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..(there are) those who believe that sex does not have to be connected to love.. This is a logical development of the materialistic philosophy.. Those who pursue sex for its own sake find after a time that conventional forms become boring.. As with the unbridled pursuit of any other form of sensual pleasure, happiness is not found, only a painful longing for what cannot be reached.. (85:1) "Despair both here and hereafter is all you will gain from self-indulgence." ('Abdul-Baha) (85:2) ..For those who can treat their own and other peoples' bodies as supermarket commodities.. coarsen and brutalize their whole attitude to their fellow human beings. In short, it is believed that unlimited sexual freedom is not compatible with lasting respect and love between human beings and while such a philosophy prevails there is not a chance of achieving a just and spiritually-progressive society. (85:3) These conventional arguments in favour of sexual promiscuity have been gradually extended to include defense of homosexuality. Homosexuality is now regarded by many as acceptable and natural sexual behaviour. Baha'is deeply deplore the past savage persecution of homosexuals, whom they regard as having a sickness which requires not persecution for its cure, but compassion and all the medical and spiritual assistance that a society can give. However, physically and spiritually people of the same sex are not complementary in the same sense that people of the opposite sex are, and a homosexual relationship is therefore seen by Baha'is as an artificial creation which in the long run destroys rather than augments the spiritual qualities of those involved. The following statement written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi summarizes the Baha'i position on this subject:
(85:4)
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