Religion and spirituality has always been important to me. I eventually found the Baha'i faith, or maybe it found me. I had studied both social work and religion in college, and never heard of the Baha'is. So, I was skeptical at first. How come I never heard of these people? What are they all about? If I go to one of their meetings, will I be asked to drink the punch?
The cliff note version: Religion is progressive and must be renewed. Every prophet, or messenger of God, is sent to humanity throughout the ages. Religions are like grade levels in a school, and as we grow and develop, we need new teachings, review old truths that are still important, and be challenged in new ways. Every major religion comes from God-Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism. Native American and other ancient faiths are important too. They had their own divine messengers, and many of their teachings still are relevant in today's world. Bahá’u’lláh is the major founder of the Baha'i faith, which started in Persia in the mid 1800's. He taught that religion should be about love, that science & religion are both important, that women and men are equal, advocated for interfaith and inter-racial marriages, and the most important message- that unity is the healing medicine and teaching for today's world. Humanity has progressed to such a point were the world is so small. Our society is now global, our economics are so interconnected and now global, and now humanity must finally recognize that we are part of one family. There is no room for prejudice, of any kind. We are all children of God, the same God of the Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, etc. Bahá’u’lláh gave humanity a concrete way to eradicate prejudice, heal our broken society, give hope to the poor, and to achieve things we have only dreamed of.
Quotes on the purpose of religion & spirituality: “A distinct individuality, a definitely prescribed mission, a predestined Revelation, and specially designated limitations. Each one of them is known by a different name, is characterized by a special attribute, fulfils a definite Mission, and is entrusted with a particular Revelation.” Baha’ullah, Book of Certitude, p113
“Leaders of religion, in every age, have hindered their people from attaining the shores of eternal salvation, inasmuch as they held the reins of authority in their mighty grasp. Some for the lust of leadership, others through want of knowledge and understanding, have been the cause of the deprivation of the people. By their sanction and authority, every Prophet of God hath drunk from the chalice of sacrifice, and winged His flight unto the heights of glory. What unspeakable cruelties they that have occupied the seats of authority and learning have inflicted upon the true Monarchs of the world, those Gems of divine virtue! Content with a transitory dominion, they have deprived themselves of an everlasting sovereignty….” (Kitab-i-Iqan, Bahá’u’lláh, p. 12-19)
“Religion should unite all hearts and cause wars and disputes to vanish from the face of the earth, give birth to spirituality, and bring life and light to each heart. If religion becomes a cause of dislike, hatred and division, it were better to be without it, and to withdraw from such a religion would be a truly religious act. For it is clear that the purpose of a remedy is to cure; but if the remedy should only aggravate the complaint it had better be left alone. Any religion which is not a cause of love and unity is no religion. All the holy prophets were as doctors to the soul; they gave prescriptions for the healing of mankind; thus any remedy that causes disease does not come from the great and supreme Physician. (‘Abdul Baha’, son of Baha’ullah in Paris Talks*, page 130)
“There can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God. The difference between the ordinances under which they abide should be attributed to the varying requirements and exigencies of the age in which they were revealed. All of them, except a few which are the outcome of human perversity, were ordained of God, and are a reflection of His Will and Purpose.” (Proclamation of Bahá'u'lláh, pages 112-114)
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