GOOD AND EVIL

In contrast to a number of other religious doctrines and philosophies, the Baha'i Faith does not teach that the physical desires of human beings are 'evil' or 'bad.' Everything in God's creation is regarded as essentially and fundamentally good. In fact, the very purpose of the human body and its physical faculties is to serve as a proper vehicle for the development of the soul . As the energies of the body are gradually brought under the conscious control of the soul, they become instruments for the expression of spiritual qualities. It is only undisciplined physical passions that become causes of harm, and hinder spiritual progress.
For example, the human sexual urge is considered to be a gift from God. Its disciplined expression within the legitimate bonds of marriage can be a powerful expression of the spiritual quality of love. However, the same sexual urge, if misused, can lead one into perverse, wasteful, and even destructive actions.
Since the body is the vehicle of the rational soul in this life on earth, it is important to maintain and care for it. Bah�u'll�h strongly discouraged any form of asceticism or extreme self-denial. His emphasis was on healthy discipline. Therefore the Baha'i writings contain a number of practical laws relating to the care of the human body: proper nutrition, regular bathing, and so forth. Underlying these, as with many other aspects of Baha'i belief, is the principle of moderation: things that are beneficial when kept within the limits of moderation become harmful when taken to extremes. "

Continued
On Good and Evil: