BAHAI METHODS
joanm...@looksmart.com
I have been a victim of what I can only describe as a psychological assault
by a Bahai recruiter who has all the warning signs of a zealot who will do
anything to enlarge his little group of Bahai. Since he is in a profession
which requires a license in my state and since I was subjected to his
bizarre methods while in his "care" I have taken what legal steps I can to
prevent this from happening to others. My stay in the faith was brief and
painful and I am angry about what happened. Anyone out there with a similar
story?
jm
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
Roxanne Rieske
I haven't had anything like that happen to me. MOst of the years I spent
as a bahai'i were happy ones..I was born into the faith to bahai
parents..everything was different then..the whole attitude was to get out
there and do good for people..now it's all about recruiting people and
they've lost touch with the true meaning of worshiping God and the true
meaning of the faith. I've since
distanced myself from the baha'i community because it's all turned so
unappealing to me. Religion has turned unappealing to me and I just don't
want any part of it anymore.
best wishes,
Roxanne
Anathema Zed
[snip]
> My stay in the faith was brief and painful and I am angry about what
> happened. Anyone out there with a similar
> story?
Alas, yes. I'm homosexual. I joined the Baha'i Faith knowing that it
proscribed homosexuality, and, having lived a celibate life years ago as a
Catholic, I was willing to do so again as a Baha'i.
In fact, I wanted to go the extra mile and follow the Guardian's advice
vis-a-vis "medical care." Well, from the start of my involvement with the
Baha'i Faith, I was befriended by a Baha'i who was a Pakistani psychiatrist.
(Those of you in Houston, take note.) Let's call him "Riyaz." Riyaz called me
several times a week for several months (July and August, 1997), asking how I
was doing, suggesting we go out to dinner with other Baha'i young men, etc.
Late in August 1997, I told Riyaz that I was homosexual and asked him if he
could give me a referral. He was clearly uncomfortable, but eventually mumbled
that he would see about it. Riyaz never called me again. After a few weeks, I
called *him* to let him know I had found someone on my own, and to let him off
the hook, so to speak; I left a message with his family for him to call me. He
never returned my call. He still hasn't.
That was my experience with "Baha'i love." And for those of you (e.g.,
Scooter, and Richard Schaut) who accuse me of leaving the faith "after finding
out about its teaching on homosexuality", shame on you. Shame on you.
Anathema Zed
Roxanne Rieske
This is another reason why I've distanced myself from the faith..loads and
loads of hypocrasy..more than half the bahai's I am associated with or
know preach and preach how they don't at all mind being around homosexuals
and as soon as a person who is openly gay shows up they take leave as if
they were lepers. I had a friend in highschool (about 3 years ago) who was
openly gay and wanted to check out the faith so I invited him to a couple
potlucks and firesides..as soon as the LSA found out he was gay they
"discretely" asked me never to invite him again :(.
This attitude and hypocrasy is something that just really pisses me off.
Roxanne
Saman Ahmadi
joanm...@looksmart.com wrote:
> I have been a victim of what I can only describe as a psychological assault
> by a Bahai recruiter who has all the warning signs of a zealot who will do
> anything to enlarge his little group of Bahai. Since he is in a profession
> which requires a license in my state and since I was subjected to his
> bizarre methods while in his "care" I have taken what legal steps I can to
> prevent this from happening to others. My stay in the faith was brief and
> painful and I am angry about what happened. Anyone out there with a similar
> story?
>
> jm
You may, if you wish, contact the Local Spiritual
Assemly of the town in which you, or he, lives.
You can also contact the National Spiritual Assembly
of your country or the member of the Auxiliary Board
for Protection in your region.
-saman
pop.freeserve.net
Anathema Zed wrote in message <369116E7...@reality.net>...
>joanm...@looksmart.com wrote:
>
> Alas, yes. I'm homosexual. I joined the Baha'i Faith knowing that it
>proscribed homosexuality, and, having lived a celibate life years ago as a
>Catholic, I was willing to do so again as a Baha'i.
>Baha'i Faith, I was befriended by a Baha'i who was a Pakistani
psychiatrist.
>was doing, suggesting we go out to dinner with other Baha'i young men, etc.
>Late in August 1997, I told Riyaz that I was homosexual and asked him if he
>could give me a referral. He was clearly uncomfortable, but eventually
mumbled
>that he would see about it. Riyaz never called me again. After a few
weeks, I
HIYA TIFF
Nothing like a ol'e queen spurned hey prolly he didna fancey bonking an ugly
old sod like yourself.
