Lights of Guidance/toc/Laws and Ordinances

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Lights of Guidance , compiled by Helen Hornby
XXIX. LAWS AND ORDINANCES

Love and Unity→

A. Laws and Ordinances Introduction

1144. Obedience to the Laws of Bahá’u’lláh will Impose Hardships and Tests in Individual Cases

1145. Certain Laws are Universally and Vitally Applicable at the Present Time

1146. Laws Governing Physical and Spiritual Lives

1147. It is Difficult to Follow the Laws of Bahá’u’lláh

1148. Punishments Decided by the House of Justice

1149. Laws Should be Obeyed but not Through Fear of Punishment

1150. We Must Obey Ordinances, Even Though at First We See no Need for Them

1151. One Cannot Continue Drinking As a Bahá’í—Should be Made Aware Gradually

1152. Unfair to Require New Applicants for Membership to First Accept All Laws of the Faith

1153. Difference Between Advice (Exhortation, Counsel) and A Binding Command

B. Abortion

1154. Abortion Merely to Prevent the Birth of an Unwanted Child is Strictly Forbidden in the Cause

1155. Surgical Operation and Abortion—The Soul Appears at Conception

C. Adultery

1156. Faith Recognizes Sex Impulse but Condemns Its Illegitimate Expression

1157. Sex Relationships Outside of Marriage not Permissible

1158. Sexual Intercourse Permissible Only Between Man And Wife

1159. Adultery Retards Progress of the Soul

D. Birth Control

1160. Question of Birth Control not Specifically Answered in Writings

1161. Population Explosion, no Reference in Writings: Time of Appearance of Human Soul, etc.

1162. When Exercised to Prevent Procreation of Any Children

1163. Husband and Wife to Decide How Many Children to Have

1164. Vasectomy to Avoid Having Unwanted Children not Permitted if it Results in Permanent Sterility

1165. Tubal Ligation

1166. Should Take into Consideration Availability, Reliability and Reversibility of Operation

1167. No Reference in Writings Regarding Contraception to Prevent Transmission of Undesirable Traits

1168. In-Vitro Fertilization and Surrogate Mothers

1169. Individuals Must Decide Hazards of Contraceptive Agents at Present: Permanent Sterilization

1170. Letter to a Physician Specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology

E. Alcohol, Drugs And Tobacco

1171. Both Light and Strong Drinks Prohibited Unless Prescribed by a Doctor

1172. In the Kitáb-i-Aqdas it is Forbidden to Take Anything that Deranges the Mind

1173. Drinking Forbidden, No Excuse to Touch It Even in Plum Pudding

1174. Cake Flavours and Extracts

1175. Strictly Prohibited Foods Flavoured with Alcoholic Liquors

1176. Alcohol for Home Remedies, no Instruction Allowing Its Use

1177. The Serving of Alcoholic Drinks by Bahá’ís and Bahá’í Institutions

1178. A Business Partnership Between a Bahá’í and Non-Bahá’ís

1179. Assembly's Role Toward Those Who Continue to Drink

1180. Alcoholism and Alcoholics Anonymous

1181. Bahá’í Advertising Agent Should Use Wisdom in Avoiding the Promotion of Intoxicating Drinks

1182. The Right of the Non-Bahá’í Parent—The Serving of Champagne

1183. Hallucinogens, a Form of Intoxication

1184. The Use of Marijuana, LSD and Other Psychedelic Products

1185. Peyote

1186. Opium Destroys the Conscience, the Mind and the Perceptions

1187. Dealing in Heroin and Other Narcotics Forbidden

1188. The Renouncing of Tobacco, Alcohol and Opium—Purity and Sanctity Should Distinguish the People of Bahá

1189. Smoking is Discouraged, But Not Forbidden

1190. Smoking Has Nothing to Do with Firmness in the Covenant

1191. To New Bahá’ís, We Should Not Stress Giving Up Smoking

1192. Smoking by Degrees Injurious

1193. Guidelines for Individuals and Assemblies About Tobacco Smoking

F. Crime, Criminals and Prisoners

1194. Believers Charged With Criminal Offences

1195. Bahá’í Institutions Cannot Enforce Criminal Laws at Present—Such Cases are Handled in Civil Court

1196. Rehabilitation of Criminals Left to Experts in that Field

1197. Administrative Action in Cases Involving Disobedience to Civil Law

1198. Penalty for Arson—Laws for a More Evolved Society

1199. Capital Punishment and the Criminally Insane

1200. Suicide is Forbidden in the Cause

G. Gambling

1201. The Sale or Purchasing of Lottery Tickets

1202. Horse Racing, Betting and Raffles

1203. Betting on Football Games, Bingo and the Like

1204. Bingo and Other Games of Chance for the Fund

H. Chastity and Sex Education

1205. Sex Education Requires Wisdom and Good Judgment on the Part of Parents

1206. Bahá’í Youth Should Stand out Against the Laxity and Depravity of a Permissive Society

1207. The Individual Believer in Accordance with His Prayerful Understanding of the Writings Should Determine His Course of Conduct

1208. Bahá’ís Should Not Hesitate to Seek Advice from Assemblies when They Feel the Need and Must Learn through Study and Prayer to Obtain a Clearer Vision of Their Mission

1209. One Must Learn to Control Animal Impulses, not be a Slave to Them

1210. Kissing in Modern Society is Detrimental to Morals

1211. Bahá’ís Must Set the Example and Lead the Way to a True Human Standard of Life

1212. Chastity Implies Before Marriage Absolutely Chaste, After Marriage Absolutely Faithful to One's Chosen Companion

1213. Bahá’í Youth Should Study the Teachings on Chastity For Guidance in Deciding Which Intimacies are Permissible and Which Are Not

1214. Youth Should Be Taught Self-Control

1215. Chastity Should be Strictly Practiced by Both Sexes

1216. Chastity is One of the Most Challenging Concepts in this Permissive Age

1217. Children Out of Wedlock

1218. In Sexual Morality People Often Stumble and Fall Short of the Ideal—The Spiritual Assembly Should Act as a Loving Father Rather than a Judge

1219. The Institutions Should Adopt Such Programs as will Deepen the Believers in their Understanding as to How to Attain to the High Standards of Spotless Chastity Inculcated by Bahá’u’lláh

1220. Masturbation

I. Homosexuality

1221. Acts of Immorality

1222. Homosexuality and Transsexuality

1223. Through Advice, Help of Doctors, and Prayer, Can Overcome this Handicap

1224. Bahá’í Law Protects and Strengthens Marriage

1225. The Question Should not be if a Practicing Homosexual Can be a Bahá’í, but as Such Can He Overcome His Problem Through the Teachings

1226. Recognizing the Divine Origin of the Sex Impulse in Man, Religion Teaches it Must Be Controlled

1227. We are Assured of the Guidance of God When We Make an Effort to Obey Him

1228. One Must Make an Effort to Resist Wayward Impulses When They Arise by Turning to the Sacred Writings to Divert One's Thoughts

1229. A Homosexual Relationship Subverts the Purpose of Human Life

1230. Homosexuality, Immorality and Adultery Are Forbidden in the Faith

J. Laws of Marriage

1. Parental Consent

1231. Knowledge of Character Responsibility of Two Parties and Parents

1232. Must Become Thoroughly Acquainted with Characters of Each Other

1233. Law Requiring Parental Consent Should Encourage Young People to Consider Marriage Seriously

1234. Consent Required of Parents for Adults, for Second Marriages, for Bahá’ís or Non-Bahá’ís

1235. The Law of Parental Consent is to Strengthen Family Relationships

1236. Consent of Parents Law of Great Importance Affecting the Foundation of Human Society

1237. Consent of All Living Parents Places a Grave Responsibility on Each Parent

1238. Parents May Seek Advice of Spiritual Assembly, But Decision Rests with the Parents

1239. The Opposition of Family Members Other than Parents Does not Affect Validity of the Marriage

1240. Marriage to Non-Bahá’í, Consent of Parents of Both Parties Required

1241. The Child May Ask Parents to Reconsider—May Request Assistance of Assembly

1242. Consent of Parents Often Withheld for Reasons of Bigotry

1243. If Parents Are Alive, Consent Must be Obtained

1244. Circumstances Under Which Parental Consent for Bahá’í Marriage not Required

1245. Withdrawal From the Faith in Order to Evade Law of Bahá’u’lláh is not Possible for True Believer

1246. Parents Give Consent to Marriage, not to a Bahá’í Religious Ceremony

1247. Every Reasonable Avenue of Search Must be Exhausted to Find Parent—The Responsible Assembly Must be Satisfied this Has Been Done

