Enjoy This Week’s Post: Today is the Birthday of the Baháʼu’lláh who founded the Baháʼí Faith. I happened across this set of ethics as I was studying religions seeking common themes related to peace (see attachment). My goal was and continues to be to raising awareness about the “Golden Rule”, which is the foundation for the vast majority of religions, and assisting us in putting it into practice. The Baháʼí offer an amazing set of ethics far ahead of its time. Religions are the basis for many of our ethical systems but there is the usual issue of understanding the true meaning of a religion and putting it into practice. Since so many follow religions, and self-appointed religious leaders, we need to educate ourselves about religions. Far too often religions are coopted and we need to have the knowledge, confidence, and voice to challenge such distortions and return them to the basic tenets of most religions: love, compassion, forgiveness, understanding, and generosity…in essence treating others the way you would like to be treated.
Teachings:
- Oneness of God – There is only one God who is actively concerned about the development of humanity
- God sends messengers such as Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, Krishna, Buddha, Christ, Muhammad, The Bab and the Baha’u’llah to humanity to educate it in morals, social values, the oneness of humanity, and that all humans come from the same root and deserve equal opportunities and treatment.
- No Clergy and a minimum of ritual.
- Independent investigation of truth, private prayer, collective discussion, and action are modes of religious action
Baha’I Principles
1.Racial Unity – racism limits potential of its victims, corrupts its perpetrators, and limits human potential. Eliminate racist attitudes
2. Emancipation of Women – Denial of equality perpetuates an injustice against ½ the worlds population and promotes harmful attitudes and habits that are carried from the family to the workplace, ultimately to international relations. Calls for equality of women and full rights to education and work.
3. Economic Justice – disparity between the rich and the poor is a source of acute suffering andkeeps the world in a state of instability and on the brink of war. New perspectives concerning money, profits, work and the poor such as profit sharing.
4. Patriotism within a Global perspective – pride within a wider loyalty to humanity and to global society.
5. Universal Education – everyone has a fundamental right to education including reading and writing.
6. Universal Auxiliary Language
7. The Environment and Development – unrestrained exploitation of natural resources is a symptom of the overall sickness of the human spirit. Economic development must be rooted in an approach that fosters spiritual balance and harmony within the individual, between individuals and with the environment as a whole. Material development must serve not only the body bu the mind and spirit as well.
8. A World Federal System – A high priority needs to be given to:
-the just resolution of regional and international conflicts
–urgent humanitarian crises brought on by war, famine, and disasters
–creating a unified approach to environmental degradation
-establishing a system where free movement of goods, services, people across world
9. Religious Dialogue – religious strife causes many wars, stops progress, and is abhorrent to people of all faiths and no faiths. All religions come from God and thus constitute valid paths to the Divine
-communicate with followers of all religions in love and harmony