U my dear no nothing bout the Bfaith.still as usuall you speak outa your
arse heheheh IMHO
pop.freeserve.net
Roxanne Rieske wrote in message ...
>they were lepers. I had a friend in highschool (about 3 years ago) who was
>openly gay and wanted to check out the faith so I invited him to a couple
>potlucks and firesides..as soon as the LSA found out he was gay they
>"discretely" asked me never to invite him again :(.
Roger Reini
<rok...@dimensional.com> wrote:
>
>
>This is another reason why I've distanced myself from the faith..loads and
>loads of hypocrasy..more than half the bahai's I am associated with or
>know preach and preach how they don't at all mind being around homosexuals
>and as soon as a person who is openly gay shows up they take leave as if
>they were lepers. I had a friend in highschool (about 3 years ago) who was
>openly gay and wanted to check out the faith so I invited him to a couple
>potlucks and firesides..as soon as the LSA found out he was gay they
>"discretely" asked me never to invite him again :(.
The problem here lies with the individual believers, not with the
teachings of the Faith. All are welcome in the Cause of God, and that
includes gays and lesbians.
I don't doubt that many of the believers would be uncomfortable around
gay people, for they are reflecting society in general. Still, this
is something we should learn to dispel, or at least keep in check.
Gay people are, first and foremost, people. Hm -- I just thought of
something. Instead of saying "gay people", perhaps we should be
saying (and thinking) "people who happen to be gay."
I am rather surprised that your local assembly would ask you not to
bring a seeker back to a fireside. You should consult with the
assembly to see if it can clarify its request.
Chris Manvell
>
>
>I have been a victim of what I can only describe as a psychological assault
>by a Bahai recruiter who has all the warning signs of a zealot who will do
>anything to enlarge his little group of Bahai. Since he is in a profession
>which requires a license in my state and since I was subjected to his
>bizarre methods while in his "care" I have taken what legal steps I can to
>prevent this from happening to others. My stay in the faith was brief and
>painful and I am angry about what happened. Anyone out there with a similar
>story?
>
>jm
>
>http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
Dear Joan,
I am very sorry to read about your experience, which goes against the
basic teachings of the Faith. Here in Scotland I have never come across
the problems of pressurising that I read about on the Net and feel that
you are making a false generalisation in assuming that this is what the
Faith is about. In the end, you are a Baha'i if you believe in
Baha'u'llah, whatever you feel about the members of your local
community. My suggestion is that you report your treatment to the
National Spiritual Assembly of your country or to one of the Auxiliary
Board members. If you feel that these people are too close to the
problem, then write to the World Centre about it. It is imperative that
the sort of problems you experienced are addressed.
With my sympathy,
Chris.
--
Chris Manvell, Isle of Skye, Scotland. Tel.:+44+(0)1471-822 317
Fax.:+44+(0)870-056 8081
Personal Web site: <http://www.breacais.demon.co.uk/>
Association of Baha'i Studies (English speaking Europe):
<http://www.breacais.demon.co.uk/BSR/>
Sgriobtiurean Creidimh nam Baha-i
<http://www.breacais.demon.co.uk/gaelic/>
dar...@my-dejanews.com
American Baha'is aren't really being "hypocrites" when they say that the
Faith "accepts everyone" and then says "we don't accept practicing
homosexuals". It that the American Baha'i Faith has been distorted by
Humanism. Baha'is learn in school to be "tolerant", then they hear the Faith
is "tolerant"; so they assume this means a "tolerance" in the Humanistic
interpretation of the word. But that's not so. The Faith is NOT "tolerant" of
forbidden sexual activities; which include adultery, bestiality, fornication
(pre-marital sex), pedophilia, and homosexuality. The word "tolerance" in the
Faith means that Baha'is are supposed to treat all people with respect, but
not acceptance. There is a difference. Baha'is are supposed to treat members
of the KKK with respect, but not "accept" their teachings. Baha'is are
supposed to treat homosexuals with respect, but not "accept" their lifestyle.
Why? Because it is harmful to the soul, and the soul lasts forever.
