Baha'i: The Ultimate Global Religion?

For years I've pondered the area of religion. My father's family is old Pennsylvania Quaker. My mother is Episcopalian. I went to Episcopal boarding school and Episcopal church. But in college I dated many Catholics. In my thirties, it was atheists and Jews. When I married, it was to someone who rarely thinks about religion of any type whatsoever.

But it is still of interest to me - and more not less than it was say 15 years ago. Just yesterday I was at a friend's house for dinner. She is a Conservative Jew married to a non-practicing Christian. We talked about the differences between being spiritual and being religious. We talked about the differences within religions - between Catholics and Episcopalians and between Orthodox and Conservative Jews, etc. It was really interesting. She is so clear and grounded in her faith. I am so conflicted. My views and values are clear. But, I find the practice of organized religion - virtually any of them - confusing. Each of the major faiths in the world has something I value and respect and am moved by. But each also seems to have something I find disturbing or jarring with who I am and what I stand for. Perhaps that's why I have most recently gravitated more toward the Quaker faith as it feels to me to involve a basic and fundamental spiritual sense, with limited ritual and ceremony but a lot of substance.

That was until a few weeks ago when I learned about a whole new faith - one I knew virtually nothing about until then.

Having lived literally all over the world, it was pretty surprising to me to find what I think is perhaps the ultimate in global religion right here, down the street, in Wilmette Illinois. At the Baha'i Temple. I am certainly no expert - having only spent a few hours studying it thus far - but its core principles are why I say it may be the ultimate global religion. According to the brochure I picked up at the temple, the core principles of the Baha'i faith are as follows:

• Elimination of all forms of prejudice
• Equality between men and women
• Harmony of science and religion
• World peace upheld by a world government
• Spiritual solutions to economic problems
• Universal education

I know there are many in the world that would not choose to live with these principles but for me I thought, wow! This is the closest I've come to finding a group where - on the surface at least - there was nothing for me to disagree with. I'm not fully sure I understand what "spiritual solutions for economic problems" means, but I kinda like the sound of it if it means we'll have to use more than a calculator to solve the economic inequalities in the world between the "haves" and "have nots". So, I for one found this religion an intriguing discovery. (For those who've known about it forever, pardon my ignorance. I am not nor have ever been anything like a religious expert or scholar and so it's not surprising I guess that my religious education was clearly incomplete.)

Anyway, I am not trying to convert anyone here. I'm not even sure what I myself will actually do with this learning. But in times like these where religion is at the heart of so many problems in the world, I think it is worth reflecting on how and whether it is possible for us all to move to a more global approach, one based on faith and spirituality more than dogma. And whether we could, without losing our own identities, opt for a broader, more inclusive approach to the questions we face as global citizens in order to perhaps find some lasting solutions to long term disputes. Naïve perhaps but perhaps that's just what we need. To look beyond the experts and the entrenched and move toward a more pragmatic and inclusive solution. Perhaps less is more when it comes to a global approach to these types of questions and perhaps the Baha'i Faith has something to teach us all... Just a thought...from someone still searching for her own answer...

Perry Yeatman is an SVP at Kraft Foods and co-author of the award-winning book, Get Ahead by Going Abroad.

Comments

[Waldenpond]

I withdrew from Bahai in 2001 after 30 yrs. and embraced earth based non structured spirituality and am now quite content. I still have Bahai friends I love. I used to think the one world concept was great until I saw what that much power can do even here in the US when misused. Though Bahais portray the one world concept to come as positive, I am not so sure. You can be only as good as the people in the government that is based on such a system. I feel Bahaullah was divinely inspired, but the rules still came filtered thru late 19th century Muslim culture. You wont get your head lopped off for homsexuality or sex outside of marriage, but still you will be lovingly excluded and have your rights removed unless you change. It is unrealistic to expect chastity of a divorced Bahai women of 20 years in here prime. I felt like a hypocrite serving on the assembly because I couldn't and frankly, refused, to waste myself on the so called joys of celibacy. Study the writings. They truly are beautiful. But if you declare, you wil be be subjected to death by boring administrative meetings to raise more money for the cause and teach, teach teach. . Again, I love the essence of the beliefs, but feel the Faith was going in the wrong direction.

