From: RobertArvay@msn.com   
      
   It seems that about ten years or so ago, faithful Baha'is withdrew en masse   
   from public discussions of their faith in such forums as this one.  Until   
   then, I had had enlightening discussions with such people.   
      
   In those discussions, I found a curious anomaly.  The most outspoken Baha'is   
   seemed to be what I referred to as, "New Age," politically Left, people who at   
   that time were called "Liberals," but true Liberalism has been usurped by a   
   more modern version of    
   anti-western-culture radicals.  The Liberals were a tame lot comparatively.   
      
   I found that ironic, since the Baha'i teachings as I found them written down   
   in its classical scriptures, were (in great measure at least) what today would   
   be called, socially conservative, even right-wing radical, social / cultural   
   positions.   
      
   However, I was occasionally told by someone who read, but rarely posted, that   
   the Leftist Baha'is were a small minority, and that the large majority were   
   culturally conservative for the most part.  IOW, they tended to disdain   
   homosexual marriage,    
   abortion, alcoholic beverages, and favored a male-only top of their hierarchy.   
      
   I am wondering if the same prevails now, or has the leftward cultural drift in   
   the West been adopted by Baha'is in the main?  I would appreciate a thoughtful   
   reply.   
      
   This forum seems to have been abandoned to people overtly hostile to Baha'is,   
   and while I disagree with Baha'i teachings (I am a former Baha'i), I am not   
   hostile to rank and file Baha'is.   
      
   Thank you for any response.   
   .   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)