The Bahá'í Perspective

(Titles are listed in descending order, most recent first)

HUMANITY'S FUTURE

Humanity's Future

In the second decade of Bahá'u'lláh's ministry–a ministry that spanned almost fifty years (1853 to 1892)–He wrote to kings, rulers, and ecclesiastics, exhorting them to act in the best interests of the subjects and followers in their care. His words were ignored by most and drew haughty rebukes from some. This lost opportunity by the leaders set humanity on a more difficult road, by far, to its coming of age.

With rapid acceleration over the intervening years, material development–with its positive and deleterious effects–has overshadowed the spiritual development so crucial to an ever-advancing civilization. However, rather than falling into the depths of despair at the seeming hopelessness of the future, Bahá'ís embrace the potential for change and, through their faith in Bahá'u'lláh, act to help bring about the new world order enunciated by Him.

For examples of facets of the world-wide Bahá'í community that are, from a Bahá'í perspective, beacons to the peoples of the world, refer to the topic "A New Vision for Humanity's Future." For a summary of the Bahá'í perspective on the establishment of a global commonwealth, written by Shoghi Effendi in 1936 but still of merit today, refer to the topic "Unity of the Human Race."

Other related documents that are still of merit today include

For collaborative study of these and other subjects, please call the Bahá'ís of Comox (250.702.3041).

JUSTICE

Justice

February 20 is the World Day of Social Justice, so proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in November 2007 in recognition of "the need to consolidate further the efforts of the international community in poverty eradication and in promoting full employment and decent work, gender equality, and access to social well-being and justice for all."

From the Bahá'í perspective, justice is paramount. Bahá'u'lláh, Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, plainly stated that "no radiance can compare with that of justice. The organization of the world and the tranquillity of mankind depend upon it." In expounding on the teachings of His Father, 'Abdu'l-Bahá explained that "the canopy of existence resteth upon the pole of justice, and not of forgiveness, and the life of mankind dependeth on justice and not on forgiveness."

During His ministry, in the latter half of the nineteenth century, Bahá'u'lláh wrote that "the world is in great turmoil, and the minds of its people are in a state of utter confusion. We entreat the Almighty that He may graciously illuminate them with the glory of His Justice, and enable them to discover that which will be profitable unto them at all times and under all conditions." Directed toward the individual, Bahá'u'lláh also wrote "O son of man! If thine eyes be turned towards mercy, forsake the things that profit thee and cleave unto that which will profit mankind. And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose then for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself."

And so it is, with faith in the transformation of the individual and the community—local, regional, national, and international—that is possible through application of Bahá'í teachings such as those concerning justice, that Bahá'ís are working tirelessly to assist in effecting change for the betterment of the world.

The Bahá'í International Community statements "Guiding Principles on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights" and "Human Rights and Extreme Poverty" are written from the Bahá'í viewpoint that the purpose of justice is to establish order in the world, promoting unity and fellowship among its peoples. In a publication by the Bahá'í World Centre, read about the concerns of an age awakening to the need for justice and about the role of justice in the order of civilization.

For collaborative study of justice and other topics, please call the Bahá'ís of Comox (250.702.3041).

PRAYER AND MEDITATION

Prayer and Meditation

Prayer and meditation are the means by which individuals can rise above materialistic forces and develop a closer relationship with God in the realm of the spirit. It is as vital to take spiritual sustenance as it is to feed the body and mind, to satisfy the need to grow spiritually.

Bahá'u'lláh, Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, revealed hundreds of prayers that allow mankind to speak to God in His own Words. There are prayers of petition, thanksgiving, adoration, and acknowledgment, for example; some have a greater power than others but all are more potent than those of human origin. And yet, Bahá'ís believe that prayer goes beyond speaking to God–in private or in group settings–to include the times when not so engaged, such as when working in a spirit of service to humanity.

Meditation in which thoughts are directed towards God (as opposed to objects) leads to an understanding of the mysteries of the spirit. Bahá'u'lláh explained that meditations are reflections of what has been created within the individual "through the revelation of the Lord, their God." Bahá'u'lláh's son, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, said, "It is an axiomatic fact that while you meditate you are speaking with your own spirit. In that state of mind you put certain questions to your spirit and the spirit answers: the light breaks forth and the reality is revealed."

Every year in the Bahá'í calendar there is a 19-day Fast: it always starts on March 2 in the Gregorian calendar and is, in essence, a time of prayer and meditation. During that time, Bahá'ís (unless exempted by age, health, or occupation) abstain from food and drink during daylight hours and focus on spiritual rejuvenation. In the words of Bahá'u'lláh, "fasting is the supreme remedy and the most great healing for the disease of self and passion."

To develop a greater understanding of prayer and meditation from a Bahá'í perspective, refer to the topics "Prayer, Meditation, and Fasting" and "Prayer."

Is prayer necessary? Is it acceptable to pray for material things? Is prayer always answered? What is the relationship between meditation and the sciences and arts? For collaborative study of these and other subjects, please call the Bahá'ís of Comox (250.702.3041).

EQUALITY OF WOMEN AND MEN

Equality of Women and Men

The United Nations designated 1975 as International Women's Year; since then, March 8 has been observed as International Women's Day. The practice of devoting a day to issues pertaining to the rights of women started in 1909, and was political in origin. Observance of the United Nations Day is aimed at raising awareness of the importance of women's rights–reflecting on the past, celebrating achievements, and working toward effecting change for the advancement of women throughout the world.

The theme of International Women's Day 2010 is "Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All." In an address in recognition of this Day, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated: "Gender equality and women's empowerment are integral to all our goals. ...Until women and girls are liberated from poverty and injustice, all our goals–peace, security, sustainable development–stand in jeopardy."

