November 12 Baha'is celebrated the birth of Baha'u'llah, founder of the Baha'i Faith. So I thought I'd share something from the Baha'i teachings. Actually, it's appropriate to the discussion under current events right now.

"All mankind are creatures and servants of the one God. The surface of the earth is one home; humanity is one family and household. Distinctions and boundaries are artificial, human. Why should there be discord and strife among men? All must become united and coordinated in service to the world of humanity."

and:
"In the days of old an instinct for warfare was developed in the struggle with wild animals; this is no longer necessary: nay, rather, co-operation and mutual understanding are seen to produce the greatest welfare of mankind. Enmity is now the result of prejudice only."

[ November 14, 2005, 06:49 PM: Message edited by: DJ ]

DJ
Thank you for reminding us that we are all one, that hate and prejudice,racism and war are the results of our failings as human beings and our misinterpetations of divine words.
Blessings DJ- someday perhaps there will only be peace and love

DJ....the Bahai faith is so enlightened, but to me the most unique teaching (if i understood it right) is .. 'if a family can afford to educate only one child.... educate the daughter'. The reasons for doing so are self evident, but seldom has that been the way of the rest of the world.

Norma -- yes, because the mother is the first educator of future generations. This both recognizes the unique role of women in bearing children (education begins in utero) and also acknowledges the sad disparity there's been between the education of women and men during probably all of recorded history.

Imagine what a different world it'd be already if women had received at least an equivalent education for the past few hundred or thousand years.

"One Home, One Family" "Enmity is now the result of prejudice only'.

Exactly ! And the Bahai's have certainly paid a heavy price for saying outloud such obvious truths. thanks for replying DJ.

DJ, thanks for the inspirational quotes. Unfortunately, the Baha'i have suffered much persecution for beliefs that to me seem almost non-controversial. I mean, how can someone argue against unity and peace??

I've been to the Baha'i Temples in Williamette and Haifa.

Cool that you went there. Did you see the new terraced gardens? Last time I went was before they were built but we're going to Haifa in January.

About 2am after I posted this, I realized it was probably Wilmette and not Williamette. I went there when I lived in Chicago, 1968 maybe. A girl in my class was Baha'i and that's how I learned about it. She loaned me 4 books about Baha'i but when I was finished, her family had moved and I couldn't find them. I actually met someone else who was Baha'i and asked if they knew where the family was so I could return the books.

I lived in Haifa for 3 months in 1979. I visited the temple and gardens several times. They are considered one of the most beautiful sites in Israel.