Response to Anew Re: Intolerant Baha'i Law

Stuff to check out:
http://www.indiana.edu/~glbtlib/reviews/r01801.html
Melanie Heath, Judith Stacey (2002). Transatlantic family travail [review article on The end of marriage? Individualism and intimate relations by J Lewis (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2001),
Same sex intimacies: families of choice and other life experiments by J Weeks, B Heaphy, and C Donovan (London: Routledge, 2001)] American journal of sociology. 108:3 pp 658-68.
Constance R. Sullivan-Blum (2006). "The natural order of creation": naturalizing discourses in the Christian same-sex marriage debate [in special issue 'The new anthropology of sexuality'; French summary] Anthropologica (New Series). 48:2 pp 203-15. (BM: H6/KUB [ANTHROPOLOGICA N.S.])
Carol Smart (2007). Same sex couples and marriage: negotiating relational landscapes with families and friends [in thematic section 'Complex family relations'] Sociological review. 55:4 pp 671-86. (BM: H6/KF [SOCIOLOGICAL-])
http://www.abc.net.au/abccontentsales/s1337919.htm

http://books.google.com/books?id=dBJelzVZg80C&pg=PA117&lpg=PA117&...

http://www.qrd.org/qrd/usa/legal/hawaii/baehr/1997/brief.na.mamo.o.hawaii-05....

http://www2.xlibris.com/Bookstore/book_excerpt.asp?bookid=12913

http://wwwsshe.murdoch.edu.au/intersections/issue6/matzner.html

http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0046-3663(198922)15%3A2%3C312%3ATMOH%3E2.0.C...

http://www.despardes.com/lifestyle/feb05/eunuch-marriage-0228.htm

http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/contemporary_pacific/v015/15.1tengan....

http://www.speakoutnow.org/userdata_display.php?modin=50&uid=181

www.hrc.org

And discriminatory Baha'i Writings:

"Immorality of every sort is really forbidden by Bahá'u'lláh, and homosexual relationships he looks upon as such, besides being against nature."

"To be afflicted this way is a great burden to a conscientious soul. But through the advice and help of doctors, through a strong and determined effort, and through prayer, a soul can overcome this handicap.
(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, March 26, 1950)

"Homosexuality, according to the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, is spiritually condemned."
(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual, 21 May 1954; Lights of Guidance, p. 365, #1221) [6]

"Homosexuality is highly condemned and often a great trial and cause of suffering to a person, as a Bahá'í. Any individual so afflicted must, through prayer, and any other means, seek to overcome this handicap."
(On behalf of Shoghi Effendi to a National Spiritual Assembly, 6 October 1956)

"As for those now afflicted, a homosexual does not decide to be a problem human, but he does, as you rightly state, have decision in choosing his way of life, i.e. abstaining from homosexual acts."

(Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual, 22 March 1987)

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Baha'i
• Law
• Same
• Sex
• Marriage
• Homosexuality
• Human
• Rights

[fireflygirl246]

Another good reason to argue this point is that if they can discriminate against homosexuals because they are different what is stopping them for discriminating against anyone that is different? I always laugh a people against homosexuality that don't see this point, I hope those people never are the ones that are different and can't be who they are because of the majority. Its the worst thing you can do to another human and I can't wish that on my worst enemy.

[notmytruname]

Good point, fireflygirl246.

[aaronlee75]

We all (society as a whole as well) reap what we sow. Let society in general put things like same sex marriage to the vote (with the option of altering that choice with each generation). The Baha'i pov in general is that loose sexual practices are detrimental to the cohesiveness of society, and the personal mental health of single parent children etc. This is advice that can easily put to the test. Let society experiment if we wish...that is in line with the investigation of truth.

[aaronlee75]

Homosexuality in particular is simply a small part of sexual morality in society in general. What is acceptable and what isn't? If more than one model is acceptable, then that becomes a slippery slope. Human sexual prefference in several studies has shown to be rather elastic, and not set in stone. A heterosexual in a mixed sex environment will generally stay heterosexual. In a single sex environment, a signigicant portion will seek same sex relations. We can experiment, but to what end?

[aaronlee75]

As far as sexual morality is concerned...treating sex as a form of recreational activity, or having that mindset, has produced a near disintegration of the family and has had negative seconary impacts on society...problems of personal self respect, strong increase in self interest above group interest, and the job of raising many children largely on the shoulders of society rather than the parents...financially and ethically (in schools) etc. Defining marriage needs to take these into account.

[aaronlee75]

the general definition of marriage is that of a social contract. 2 people getting together to pool resources to help each other and to raise the next generation. Traditionaly this has spread to include extended families and bonding families forming clans, tribes, then on to societies and countries. That which reinforces that general definition reinforces society.  The social contract also needs to be highly valued to ensure it's strength and stability.

[aaronlee75]

I'm sure you've heard many opinions since '08...but for someone who isn't a Baha'i let the question of same sex marriage be decided in public dialogue. To do so we need to look at both the rights and resposibilities of marriages. If one wants the legal rights from marriage then let them take the responsibility of at least raising children, one way or another. It's a question that will be decided there. The family is the fundimental unit of society. It's definition has a significant bearing.

[BookOfFlaws]

Homosexuality is pathologal, anti-life, involves desecration of the creative organs, is an evolutionary deadend for humanity, and comes form pathological or flawed upbringing. (Such as a weak relationship with the father, in the case of the men, etc.) Homosexuality can only destroy the natural holistic structure of the family (each child with their natural and true parent), and would destroy all human society itself.

[madmanmantra]

@PeyBar weird but honest.  I'm telling the truth of my experiences in life.

[PeyBar]

@madmanmantra Dude, you are weird.

[madmanmantra]

@madmanmantra As I was saying I don't judge gays as much as you'd think I'd do, but if they ask I will definitely proclaim my outrage at anyone who dare have gay recruitment agenda which has been going on for a very long time among bisexuals posing as heterosexual men in situations like Penn State and organized religionsk includign Bahai Faith. It's always been in the "heterosexual" men's competitive subversive interest to eliminate competition by also being gay pedophiles.

[madmanmantra]

@PeyBar No I'm not really lonely at all because I don't have a clique of crutch buddies that I pretend are friends and I have freed my mind from the group think of yuppy Bahais. I've met a lot of good people who are gay and have found them a lot more hospitable and friendly than heterosexuals because they don't take commaradie for granted. I don't judge them as much as you'd think I do online.