the bahai faith and homosexuals

[Seon Ferguson]

Ok this is strange i posted this message yesterday and it still hasn't shown
up in the 3 Bahai groups. I will attempt to post this to arb because I am
sure they don't censor messages.
My cousin said her friend got kicked out of the Bahai faith in the UK. So I
was wondering how does the Bahai faith view homosexuality? Does it really
kick people out or does it depend on the country? I know in Australia they
appear pretty accepting.

[o***@gmail.com]

Post by Seon Ferguson
Ok this is strange i posted this message yesterday and it still hasn't shown
up in the 3 Bahai groups. I will attempt to post this to arb because I am
sure they don't censor messages.
My cousin said her friend got kicked out of the Bahai faith in the UK. So I
was wondering how does the Bahai faith view homosexuality? Does it really
kick people out or does it depend on the country? I know in Australia they
appear pretty accepting.

To my understanding Baha'is see the primary purpose of marriage as an
institution for having and raising children and do not allow same sex
marriage, sexual activity outside marriage is forbidden, therefore
however much two people of the same sex may love each other there is
no opportunity for them to express this sexually as Baha'is. I think
that in the UK the attitude is that if it is happening such that
nobody knows about it then it is a matter of the individuals own faith
and conscience, if however a Baha'i was publicly known to be sexually
active outside of a heterosexual marriage, and if they had no
intention of changing this, then they would lose certain privileges
within the Baha'i community.

[Seon Ferguson]

Post by o***@gmail.com

Post by Seon Ferguson
Ok this is strange i posted this message yesterday and it still hasn't shown
up in the 3 Bahai groups. I will attempt to post this to arb because I am
sure they don't censor messages.
My cousin said her friend got kicked out of the Bahai faith in the UK. So I
was wondering how does the Bahai faith view homosexuality? Does it really
kick people out or does it depend on the country? I know in Australia they
appear pretty accepting.

To my understanding Baha'is see the primary purpose of marriage as an
institution for having and raising children and do not allow same sex
marriage, sexual activity outside marriage is forbidden, therefore
however much two people of the same sex may love each other there is
no opportunity for them to express this sexually as Baha'is. I think
that in the UK the attitude is that if it is happening such that
nobody knows about it then it is a matter of the individuals own faith
and conscience, if however a Baha'i was publicly known to be sexually
active outside of a heterosexual marriage, and if they had no
intention of changing this, then they would lose certain privileges
within the Baha'i community.

Wow thanks for telling me that. I'm not gay but I believe homosexuals should
have the right to live their life however they want. I guess I thought the
Bahai faith was different to the other gay bashing religions. Also there is
something else that has been nagging at me. Is it true women can't be
members of the national spiritual assembly?

[o***@gmail.com]

Post by Seon Ferguson

Post by Seon Ferguson
Ok this is strange i posted this message yesterday and it still hasn't shown
up in the 3 Bahai groups. I will attempt to post this to arb because I am
sure they don't censor messages.
My cousin said her friend got kicked out of the Bahai faith in the UK. So I
was wondering how does the Bahai faith view homosexuality? Does it really
kickk

Wow thanks for telling me that. I'm not gay but I believe homosexuals should
have the right to live their life however they want. I guess I thought the
Bahai faith was different to the other gay bashing religions. Also there is
something else that has been nagging at me. Is it true women can't be
members of the national spiritual assembly?

Personally I don't consider Baha'is to be "gay bashing", they are not
pro-gay so I understand where you are coming from. I don't have a sex
life, I might feel more inclined to have one if I wasn't a Baha'i, it
is my choice, either I believe they are right or I don't, and I feel
Baha'is generally accept your decision in that respect (I am not gay
either though, so I have no idea what it would feel like if I was).
Re. The National Spiritual Assembly and women, they are allowed to
serve on it, it is the International Institution that they may not
serve on, the reason for this is not yet clear but it is not a
question of equality or ability, that is very clear, I'm sure there
are many discussions in the Usenet archives about this.
Hope that helps!
HC

[Seon Ferguson]

Post by o***@gmail.com

Post by Seon Ferguson

Post by Seon Ferguson
Ok this is strange i posted this message yesterday and it still hasn't shown
up in the 3 Bahai groups. I will attempt to post this to arb because I am
sure they don't censor messages.
My cousin said her friend got kicked out of the Bahai faith in the UK.
So
I
was wondering how does the Bahai faith view homosexuality? Does it really
kickk

Wow thanks for telling me that. I'm not gay but I believe homosexuals should
have the right to live their life however they want. I guess I thought the
Bahai faith was different to the other gay bashing religions. Also there is
something else that has been nagging at me. Is it true women can't be
members of the national spiritual assembly?

Personally I don't consider Baha'is to be "gay bashing", they are not
pro-gay so I understand where you are coming from. I don't have a sex
life, I might feel more inclined to have one if I wasn't a Baha'i, it
is my choice, either I believe they are right or I don't, and I feel
Baha'is generally accept your decision in that respect (I am not gay
either though, so I have no idea what it would feel like if I was).
Re. The National Spiritual Assembly and women, they are allowed to
serve on it, it is the International Institution that they may not
serve on, the reason for this is not yet clear but it is not a
question of equality or ability, that is very clear, I'm sure there
are many discussions in the Usenet archives about this.
Hope that helps!
HC

I'll have to look them up. Or ask a bahai the next time we meet. Yeah the
Bahai faith aren't gay bashers and are more accepting than other religions.
I guess I just don't like the idea of losing voting rights. Oh well I'm not
gay but if I was I'd be glad I am not bahai. Despite what a certain person
says about me (I am also being called a Muslim in aus.politics and I don't
even believe in the Koran!) I haven't been called a Jew for a while...