God & the Big Questions

Is there a God? Over the years many intellectuals have struggled with this question. Obviously, Baha’is do believe in God. For many Baha’is, this belief is not the result of a ‘leap of faith.’ Many Baha’is consider their belief in God to be grounded in logic, reason, and science. To help them confirm their belief in God, Baha’is are given many reasonable arguments in the Baha’i Holy Writings. In addition, today there are arguments offered from the scientific, psychological, sociological, astrophysical, and medical fields that reinforce the idea of a Divine Intelligence behind creation.

First of all, we should be clear about what God is for Baha’is. Since Baha’is do not take a “literal” interpretation of the Bible, they do not believe that the world was created in seven days and that the earth is only five thousand years old. As Abdu’l-Baha said of the Old Testament stories, “The divine Words are not to be taken according to their outer sense. They are symbolical and contain realities of spiritual meaning.” (Abdu'l-Baha, PUP, p. 458).  The Baha’i conception of God therefore accepts modern science which expands our understanding of the universe. Baha’is also turn to philosophy when it is guided by spiritual values. Indeed, they believe that God works through the sciences and arts to inspire and educate humanity.

Whether the Lord created this universe through a Big Bang or some other event—or whether the universe has always existed—Baha’is believe that God is the ultimate Source of the universe and that there is great intention and purpose behind its creation. And Baha’u’llah wrote, “Having created the world and all that liveth and moveth therein, He, through the direct operation of His unconstrained and sovereign Will, chose to confer upon man the unique distinction and capacity to know Him and to love Him -- a capacity that must needs be regarded as the generating impulse and the primary purpose underlying the whole of creation.” (GWB pg. 65).

And then there is the powerful record of Divine Messengers of God throughout history. Religion is the only force known to have such an enduring power to unify, empower, inspire, and to truly remake the world around it. No other force has had such a lasting effect. For example, philosophy is a great intellectual force, but it has not spawned great throngs of followers who have scattered throughout the world and sacrificed ease, comfort, and even their lives for its propagation. Only religion accomplishes such a feat time and again. As Baha’u’llah wrote, “If these souls, who have renounced all else but God for His sake and offered up their life and substance in His path, are to be accounted as false, then by what proof and testimony can the truth of what others assert be established in thy presence?” (SLH, p. 113)

Additionally, in the world of science, many leading thinkers are beginning to conclude that the universe must have an intelligent Creator behind it. Many scientists have asserted that the forces of the universe are all working together for one singular purpose: to create and sustain life. As one popular writer put it, “Even the most minor tinkering with the value of the fundamental forces of physics—gravity, electromagnetism, the nuclear strong force, or the nuclear weak force—would have resulted in an unrecognizable universe: a universe consisting entirely of helium, a universe without protons, or atoms, a universe without stars, or a universe that collapsed back in upon itself before the first moments of its existence were up. Changing the precise ratios of the masses of subatomic particles in relation to one another would have similar effects. Even such basics of life as carbon and water depend upon uncanny ‘fine-tuning’ at the subatomic level, strange coincidences in values for which physicists had no other explanation.” (GE pg. 29) While some disbelieving scientists have come up with elaborate explanations for such coincidences, the simplest answer for Baha’is is that there is a God.

Another proof comes from psychology. In study after study, it has become evident to many doctors in today’s world of therapy and psychoanalysis that people who have some kind of religious basis in their lives tend to be healthier, happier, and mentally stronger individuals. For example, in 1972 a study showed that people who did not attend church were four times more likely to commit suicide than frequent churchgoers (GE pg. 63). Another study “concluded that ‘importance of religion’ was the single best predictor of substance abuse patterns.” (GE pg. 63). More studies have shown that depression, stress, divorce, marital satisfaction, and overall happiness and psychological well-being are higher among religious people. (GE pg. 63) To Baha’is, this shows that humans are hard-wired to prosper when they believe in God. Baha’is believe this is not the result of some random mutation, but rather a preprogrammed affinity to turn to the Creator. In addition, studies also show that no particular religion is more effective than any other, this confirms the Baha’i conception that the same God has sent all the main religions of the world. (GE) As Abdu’l-Baha once said, “In reality, the foundations of the divine religions are one and the same. The differences which have arisen between us are due to blind imitations of dogmatic beliefs and adherence to ancestral forms of worship.” (Abdu'l-Baha, PUP, p. 403)

Another argument is based on the many documented recountings of “life after death” experiences. It seems that different people from every age group, ethnic background, and corner of the globe recount these life-after-death experiences. The remarkable similarities between such experiences are difficult to explain if one does not believe in God or the afterlife. Some have come up with explanations such as hallucination, anoxia (oxygen starvation of the brain), endorphins, hypercarbia (elevated levels of carbon dioxide), temporal lobe involvement, and even repressed memories of the birth canal. The problem with all of these explanations is that people can experience anoxia, hypercarbia, endorphin overdose, and the other afflictions and have very different experiences. For example, people who have anoxia or heightened levels of endorphins do not all come back to reality reporting nearly the same story of seeing a bright light at the end of the tunnel, being greeted by a Being of light that seems to know them better than they know themselves, interacting with deceased relatives and friends, and much more. For Baha’is, these near-death-experiences are confirming reminders that this life is fleeting and temporal, whereas an everlasting existence full of love, wonder, and development awaits.

