A remarkable 2005 portrait of Philip Sharp who has taken multiple wives as a step toward spiritual fulfilment.
You would think seven wives would be more than enough to keep a man busy.
But Philip Sharp has a little more on his plate than usual - two are pregnant at the same time.
Margo, 39, is due this month, while Vreni, 38, is scheduled to deliver in January.
Mr Sharp, a self-proclaimed rabbi says that GOD had told him he was a reincarnated Old Testament king. And so he lives like one, with a harem of devoted 'wives', none of whom he is legally married to.
Two wives of Philip Sharp are pregnant at the same time.
Now the 'rampant rabbi', as he has been called, has eight children by four wives - on top of five by a previous and now estranged wife.
He is looking forward to the next two arrivals. 'I never use contraception and I don't let my wives take the Pill unless they really don't want kids,' he declared at his Sussex farmhouse.
'My three partners who haven't had children find it hard when the other women fall pregnant.
'I'm spending more time with Margo and Vreni as we prepare for the births.'
Margo was 25 and had never had a serious boyfriend when she met Mr Sharp at his 'synagogue' based in Hove.
Now about to give birth to her fourth child by him she said: 'I used to want a normal relationship with one husband, and was scared when I was first invited to marry Philip.
'But I thought about it, and heard God telling me I should.
'The first year was the hardest, and I was very jealous of the other wives. I told Philip - and he said I should learn how to share, and now I have.
'Now I feel blessed that my children call the other wives "Mummy", and I trust them completely with my kids.
Vreni, six months pregnant with her second child with Mr Sharp, is originally from Switzerland.
She was studying languages in England when she heard about his synagogue.
God, she claims, told her to join. 'At first I worried what my friends and family would think but I realised what God wanted was more important,' she said.
She added: 'I cannot wear makeup to appear attractive to anyone else other than Philip. I like to abide by the rules.'
And Mr Sharp, 48, certainly has a household full of rules.
His wives have to wear hats to shield their hair from other men, follow a rota for housework, and attend to his every whim.
They also have to help out in Mr Sharp's haulage business. And they have to be content not to have had a proper wedding - as he insists their marriages simply began when they first had sex.
All the wives submit to his bedroom demands.
Mr Sharp said: 'There is no rota for sex. It depends on where I'm at with each wife emotionally and spiritually.
'I spend time with whoever I like, and it is often the wives I have more fun with that I want to be with. When they quarrel, I call a family meeting and the other wives act as a jury so we can resolve it.'
PHILIP SHARP
HIS WOMEN
JUDITH, 50
Former synagogue secretary was wife No1. Admits being jealous when Philip beds the others.
TRACEY, 41
Mum of three was kicked out for year for not being servile enough - but says she's learnt lesson.
CHAVA, 65
Despite earlier marriage was virgin before Philip. Now she hardly sleeps with him.
MARGO, 39
New Zealander was nanny to the children from his real marriage. Now has three kids with him.
VRENI, 38
The second youngest wife in the harem. Fled traumatic family life in Switzerland.
HANNAH, 52
Returned to Britain with Philip after meeting him when he preached at synagogue in Austria.
KARYN, 30
Introduced to the fold by mum Maureen. SMS Texts Philip to ask if it's her turn for sex.
No comments:
Post a Comment