[Sarmad]

As a believer for fifteen years, I was delighted to read this posting. It is perhaps the best report on the Faith I have ever read in a media setting. Its a shame about the commentators! Nowadays I think it is best not to search out the truths of religion on the internet.

The only way properly to judge this religion is to spend some time reading the writings of its Founder. When I was young I had an intellectual attraction to the teachings of the Faith. It seemed the logical next step. But there were niggling doubts and issues. When I think back about what it was that caused me difficulty I now laugh at my immaturity.

Anyway, I went on a family holiday to Cyprus and spent my time reading an entire volume of the Writings. By the end of the fortnight I was a completely transformed person. The mystical connection was made, a connection which sustains me and provides the only real source of hope, and the only real alternative to despair.

My advice to everyone is read the Writings and don't waste your time reading the views of anonymous strangers on the internet!

[Toholholzot]

There is no need to join any religion be it Baha'i or any other. But for some of us there will be something inside of us that is searching. We don't know what it is we are searching for but we keep searching we look in many different areas including religion. We check out many different philophies of thought and they all sound good and some great but there is always some little caveat. Things are just not right and they pull back. So it is until they find the answers they are looking for, when they find the one religion or system of philosophy that answers their questions. If they are not looking and searching nothing will ever suffice no matter how perfect the religion or philosophy of thought. One can lead a horse to drink , but if the basket ain't thirsty you can't make him drink. (LOL)

[larry278]

WendyS9 & OtayPanky, I value your insights & guidance. I hope to see &/or hear more of your words. Thanks.

[devonc]

HuffPost's Pick

The path of unity and reconciliation is the only path available to the human family. A world in which all nations, races, creeds and classes are closely and permanently united is not a utopian vision but an inevitable and vital necessity. "Illumine and hallow your hearts; let them not be profaned by the thorns of hate or the thistles of malice," Bahá'u'lláh warns. "Ye dwell in one world, and have been created through the operation of one Will. Blessed is he who mingleth with all men in a spirit of utmost kindliness and love."

Fostering unity of purpose among individuals and groups, both within and outside the Bahá’í community, is an essential characteristic of all Bahá’í activity. It is a unity that embraces diversity and eschews uniformity. More than creating a culture of tolerance or passive coexistence, the notion of unity in diversity entails vanquishing corrosive divisions along lines of race, creed, class, gender and color, and erecting a dynamic and cooperative social ethos that reflects the oneness of human nature.

[oneheart99]

The Baha'i writings are also very wary of "the evils of centralization." The legitimate issue is what can happen with centralized power: it can result in oppression. This truth does not lessen the fact that the world is spinning into chaos as a result of a lack of global coordination. The failure of the latest round of global trade talks, the need to coordinate at a global scale the movement of weapons of mass destruction, the inability to mount any coherent global response to global warming and the fact that a divided world can not feed the 2 billion people who subsist on less than $2 per day. Russia just invaded Georgia today. We need some form of collective security system that checks aggression and provides alternatives to war. All these problems require global levels of coordination. Global governance (if not global government) is absolutely necessary. Baha'u'llah said this over 100 years ago. If His instructions had been followed, we may have averted two world wars.
Finally, every major world religion tells us we have certain parts of our make up that get us trapped in patterns of life that limit our potential. All major religions prescribe laws not to oppress, but to liberate us from our own lower selves. That this gets turned into oppression is one of the reasons Baha'u'llah gives for the renewal of religion from age to age by a new Messenger from God.

[ImpalaSuperSport]

One world, one religion, one government, one dictatorship.

[WendyS9]

One dictatorship? Who would the dictator be? Baha'u'llah passed to the next world in 1892. So it wouldn't be Him. Do you really think the entire planet could or would be subject to one person calling the shots? I don't think so! It's just too big, too spread out, with too many cultures and personality types. :) Anyone declaring himself a dictator would just be laughed at by most of the planet. And there wouldn't be a darned think he could do about it. The Bible and other Holy Books promise a time when the world would become peaceful. How do you think that would happen without a global organization to keep order and make sure everyone has their basic needs met? Try not to get mired in manmade idiologies when considering the idea of world unity. What God wants for us is only what is good, and certainly far more glorious than what humans have ever devised for themselves.

