Wanderings

I recently ran across a group on Facebook encouraging people to pray for the death of U.S. President Barack Obama.  Regardless of a person’s political ideologies praying for the death of the President is unconscionable and the resistance of Facebook and Mark Zuckerburg to remove such hate speech is very disappointing.  The first amendment was not intended to protect threats and despite their cavalier attitude when a site such as Facebook has over 200 million people logging on every day and over 400 million users total they have a certain responsibility to moderate the content and to take a stand.  Web 2.0 allows for people to socially create content on the internet, but it should not absolve them of morality.

Whether you are a Facebook user or not, you can sign a petition to encourage Facebook to remove the group at this link: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/clean-up-facebook

Instead of using our prayers for such hateful purposes that cause division between us, we could instead prayer for the unity of mankind.

The purpose of the creation of man is the attainment of the supreme virtues of humanity through descent of the heavenly bestowals. The purpose of man’s creation is, therefore, unity and harmony, not discord and separateness.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 4

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Another Monday Night Devotions finished and this time we explored the word ‘innocence’. I chose the topic because of the date December 28 being a commemoration of when King Herod killed all of the baby boys in Bethlehem so that the new King, whom he had heard to have born there, could not grow up to challenge his power.

We started with the three questions:

1. What is innocence?, What is it not?
2. Are we born innocent?
3. Can we become/stay innocent?, How?

This progressed nicely, and the discussion centered around how we define innocence and what it is that takes it away from us. We eventually moved on to the concept of ‘Original Sin‘ and the idea that we are all born not only with the desire to do things that would be an affront to God, but that we carry with us the burden of all of the sin that was committed before we were alive. That would hardly make us innocent. However, Christians believe that Jesus dies for our sins, which does raise the concern over whether or not we need to be careful about not sinning, or if it is okay because we will be forgiven anyway.

In the end, we came around to look at how we have allowed our differences such as whether or not a baby is born carrying the sins of his ancestors all the way back to Adam & Eve, who a piece of land belongs to, or who has the right to wear a scarf on her head and where she is allowed to do so. These are all differences created by man and may represent the true lack of innocence. However, all we truly need to do to receive God’s love is to love Him back.

The earth has one surface. God has not divided this surface by boundaries and barriers to separate races and peoples. Man has set up and established these imaginary lines, giving to each restricted area a name and the limitation of a native land or nationhood. By this division and separation into groups and branches of mankind, prejudice is engendered which becomes a fruitful source of war and strife. Impelled by this prejudice, races and nations declare war against each other; the blood of the innocent is poured out, and the earth torn by violence. Therefore, it has been decreed by God in this day that these prejudices and differences shall be laid aside.

Abdu’l-Baha : The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 316

Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me not, My love can in no wise reach thee. Know this, O servant.

Baha’u'llah : The Persian Hidden Words #5

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Service to humanity is service to God.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 8

I was teaching a children’s class yesterday in a public park.  There were just a few kids and not one of them has much experience with the Baha’i Faith.  Because of this and a wide range in ages, I wanted to keep any quotes we used short and simple.  After providing a few examples of how people can serve each other which is in turn serving all of humanity and ultimately God, such as improving the water system in a developing nation, working to create better and more equitable school systems, or simply helping your neighbor carry in his groceries, I introduced the above words from Abdu’l-Baha.  Upon doing so, the oldest boy in the class, a rising 6th grader, got very excited and exclaimed, “I get it!… every time I do something that helps someone else I am helping God.”  This was so wonderful to hear from a boy who had just had his first exposure to the Baha’i Faith.

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If Christians of all denominations and divisions should investigate reality, the foundations of Christ will unite them. No enmity or hatred will remain, for they will all be under the one guidance of reality itself.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 198

Having lived as a Christian for many years, I remember vividly the problems that arise between different denominations of the Church.  With so many different sects whose beliefs all come from the same message from Christ it always bothered me that they let petty differences that were the result of man’s intervention keep them apart.  During the time they were arguing over how to do communion, if people could marry outside the denomination or if baptism required a few drops of water or a full body immersion, they were bickering over thins that were irrelevant to God’s will and making a mockery of it.  I have always appreciated that the Baha’i Faith has not fractured into sects, though I fear that it may happen one day.  We are directed in the Kitab-i-Aqdas to not allow that to happen, but sometimes what is written does not come to pass.

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Attachment to the lantern is not loving the light.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 151

Some of the most poignant Baha’i quotations are the shortest as well.  This one always reminds me that we should not pay so much attention to the rituals or even the founding prophet of any religion, but instead listen to the message that particular manifestation of God was telling to the world.  Too often I have seen people miss that entirely and insist on strict adherence to religious practices that were invented long after the prophet and moved on to another world.  There sometimes is an insistence that being faithful is only about how we wash our hands, what we eat for dinner on Friday night, when we can drive, or what color clothing we should wear.  Alas, this is but mimicry of loving others and following in the path of God.

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Be in perfect unity. Never become angry with one another. … Humanity is not perfect. There are imperfections in every human being, and you will always become unhappy if you look toward the people themselves. But if you look toward God, you will love them and be kind to them, for the world of God is the world of perfection and complete mercy. Therefore, do not look at the shortcomings of anybody; see with the sight of forgiveness. The imperfect eye beholds imperfections. … You must love and be kind to everybody, care for the poor, protect the weak, heal the sick, teach and educate the ignorant.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 92

This is one of my favorite passages.  I often find myself referring it.  There is a person that I find myself becoming angry with a lot lately.  I do not believe she is doing anything intentional or even aware of the problem.  Every time this occurs, I find myself looking for this passage and reminding myself that the shortcomings I see in her are some of the same ones that other people see in me.

