{"id":87,"date":"2007-07-31T05:47:39","date_gmt":"2007-07-31T09:47:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blogx\/?p=115"},"modified":"2009-08-26T18:23:20","modified_gmt":"2009-08-26T22:23:20","slug":"10-questions-about-the-bahai-faith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blog1\/?p=87","title":{"rendered":"10 Questions about the Baha’i Faith"},"content":{"rendered":"

1. What is the Baha\u2019i Faith?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thank you for this opportunity to respond. I\u2019m tempted to give Louis Armstrong\u2019s classic reply, \u201cMan, if you don\u2019t know, I can\u2019t tell you,\u201d but you might get an idea that it\u2019s some kind of jazz heaven, which actually may not be too far off. Baha\u2019is believe in Progressive Revelation, meaning that from time to time God raises up Messengers to educate humanity, such as Buddha, Abraham, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Christ and Muhammad and that the latest one arrived in the 19th century and is named Baha\u2019u\u2019llah \u2013 meaning \u201c Glory of God\u201d in Arabic. He lived and taught mostly under exile and in imprisonment in Middle Eastern lands such as Iran, Iraq, Turkey and what is now Israel. These Messengers reiterate the eternal spiritual truths that are the foundation of all world religions, but also give social teachings for the age in which They appear. This age particularly needs guidance for an emerging global consciousness; ethics and morality for international travel, finance, ecology, communication, science and technology; and the realization that the entire globe and its inhabitants are in the same boat traveling together. (As Baha\u2019u\u2019llah stated, \u201cThe earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.\u201d<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Humanity on its own has no hope of solving the colossal challenges besetting it today. One of the most remarkable elements of this Revelation is that it gives not only a vision of the new World Order<\/a>, but actually gives a blueprint of how to achieve it. So Baha\u2019is worldwide are endeavoring to establish this order right in the midst of the crumbling of one human institution after another. Baha\u2019u\u2019llah has given the believers this directive<\/a>: \u201cIt is incumbent upon every man of insight and understanding to strive to translate that which hath been written into reality and action,\u201d and emphasized that we all have a part to play: \u201cAll men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. What are some the basic teachings of the faith?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every major world religion teaches the same basic things, those being the nature of God and Truth, morality and virtue, prayer and worship. The emphasis is different, according to the needs of the times: Judaism emphasized the law, Christianity focused on love and good works and Islam concentrated on submission to the Will of God. The Baha\u2019i Faith\u2019s overriding value is unity: God is one, His Messengers are one, religion is one, humanity is one. Therefore the thousand-year mission of the Baha\u2019is is to effect the organic unity of the entire human race, for it is written \u201cThe well-being of mankind<\/a>, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.\u201d Principles that accompany this central mission are removal of prejudice, gender equality, universal education, universal systems of governance, justice and currency, and a language through which the whole world can communicate. One other very important Baha\u2019i principle is that mankind has progressed to the point where each individual\u2019s spiritual progress is his or her own responsibility; therefore it behooves every person to independently investigate Truth and reality for him or herself. Ergo, there is no clergy in the Baha\u2019i Faith.<\/p>\n

3. How does the Baha\u2019i community view and interact with other faiths?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Baha\u2019is regard all humanity as their brethren. The Founder proclaimed, \u201cConsort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship<\/a>.\u201d They tend to spearhead and are often over-represented at interfaith gatherings. . Just once I would like see a Baha\u2018i jump up and yell, \u201cAll you heathens are going to Hell!\u201d but (sigh) it just isn\u2019t going to happen. (This is just kidding, of course.)<\/p>\n

4. For our readers who may have not have heard of the religion before now, is there a fictional character in television or film that embodies the ideals of the faith?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ha ha. I consulted some of my Baha\u2019i friends on this one and got suggestions such as \u201cMcGyver,\u201d since he used non-violent technological ingenuity to solve problems, the humble Frodo Baggins on his glorious quest of faith or \u201cStar Trek\u201d with its multi-ethnic co-operation boldly braving the final frontier.<\/p>\n

5. What holidays do Baha\u2019is observe?<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is a calendar<\/a> of 19 months of 19 days each, with a few extra Mardi-Gras-type celebratory days at the end to round out the solar year. And the faith has holy days celebrating the births and deaths of the central figures, as well as a few others, such as the Day of the Covenant, Nov. 26, celebrating the fact that God does not leave humanity adrift without guidance. Individually, believers tend to celebrate just about any festival of any religion or culture with other friends \u2013 we love a party!<\/p>\n

6. What is the biggest misconception, if any, about the religion?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Baha\u2019i Faith is not, nor ever was, a sect of Islam. It grew out of an Islamic environment, as did Buddhism out of Hinduism or Christianity out of Judaism. Also, since it is so all-embracing, some get the idea that it is eclectic and syncretistic, drawing from the good points of bygone traditions and philosophies, or that it accepts all faiths as being equally true and valid. In actuality, the Baha\u2019i Faith regards all major world religions as one Faith of God, \u201ceternal in the past, eternal in the future<\/a>\u201d and itself as simply the latest stage in this unfolding faith of the one God Who has been called by many names. Its principles and beliefs have been divinely revealed in the same way as the Ten Commandments, the Vedas, the Dhammapada and the Qur\u2019an have.<\/p>\n

7. According to www.religionfacts.com<\/a>, Dizzy Gillespie, Carole Lombard and Rainn Wilson were\/are all Baha\u2019i. Would you be offended if I said that was really cool?<\/strong><\/p>\n