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Hi there, I was really happy to come across your blog, if everyone investigated religions like this I think the world would be a far far better place. Kudos.

Unfortunately I don’t have much time to write a proper reply to this but as a Baha’i I would like to suggest that the word link between the passages of Baha’u'llah above and the interpretation by Shoghi Effendi would be the word “sodomy” and the “subject of boys”, which apparently is a reference to the common practice of that time of older men having sexual relationships with younger boys. Not nice to talk about but I feel it’s necessary in order to see why Shoghi Effendi interpreted it in that way. Also, I think Baha’u'llah is very clear that marriage is between a man and a woman, and that sex is only permitted within the boundaries of marriage.

And about your statement above that the Baha’i Faith will need to accept homosexuals in order to flourish, I’ll give my personal interpretation of that in case it is useful:
I think the fact that homosexuals have been treated with such horrendous and despicable cruelty up to this point has rightly created a very strong counter-movement in society to protect their rights and to make sure they are treated with just as much respect as heterosexuals. I think this is by and large a very good thing, and there are without doubt a huge number of wonderful people who are homosexual – I know a few myself.

However, I think that this cruel oppressive behaviour on the one hand, and on the other hand the strong social reaction against it, have created a false dichotomy, an illusion that there are only two sides to the issue:
a) homosexuality is unnatural and a sin and homosexuals should be shunned and outcast from society, and
b) homosexuality is natural and proper and should be supported.

So when people investigate the Baha’i attitude to this issue, they see that Baha’i law forbids homosexuality, and therefore bundle us together with the first group. However ,the Baha’i view is in fact very different from either of these. According to our writings, Baha’is should love and respect homosexuals in just the same way as we should love all human beings, they are free to become Baha’is as they please, and we should never by any means discriminate against them, in any way.

However, this is not to say that homosexuality is any healthier than drinking alcohol. Both of these things are widely acceptable in society, and yet the Baha’i writings say that we shouldn’t do them, because in the long run, they are harmful to our spiritual health. That’s the essence of the matter I think.

In his Most Holy Book, Baha’u'llah says “think not that We have revealed unto you a mere code of laws”, and in another part says that His laws are the “the lamps of My loving providence among My servants” – they are like lights which illuminate our surroundings and enable us to see clearly, in order that we can make wise decisions which will benefit us and everybody else in the long run. He also describes them as “the keys of My mercy for My creatures”, which has similar implications.

So I don’t think they’re really like the laws of a country, they’re more like natural laws, which we are free to either learn from or ignore – no police will come and get us if we ignore them, but learning about them and working with them is really a lot more beneficial, both for us and for humanity at large.

I meant to write a short reply but I got very enthusiastic and so it’s a lot longer than I expected! Sorry about that, hope it’s not too long.

Anyway, in my experience Baha’is quite frequently get asked this question and will either be very happy to talk about it or will know someone who is. So don’t be scared to bring it up with them, in fact I encourage you to bring up any questions you have at all, I personally find that the times I learn the most about the Faith is normally when I ask the most difficult questions!

That reminds me, in regard to your thoughts on “disrespect to unbelievers”, unfortunately I don’t have time to reply to that, but do ask Baha’is about it, I know some parts of the writings, when viewed in isolation, can give this impressions, but if understood in their proper contexts the overwhelming message is that Baha’is should place themselves _below_ the rest of humanity, to strive to humbly and selflessly serve them without expecting anything in return whatsoever.

So I really wish you all the best on your search and I’m sure it will be very fruitful for you in the long run, regardless of whether you find a religion that you feel is your spiritual home.

Take care, best wishes and Allah’u'abha!

http://unitarianbahai.org/

http://www.uubahai.com/

The UBA offers a somewhat different perspective on the Faith than that espoused by the more conservative Baha’i International Community of Haifa and Akko (the numerically dominant form of the Faith).

May your commitment to your journey be a testimony to your life.