ISLAM

DAUGHTERS OF EVE 65
that God had allowed such marriages to certain
men of the old Testament only in a particular
circumstances, and if a Christian wanted to
follow their example, he had to show .that
circumstances were similar in his case ;
but
polygamy was undoubtedly preferable to divorce.
In 1650 soon after the peace of Westphalia
when the population was greatly reduced by
the Thirty Years War, the Prankish Reichstag
at Nuremberg passed the resolution that henceforth
every man should be allowed to marry
two women (Ibdd. P. 553 ul). Certain Christian
sects had even advocated polygamy with much
fervour."
In fact unbiased and thoughtful students must
come to the conclusion that polygamy is the only
Solution of certain social and ethical problems^ To
give one out of many such considerations which
justify the institution. Suppose as a result of War
in certain countries women largely outnumber men.
The sex impulse is so rash and strong that either you
will have to sanction the practice of polygamy in
order to fortify morality which is the back-bone
of all religions, or you will have to allow free sex-life
which is revolting to the human nature. There arise
conditions in which polygamy may not only be
ethically justifiable, but becomes a necessity. Even in
the United States of America where the preaching
and practice of polygamy is legally forbidden, there
are thinkers who have had to admit its moral justi-
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