Although the movement was without clearly defined and shared values,[52] it was well known that Rajneesh discouraged marrying and having children,[53] since he saw families as inherently prone to dysfunction and destructiveness. Not many children were born at the communes in Oregon and England,[54] and contraception, sterilisation, and abortion were accepted.[55] According to Pike, some parents justified leaving their children when moving to the ashram by reasoning that spiritual development was more important.[55]