is are, in most of their
fundamental views, in full agreement with the upholders of traditional
morality. Baha'u'llah, like all the other Prophets and Messengers of God,
preaches abstinence, and condemns, in vehement language, all forms of
sexual laxity, unbridled licence and lust. The Baha'i standard of sex
morality is thus very high, but it is by no means unreasonably rigid.
While free love is condemned, yet marriage is considered as a holy act
which every human being should be encouraged, though not forced, to
perform. Sex instinct, like all other human instincts, is not necessarily
evil. It is a power which, if properly directed, can bring joy and
satisfaction to the individual. If misused or abused it brings, of course,
incalculable harm not only to the individual but also to the society in
which he lives. While the Baha'is condemn asceticism and all extreme forms
of self-mortification they at the same time view with disfavour the
current theories of sex ethics which cannot but bring ruin to human
society. In the Baha'i Cause marriage has been encouraged, but made
somewhat difficult, conditioned as it is upon the consent of the four
parents. Divorce, on the other hand, has been made relatively easy, and
the sociologists are just beginning to realise the importance of this
law....

Letter of 6 April 1936

6 April 1936

He (the Guardian) is of the opinion, however, that while the secondary
aspects of Baha'i Administration should be left out, a comprehensive
statement as to its origin and significance in the Baha'i Dispensation is
of vital importance in any work of the Cause, especially if it is written
by a believer. The main thing is to properly present the subject so that
the reader may be able to grasp it.

Letter of 21 November 1936

21 November 1936

With reference to the absolute pacifists, or conscientious objectors to
war; their attitude, judged from the Baha'i standpoint, is quite
anti-social and due to its exaltation of the individual conscience leads
inevitably to disorder and chaos in society. Extreme pacifists are thus
very close to the anarchists, in the sense that both these groups lay an
undue emphasis on the rights and merits of the individual. The Baha'i
conception of social life is essentially based on the principle of the
subordination of the individual will to that of society. It neither
suppresses the individual nor does it exalt him to the point of making him
an anti-soc