1248. One May Ask Others to Approach Parent on His or Her Behalf

1249. Marriages Are Supposed to Promote Unity and Harmony—Alienated Parent and Child Might be Brought Together

1250. Summary of Requirements for Adopted Children in Respect to Consent

1251. Adopted Children and the Special Significance of their Relationship with the Natural Parents

1252. Uniform Adoption Law

1253. Duty of Assembly to Ascertain if Consent is Freely Given. It is Desirable to Have Signed Consent, is not Requirement Under Law

1254. If Parents Do not Name Future Spouse in Letter of Consent

2. Bahá’í Engagement

1255. First You Must Select One

1256. Period of Engagement and Announcement of Engagement

1257. If Both Parties are Persian Engagement Should not Exceed 95 Days

1258. The Ninety-Five Days Should Commence when the Two Parties Have Been Betrothed

1259. The Breaking of an Engagement Does not Violate Bahá’í Law

1260. It is Unlawful to Announce a Marriage Earlier than 95 Days Before Wedding

1261. It Is Unlawful to Become Engaged to a Girl Before She Attains Maturity

3. Bahá’í Marriage

1262. The Bahá’í Teachings Raise Marriage To the Status Of a Divine Institution However There Is a Small Section of Humanity Who Should not Marry…

1263. The Institution of Marriage as Conceived and Established by Bahá’u’lláh Constitutes the Foundation of Social Life

1264. The Physical Aspect of Marital Union is Subordinate to the Moral and Spiritual Purposes and Functions

1265. Marriage Between Two Bahá’ís Can Be A Potent Force in the Lives of Others

1266. Bahá’í Union Must be a True Relationship that Will Endure

1267. Moral Duty to Marry but Marriage is not an Obligation

1268. Bahá’u’lláh Has Urged Marriage as the Natural and Rightful Way of Life

1269. The Bahá’í Faith Does not Contemplate Any Form of 'Trial Marriage'

1270. Regarding Couples Living Together Without Being Married

1271. The Basic Difference Between the Two Categories of Relationships

1272. Faith Accepts in Certain Cases Unions which Are "Immoral But Accepted" by Society in which the People Live

1273. Legalizing Existing Situation Does Not Require Bahá’í Marriage

1274. Difference between Companionate Marriage and Common Law Marriage

1275. Companionate Marriage and Flagrantly Immoral Relationships

1276. Violation of Marriage Law, Ascertain if Bahá’í Informed of Requirements

1277. Incorrect Information Given By Assembly

1278. Bahá’ís Ignorant of Law in a Different Category Altogether

1279. Be Patient and Forbearing in Application of Laws to Indigenous People: Must Not Pry into People's Personal Lives

1280. Bigamy Not Permitted

1281. Summary of Bahá’í Requirements Concerning Marriages with Followers of Other Religions

1282. Mixed Marriages (i.:E., Bahá’í and Non-Bahá’í)

1283. Roman Catholic Marriage Requirements with Non-Catholics

1284. In Reality no Individual Performs the Marriage Ceremony and if for any Reason Non-Bahá’í Refuses to Recite Verse, Bahá’í Cannot Marry that Person