Naturally, the homosexuals will cry, "Oh, but unless you accept my
sexuality, then you don't respect me and you don't tolerate me!" Cute
argument, but Baha'is believe that the Wisdom of God is far beyond that of
the wisdom of men. Baha'u'llah was Omniscient. If He was a Manifestation of
God, then He revealed the Word of God to mankind. He called homosexuality
(liwat in Arabic) a "satanic deed", and forbade it's practice. If He was
wrong on this, then He was a liar or self-deceived. If He was wrong, then
there is no reason to believe He was a Manifestation of God. But if He was a
Manifestation of God, then He was correct, and homosexuality damages and
retards the soul (as do other forbidden sexual practices).
If homosexuals _knew_ what damage they were doing to their eternal souls,
they would gladly sacrifice their sexuality and dedicate themselves totally
to the Service of God in this life. Millions have before. Look at Mother
Teresa, Catholic prients and nuns, Buddhist monks, Sufi dervishes, etc. They
are not being asked to do anything that millions of others have not already
done. For many celebates (Catholics, Hindus, Buddhists, Sufi Muslims, etc.)
physical ecstasy is replaced with spiritual ecstasy; with is often more
fulfilling.
It is also true that homosexuals can "learn" to develope sexual feelings for
those of the opposite sex. This doesn't mean they still won't have homosexual
feelings, but that they can 'learn' to have heterosexual feelings. At this
point, their same-sex feelings can be repressed. Most heterosexual men have
strong feelings to commit fornication and adultery at one time or another.
Yet, the religious ones learn to suppress such feelings. The more spiritual
one becomes, the easier it is to suppress such feelings.
Many homosexuals who come into the Faith are simply "not told" that
homosexuality is forbidden. Oftentimes they are devastated, and feel lied to
and betrayed. This is because Baha'is often simply "don't tell them" until
after they have declared; sometimes l-o-n-g after! This is _not right_! They
should be taught the sexual ethics of the Faith _before_ declaring. Gary L.
Matthews (Stonehaven Press) is coming out with a new Baha'i pamphlet called
*Sexual Ethics in the Baha'i Faith* for this very purpose; to teach seekers
the sexual moreys of the Faith _before_ they declare.
The Gay Rights Movement declares that homosexuals "can't change". This is a
deception. While it is true that homosexuals will never be "completely free"
of same-sex feelings, it is also true that they can learn to develope
opposite -sex feelings (such a thing occurs to heterosexual people who spend
years in prison--homosexuality can also become a 'learned' behavior). Once
this heterosexual orientation is learned, homosexuals can get married and
enjoy a sexual life; while suppressing their same-sex desires. It can be
done, and often has and is done. The only other option in the Faith is to
become celebate, and dedicate one's entire life to the Service of God.
Anything other than these two choices is hypocritical, and Baha'u'llah has
written that hypocrites shall suffer "the Wrath of God".
In the New Testament, Jesus refers to "eunuchs for the Kingdom of God's
sake". He was referring to the Essenes; Jewish men who didn't marry, but
remained celebate. There were no therapies then to help homosexuals develope
heterosexual feelings. Thus, Jewish men who had no desire for women either
had to remain celebate, or become Unbelievers. Some chose to become Eunuchs
"for the Kindom of God's sake". The Essenes were known as great doctors and
visionaries. They reached fantastic spiritual heights; because they forgot
their own "selves" and dedicated their lives completely to God.
Many of the Sufis and Dervishes in Islam do the same thing. What we need is
an order of Baha'i Dervishes. But, thankfully, we also today have therapies
that are very successful in getting homosexuals to learn heterosexual
orientations. Again, few if any ever become "exclusively" heterosexual, but
same-sex feelings can be suppressed; just like spiritual-minded heterosexual
men suppress their sexual feelings toward young beautiful girls and women who
are not their wives. The more spiritual one becomes, the easier it is to
suppress such feelings.
The homosexual will say, "But that's not fair! Homosexual love is equal to
heterosexual love!" Really? Who says? Plato? Socrates? Zeno? Sapho? Harry
Hay? Sinful little men and women? God is the Creator of the Universe, and He
has Manifestest Himself via perfect Men; called the Manifestations of God. It
is They Who reveal His Will. What are the philosophies of men compared to the
Wisdom of God? To compare a grain of sand next to the combined galaxies
wouldn't even scratch the surface! The wisdom of men is foolishness to God.
There is simply _no_ comparison! To even attempt to compare the wisdom of men
with the Wisdom of God is blashemous!
The homosexual Baha'i has four choices:
1) Remain celebate (become a Dervish); reach great spiritual heights, and
dedicate one's life totally to the Service of God. 2) Seek therapy in order
to develope other-sex feelings, get married, and suppress same-sex attraction
via spirituality. 3) Remain in the Faith and secretly practice homosexual
(i.e. be a Hypocrite and suffer the Wrath of God in the Afterlife). 4) Leave
the Faith.
