Re: Is it unnatural to be monogomous?
 

Exactly. That's why humans have the urge to rape. Fortunately, most can fight it, but back in the Neanderthal days, it was the only way to ensure that your genes were passed on.

It's not hard if you're a selfless person.

Nowadays, I don't think polygamy should exist except in certain primitive cultures where it remains vital. I say primitive, but I don't really mean that. Their cultures are just as rich as ours are, but more flawed in some ways. Ours are flawed in other ways. But primitive is the best word.

However, this is going to lead me on a rant about the blatant and totally needless sexism in Muslim countries and that'll get me pissed off again.

Re: Is it unnatural to be monogomous?
 

I don't know if unnatural is the right word, but it is natural for a male to reproduce as much as possible. Since the invention of contraception, this has come to mean: have sex as much as possible.
The urge to have sex (formerly reproduce) does not disappear or diminish when a male is in a firm relationship. The only means to combat this is self control, which comes from the context of society.

In a society where it is not frowned upon for a male to procreate with many different partners, there certainly is no natural, psychological reason for a male not to.

Thankfully, most societies have taken to respecting women to some degree, for obviously the result of polygamy (if actual procreation is involved) means a lot more work for the woman.

:Puzzled:
I really don't think humans have the urge to rape. The urge to reproduce is one thing, but when violence is involved most people would feel disgusted, which may be a cultural thing but I assume it is natural.

Re: Is it unnatural to be monogomous?
 

Exactly. Reproduce by any means necessary. Think about it this way. In the animal kingdom, three-quarters of sex is rape. What are humans? Animals. Plus, read what I then wrote next.

So you're saying that men are only after one thing and that women are completely free of blame? *shrugs* Sprry if you don't mean that, but that's what it looks like to me.

One word: love.

Re: Is it unnatural to be monogomous?
 

Human and animal psychology still vary considerably. I still don't believe it's natural to desire sex even when violence would be necessary. Most people would shy away.

Who's talking about blame? I'm merely trying to say what the "natural", instinctive human view on sex is. And the thing is, males instinctively have a completely different approach. Yes, it is only males that have the urge to reproduce as much as possible. Male and female humans are pretty similar psychologically, but when it comes to reproduction there are big differences.
I'm not blaming men for anything, just saying how it is biologically.

What we understand as love today is influenced hugely by our history and culture. Although it seems conflicting to us, in a different cultural background it might well be considered particularly loving if a man holds many wives, and supports them (although it certainly isn't desirable in the face of modern gender equality).

Re: Is it unnatural to be monogomous?
 

I'd like to point out that your comparison is somewhat weak because of the gross human rights violations back east. There is really no place to compare monogamy with polygamy when people can actually do it consentually-usually it's the result of coercion.

Re: Is it unnatural to be monogomous?
 

Agreed that human rights standards are incomparable to what us "westerners" are used to, but that doesn't mean it isn't natural any other way. Human instinct is not necessarily compatible with modern-day human rights.

Re: Is it unnatural to be monogomous?
 

I disagree completely. Human instinct dictates that we do what is necessary to survive (unless suffering from severe mental anguish). Dominance over another, although 'instinctive' for the predator in the sense of some sort of survival does not mean that the dominated person's instinct is out of play. It's all of nature's instinct to live life by your own means; it's not inherently instictive to not be able to do this.

Re: Is it unnatural to be monogomous?
 

Is it unnatural? Absolutely without a doubt.

Re: Is it unnatural to be monogomous?
 

The line between nature and man is not something that can be drawn. We were and are natural beings born into a world dictated by nature. To claim that any behaviour is unnatural makes no sense when we cannot do anything but what we do, and that is always in accordance with the environment we find ourselves in, the experiences we have, and the biology we are subjected to.
In other words everything we have and do is a consequence of the natural order, both monogamy where it occurs and polygamy are as natural as each other.

Re: Is it unnatural to be monogomous?
 

I'm inclined to agree with Jeffro. To my knowledge, insititutional monogomy was unheard of in human society until Christianity.

Christianity is unnatural in many ways. As far as I know pacifism was also unheard of until Christianity (Except perhaps for the rare fringe cult.)