 The purpose of marriage in the Bahá 'i faith is mainly to foster spiritual harmony , fellowship and unity between a man and a woman and to provide a stable and loving environment for the rearing of children . The Bahá 'í teachings on marriage call it a fortress for well @-@ being and salvation and place marriage and the family as the foundation of the structure of human society . Bahá 'u'lláh highly praised marriage , discouraged divorce and homosexuality , and required chastity outside of marriage ; Bahá 'u'lláh taught that a husband and wife should strive to improve the spiritual life of each other . Interracial marriage is also highly praised throughout Bahá 'í scripture . 
