A Unifying Vision in Action by BahaiBookstore.com

EVANSTON, ILLINOIS

Printed in China 26

23 4

ISBN 978-1-61851-238-3

Book and cover design by Patrick Falso

CONTENTS The Bahá’í Faith: A Brief Overview........... 1 The Dawn of a New Day..............................3 One God.......................................................4 One Human Family......................................5 One Unfolding Religion...............................7 A New Era....................................................8 Origins........................................................10 The Covenant.............................................13 Worship......................................................15 The Soul.....................................................16 Walking a Path of Service............................18 A Collective Global Endeavor.....................19

Bahá’í Principles...................................... 23 The Elimination of Prejudices.....................25 Justice and Unity........................................26 Peace...........................................................29 Equality of Men and Women......................30 Elimination of the Extremes of Wealth and Poverty.................................................31 Harmony of Science and Religion...............32 Universal Education....................................34 A Harmonious Relationship with Nature....35 A Selection of Bahá’í Prayers................... 37 Notes....................................................... 45 Bibliography............................................ 51

THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY The appearance of God’s Messenger is like the start of a new day, when the sun’s rays release energy into the world. In this turbulent period of human history, the world is in need of a unifying vision of our true nature as human beings and of the kind of world in which we would want to live. Bahá’ís believe that this vision is revealed in the writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá’u’lláh’s mission was to spiritually reawaken humanity and unite all the peoples of the world. Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings form the basis of the Bahá’í Faith and offer a vision of infinite hope and healing for the world. He offers a vision of a world where the recognition of the oneness of humanity ultimately leads to lasting justice, peace, and prosperity. Bahá’u’lláh wrote, “My object is none other than the betterment of the world and the tranquility of its peoples.”

Bahá’u’lláh taught the oneness of God and religion, the oneness of humanity and freedom from prejudice, the inherent nobility of the human being, the progressive revelation of religious truth, the development of spiritual qualities, and the integration of worship and service. The Bahá’í writings also address the fundamental equality of men and women, the harmony between religion and science, the need to eliminate extremes of wealth and poverty, the centrality of justice to all human endeavors, and the importance of education. Around the world, people of all ages, faiths, and backgrounds are engaged in a process of community building based on the unifying teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. Through a process of prayerful study, consultation, action, and reflection, children, youth, and adults engage in their own spiritual development. They explore spiritual concepts together and apply them in their own communities. ONE GOD Called by different names throughout the ages, the eternal God, the Creator of the universe, 4

is limitless, all-knowing, all-powerful, and allloving. God is one. The reality of God is beyond human understanding, though we may find expressions of God’s attributes in every created thing. Although the exact nature of God eludes us, the purpose of our lives is to recognize, love, and grow closer to Him. We may do so by striving to emulate God’s attributes, such as love, compassion, generosity, justice, and mercy, in both our inner lives and our actions.

“The peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God.” ~ BAHÁ’U’LLÁH

ONE HUMAN FAMILY The conviction that every individual belongs to one human family is at the heart of the Bahá’í Faith. We are all citizens and co-stewards of one 5

planet. A growing awareness of our common heritage and interdependence allows us to strive for unity in our diversity. The Bahá’í writings assert that we share a common purpose—to carry forward an ever-advancing material and spiritual civilization. Bahá’u’lláh proclaimed the oneness of humanity and called for the removal of any cause of division that would lead people to see themselves as “us” and “them.” Beyond all differences of race, culture, class, or ethnicity, regardless of differences in customs, opinions, or temperaments, every individual is a member of one gloriously diverse human family.

“Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship. ~ BAHÁ’U’LLÁH

THE ELIMINATION OF PREJUDICES The principle of the oneness of humankind is the central teaching of the Bahá’í Faith. Recognition and acceptance of this principle necessitates the abandonment of prejudice of every kind—race, class, color, gender, creed, nationality, age, material wealth—everything that people have used to consider themselves superior or inferior to others. Indeed, Bahá’u’lláh’s vision for a new civilization inspires people to see themselves as citizens of one common homeland, which is the planet itself. Prejudice—false perception—blinds us to the fact that every person is essentially a spiritual being with unique talents and capacities, a “mine rich in gems of inestimable value.”

“So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.” ~ BAHÁ’U’LLÁH

“The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.” ~ ‘ABDU’L- BAHÁ

JUSTICE AND UNITY Justice is necessary to bring about unity in diversity. Unifying approaches are necessary to bring about justice. In an era of rapid, often unsettling change, when society feels increasingly polarized, Bahá’ís look for sensible, empowering, and unifying solutions. Justice requires universal participation. Social change can’t be an effort by one segment of humanity to impose its vision on another, however altruistic the motivation may be. We must leave behind a concept of power as a means of domination or superiority, based on contest, contention, division, or cultural difference. The Bahá’í framework is intended to release, encourage, and channel a different kind of 26

“Cleave unto that which draweth you together and uniteth you.” ~ BAHÁ’U’LLÁH

PEACE The Bahá’í writings are replete with references to universal peace—“the supreme goal of all mankind.” One of the most entrenched obstacles to peace is the widespread and uncritical acceptance of the proposition that human beings are incorrigibly selfish and aggressive. The vision of Bahá’u’lláh challenges the assumption that self-interest drives prosperity and that progress depends on its expression through relentless competition. Deeper awareness of our spiritual nature will inspire new approaches and systems which, because they are consistent with the inherent nobility of humanity, will foster harmony and cooperation instead of competition and conflict.

“When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love.” ~ ‘ABDU’L- BAHÁ

EQUALITY OF MEN AND WOMEN Another prerequisite for building a united world is the achievement of full equality between women and men. There are no grounds, moral, practical, or biological, upon which denial of the equality of men and women can be justified. Gender prejudice perpetrates injustice against women and promotes harmful attitudes and habits in men that are carried from the family to the workplace, to economic and political life, and ultimately to relations among countries. The establishment of the equality between women and men will be essential in ushering in an era of peace and prosperity. 30

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