Effeminacy
Certain material affairs of civilization lead to effeminacy, and indulgence therein leads one to be negligent of God and spirituality[edit]
"Does material pursuit prevent spiritual progress?"
"Abdul-Baha said: "Material are of two kinds. The first kind are those concerns that have no direct relation to life. They contribute toward luxury, effeminacy, indolence and voluptuousness. Indulgence in these things makes one negligent of God and stifles all traces of spirituality. The other kind are those which contribute toward the maintenance of livelihood, adding to the comfort, happiness and progress of the human family. Spiritual powers come always to the assistance of such affairs, they increase the moral insight and responsibility of man and add to his awareness and mindfulness."
- (Star of the West, Vol. 5, issue 8, p. 118)
"MATERIAL affairs are of two kinds. The first kind are those concerns which have no direct relation to life. They contribute toward luxury, effeminacy, indolence. Indulgence in these things makes one negligent of God and stifles all traces of spirituality. The other kind are those affairs which contribute toward the maintenance of livelihood, adding to the comfort, happiness and progress of the human family. Spiritual powers come always to the assistance of such affairs,—they increase the moral insight and responsibility of man and add to his awareness and mindfulness."
- (Words of Abdul-Baha; from the Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, May 14, 1914, in Star of the West, Vol. 8, issue 2, p. 17)
"Civilization in its most general idea, is an improved condition of man resulting from his relation to the social order rather than the expression of his individual independence, and has a twofold aspect. One, a natural and material civilization which serves the physical world and the other a divine and heavenly civilization which renders service to the world of morality. One is founded by the philosophers and scientists of the world, the other is established by the Prophets of God. Material civilization may again be subdivided into those affairs which have no direct relation to life, producing luxury, indolence and effeminacy, and those affairs which contribute toward the maintenance of livelihood and to the happiness, welfare and comfort of mankind."
- (Star of the West, Vol. 7, issue 15, p. 133)
