Earth is But One Country
by
J. Huddleston
9 Paragraphs

There are those who maintain that pre-marital sex is necessary to determine whether or not a man and a woman are compatible. This point of view overlooks the fact that true marriage is a spiritual union and that if a couple have really discovered each other's character and love what they see, then sex cannot be a fundamental problem. If they love each other and there should turn out to be sexual difficulty after marriage, which is unlikely, then they will wish to solve the problem together in tenderness and love, with, if necessary, medical help. If they do not love each other, then pre-marital sex is not going to make any difference and to base a marriage on any sexual pleasure which may be found before marriage is to invite disaster. Furthermore, indulgence in pre-marital sex on these grounds will surely take away some of the beauty from marriage: there will be, even if subconsciously, a devaluation of the marriage itself, perhaps a sense of hypocrisy, and a feeling of having started the marriage on less than the highest ideal. (84:2)

..One of the most unpleasant side effects of the polygamous philosophy is that it almost inevitably leads to comparisons, with the partners having developed different levels of sexual expectation and appetite. Then, indeed, there is likely to be a problem of incompatibility. The argument confuses intimate love between man and woman, which is both spiritual and physical, with the purely spiritual love which should exist between all mankind. The greater number a man loves the first way the poorer he is; the more the second way the richer he will be.. (84:3)

..(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)

"Homosexuality, according to the Writings of Baha'u'llah, is spiritually condemned. This does not mean that people so afflicted must not be helped and advised and sympathized with. It does mean that we do not believe that it is a permissible way of life... (86:1)

"...No matter how devoted and fine the love may be between people of the same sex, to let it find expression in sexual acts is wrong. Immorality of every sort is really forbidden by Baha'u'llah, and homosexual relationships He looks upon as such, besides being against nature. (86:2)

"...But through the advice and help of doctors, through a strong and determined effort, and through prayer, a soul can overcome this handicap." (Shoghi Effendi) (86:3)

End of Quote

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