One of the principles of the Bahá'í Faith is the equality of women and men. The Bahá'í Writings abound with material on this subject, for it is fundamental to the realization of the goal of the unification of the human race. Read about the equality of women and men from a Bahá'í point of view. Refer to A Compilation on Women for excerpts from the Bahá'í Writings organized under headings such as The Bahá'í Concept of Equality, Application of the Principle of Equality to Family Life, and Fostering the Development of Women.

To develop an even deeper understanding of the equality of women and men, read the topic "Advancing the Status of Women" and explore its many related documents. The work of the Bahá'í International Community has resulted in more than seventy statements and reports on this subject, such as "The Role of Religion in Promoting the Advancement of Women" and "The role of men and boys in achieving gender equality." The optimism felt by Bahá'ís as the peoples of the world move toward gender equality is evident.

For collaborative study of the equality of women and men and other subjects, please call the Bahá'ís of Comox (250.702.3041).

RELIGION AND SCIENCE

Religion and Science

Truth, although multifaceted, is one. How, then, can one truth contradict another? For example, how can religious truth contradict scientific truth? It cannot! Does religion not investigate the same reality as science?

Bahá'ís believe that religious truth is relative, not absolute; that Divine Revelation is continuous and progressive, not channelled through a single Prophet for all time; and that the Revelation proclaimed by Bahá'u'lláh, Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, is scientific in its method, not haphazard or disorganized.

Scientific truth is also relative, not absolute. Unlike pure religion, which is a revealed truth, science is a discovered truth. The discoverers are human beings, with finite minds to the last. Although endowed with the power to discern truth, no one has an absolute gauge of any truth.

It is natural to accept something as the truth when it is deemed to be far more probable than improbable. But it is important to recognize the uncertainty and relativity of that knowledge, which leaves it open to possible revision at any time.

In that light, refer to the topic "The Unity of Religion and Science" to develop a greater understanding of the Bahá'í principle that science and religion must be in agreement. Further, the three essays by William S. Hatcher (1935-2005) in The Science of Religion explore a number of themes, described in the introduction to the publication as follows:

  • the flexibility and universality of scientific method, and its applicability to religion and religious phenomena
  • the misconceptions about the relationship between science and religion deriving primarily from the various historical contexts in which this relationship has evolved
  • the distortions in the conception of scientific method wrought by the historically accidental marriage of scientific practice to a dogmatic materialistic philosophy
  • the view of religion as an objective, periodic phenomenon with objective content

At the end of The Science of Religion, there is a summary by Shoghi Effendi, great-grandson of Bahá'u'lláh, that includes these words: "The Bahá'í Faith...upholds the principle of an unfettered search after truth, condemns all forms of superstition and prejudice, teaches that the fundamental purpose of religion is to promote concord and harmony, that it must go hand-in-hand with science, and that it constitutes the sole and ultimate basis of a peaceful, an ordered and progressive society." To grasp the significance of applying the unity religion and science to the betterment of mankind in this Day, read the Bahá'í International Community statement "Religious Values and the Measurement of Poverty and Prosperity," particularly the section entitled "Religion, Science and Capacity-Building" and its footnotes.

For collaborative study of these and other subjects, please call the Bahá'ís of Comox (250.702.3041).

THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

The Elimination of Racial Discrimination

March 21 is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966. The Day coincides with the anniversary of the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960, an event that began as a non-violent demonstration against the increased enforcement of apartheid pass laws but ended with the killing of sixty-nine people and the wounding of many more, at the hands of tense South African police. It is a day to reflect on racism as a violation of basic human rights, and to work toward the fundamental change required to put a stop to the pernicious practice of discrimination.

There are examples aplenty of the hurts, conflicts, tragedies, and atrocities that prejudice spawns. At the time of The First World War, 'Abdu'l-Bahá–son of the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, Bahá'u'lláh–explained that "...as to religious, racial, national and political bias: all these prejudices strike at the very root of human life; one and all they beget bloodshed, and the ruination of the world. So long as these prejudices survive, there will be continuous and fearsome wars."

'Abdu'l-Bahá identified "the root cause of prejudice" as "blind imitation of the past–imitation in religion, in racial attitudes, in national bias, in politics." He laid out the consequences of that continued behaviour as follows: "So long as this aping of the past persisteth, just so long will the foundations of the social order be blown to the four winds, just so long will humanity be continually exposed to direst peril."

From a Bahá'í point of view, Bahá'u'lláh's teachings provide the remedy, empowering mankind to break the cycle of blind imitation of the past, recognize its oneness, and carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.

To learn more, read the topic "Abandoning Prejudice" and the Bahá'í International Community statement "International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination." The article "The Struggle Toward Global Consciousness" by Canadian Ann Boyle puts processes of globalization into perspective with references from the Bahá'í Faith: the processes evident at the time of writing (1995) are not much different from present-day as the struggle continues, but the references are just as valid as when they were published. The last reference is a case in point–a description of the worldwide Bahá'í community that serves as an example of what the world at large can become:

"The Faith of Bahá'u'lláh has assimilated, by virtue of its creative, its regulative and ennobling energies, the varied races, nationalities, creeds and classes that have sought its shadow, and have pledged unswerving fealty to its cause. It has changed the hearts of its adherents, burned away their prejudices, stilled their passions, exalted their conceptions, ennobled their motives, coordinated their efforts, and transformed their outlook. While preserving their patriotism and safeguarding their lesser loyalties, it has made them lovers of mankind, and the determined upholders of its best and truest interests."

For collaborative study of the elimination of racial discrimination and other subjects, please call the Bahá'ís of Comox (250.702.3041).

 

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