Guest Author - Lisa Schaffer-Harris

In the age of simulated cities and digital alter egos, it has become commonplace for many singles to look for love through the Internet. Many online dating services exist; there are those designed for the masses, and then there are those that target a particular audience. Twodoves.net and Bahaidating.net (also called Baha’i Melody) are two sites designed for Baha’is.

A Baha’i couple who met via the Internet founded Twodoves.net. One was in Australia and the other lived in Norway when they started their very long distance romance. Their successful marriage inspired the founding of an Internet dating service specifically designed for Baha’is and friends of the Baha’i Faith. Two of my friends have used this dating service with a certain amount of success. One friend said that one drawback, which also could be viewed as a strength, is that people using the dating service can be anywhere in the world. She stated that unless you have virtually unlimited funds to make long distance phone calls and fly across continents and oceans to meet the other person, it can be very difficult to get to know someone well enough to find a life partner. On the other hand, since Baha’is are greatly encouraged to travel and meet people from other backgrounds and cultures, the opportunity to travel and network on an international scale also is a strength of this Internet matchmaking service. This friend also stated that Twodoves.net is more economical than other, more familiar dating services that target a broader cross section of people.

Most of the people on Twodoves.net are Baha’is; others are friends of the Faith. Other important aspects of this service are valuable resources links that help single Baha’is investigate a potential mate’s character, including a link to a Web site that specifically addresses Baha’i marriage.

Baha’i Melody, also known as Bahaidating.net is another online dating Web site for Baha’is. The big difference between this website and Twodoves.net is that Baha’i Melody does not appear to be founded on Baha’i principles. I researched this Web site several times and could not figure out who operated the site or how many people on it are Baha’is. The profile section asks the user to select among “dating,” “hanging out”, and “marriage” as a purpose for using the service. Baha’is do not regard dating an appropriate activity simply for the sake of dating. We should be investigating a person’s character and our compatibility with that person for the purpose of marriage.

Finding the person that you want to spend your life with is challenging. For Baha’is, it is very difficult because our numbers are relatively small compared to other world religions. Dating services that target Baha’is are providing a needed service; however, user beware when using any online services. Since no background checks are required to enroll in either service, there is no way to know that the people are exactly as they portray themselves.