Baha'i principles[/caption]Carol Forsloff---Across the world religions are facing a crisis of conscience in relationship to certain social issues and religious ones, that may not always agree with the ideas of everyone. So it is with the Baha’is.
The Baha’I Faith was founded in 1844 in Iran, first with the announcement of a new prophet who would bring information for a universal brotherhood and subsequently with the proclamation of Baha’u’llah as being the messenger for a new day.
The message of Baha’u’llah includes advocacy for universal language, economic justice, abolition of racial prejudice, education for all, equality between men and women, the agreement and balance of science and religion and the independent investigation of truth. The present controversy in relationship to the religion, however, has to do with the religion’s stance on homosexual marriage.
Most Christians, Jews and Muslims, as well as other faiths, support many of the precepts of the Baha’is, although many did not at the time they were written. But there is an agreement in most of them that marriage has been a union that represents the foundation of culture and that sexual interaction, for the most part, is for the procreation of children. On the other hand, most religions today also maintain a stance against discriminating against minority groups. That is also true of the Baha’is, who offer leadership in these areas.
Recently an opinion article presented on a citizen journal discusses the position of the Baha’is as representative of hypocrisy. Opinion articles, however, in many citizen outlets can be agenda-driven; and often are. The unique difference between blogs and traditional media can frequently be seen in the preponderance of opinion over fact of the former. And those opinions can be founded upon personal anger, rejection or lack of knowledge, which can produce additional issues for the subjects of opinions. Therefore they need to be written and addressed cautiously. Rather than cite the opinion, however, which can draw attention to behavior that can be attention-seeking, experts remind us not to reinforce that type of behavior, as it then becomes difficult to extinguish, so this article addresses instead whether or not Baha’is are exceptional in what is being referred to as hypocrisy.
It is against the law in the United States to discriminate against anyone for hire, for education, and for anything that causes an individual to lose status, income, or mobility as a result. Each religion, however, has limits on individual behavior that adherents respect as well. Many religions, in order to enlarge their tents of followers, will broaden those rules in order to keep those followers and secure others. While there is a practical reason for this, ordinarily the administrative body might be far more circumspect in how it addresses exceptions.
Baha’is are admonished not to discriminate against people who have been targeted by others, either by word or deed. That does not include marriage, as the religion does teach the institution of marriage is a contractual one as a foundation for society and the procreation of children. The religion also puts high restrictions also on those who marry, requiring the written permission of all living parents. Baha’is are also admonished against extra-marital relationships as well as divorce. In that respect it is similar to other world religions. Where it stands out, is its strong message against discriminating against anyone who is being treated unjustly and unfairly in social relationships and the workplace. So those who do not obey those laws, and others, are no longer invited to be full participants in the religion itself. That is rather like a member of any organization where the member does not follow the rules of it and therefore is asked not to attend some of the meetings that may be of an intimate nature where people are free to express their personal and financial concerns.
Members of Care2, or someone with a petition, has asked the United Nations to investigate the Baha’I teachings referencing homosexuality. On the other hand, they could also ask for an investigation of the Catholic Church, the Islamic community, both Sunni and Shi’a, the Jews and many others. Furthermore it is an eclectic group, like a citizen journal, where anyone can ask for a petition just as anyone can write an opinion article, even if the facts are false. So to maintain “activists” call for Baha’is not to discriminate and use Care2 as the only representative advocacy group, may be stretching the truth. For a religion teaches basic principles that allow some to stretch the tent may not be a religion that stands on principle but instead simply offers a response to what often can be a series of continuing demands that are bound not to include everyone. To be fair, a religion has boundaries like any other organization, and most religions accept the principles of love, acceptance and good will, as do the Baha’is, who do not discriminate against homosexuals.