Baha'i marriage:

[arthra]

Baha'is recognize and extol the institution of marriage.. however there are some exceptional aspects to Baha'i marriage that are not well known.

To have a Baha'i marriage you need the approval of all living parents of the prospective spouses. Even if you're sixty years old and your parent is eighty they still need to approve of the marriage. This practise eliminates the grounds for complaints from the proverbial "mother-in-law" and actually makes sense I think because new families today often need the support of their in laws anyway. So there is no eloping among Baha'is.

Once everyone approves of the marriage the couple goes to their nearest Local Spiritual Assembly and applies to have the Baha'i marriage. Two witnesses approved by the Assembly need to be present to witness the vows of the couple.

The vow consists of the words "We will all verily abide by the Will of God" in front of the approved witnesses. Once that's done and all the civil laws requirements for marriage have been met the marriage is recognized.

A Baha'i marriage can occur just about anywhere and all you need are the people being married and the designated witnesses. We also allow for interfaith marriages where say one of the people marrying is non-Baha'i.. If say a Baha'i were to marry a Christian and the Christian wants a church ceremony the Baha'i "ceremony" is held on the same day in another location but not mixed in with the Christian ceremony say in the church.

Also, the Baha'i marriage can be simple and free.. there are no charges for it and if the couple wishes they could rent an expensive hall but it's up to them. So this way an expensive marriage ceremony can be avoided which helps the new family.

Here are some important selections from the Baha'i Writings that apply to marriage:

Marriage, among the mass of the people, is a physical bond, and this union can only be temporary, since it is foredoomed to a physical separation at the close.

Among the people of Baha, however, marriage must be a union of the body and of the spirit as well, for here both husband and wife are aglow with the same wine, both are enamoured of the same matchless Face, both live and move through the same spirit, both are illumined by the same glory. This connection between them is a spiritual one, hence it is a bond that will abide forever. Likewise do they enjoy strong and lasting ties in the physical world as well, for if the marriage is based both on the spirit and the body, that union is a true one, hence it will endure. If, however, the bond is physical and nothing more, it is sure to be only temporary, and must inexorably end in separation.

When, therefore, the people of Baha undertake to marry, the union must be a true relationship, a spiritual coming together as well as a physical one, so that throughout every phase of life, and in all the worlds of God, their union will endure; for this real oneness is a gleaming out of the love of God.

(Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 441)

[BruceDLimber]

Greetings!

We should also doubtless note that the Baha'i scriptures describe marriage as:

"A fortress for well-being!"

Best, :-)

Bruce