Funny you should mention joke. I was a very serious RC until recently. Ten year back I was also in Glasgow Uni, considering becoming a Minister in the Church of Scotland. I’ve spent the past ten months researching religion and associated subjects. Now I’m a 99.9% agnostic. Just keeping the door open for a god. I don’t see it happening.

He had 13 wives one of which was Alisha who was 9 when he consummated their marriag

@Simon1 Aisha was 6 when married and 9 when consummated.

And here is an interesting read:
[muslimhadith.blogspot.com]

Forget the biblical text. In mediaeval times girls of 12 were ready for husbands. Some European countries, like France, have only in this 21st century raised the minimum age from 14.(or in some cases 13?)
Not that I'm condoning it - merely being pedantic. 16 to 18, depending on the other's age, seems about right to me.

@Petter this was rare amongst common folk and only then to someone their own age not anyone older. it was only the kings and queens who married younger wives to solidify political friendships and lands ownership.

@Simon1 ... and France until 3 years ago?

@Petter that's the age of consent for sex not marriage and even then it was never between a14 year old and a 60 year old .

@Simon1 I know that, I was merely commenting on how little some societies have progressed. Look at Murdoch or Trump for age differences by the way. Must be avarice involved, surely?

@Petter ahh think I get where you are coming from now ...I've debated a lot of people who try to use it as a defence on the actions of these people ......text discussions can be misunderstood sometimes

@Simon1 Utterly against it - unless some 40 year old stripling of a lass takes a fancy to me!

Careful you could be arrested for that kind of comment.

Yeah add at least a laughing emoji or a "lol" ?

What’s great about it?