21 Charis,

I got stuck wondering about the issue of polygamy being brought into this discussion… I don’t think anyone here would consider polygamy a good thing.

I think you are right.

But it occurred to me that if you take “be fruitful and multiply” as a command which must be obeyed lest one sizzle in hell, then I suppose a polygamist could be viewed as just doing his duty by impregnating as many women as possible to protect them from disobeying God’s command and incurring God’s judgment…

I don’t think we can equate “be fruitful land multiply” as a prohibition command. I see it as a blessing on the union of the original man and original woman and there is an entire world of their offspring, so God truly has blessed them. Also it wasn’t a command that demanded a punishment for disobedience. Once they experienced the blessing of marital life, I don’t think they worried about being disobedient.