1285. Marriage of Bahá’í to Atheist

1286. Marriage by Proxy

1287. Hindu Ceremony is Possible for Bahá’í, Provided…

1288. Inter-Racial Marriage

1289. Marriage Between Relatives

1290. Marriage Ceremony for Two Non-Bahá’ís

1291. The "So-Called" Marriage Tablet

1292. Wedding Plans Should be Left Entirely in the Hands of the Bride and Groom

1293. Believers Should not Attend Weddings of Bahá’ís Marrying Contrary to Bahá’í Law

1294. The Compulsory Part of a Bahá’í Wedding is the Pledge of Marriage in the Presence of Two Assembly Witnesses

1295. When a Bahá’í Marries a Non-Bahá’í both Ceremonies Can Be Held in the Place of Worship of Another Religion, if Requested, and Provided that…

1296. Witnesses Can be Any Two Trustworthy People Acceptable to Assembly: Makes Possible for Lone Pioneer to Have Bahá’í Marriage in a Remote Post

1297. Two Essential Obligations Regarding Education of Children

1298. Bahá’í Ceremony Should be as Simple as Possible, No Rituals

1299. Meaning of Consummation of Marriage

1300. Consummation of Marriage Must Take Place Within Twenty-Four Hours of Bahá’í Marriage Ceremony

1301. Reporting Bahá’í Marriage: Individual Only Acts for Assembly

K. Divorce

1302. Attitude of Present-day Society Towards Divorce

1303. There are no Grounds for Divorce in the Faith—Divorce should only be Considered if there is a Strong "Aversion" to One's Partner

1304. Youth Should be So Deepened in the Teachings that the Thought of Divorce will be Abhorrent to them

1305. The Party who is the Cause of Divorce Will Become Victim of Formidable Calamities

1306. The Friends Must Strictly Refrain from Divorce

1307. Divorce is Conditional Upon the Approval and Permission of the Spiritual Assembly

1308. Should Think of Future of Children

1309. Divorce Concerns Children's Entire Future and Their Attitude Towards Marriage

1310. One May Discover He Has Not Purchased Either Freedom or Happiness

1311. Cannot Use the Cause or Service to It as Reason for Divorce

1312. Every Effort Should be Made to Salvage Marriage—In Case of Pioneers, It is Even More Important

1313. Bahá’í Family Should be Preserved

1314. One Year of Waiting Whether Bahá’í When Married or not

1315. If Divorce is Illegal Within a Country, Bahá’ís are Bound by the Law of the Country

1316. If One Party is Mentally Ill

1317. Bahá’ís Who Intend to Divorce Must Consult with Local or National Assembly

1318. The Believers Should know that Although Divorce Is Permitted In Bahá’í Law, it is Condemned

1319. The Assembly should Determine that Irreconcilable Antipathy Exists Before Setting the Date of the Beginning of the Year of Waiting

1320. Procedure for an Assembly when Application for Divorce Is Received

1321. The Setting of the Date of the Beginning of the Year of Patience is Not Automatic

1322. Beginning of the Year of Patience Normally Commences when Parties Notify Assembly of their Separation with Intent to Divorce

1323. Duties of Assembly or Committee on Divorce Procedures

1324. Dating During the Year of Patience

1325. Summary—Relating to the Fixing of the Date of Separation

1326. It is not Possible to Shorten the Period of Waiting

1327. The Assembly is Obliged to Consider Application for a Year of Waiting

1328. During Period of Legal Separation Dating in the Spirit of Courtship is Outside Bounds of Propriety

1329. Parties May Withdraw their Application for Divorce at Any Time During the Year of Waiting

1330. Assembly Should not Interfere into Marital Affairs until Believers Bring Their Problems to the Assembly

1331. There Is no Law to Remove Voting Right for Obtaining Civil Divorce Before the year of Waiting Terminates

1332. Annulment or Divorce

1333. Refund of Marriage Expenses

1334. Not Wise to Announce New Marriage Plans Before Divorce is Final

1335. Guidance Regarding Financial Support in Divorce Cases

1336. It is Preferable that Couple Should Amicably Agree on the Custody of the Children—The Husband is Obligated to Support Wife and Children Until Divorce is Granted and he Has Continuing Obligation to Support his Children

1337. Wife Support During Year of Patience and After Divorce—Assembly Should Encourage Husband to Honor His Responsibilities in Paying Required Support Money

1338. No Husband Should Batter his Wife

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