>In light of the statement made by Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, in which he favors applying Sharia law to some civil cases in British society, one must read a statement published in the Jewish World Review about the “Tax Credits (Polygamous Marriages) Regulations 2003”:

“Culminating several years of evolution, the British government now recognizes polygamous marriages. It changed the rules in the “Tax Credits (Polygamous Marriages) Regulations 2003“: previously, only one wife could inherit assets tax-free from a deceased husband; this legislation permits multiple wives to
inherit tax-free, so long as the marriage had been contracted where polygamy is legal, as in Nigeria, Pakistan, or India. In a related matter, the Department for Work and Pensions began issuing extra payments to harems for such benefits as jobseeker allowances, housing subventions, and council tax relief. Last week came news that, after a year-long review, four government departments (Work and Pensions, Treasury, Revenue and Customs, Home Office) concluded that formal recognition of polygamy is “the
best possible” option for Her Majesty’s Government.

British society many not approve polygamy, but the government’s formal recognition of polygamy may indicate that approval for one group may lead to approval for all. There are several groups here in the USA who are advocating the legitimation of polygamy. I just hope they don’t look to the British government for inspiration.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Marriage, Polygamy