Baha’i Faith on ca

by Mary Ravanbakhsh

The Baha’i Faith arose at
the beginning of the new
state in human evolution
when science’ and
technology are destroying
ancient boundaries
separating the. peoples of
the wotld: Races and nat-
ions have become
interdependent and subject
one destiny. The Baha’i
proclamation of the principle
of oneness supplies the
‘Spiritual guidance needed
for understending of this
great process which is tran-
sforming the onditions of
human existe -e. By this
principle the Baha’is rec-
ognize that God is the
Creator of all races and
peoples, and therefore con-
flict and dissension arising
from prejudice is contrary to
the Divine Will. Through
unity the world can attain a
new and higher civilization,
while the outbreak of an-
other international conflict

can cause general
destruction.
The Revelation

proclaimed by Baha’u’llah,
the Founder of the Baha’i
Faith is believed by His
followers to be divine in
origin, all-embracing in

scope, broad in its outlook,
scientific in its method,
humanitarian in its prin-
ciples and dynamic in the
influence it exerts on the
hearts and minds of men.
The mission of the Founder
of their faith, they conceive
it to be to proclaim that
religious truth is not abs-
olute but relative, that
Divine Revelation is con-
tinuous and progressive,
that the Founders of all past
religions, tho"gh different
in the non-ess :ntial aspects
of their teachings, ‘‘abide in

the same Tabernacle, soar
in the same heaven, are
seated upon the same

throne, utter the same
speech and proclaim the
same Faith’’. His Cause,
they have already

demonstrated, stands iden-
tified with, and revolves
around, the principle of the
organic unity of mankind as
representing the
consummation of the whole
process of human evolution.

The Baha’i Faith
recognizes the unity of God,
and of his Prophets, upholds
the principle of an ind-
ependent search a1.er truth,
condemns all forms of sup-
erstition and prej dice,
teache, that the

The Other Press

fundamental purpose . rel-
igion is to promote concord

and harmony, that it ust
go hand in hand ‘ith
science, and that it on-

stitutes the sole and ult-
imate basis of a peaceful, an
ordered and progressive
society.

It inculcates the principle
of equal opportunity, rights
and privileges for both
sexes, advocates compulsory
education, abolishes
extremes of poverty and
wealth, exalts work
performed in the spirit of
service to the rank of wor-
ship, recommends the
adoption of an auxiliary
international language, and
provides the necessary ag-
encies for the establishment
and safeguarding of a per-
manent and universal peace.

Born about the middle of
the nineteenth century in

darkest Persia, assailed
from its infancy by the
forces of religious

fanaticism, the Faith has,
notwithstanding the
martyrdom of its
Forerunner, the repeated
banishments of its Founder,
the almost lifelong
imprisonment of its chief
Promoter and the cruel
death of no less than twenty

 

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thousand of its devoted fol-
lowers, succeeded in diff-
using quietly and steadily its
spirit throughout both the
East and the West, has
established itself in over
123,000 centres in the world
today, with a membership
representing great div ersity
of racial and religious back-
grounds, and its literature

has been translated into 685 -

languages.

There are periods and
stages in the life of man-
kind; at one time it passed
throught its degree of child-
hood, at another its time of
vouth, but now it has ent-
ered its period of maturity,
the evidences of which are
visible and apparent every-
where. From every stand-
point the world of humanity
is undergoing reformation.
Scientific ideas and theories

are developing and
advancing; invention and
discovery are penetrating

heretofore unknown fields;
laws of governments and
civilizations are in the pro-
cess of revision, etc. Every-
where the world of mankins
is in the throes of evolut-
ionary activity indicating the
passing of old conditions
and the advent of a new age
of teformation. We are
living in a century when
dogmatic imitations must b
e forsaken, superstitions
abandoned, and each ind-
ividual search after truth
and consider all affairs with
keen sight, as enjoined by
Bha’u’llah for today. It is
because of this injunction by
Baha’u’llah the the Baha’i
Faith has no_ professional
priesthood or clergy. All
Baha’i are expected to share

Friday, Oct. 24, 1980

mpus

in the work of teaching
according to their oppor-
tunity and ability, not acc-
ording to their race or class,

and to take part in the
activities and the operation
of the elective
administrative institutions of
the Faith.

Despite the pressure of
international events today,
Baha’i communities are de-
monstrating that a religious
fellowship can exist which
represents a cross section of
the human race. Obedience
to government is a definite
requirement. Therefore Ba-
ha’is abide by the spiritual
pr inciple of oneness and do
not become involved in pol-
itical controversy.

On prejudiced, Abdul-Ba-
ha says:‘‘Prejudice whether
it be religious, racial ,
patriotic, or political in its
origin is the destroyer of
human foundations as nd
opposed to the commands
of God. All humanity are the
children of God; they belong
to the same family, to the
same human race. The lov-
ers of mankind, these are
the superior men, of what-
ever nation, creed, or colour
they may be. If teh spirit is
pure, the face is illumin-
ated, although it be black. If
teh heart is stained, the face
is dark and depressed, al-
though it may be of utmost
beauty. The colour of the
pupils of teh eye is black,
vet they are the fountains of
light.”’

For more information on
the Bahai Faith there will be
a Bahai Fireside on the
Surrey campus in the library
study room on October 31 at
12:00p.m.

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