For a moment, think of the people around you. Are you in your home? Are you in the office? Are you in a car, a supermarket, a church or a school? Every day we come in contact with others that share the planet with us. Have you ever thought that perhaps we are all just part of a global family? Is the woman at Tim Hortons really your sister? Is that man cleaning your pool a brother?
In this post, I’m keeping with one of my goals in 2010 to review at least ten of the world’s religions- and with this installment I’m covering the Bahá’í Faith- a faith that holds the ‘global family’ as one of its central beliefs. This post has been a challenge for me as a writer as there are tenants in the Bahá’í Faith that conflict with my own beliefs. However, when I set out on this adventure the exploration was the objective, not acceptance, so I boldly go forth.
The search for information online concerning the Bahá’í Faith produced some great results. I’ve learned alot in the past few days reading. The Bahá’í Faith globally has a reported following somewhere between 5 and 8 million followers- the largest collection of those residing in India, followed by the United States, Vietnam and Kenya. In the family of religions, however, it is a youngster. Recorded history of the religion starts around 1844. The Bahá’í base their history on a series of what they call ‘Messengers of God’ (which Jesus, Moses, Muhammad and Buddha were all considered)- essentially key human figures who had God’s ear and helped mankind access an otherwise inaccessible, omnipotent God. There have been generations of these key figures beyond recorded time- but the most recently recognized in the series was declared in 1844.
Here are three of the major elements to the Bahá’í Faith that I found best summarize my research – although certainly not an exhaustive exploration.
1. We are all one big family
According to bahai.org, the “central theme of Bahá’u'lláh’s message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for its unification in one global society” and that “[t]he principal challenge facing the peoples of the earth is to accept the fact of their oneness and to assist the processes of unification“. In short- everyone is part of a global family. This central tenant then promotes the acceptance of all people- race, creeds and nationalities. As a strong proponent of multiculturalism, I have to say that this is a great theme to base your life on- opening your mind to the fact that we are all equal as human beings and our very birth entitles us to the air we breathe until we pass from this world.
2. Science and religion support each other
For someone who has a secondary education in sciences, particularly biology, I found the Bahá’í views on science a refreshing change. While science and religion can coexist, eventually they part roads in some critical areas- most notably our origin. Were we borne in the garden or in the zoo? The Bahá’í however believe that there is only one Truth and since there is only one Truth, anything we learn about our world either through scientific process or religious awakening will be congruent- not only does science NOT conflict with religion- it supports it! Science then helps draw us into closer understanding of religion.
3. Heaven and Hell are states of the soul
Again, referencing bahai.org, “… heaven can be seen partly as a state of nearness to God; hell is a state of remoteness from God”. This would suggest that Heaven and Hell are not places or destinations- but states the soul can find itself in- which consequently can be changed. The belief extends that since the soul is eternal, it can find itself manifested in many lifetimes- learning and growing spiritually over time and drawing near or straying away from God. Earthly existence is the ‘training ground’ through which the soul matures and cultivates over time.
There you have it. Having visited yet another installment of my excellent adventures through some of the world’s beliefs- I am again reminded that there are so many people out there that just want to be good people- good to each other and good to mankind. While I didn’t always agree with what I was researching, I do have to admit that I now have a new respect for the Bahá’í Faith- a respect that didn’t exist prior to this exercise. That in itself has made this part of my journey worth it.
 |
 |
 |
 |
Possibly Related Posts
Tags: Religions
Very nice article! Glad you gained respect for the Baha’i Faith as a result of your research!
A Baha’i from Park Ridge, IL.