Of particular importance to me is the direct statement that “humanity is not perfect” and the directive that we “must love and be kind to everybody, care for the poor, protect the weak, heal the sick, teach and educate the ignorant.”  I think remembering these two things as we go through our day could help bring the world a little bit closer, to make us more forgiving of each other and to reduce our anger and stress.

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Inasmuch as ignorance and lack of education are barriers of separation among mankind, all must receive training and instruction. Through this provision the lack of mutual understanding will be remedied and the unity of mankind furthered and advanced. Universal education is a universal law. It is, therefore, incumbent upon every father to teach and instruct his children according to his possibilities. If he is unable to educate them, the body politic, the representative of the people, must provide the means for their education.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 300

Naturally, as a teacher, I was drawn to this aspect of the Baha’i Faith.  With each passing generation, the amount of knowledge that must be acquired simply in order to be a functioning member of society is growing (a concept I have written about here).  Through my travels I have met people that are lacking the most basic education—adults who cannot read the most basic of childrens’ books, or cannot locate their own country on a globe, or have trouble ciphering without their fingers.  Sadly, I have also seen their children continue this legacy because they are denied an education.

The Baha’i Faith supports universal education for all.  In fact, it should be more than just a moral and ethical law, but a legal requirement of all government to provide this opportunity.  While many do have some sort of public education in place, there are so many gaps and differences in quality of instruction and resources, in addition to those who are denied the opportunity because of their ethnicity, gender, or poverty.

Education and knowledge, or rather withholding them, have long been tools of oppressors to dominate a people.  This occurred in the Antebellum United States with African slaves, but when the barriers were finally removed, African-Americans were finally able to obtain an education and the nation was able to move a step closer to unity.  A similar situation is occurring in China now, as they build schools for rural and migrant students. (read more here)

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Difference of capacity in human individuals is fundamental. It is impossible for all to be alike, all to be equal, all to be wise. Bahá’u'lláh has revealed principles and laws which will accomplish the adjustment of varying human capacities. He has said that whatsoever is possible of accomplishment in human government will be effected through these principles. When the laws He has instituted are carried out, there will be no millionaires possible in the community and likewise no extremely poor. This will be effected and regulated by adjusting the different degrees of human capacity. The fundamental basis of the community is agriculture, tillage of the soil. All must be producers. Each person in the community whose need is equal to his individual producing capacity shall be exempt from taxation. But if his income is greater than his needs, he must pay a tax until an adjustment is effected. That is to say, a man’s capacity for production and his needs will be equalized and reconciled through taxation. If his production exceeds, he will pay a tax; if his necessities exceed his production, he shall receive an amount sufficient to equalize or adjust. Therefore, taxation will be proportionate to capacity and production, and there will be no poor in the community.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 217

Perhaps this quote would have been more fitting yesterday, as April 15 was the day that, for Americans, Federal Income Tax returns were due.  There are depictions from Baha’u’llah of a society where all people would contribute into a pool of funds based upon his or her own capacity for production.  Those who were producing more than their needs would contribute a portion of the excess into a community fund.  Those who were not able to produce enough for their needs would be able to withdraw from those funds—which would also be used to support special populations, such as orphaned children, the sick, the elderly, etc.  This method is not meant to make everyone exact economic equals regardless of their effort and resulting outcome, but rather as a way of narrowing the divide between the very rich and the very poor.  The elimination of the extremes of poverty and wealth is one of the core beliefs of the Baha’i Faith.

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The different religions have one truth underlying them; therefore, their reality is one. … In brief, every one of the divine religions contains essential ordinances, which are not subject to change, and material ordinances, which are abrogated according to the exigencies of time. But the people of the world have forsaken the divine teachings and followed forms and imitations of the truth. Inasmuch as these human interpretations and superstitions differ, dissensions and bigotry have arisen, and strife and warfare have prevailed. By investigating the truth or foundation of reality underlying their own and other beliefs, all would be united and agreed, for this reality is one; it is not multiple and not divisible.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 105-106

When viewed objectively, all of the world’s major religions have the same message at their core.  It is one of peace and love for each other that directs us to focus our lives on service to God by doing His will.  The Baha’is believe that the founders of these religions are all different manifestations of the same God.  For this reason, to Baha’is there is just one religion.

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But there is need of a superior power to overcome human prejudices, a power which nothing in the world of mankind can withstand and which will overshadow the effect of all other forces at work in human conditions. That irresistible power is the love of God. It is my hope and prayer that it may destroy the prejudice of this one point of distinction between you and unite you all permanently under its hallowed protection. Bahá’u'lláh has proclaimed the oneness of the world of humanity. He has caused various nations and divergent creeds to unite. He has declared that difference of race and color is like the variegated beauty of flowers in a garden. If you enter a garden, you will see yellow, white, blue, red flowers in profusion and beauty — each radiant within itself and although different from the others, lending its own charm to them. Racial difference in the human kingdom is similar. If all the flowers in a garden were of the same color, the effect would be monotonous and wearying to the eye.

Therefore, Bahá’u'lláh hath said that the various races of humankind lend a composite harmony and beauty of color to the whole. Let all associate, therefore, in this great human garden even as flowers grow and blend together side by side without discord or disagreement between them.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 68

The elimination of prejudices is one of the core beliefs of the Baha’i Faith.  We are not expected to do this on our own, as mentioned in this quote.  Abdu’l-Baha confirms that this endeavor is so great that we require the love of God in order to accomplish it.

A beautiful analogy follows—the variegated skin colors of humans as different types of flowers.  Different, yes, but all equal and all contributing to one great mosaic.  In this way, our diversity can lead to our unity.

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