Laws

Marriage law biased, say Baha’i

Lady Justice Mumbi Ngugi.

A lawyer for the Baha’i has gone to court demanding that the new marriage law should provide for the faith’s followers.

Ms Mary Wanjuhi Muigai on Wednesday argued that the new Marriage Act signed into law by President Uhuru Kenyatta in April did not cater for Baha’i marriages, separation, divorce, custody and maintenance of children.

Full story...

Bahai Marriage

{youtube}Ll2vr4fu9r0{/youtube}

An information film discussing Baha'i Marriage. One of a series that will be produced covering a variety of aspects of the faith. More information at http://www.oneworldtv.com [defunct]. Produced by Ray Brocklesby of Llanelli Baha'i Community. Based on Warwick leaflets.

The intersection of religious morality and secular law

Is morality absolute and objective, or relative and subjective?

As untenable as it might seem, I would offer that morality is both.

In the esoteric sense, and applying primarily to the individual, it is the former. Whereas in the pragmatic sense, applied primarily to the collective, it should be the latter.

From the standpoint of religious faith, religions carry at their core definitive moral absolutes for the individual. However, it is imperative to note, and too often forgotten, that these moral absolutes come with a clear caveat regarding how they are to be applied socially by the individual.

By way of example, Old Testament Biblical 10 Commandments lay out a clear code of personal conduct. And though they were originally part of Moses' dispensation, most Christians also embrace them.

Likewise, the Baha'i Faith carries in its tenants some clear rules of personal conduct -- such as prohibitions against the consumption of alcohol or fornication.

Full story...

The intersection of religious morality and secular law

Is morality absolute and objective, or relative and subjective?

As untenable as it might seem, I would offer that morality is both.

In the esoteric sense, and applying primarily to the individual, it is the former. Whereas in the pragmatic sense, applied primarily to the collective, it should be the latter.

From the standpoint of religious faith, religions carry at their core definitive moral absolutes for the individual. However, it is imperative to note, and too often forgotten, that these moral absolutes come with a clear caveat regarding how they are to be applied socially by the individual.

By way of example, Old Testament Biblical 10 Commandments lay out a clear code of personal conduct. And though they were originally part of Moses' dispensation, most Christians also embrace them.

Likewise, the Baha'i Faith carries in its tenants some clear rules of personal conduct -- such as prohibitions against the consumption of alcohol or fornication.

Full story...

Age of consent

On the Talisman discussion list, a participant noted:

We appear to have three somewhat contradictory choices for the age of consent, according to Sen: 14 years old; 15 years old; or “unknown” / not yet decided

The reason the question comes up, is that there’s a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi that says “There is no specific minimum age mentioned in the Baha’i teachings at which girls may marry,” yet there is a specific minimum age for marriage given in the Kitab-e Aqdas. They can’t both be right. Or can they?

There’s a way of having your cake and eating it to, squaring the circle, even perhaps escaping the iron law of the excluding middle (see my profile).

A letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi (probably in 1943, since part of the letter was published in Bahai News, in January 1944) says:

Full story...