Re: 2 Wives - Did we assume something?
Roger Reini (rreini@delphi.com)
Tue, Mar 28 1995 11:03:37 GMT
:I have just finished reading several articles regarding the subject of the
:Aqdas stipulating that a man may have no more than two wives.
:
:My comment is that I believe we are all assuming something that may not
:necessarily be true -- namely, that Baha'u'llah meant two wives "at once". I
:think it should be brought to people's attention that it does not say "at once"
:or the "same time". In fact, there is no inference to this at all.
:
:Perhaps, it is meant in one's entire lifetime or after the death or divorce of
:another spouse.
:
:Just because the religion is eastern in origin does not mean that we must view
:it from our own prejudiced standards of what we may think an eastern man may
:mean.
:
:Something to think about.
That's certainly an interesting point you raise. But I must point out that
'Abdu'l-Baha has clearly interpreted this statement to prohibit multiple
spouses *simultaneously*. See the reference in the Aqdas.
Could the statement have the additional meaning that you suggest -- namely,
a maximum of two spouses in one's lifetime? I don't have an opinion on
that (not yet, anyway), and I'm not aware of anything on that in the
Writings. This will be a good chance for me to give my new Shoghi Effendi
REFER a workout <g> (along with the other REFER's).
Roger (rreini@delphi.com)