscuity eventually became so commonplace that marriage was simply one transient lifestyle among many. Therefore, this news item out of Great Britain is both unsurprising and yet curious:
A leaked government document by an integration and tolerance working group said polygamous marriages may be registered by authorities to protect women whose partners take a second or third wife.
The Government strongly denied it would make the practice of having more than one wife legal. But it is feared the idea could end up being the first step towards recognising multiple marriages under Islamic Sharia law, which allows a man four wives.
Tory MP Philip Hollobone said: “The public will not support the recognition of polygamous marriages. Any step along that road would be a step too far.”
A Communities and Local Government spokesman said: “Polygamy is illegal and will remain so.”
In this sense, it's difficult to claim that marriage is sacrosanct, when most people see it as anachronistic. It will take much prayer and hard work to reevangelise these post-Christian regions before permanent damage is done to the legal codes.
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