Baháʼí views on homosexuality

thumb | right | alt=Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the supreme governing body of the Baha'i Faith, in the city of Haifa, Israel. | Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the supreme governing body of the Baha'i Faith, in the city of Haifa, Israel.

The Baháʼí Faith has an emphasis on what it describes as traditional family values, and marriage between a man and a woman is the only form of sexual relationship permitted for Baháʼís. With an emphasis on chastity and restraint outside of matrimony, Baháʼí practices exclude premarital, extramarital, or homosexual intimacy. Baháʼí institutions have taken no position on the sexual practices of those who are not adherents, and Baháʼís have been discouraged from promoting or opposing efforts to legalize same-sex marriage.

The scriptural basis for Baháʼí practices comes from the writings of Baháʼu'lláh (1817–1892), the faith's founder, who forbade adultery and sodomy. The Baháʼí position towards homosexuality was elaborated on by Shoghi Effendi, Baháʼu'lláh's great grandson and appointed head of the religion from 1921 to 1957. He answered specific questions and described homosexuality as an affliction that should be overcome, while leaving Baháʼí membership open to anyone regardless of sexual orientation. This position leaves Baháʼís with a same-sex orientation under similar guidance as a heterosexual person: if they find themselves unable to contract a marriage with someone of the opposite sex, they should remain celibate.

The supreme governing institution of the Baháʼí Faith is the Universal House of Justice, first elected in 1963, which has written more extensively on the subject of homosexuality. For example, they have clarified that Baháʼís should not single out homosexual practice over other transgressions of Baháʼí conduct, should not treat those with a homosexual orientation with disdain or prejudice, and should not attempt to impose their standards on society.

Further discussion

The exclusion of same-sex marriage among Baháʼís has garnered considerable criticism in the Western world, where the Baháʼí teachings on sexuality "may appear to be unreasonable, dogmatic, and difficult to apply in Western society". Particularly in the United States, Baháʼís have attempted to reconcile their conservative teachings on sexuality with the otherwise socially progressive teachings of the Faith, but it continues to be a source of controversy.

The Universal House of Justice in 2014 acknowledged that the Baháʼí perspective on sexuality "departs sharply from the pattern of thought achieving ascendancy in many societies" and Baháʼís "cannot relinquish their principles because of changing trends in popular thought".

Former Baháʼí William Garlington said the Baháʼí position in America, "can at most be characterized as one of sympathetic disapproval" toward homosexuality, and professor Melissa Wilcox describes Baháʼí teachings as leaving "little room for tolerance of same-sex eroticism", "not given to statements of its disapproval", and "not generally vocally anti-LGBT."

In the faith's teachings homosexuality is described as a condition against nature and a challenge that an individual should control and overcome, and Baháʼís are left to apply the teachings at their own discretion, and are discouraged from singling out same-sex sexual activity over other transgressions, such as the consumption of alcohol, or heterosexual extramarital sex. Membership in the Baháʼí community is open to celibate lesbian and gay adherents.

The Baháʼí Faith has been described as a religion "ambiguous or contested on the issue of LGBTQ inclusion". The religion has a strong emphasis on traditional interpretations of teachings found in Abrahamic religions, which discourage pre- and extra-marital sex as well as same-sex romantic relationships and marriage. Baháʼí teachings state that Baháʼís should not treat homosexual people as condemned outcasts, nor expect people who are not Baháʼí to follow Baháʼí laws. The Baháʼí writings teach adherents to treat everyone with respect and dignity, and to eschew an attitude of discrimination and social intolerance toward lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. The opportunity for civil same-sex marriage was mentioned in a 2010 letter by the Universal House of Justice as being a public issue that is not in keeping with the Baháʼí teachings, but one that Baháʼís "would neither promote nor necessarily oppose."

<!--==Homosexual Baháʼís==

New converts

Individuals with a same-sex orientation are not prevented from entering the religion and joining in community life; however, someone involved in a same-sex marriage or union will be prevented from registering as a Baháʼí. Baháʼí teachings make a distinction between those who have a same-sex attraction and those who practice homosexual relations.

The religion's guidelines recommend not emphasizing Baháʼí standards of conduct to new believers, but gradually introducing the idea of fully accepting all Baháʼí practices. Spiritual Assemblies, the local elected bodies that manage the affairs of the religion, are instructed to act patiently and persuade members to accept principles inwardly and “out of pure conviction and desire.” New converts who are already engaged in a homosexual relationship will be expected to make a sincere effort to conform to the Baháʼí teachings over a period of time.

Role of Spiritual Assemblies

As a general rule, the Spiritual Assemblies do not get involved in the private lives of believers, unless their actions are considered flagrantly immoral or to be causing some harm to the community.

