Marriage #46
46. On the plurality of wives among Mohammedans
I spoke with Mohammedans about spiritual marriage, saying that it is a marriage of good and truth; that good loves truth and truth good like a married couple; and that these wish to be joined and bring forth goods and truths like daughters and sons, and as it were to procreate families. They understood this well, as also that conjugial love comes down from that spiritual origin, and that everything spiritual in man undergoes a change, so that it is scarcely recognisable, when it comes down to the natural; it can only be recognised by correspondences. From these facts it is plain that they, having several wives allowed by their religion, cannot have truly conjugial love. It was said that they are allowed several wives, that is, polygamy is permitted, because they live in hot climates and therefore are more heated with lust than those who live in cold climates. 1 Therefore if they were not permitted polygamy, more of them would rush into adultery than would Europeans, and thus act contrary to their religious tenets; and to act contrary to one's religious tenets is to profane what is sacred. It was shown further that all their love of marriage is lascivious, and so not spiritual; nor can it become spiritual unless they acknowledge the Lord.
Footnotes:
1. Two clauses have been inverted, with suppression of the word 'and' in order to make sense here. It is also possible that a word is missing from the text.
Arcana Coelestia #4409
4409. Because the sight of the eye corresponds to that of the understanding it also corresponds to truths, for everything seen by the understanding has a connection with what is true. It is also connected with what is good; that is to say, a person should not only be aware of what is good but should also feel an affection for it. Everything seen by one's external sight likewise has a connection with what is true and good, since these have to do with the way objects are shaped and so with their beauty and the delight this gives. Anyone who is clearheaded can see that every single thing in the natural creation has a connection with what is true and good, and from this can recognize that the whole natural creation is a theatre in which the Lord's kingdom is represented.