[Hello100]

The Baha'i Faith is a DEMOCRACY. There is no clergy, no one gets paid - its all volunteer service for the love of the faith.

[Hirnlego]

"World peace upheld by a world government"

This might sound good at first, but it could also lead to tyranny on a global scale unseen of in history. Atleast now the tyranny of Zimbabwe and NK are limited to those nations...

[DJeef]

The United State's federal system is proposed as an example of how a world government could work. If I remember correctly early opponents of a central government for the US cited tyranny as one reason they were opposed to it. I agree that it COULD happen, I don't agree that it must happen.

[BenineViking]

One of the key commandments (to use a loaded religious word) of the Baha'i Faith is for all people of the world to INDEPENDENTLY investigate truth. That is, it is up to each of us to become scientists of sorts. We are all responsible to independently poke, prod, and dissect new findings until we have an answer we believe is true (or as close to true as we can possibly come). We should not fully rely on others to give us answers and we should not form opinions based on inadequate information. Many of you seem to be hearing of the Baha'i Faith for the first time - it is now at your disposal to be tested using whatever scientific method you wish to employ. We as humans are fortunate to have the ability to choose or not choose anything we come across; however, we should never dismiss anything without first investigating for ourselves. If you wish you can start at www.bahai.org ...or not - your choice!
...by the way, Baha'is do not believe in hell - just the mess we create ourselves

[fhayden]

As a Baha'i I read this article with interest. I have been in Baha'i since 1989 and it suits me fine. I was thinking about some objections raised, and they are mostly good ones that make sense but let me try to respond:
1) That Baha'i is wrong on a key issue: the example of the proscription of homosexual behavior is often given. The problem here is that if you do happen to have a religion with rules not everyone will necessary see the wisdom in those rules (or laws).

2) World government: My own take on this is that it will evolve gradually to deal with specific global menaces. The International Criminal Court is an example of the latest iteration.

3) The whole religion thing: I really don't think religion is going away. So, like electricity and the financial markets, it needs regulating to keep it within the bounds of moderation. That is what Baha'u'llah said basically.

4) Unity of religion: Baha'u'llah said it best:
"The purpose hath rather been to ... purge and purify the peoples of the world from the strife and dissension which religious differences provoke. Unto this bear witness My heart, My Pen, My inner and My outer Being."

5. On looking within ourselves for answers:
"God grant that all men may turn unto the treasuries latent within their own beings. "

6. On the "Ultimate Global Religion."- not really, just the most recently revealed world religion, and Baha'u'llah said

[OtayPanky]

fhayden: That Baha'i is wrong on a key issue: the example of the proscription of homosexual behavior is often given. The problem here is that if you do happen to have a religion with rules not everyone will necessary see the wisdom in those rules (or laws).

===

Actually, rules aren't the problem at all. Any society has rules, including religious societies.

The question is, for any society: are those rules wise? You actually refer to that question in your comment above.

One important way to decide if a rule is wise is to determine whether it confilcts with science, or supports it. The Bahai faith agrees with that, claiming that it is interested in the reconciliation of science and religion.

Bias against homosexuals, in any form, conflicts with science. (See my post below). I encourage you - as an open minded person - to visit an OASIS group. It's an Episcopal Church outreach to gays and lesbians. (I did, during some graduate work I did).

If you do, you will meet homosexual singles and couples who - except for their gender attraction - look and act exactly like anyone else in the congregation. They have lifetime unions, children, responsible jobs, and commitments just like everyone else.

The Episcopal Church right now is riven by the homosexuality question. Many brave and open minded folks there are willing to admit the received wisdom from the Bible isn't so wise, and so are accepting homosexuals without reservations in accord with modern science.

[wolfgangmo]

I am not Baha'i but I have read and studied their religion expensively. Their prophet Baha'u'lah said that in any conflict between the Baha'i faiths tenets and science, that science wins.

That is pretty enlightened especially when you compare it to evangelicals or similar religions like the taliban.

[WendyS9]

I would suggest that science in this case is undecided on the matter. There are theories and hypotheses, but as to being sure without doubt about any of it, sorry. The Baha'i Faith is certainly not the only religion to prescribe sex within marriage only. We're just not as harsh about it. Try the Old Testament for some real harshness. Fortunately, no one follows all those demands for death to anyone committing forbidden acts. As another writer said, Baha'i teachings forbid us from discriminating against people--we are to treat all with love and kindness. But if we want to be Baha'i, we must at least be willing to try to follow its laws. It's always our own choice how we live our life and whether or not to accept these tenets, principles, and laws. No one forces us to join, stay, or obey.