An individual may be subject to administrative sanctions if a Spiritual Assembly decides that they are openly disregarding the Baháʼí teachings and their actions are damaging to the image of the Baháʼí Faith. This response removes the right to contribute to funds, vote in elections for spiritual assemblies, hold office, or attend the Nineteen Day Feast. It may be applied to extreme cases of alcoholism, sexual promiscuity, and anything that is considered flagrant immorality. However, this consequence is meant only to be applied in cases of "public scandal", "very flagrant cases", or if the conduct of the Baháʼí is "seriously injuring the Faith in the eyes of the public". In cases of Baháʼís who are flagrantly promiscuous, they are to be approached by a Spiritual Assembly and informed of the teachings on personal conduct. If after a probational period the person continues to present a disregard towards the laws in a public way, then the assembly may remove the person's administrative rights, "administratively expelled from membership in the Baháʼí community", though this action is not the same as ex-communication, as there is no directive to avoid fellowship with the individual.

Overcoming homosexuality

Early letters written by Shoghi Effendi's secretaries on his behalf described those with a homosexual orientation as having a handicap that can be overcome "through the advice and help of doctors, through a strong and determined effort, and through prayer". The reference to overcoming or reversing a sexual orientation has garnered considerable criticism from those who regard it as innate and unchangeable.

The Universal House of Justice has written its own correspondence to individuals, encouraging them to divert thoughts into spiritual channels and the nature of man, and to "resist wayward impulses each time they arise". The Universal House of Justice has responded to research that claims that homosexuality is innate and not changeable by asserting that homosexuality is one of

:"many problems, both physical and psychological. Some are the result of the individual's own behaviour, some are caused by the circumstances in which he grew up, some are congenital... homosexuality is an abnormality, is a great problem for the individual so afflicted, and... he or she should strive to overcome it."

It also argues that statistics may be distorted due to under-reporting, that other genetic predispositions to undesirable behaviors exist, and that other types of bias may exist in the present-day research.-->

<!--==Basis from texts==

In one passage of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Baháʼu'lláh writes "we shrink, for very shame, from treating the subject of boys." In the context of the original Arabic text, this passage implies pederasty, or erotic relations between adult males and adolescent boys. Such practices were not uncommon during the time of Baháʼu'lláh in the Islamic world, and in some cases were socially acceptable (see bacha bazi). Baháʼu'lláh condemned such relations, and Shoghi Effendi, the authorized interpreter of the Baháʼí writings, has more clearly defined a prohibition on all homosexual relations, stating that, "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. To say that it is ideal is no excuse. Immorality of every sort is really forbidden by Baháʼu'lláh, and homosexual relationships He looks upon as such, besides being against nature."

Baháʼu'lláh clearly forbade fornication and adultery, referring to any form of premarital or extramarital sexual intercourse. He also forbade sodomy and lechery. The Universal House of Justice, in its notes on the text of the Kitab-i-Aqdas, stated that the Baha'i laws restrict "permissible sexual intercourse to that between a man and the woman to whom he is married".

Letters from the Universal House of Justice

The head of the Baháʼí Faith, the Universal House of Justice, has addressed the issue in letters in recent years and brief excerpts:

9 May 2014 to an individual
"The contemporary discussion surrounding homosexuality, which began in the West and is increasingly promoted in other parts of the world, generally takes the form of a false dichotomy, which compels one to choose between a position that is either affirming or rejecting."
"While Baháʼís hold specific beliefs about human identity, sexuality, personal morality, and individual and social transformation, they also believe that individuals must be free to investigate truth and should not be coerced."
"To regard a person who has a homosexual orientation with prejudice or disdain is entirely against the spirit of the Faith. And where occasion demands, it would be appropriate to speak out or act against unjust or oppressive measures directed towards homosexuals."
"Just as Baháʼís do not impose their views on others, they cannot relinquish their principles because of changing trends in popular thought."
23 April 2013 letter to a National Spiritual Assembly
"…their ("institutions of the Faith") aim (should) be to raise consciousness and to increase understanding. Theirs is not the duty to pry into personal lives or to impose Baháʼí law on the individual…"
"Gossip and backbiting have no place in the Baháʼí community; nor do judgmental attitudes and self-righteousness."
19 April 2013 letter to a group of individuals
"The result (of "the expenditure of enormous energy and vast amounts of resources in an attempt to bend truth to conform to personal desire") is a culture that distorts human nature and purpose, trapping human beings in pursuit of idle fancies and vain imaginings and turning them into pliable objects in the hands of the powerful. Yet, the happiness and well-being of humanity-depend upon the opposite: cultivating human character and social order in conformity with reality."
"(Baháʼu'lláh's) teachings serve, then, to empower humanity; they are the harbinger of human happiness, whose call, far from compelling obedience to an arbitrary and dictatorial regimen of behaviour, leads to true freedom."
"Throughout the world, in diverse cultures, Baháʼís encounter values and practices that stand in sharp contrast to the teachings of the Faith. Some are embedded in social structures, for instance, racial prejudice and gender discrimination, economic exploitation and political corruption. Others pertain to personal conduct, especially with respect to the use of alcohol and drugs, to sexual behaviour, and to self-indulgence in general."
"The institutions of the Faith, for their part, strive to ensure that such an environment ("in which a spirit of unity animates one and all") is fostered. They do not pry into the personal lives of individuals. Nor are they vindictive and judgmental, eager to punish those who fall short of the Baháʼí standard."-->

Notes

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Excerpts from letters

This section is to accommodate the long quotes that accumulated in the