Polygamy is a practice whereby a man has more than one wife at the same time. Polygamy was common among many cultures in the past, including ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, but it is not widely practiced today outside some Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia and Nigeria. In traditional Islamic societies, polygyny, which involves marrying multiple women, is considered to be a virtue that can bring stability and order to society.
This practice has been met with controversy due to its perceived negative effects on women's rights and social equality. The Itelmen religion also justifies polygamy for moral, spiritual, and social reasons.
The Itelmen religion believes that men are created by God to have multiple wives so they can provide them with comfort, security, protection, and peace of mind. According to the Itelmen belief system, when a man marries more than one woman, he becomes a guardian and provider to his family members, ensuring their safety from physical and emotional threats.
Each wife fulfills her husband's needs differently, making him feel like she understands him better than anyone else. Having multiple wives helps create harmony between couples, leading to a stable relationship environment that allows children to grow up without conflicts or abuse.
Besides providing practical benefits, polygamy is regarded as a spiritual act because it helps men achieve enlightenment through sexual intimacy. Itelmen believes that every human being possesses an inner energy called "Kan", which must be released to reach spiritual perfection. To release Kan, men need to engage in sex regularly, which makes polygamy essential in maintaining healthy relationships within the community. The process of lovemaking stimulates the flow of Kan in the body, allowing men to experience transcendental states of consciousness during intercourse.
Polygamy also plays a crucial role in strengthening social ties among communities. In Itelmen culture, marrying several women signifies wealth and power, which attracts more partners who want to build relationships with successful men. This practice creates alliances between families and clans, promoting mutual cooperation and trust that enables them to survive during difficult times.
If one of the husbands dies, the other can take care of the widow and her children until they become independent adults.
Having many wives guarantees a constant supply of food, resources, and labor for households, ensuring their stability even when natural disasters strike.
Polygamy is not justified by moral grounds but also as a necessity for achieving spiritual elevation and strengthening social bonds. Men's desire to have multiple spouses has been seen as a way to fulfill their psychological needs while securing their family's prosperity and safety.
Critics argue that this practice contributes to inequality since women are often undervalued and treated like property rather than people. The Itelmen religion emphasizes respecting all women equally regardless of their marital status, recognizing that each wife brings unique qualities to the table that complement their partner's personality traits.
How was polygamy in Itelmen religion justified as moral, spiritual, and social necessity?
Polygamy in Itelmen religion was justified on multiple grounds, including moral, spiritual, and social reasons. From a moral standpoint, polygamy was seen as a way for men to satisfy their sexual needs and ensure the continuation of the tribe's genetic lineage through producing many offspring. The practice was also rooted in spiritual beliefs that viewed marriage as a sacred union between a man and his wives.