348. XIII. THAT POLYGAMY IS NOT A SIN WITH THOSE WITH WHOM IT EXISTS FROM RELIGION. Everything which is contrary to religion is thought to be a sin because against God. On the other hand, everything which is in accordance with religion is thought not to be a sin because in accordance with God. And because with the sons of Israel polygamy existed from religion, as likewise it does with Mohammedans today, it could not and cannot be imputed to them as sin. Moreover, that it may not be a sin, they remain natural and do not become spiritual; and the natural man cannot see that there is any sin in such things as are of the received religion; this the spiritual man alone sees. It is for this reason that, although from the Koran they acknowledge our Lord as the Son of God, yet they do not approach Him but Mohammed, and so long as they do this, they remain natural and hence do not know that there is anything of evil in polygamy, nor even anything of lasciviousness; and the Lord says:
If ye were blind ye would not have sin, but now that ye say ye see, therefore your sin remaineth. John ix. 41. Since polygamy cannot convict them of sin, therefore, after death they have a heaven of their own (no. 342) and there have delight in enjoyments according to their life.
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