Comments on: A Christian Prom http://wanderings.teacherjay.net/2009/05/06/a-christian-prom/ Baha'i prayers, readings and reflections Sat, 09 Jan 2010 04:12:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: TeacherJay http://wanderings.teacherjay.net/2009/05/06/a-christian-prom/comment-page-1/#comment-198 TeacherJay Thu, 07 May 2009 16:29:03 +0000 http://wanderings.teacherjay.net/2009/05/06/a-christian-prom/#comment-198 Peter, my objection to the Christian prom is not due to their potential behavior, or that of the others at the prom. Rather, it is against the concept that they should separate themselves in order to illustrate their point. I believe they are doing themselves a great disservice by creating a "safe haven" in which they are free to express their Christian values. Would this not be more meaningful if they were able to live up to their standards of behavior amidst the general population and not just inside the relatively confines of the church? Peter, my objection to the Christian prom is not due to their potential behavior, or that of the others at the prom. Rather, it is against the concept that they should separate themselves in order to illustrate their point. I believe they are doing themselves a great disservice by creating a "safe haven" in which they are free to express their Christian values. Would this not be more meaningful if they were able to live up to their standards of behavior amidst the general population and not just inside the relatively confines of the church?

]]> By: Peter_Gardner http://wanderings.teacherjay.net/2009/05/06/a-christian-prom/comment-page-1/#comment-170 Peter_Gardner Wed, 06 May 2009 17:42:21 +0000 http://wanderings.teacherjay.net/2009/05/06/a-christian-prom/#comment-170 hi TeacherJay; I see the issue differently. While we do live in society and relate to everyone, we also are called to practice a higher morality, in sharp contrast to that of popular culture. I will quote from a post to <a href="http://bahai-library.com/forum" rel="nofollow">http://bahai-library.com/forum</a> by Brett: "What Bahá'u'lláh means by chastity certainly does not include the kissing that goes on in modern society. It is detrimental to the morals of young people, and often leads them to go too far, or arouses appetites which they cannot perhaps at the time satisfy legitimately through marriage, and the suppression of which is a strain on them. "The Bahá'í standard is very high, more particularly when compared with the thoroughly rotten morals of the present world. But this standard of ours will produce healthier, happier, nobler people, and induce stabler marriages." (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, October 19, 1947, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1210) "The pilgrim's note reports the Master as saying: 'Women and men must not embrace each other when not married, or not about to be married. They must not kiss each other... If they wish to greet each other, or comfort each other, they may take each other by the hand.' In a letter to an individual written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi it is said: 'The Master's words to ..., which you quoted, can certainly be taken as the true spirit of the teachings on the subject of sex. We must strive to achieve this exalted standard.' (October 19, 1947)" (From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, February 10, 1974, Lights of Guidance, no. 1438) The above-mentioned pilgrim's note is at <a href="http://www.bahai-library.org/file.php?f" rel="nofollow">http://www.bahai-library.org/file.php?f</a> ... amiliarity There are more quotations on the topic also at <a href="http://bahai-library.com/?file=hornby_l" rel="nofollow">http://bahai-library.com/?file=hornby_l</a> ... 0Education The Baha'i Writings are our authority (along with the institutions), and the infallible guidance has flowed continuously from Baha'u'llah to 'Abdu'l-Baha, to both Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice. So, it is not an adult vs. youth issue--the question should always be what do the Writings say (though the Writings also say that the young and old have things to learn from each other). Baha'i youth have a difficult task on this topic, especially in countries like the U.S. where it is so extreme. Although Shoghi Effendi admits that Baha'is will inevitably be affected by it to some degree, we are also to rise above it--and not only relatively speaking. best wishes, Brett hi TeacherJay; I see the issue differently. While we do live in society and relate to everyone, we also are called to practice a higher morality, in sharp contrast to that of popular culture. I will quote from a post to http://bahai-library.com/forum by Brett:

"What Bahá'u'lláh means by chastity certainly does not include the kissing that goes on in modern society. It is detrimental to the morals of young people, and often leads them to go too far, or arouses appetites which they cannot perhaps at the time satisfy legitimately through marriage, and the suppression of which is a strain on them.

"The Bahá'í standard is very high, more particularly when compared with the thoroughly rotten morals of the present world. But this standard of ours will produce healthier, happier, nobler people, and induce stabler marriages."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, October 19, 1947, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1210)

"The pilgrim's note reports the Master as saying: 'Women and men must not embrace each other when not married, or not about to be married. They must not kiss each other… If they wish to greet each other, or comfort each other, they may take each other by the hand.' In a letter to an individual written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi it is said: 'The Master's words to …, which you quoted, can certainly be taken as the true spirit of the teachings on the subject of sex. We must strive to achieve this exalted standard.' (October 19, 1947)"

(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, February 10, 1974, Lights of Guidance, no. 1438)

The above-mentioned pilgrim's note is at http://www.bahai-library.org/file.php?f … amiliarity

There are more quotations on the topic also at http://bahai-library.com/?file=hornby_l … 0Education

The Baha'i Writings are our authority (along with the institutions), and the infallible guidance has flowed continuously from Baha'u'llah to 'Abdu'l-Baha, to both Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice. So, it is not an adult vs. youth issue–the question should always be what do the Writings say (though the Writings also say that the young and old have things to learn from each other). Baha'i youth have a difficult task on this topic, especially in countries like the U.S. where it is so extreme. Although Shoghi Effendi admits that Baha'is will inevitably be affected by it to some degree, we are also to rise above it–and not only relatively speaking.

best wishes,
Brett

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