Jan 29, 2020, 8:20 PM
by Igor Rogov
The only principal difference is that monogamy in “pagan” world included sexual relationships with concubines and slaves within the same household as a lawful sexual activity, with progeny either being accepted as slaves or officially adopted by household owner, or becoming “proletariat” through an official practice of abandonment.
Jewish monogamy narrowed down what was allowed significantly, but not entirely – sexual relationships with slaves persisted in Jewish households under Ottoman empire.
Christianity almost entirely got rid of concubines and slaves as acceptable sexual partners and out-of-wedlock progeny was reduced to historical minimum for centuries up until 20th century.
Counting Islam as Abrahamism, it was a significant step backwards with a return of official practice of concubinage, slavery and multiple wives.
(CD: AFAIK: the root of the IE word for wife was ‘abducted’. lol )