Although followers regard the Baha’i faith as an extension of the earlier great world religions—including Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam—it does have some unique beliefs. Let’s have a look at a few of them.
1. Baha’is believe that all humanity belongs to a single race.
Okay, sure, we look different and we have physical traits that vary by place and ethnicity, but Baha’i says we’re all just human and, therefore, we are all equal.
As author Moojan Monen explains, “Baha’u’llah calls upon his followers to put aside everything that causes dissension and division (such as religious, racial and national differences) and to come together in unity, to replace narrow parochial and partisan loyalties with a loyalty to the human race as a whole.”
Most people today, outside of the KKK and other extremist groups, claim to embrace the fundamental equality of all people, or at least they give lip service to the idea. But Baha’i is the only religion in the world whose scriptures actually come right out and say that all people are equal.
2. The world needs a single unified international government and one universal language.
Here’s where the “new world order” stuff I mentioned a few days ago comes into play. Baha’is believe that the best way to promote and guarantee equality is to unite all people under one government and to have everybody speak the same language.
They don’t specify which language we should use, but they do say it doesn’t necessarily have to be one that already exists. In fact, many Baha’is suggest that it might be a good idea to invent a brand-new language—one everybody can learn—to avoid the petty problem of choosing an existing one and having to deal with the “My language is better than yours” crap that would inevitably occur.
I guess I could handle learning a new language—I mean, I’ve already done it a couple of times before. One world government, though? I’m not so sure.
The idea of a single world government sounds all cozy and utopian in theory, but truth be told, it kind of scares the shit out of me. When I picture one government, I don’t envision a gentle, equality-loving group of benevolent lawmakers; I see Big Brother or Nazis or something even worse.
So I don’t know about you, but I’m still a little bit iffy on the whole “new world order” thing. But Baha’i does have some other good qualities.
3. Universal education is essential.
Without education, Baha’is believe, we can’t become moral human beings, and we definitely can’t learn to perform useful work. So everyone—from childhood—needs access to mandatory, high-quality education.
I can easily accept that idea, if only because most of the people I run into in this world are as dumb as a box of rocks. Maybe if they had had a decent education as children, they would be able to do things like drive better and stop annoying the hell out of me on a daily basis. So universal education sounds good to me.
According to Baha’i writings, without universal education, “children will turn into weeds growing wild . . . knowing not right from wrong, distinguishing not the highest of human qualities from all that is mean and vile. . . .”
Untamed weeds. Yeah, that does sound like most of the children I see these days, so if universal education can prevent that, I’m definitely on board.
Overall, the Baha’i faith just seems . . . pleasant, which is exactly what I’m looking for at the moment. I’m sure I’ll find plenty to complain about as this month goes on, but for now, I’m a happy little Baha’i.
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