I encourage the Friends to be "open and honest" with homosexual seekers from
the very beginning. Tell them of the Faith's teachings regarding
homosexuality. Don't wait until they have declared already. Give them the
choice. Darrick Evenson cc. soc.religion.bahai
In article <Pine.SUN.3.96.99010...@flatland.dimensional.com>,
Roxanne Rieske <rok...@dimensional.com> wrote:
> This is another reason why I've distanced myself from the faith..loads and
> loads of hypocrasy..more than half the bahai's I am associated with or
> know preach and preach how they don't at all mind being around homosexuals
> and as soon as a person who is openly gay shows up they take leave as if
> they were lepers. I had a friend in highschool (about 3 years ago) who was
> openly gay and wanted to check out the faith so I invited him to a couple
> potlucks and firesides..as soon as the LSA found out he was gay they
> "discretely" asked me never to invite him again :(.
>
> This attitude and hypocrasy is something that just really pisses me off.
>
> Roxanne
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
dar...@my-dejanews.com
You can't judge the Faith by the actions of some of it's members. You will
find Baha'is who will both condemn and praise your homosexuality; and
everything in-between. You must look to Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha as the
Great Exemplar. If the purpose of the Faith was merely to bring "World
Peace", then there is no reason to prohibit homosexuality. The fact that it
is prohibited is because it damages the eternal soul. There is actually an
organization of Baha'is dedicated to helping homosexual Baha'is get the
necessary treatment to develope other-sex feelings. God recognizes we all
have weaknesses, and there is not a person alive who doesn't have some sort
of sexual feeling and desire which is not in accord with the Will of God. But
the purpose of the Religion of God is to overcome the natural man, and to
develope spiritually so that we can journey through the Worlds of God with
pure and undefiled souls. Darrick Evenson
In article <369116E7...@reality.net>,
Anathema Zed <anathe...@reality.net> wrote:
> joanm...@looksmart.com wrote:
>
> [snip]
>
> > My stay in the faith was brief and painful and I am angry about what
> > happened. Anyone out there with a similar
> > story?
>
> Alas, yes. I'm homosexual. I joined the Baha'i Faith knowing that it
> proscribed homosexuality, and, having lived a celibate life years ago as a
> Catholic, I was willing to do so again as a Baha'i.
>
> In fact, I wanted to go the extra mile and follow the Guardian's advice
> vis-a-vis "medical care." Well, from the start of my involvement with the
> Baha'i Faith, I was befriended by a Baha'i who was a Pakistani psychiatrist.
> (Those of you in Houston, take note.) Let's call him "Riyaz." Riyaz called
me
> several times a week for several months (July and August, 1997), asking how I
> was doing, suggesting we go out to dinner with other Baha'i young men, etc.
> Late in August 1997, I told Riyaz that I was homosexual and asked him if he
> could give me a referral. He was clearly uncomfortable, but eventually
mumbled
> that he would see about it. Riyaz never called me again. After a few weeks,
I
> called *him* to let him know I had found someone on my own, and to let him off
> the hook, so to speak; I left a message with his family for him to call me.
He
> never returned my call. He still hasn't.
>
> That was my experience with "Baha'i love." And for those of you (e.g.,
> Scooter, and Richard Schaut) who accuse me of leaving the faith "after finding
> out about its teaching on homosexuality", shame on you. Shame on you.
>
> Anathema Zed
>
> >
> >
> > jm
> >
Anathema Zed
> Baha'u'llah was Omniscient.
Liar. That midget was successfully poisoned by his brother.
Anathema Zed
Anathema Zed
> Dear Zed,
>
> You can't judge the Faith by the actions of some of it's members.
I will address this canard in Fact #25. In the interim, look up the "no true
Scotsman" fallacy.
Anathema Zed
Roger Reini
Anathema Zed wrote:
>
> dar...@my-dejanews.com wrote:
>
> > Baha'u'llah was Omniscient.
>
> Liar. That midget was successfully poisoned by his brother.
>
> Anathema Zed
Your use of the term "midget" is inaccurate, since Baha'u'llah was
approximately 5 feet in height. This would be considered quite short
for a man by 1999 US standards, but taller than "midget".
I can draw only one conclusion: the use of "midget" is intended to be
pejorative.
