Whatever makes you happy. I'm skeptical of polygamy associated with cults/religions though. It usually involves some deep brain washing and shady shit.
Outside of that, consenting adults with all their marbles should be free to do whatever they want romantically.
I can't handle more than monogamy though. I just can't handle split or conflicting loyalties. I'd prefer to put all effort and energy into one partner knowing that they're doing the same. Plus really cuts down on the possibility of disease.

Please do share your thoughts and conflicts. Thanks.

Poly is not for me.
I wasn't raised that way and think I'd break my brain trying to get there.

Poly (proper poly) is WORK. Relationship work.

As is proper Monogamy.

Everyone gets to do them.
Just be straightforward about it. Don't ever start out lying.
That's what works best

Everyone has his or her own liberty. As for me, I prefer to be faithful to my spouse. When I was single, I went through a "free love" phase, but I discovered that people get hurt when I move on to someone else. So, for more than a decade, I have been living a life of chastity.

I don't believe monogamy is natural behavior.
People can be monogamous, but it is forced behavior. Very few species mate for life.

I believe that as long as everyone is of legal age, and able to give their informed consent, to each their own.
What works for you, might not work for me, but I'm not going to judge. It doesn't have anything to do with me, so it's not my business.

If you're going to vow, or otherwise promise, to be faithful to one person, you'd damned well better keep your word.
Cheaters are lying assholes.

** All use of the word 'you' is general, not specific to you-you.

Wow, mainly men answering this and being ok with whatever as long as there are consenting adults. Well let me tell you that a lot of the time these so called consenting adults do not consent when it comes to the point. They do it for different reason and it is mostly fear. Fear that he will leave them, fear that they will be lonely, fear that nobody will want them, fear that they will not be able to go it alone, fear that they will not be able to survive financially, fear that it will break the family up if they don't consent, etc, etc.

Well, for me, if people involved agree with the situation, I see no problem with polygamy. The same for monogamy. People just have to accept the consequences for their choices.

I am one of those affected by this. I love three women .. one is my wife, one like an adopted daughter and one who could be my lover/second wife, but societal and interpersonal constraints and attitudes prevent this.

As long as all agree it's fine. As long as all are adults

It's only sex and its not enough to break up a great friendship over. I encouraged my then wife (died) and now lady friends to have sex with whoever they please. People seem to like doing that stuff for no other reason than that stuff is nice to do. It makes for great memories.

Each category is fine for some folks. Then there are some that are freaked out by the very idea of anything outside of "he + she" forevah and evah !

My feeling has always been that relationships in any combination are difficult enough to establish, and then keep going - so however it works, for whoever is involved, is a good thing !

it is a personal matter but the problem is, the more persons are involved, the more likely there is to be a conflict, even if everyone involved starts out thinking s/he's okay with the arrangement. people DO get jealous. people DO get emotional.

g

Any relationship based on mutual consent and respect is OK with me. Things can get sticky when someone is pissed off and legal action occurs, but that's true no matter which of these arrangements are involved. People would do better by keeping a couple of extra cans of "It's not your fucking business" in the pantry and concentrate on their own relationships.

Mainly I feel like everyone would truly have to be on board. And the timing if one of you was with someone else and the other wasn't.. I'm not a jealous person but it would still be weird if my wife was out with other dudes or whatever.

I have enough trouble in a relationship with one person and can't imagine having more than one.

I am monogamous, but no judgment on anything else. I just like committing my time and energy to one romantic relationship and knowing my partner is choosing me.
Open, poly, and group relationships just don't satisfy my needs and would stress me out a bit. Good on those who make them work, though! They certainly seem like they could be great situations if everyone involved is fully on board.