[smaneck]

The social principles of the Baha'i Faith are forward looking and liberal as Perry discovered and our moral standards are fairly conservative as others have noted. But the Baha'i Faith is not about a set of principles or a bunch of laws. Baha'is claim that there is a new revelation from God and that the founder of the Baha'i Faith is the Promised One of all religions and that His teachings wil fulfill the promise that there would come a day when all humanity would be brought together and live in peace.

It might be a pipe dream, but it just might be true.

[swift goat pet for truth]

Seems you might want to try the Unitarian Univeralists.
Not a religion in the strictest sense, but pretty interesting.

[suec03]

I beg to differ with "swift_goat..." that Unitarian Universalism is not a religion in the strictest sense. We UU's emphasize a different aspect of religion. We still deal with the ultimate human dilemma that we are born and will die, but today is a gift. Rather than provide the answers, we are called upon to each conduct the search for ultimate truth and meaning, and to support our fellow church members and visitors in their searches. We don't let you off easily by providing the answers. We do have a set of principles and a set of sources of our faith. We do conduct religious education for children, youth and adults. We provide a space where deists, humanists, atheists, agnostics, liberal Christians, Jews, Buddhists, pagans and many others can join in community. Couples of different faiths and LGBT singles and couples find a home with us. Our history reaches from Transylvania where the first Unitarian king decreed religious freedom. We celebrate Michael Servetus who was martyred in Geneva for rejecting the Trinity as not Biblically based. We have history in the churches of New England, early US presidents such as Adams and Jefferson, in the Abolitionist movement and in women's suffrage. We have relationships with Unitarians in the Khasi Hills of India, the Phillipines and elsewhere. We have ceremonies to name children, recognize passage into adulthood, celebrate weddings, commitment ceremonies and funerals. We emphasize doing justice in the world, as well as the spiritual development of the individual.

[OtayPanky]

As science is finding out these days, the impulse towards homosexual attraction arises in children way before the age of puberty. Leslie Stahl on 60 minutes did an excellent piece on that some time ago.

That said, it seems to me that any religious or spiritual path that somehow diminishes homosexuals, considers their behavior wrong, encourages them to suppress their natural instincts, and/or hopes to make them into heterosexuals - is at odds with science.

If Bahai is truly interested in the reconciliation of science and religion, it will have to give up it's anti-homosexualism agenda, however sweetly it might be packaged up.

[zbriboy8]

well they certainly dont abide by erasing ALL forms of prejudice:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_and_Bah%C3%A1%27%C3%AD_Faith

[Hirnlego]

What is with religion and homosexuality?

[DJeef]

Prejudice? "You keep using that word, I do not think it means what you think it means."

Prejudice against someone identifying as homosexual would mean treating him or her differently. A Baha'i would try very hard not to do that. Prejudice would be, "Oh, you're gay? dang, okay then no, you can't come to the devotional gathering." or "sorry your kids can't come to the children's classes." That would NOT be the Baha'i way of treating someone.

The Wikipedia article you cite seems to represent the Baha'i point of view pretty well. It's very easy to see how the position of the Baha'is on homosexuality could be confused with some of the ugly behaviors seen in society.

"O CHILDREN OF MEN! Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest. Such is My counsel to you, O concourse of light! Heed ye this counsel that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness from the tree of wondrous glory." --Baha'u'llah

[jaglon]

I am very familiar with the Baha'i religion having flirted with many years ago. It's history is filled with perscution espicially the middle east where the muslim countries are so paranoid about any other religion but Islam (and even they have their prejudices within their own religion). If Islam is so wonderful why are the Muslim countries so insecure about it?

The Baha'i has too many restrictions. As you become more spiritual you will be dropping those vices naturally, not by rules. It is about control. But other then that the Baha'i religion has the right ideas. I prefer my own church, Unity (head quartered in Lees Summit, MO) which espouses a similar set of religous principles without all the rules. The biggest thing is acceptance of peoples regardless of race or background.