Roger (rre...@wwnet.net)
RMckin6046
>> Baha'u'llah was Omniscient.
>
> Liar. That midget was successfully poisoned by his brother.
>
And, Christ was crucified. The Bab was shot. Moses was denied entry into the
Promised Land. Muhammed lost an important battle. Abraham, Isaac & Jacob all
had their problems, and Noah predicted rain more than once.
If you do not believe that these messengers were from God, then it doesn't much
matter one way or the other. If you do believe that they were from God, then
there is no contradiction in the poisoning of Baha'u'llah by Subh-i-Azal.
Richard
Roxanne Rieske
I'm fully aware of the teachings on homosexuality. But when a homosexual
comes to the community and says I'm a homosexual but I want to learn the
faith and i want to overchome my homosexuality..you would expect the
bahai' community to come to his assistance, you would not expect them to
turn
AWAY from him and tell his contact to never invite him to another bahai'
function.
My situation was totally ridiculous.
The community was hypocritical and seemed to very ignorant of the bahai
writings on this matter. Agreed, not EVERY baha'i has this attitude but
most do. I'm not a practicing Baha'i anymore, but i've learned alot of
things from the writings..very valuable things to me and I respect the
writings and the Figures of the faith very much. But there's just too many
things that bahai followers do that I cannot condone in anyway so I've
found the only solution to me is not associate myself to much with them.
Roxanne
Roger Reini
wrote:
>On , Tue, 05 Jan 1999 15:33:54 GMT, rre...@wwnet.net (Roger Reini), , ,
>rre...@wwnet.net, Re: BAHAI METHODS, <369503a2...@news.newsguy.com>,
>wrote:
>
>
>>I don't doubt that many of the believers would be uncomfortable around
>>gay people,
>
>I would prefer that people didn't use the term "gay", there is nothing
>particularly "gay" about sodomy.
Nonetheless, it is a fairly common term (in the West, anyway).
>
>> for they are reflecting society in general. Still, this
>>is something we should learn to dispel, or at least keep in check.
>
>We are surely permitted to distance ourselves from them?
You are free to do whatever you wish. If you don't want to be around
homosexual people, you don't have to be. There is a possibility you
might be depriving yourself of a friendship or hindering a seeker from
learning about the Faith, but that's your call.
Still, to the extent that this is based in prejudice, I feel we should
resist the temptation to do this. This may be a case where the
sin-covering eye that 'Abdu'l-Baha mentions would be very useful.
Let's focus on their good qualities and not dwell on their bad ones.
>
>>Gay people are, first and foremost, people. Hm -- I just thought of
>>something. Instead of saying "gay people", perhaps we should be
>>saying (and thinking) "people who happen to be gay."
>
>Most homosexuals I have come into contact with seem to have a problem and
>want people to know they are homosexuals, to the point of being offensive
>about it and looking for confrontation and quick to call you "homophobic"
>if you tell them you don't want to know it or disaprove of it.
>"Homophobic" is another term I don't agree with as the term "phobic"
>indicates fear, something I can't agree with. Merely because I disaprove of
>or dislike something doesn't mean I fear it.
I do agree that "homophobic" seems to have been 'hijacked" by the gay
activist community, applying it in ways that are grounded more in
politics. But this newsgroup is not for debating gay activism, it's
hear to discuss the Baha'i Faith.
>
>>I am rather surprised that your local assembly would ask you not to
>>bring a seeker back to a fireside. You should consult with the
>>assembly to see if it can clarify its request.
>
>I would like to know more of this as well.
Roxanne Rieske
The reason they gave me was that a few community members were
"uncomfortable" around my friend who made no bones about the fact that
he was homosexual. He was not a practing homosexual at the time. He was
very unahppy with himself because of his homosexuality..which is why he
came to me to learn about the faith. Now he didn't shout from the rooftops
that he was homosexual. He simply was very honest from the onset that he
needed help and wanted to learn the faith because he wanted to overcome
his homosexuality (it was a deepening that I first brought him to..the
subect..appropriatley was human sexuality). I noticed afterwards that
there were alot of whispering and some people seemed kind of edgy..but I
didn't pay any mind to it..I invited him to a fireside afterward and then
to another deepening..after that everyting seemed to blow up..seemed a few
ppl went to the LSA to complain about his presence, then the next thing I
know my father (who was on the LSA) comes to me and tells me not to invite
him again.
Well fuck that crap. A person comes to you for help and you reject him
just so a few people can be nice and cozy. That's a bunch of bullshit if
you ask me.
I didn't take it up with the LSA because if you're that ignorant and
stupid then nothing I say is gonna change your mind.
I have since moved away from that community..and thankgod.
Roxanne
> >I am rather surprised that your local assembly would ask you not to
> >bring a seeker back to a fireside. You should consult with the
> >assembly to see if it can clarify its request.
>
> I would like to know more of this as well.
>
> --
> "I think all right-thinking people in this country are sick
> and tired of being told that ordinary decent people are fed
> up in this country of being sick and tired. I'm certainly
> not, and I'm sick and tired of being told that I am."
>
>
Anathema Zed
> Well fuck that crap. A person comes to you for help and you reject him
> just so a few people can be nice and cozy. That's a bunch of bullshit if
> you ask me.
However, since none of these Baha'is was Abdu'l Baha, it doesn't matter
what they did, and it has no bearing on an assessment of the Baha'i Faith.
Isn't that . . . convenient?
Anathema Zed
Anathema Zed
same people who bitch about the misappropriation of the word "gay" by
homosexuals never complain about the use of the word "queer" to designate them.
Anathema Zed
Roger Reini
<rok...@dimensional.com> wrote:
>
>The reason they gave me was that a few community members were
>"uncomfortable" around my friend who made no bones about the fact that
>he was homosexual. He was not a practing homosexual at the time. He was
>very unahppy with himself because of his homosexuality..which is why he
>came to me to learn about the faith. Now he didn't shout from the rooftops
>that he was homosexual. He simply was very honest from the onset that he
>needed help and wanted to learn the faith because he wanted to overcome
>his homosexuality (it was a deepening that I first brought him to..the
>subect..appropriatley was human sexuality). I noticed afterwards that
>there were alot of whispering and some people seemed kind of edgy..but I
>didn't pay any mind to it..I invited him to a fireside afterward and then
>to another deepening..after that everyting seemed to blow up..seemed a few
>ppl went to the LSA to complain about his presence, then the next thing I
>know my father (who was on the LSA) comes to me and tells me not to invite
>him again.
Assuming that there was nothing else that could have influenced this
decision, then IMHO this was not a good example of Baha'i conduct. To
alienate a seeker, which then leads to the alienation of a believer --
<sigh>.
I recall the story of a man desiring to speak to 'Abdu'l-Baha while He
was touring the West. He was turned away by the owner of the house on
the grounds that the Master was too tired to receive any more
visitors. When He heard of this, He directed that that person be
brought to Him -- and he was.
IMHO, we need to be very careful that we don't alienate any seekers.
dar...@my-dejanews.com
A liar is a person who says something they know is not factual. When I wrote
that BH was Omniscient, or at least claimed to be so, I was stating what I
sincerely believe to be fact. A person who sincerely states what he/she
believes to be fact is not a liar; although they may be sincerely mistaken.
Darrick Evenson
In article <36928879...@reality.net>,
Anathema Zed <anathe...@reality.net> wrote:
> dar...@my-dejanews.com wrote:
>
> > Baha'u'llah was Omniscient.
>
> Liar. That midget was successfully poisoned by his brother.
>
> Anathema Zed
dar...@my-dejanews.com
homosexuals desiring to become members of the Church (which, by the way, is
VERY conservative), and not once did we turn any of them away, nor ignore
them. Indeed, about 25% of the San Francisco Singles Ward (a congregation of
unmarried people in the Church) were homosexual. They knew full well they
were expected to remain celebate. Did all of them do so? Surely, some of them
were hypocrites; you'll find that anywhere you go. But, from what I could
tell--from my own experiences--none of them were ever told not to come to
Church. If a man was in drag, he was told to come back dressed as a man. But
again, homosexuals were there not because they had to be there, but because
they wanted to be there. Nobody was forcing them. They seemed to enjoy it.
Certainly, Baha'is are not supposed to reject homosexual seekers or even
homosexual Baha'is. But they are not supposed to tell such people that their
lifestyle (if they are sexually active) is "okay" either. Sometimes Baha'is
will wait for a year or more and then tell the person about the ban on
homosexuality. This is clearly cruel and misleading. They should be read what
Shoghi Effendi had to say about it; without their own spins or comments, and
let the person choose for themselves. Darrick Evenson
In article
<Pine.SUN.3.96.990106...@flatland.dimensional.com>, Roxanne
Rieske <rok...@dimensional.com> wrote:
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------