“Ignite, then, O my God, within my breast the fire of Thy love,..." ~ Baha'u'llah

A Baha’i would never want to take away from this precious relationship. Baha’is believe that a person’s life can be totally transformed through developing an intimate and personal relationship with God. In fact, Baha’is believe that this is the ultimate purpose of the entire creation: to know and love God. Therefore to live a full life, one must learn to see God in all things, to appreciate His Grandeur and Perfection, and to develop a loving relationship with Him. Through this process, we see His wisdom in all the events of our lives, and we learn to Trust Him with our personal faith. Baha’is believe that God wants to be loved by us. And they believe that all of us want to feel loved by Him.

Becoming a Baha’is does not have to take anything away from a Christians relationship with Jesus Christ. If fact, for many, becoming a Baha’i fulfills that relationship on many levels. Becoming a Baha’i takes this loving devotion of the followers of Jesus Christ and offers renewed levels of intensity, intimacy, understanding, and passion. The Baha’i Faith offers Christians a chance to accept Jesus, whose Divine Spirit has returned with a new Name, to truly build the Kingdom of God, and to truly unite with the followers of God from all flocks. The Baha’i Faith offers Christians a vast new wealth of the Word of God, revealed with the same Holy Spirit that came through Jesus that will inspire new heights of achievement in the arts and sciences.

Baha’is feel that their relationship with God is the foundation of their lives. Their personal prayer is best stated by Baha’u’llah when He wrote, “Ignite, then, O my God, within my breast the fire of Thy love, that its flame may burn up all else except my remembrance of Thee, that every trace of corrupt desire may be entirely mortified within me, and that naught may remain except the glorification of Thy transcendent and all-glorious Being. This is my highest aspiration, mine ardent desire, O Thou Who rulest all things, and in Whose hand is the kingdom of the entire creation. Thou, verily, doest what Thou choosest. No God is there beside Thee, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the Ever-Forgiving.” (PM, p. 161)

“O Son of Man! Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee Mine image and revealed to thee My beauty.” ~ Baha'u'llah

This love from God is meant to be returned by humanity. We are meant to return this affection and appreciate this bounty. The Baha’i Writings state, “O Son of Man! I loved thy creation, hence I created thee. Wherefore, do thou love Me, that I may name thy name and fill thy soul with the spirit of life. (Baha'u'llah, HW Arabic).  Our Creator brought us into being in order to appreciate, love, and worship His existence. In one of the most important Baha’i prayers to be said every day, it says, “I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to worship Thee. I testify, at this moment, to my powerlessness and to Thy might, to my poverty and to Thy wealth.” (Baha’u’llah, PM, p. 313). Therefore, Baha’is are reminded ourselves of the purpose of our creation—every day.

Baha’is believe that God is beyond our comprehension, therefore, we have to find Him through His qualities in His universe. The path to God is a unique and precious privilege we all embark on. He can be found through art, through direct service to others, through teaching children, through healing the sick, through traveling the world and experiencing the diversity of humanity. God’s majesty can be found in the ocean’s horizon, His mystery can be found in the starry night, and His love can be found in the nurturing of a parent for an infant. In another prayer, Baha’u’llah writes, “By Thy glory! Every time I lift up mine eyes unto Thy heaven, I call to mind Thy highness and Thy loftiness, and Thine incomparable glory and greatness; and every time I turn my gaze to Thine earth, I am made to recognize the evidences of Thy power and the tokens of Thy bounty. And when I behold the sea, I find that it speaketh to me of Thy majesty, and of the potency of Thy might, and of Thy sovereignty and Thy grandeur. And at whatever time I contemplate the mountains, I am led to discover the ensigns of Thy victory and the standards of Thine omnipotence.” (Baha’u’llah, PM, p. 272).

Baha’is believe their purpose during their lives is to manifest spiritual qualities in the world. They live out their lives trying to develop their own individual and unique mix of spiritual qualities. These qualities include kindness, compassion, insight, empathy, and others. They are all necessary for the next world. If we do not develop them in this plane of existence, we may never develop them. It is like an embryo in the womb of the mother. The embryo grows arms, legs, eyes, and ears for this world. It does not need these organs and appendages in the womb-world, but it definitely needs them to function properly in this world. These spiritual qualities in the next world are like these organs and appendages in this material world.

As it is written in the Baha’i Holy Writings, “When the human soul soareth out of this transient heap of dust and riseth into the world of God, then veils will fall away, and verities will come to light, and all things unknown before will be made clear, and hidden truths be understood… Consider how a being, in the world of the womb, was deaf of ear and blind of eye, and mute of tongue; how he was bereft of any perceptions at all. But once, out of that world of darkness, he passed into this world of light, then his eye saw, his ear heard, his tongue spoke. In the same way, once he hath hastened away from this mortal place into the Kingdom of God, then he will be born in the spirit; then the eye of his perception will open, the ear of his soul will hearken, and all the truths of which he was ignorant before will be made plain and clear. (Abdu'l-Baha, SWA p. 177)

"Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its separation from the body, will continue to progress until it attaineth the presence of God,..." ~ Baha'u'llah

Baha’is believe that death, therefore, is only a transition from the material world to the spiritual realm. After death, our lives will then be weighed before us, all the good and bad we have done will be examined. All that matters in this circumstance is how much we loved our fellow human beings while we were on earth, and how much we learned during our time here. If we lived lives of service to others, of humility, love, and generosity; then our souls will become powerful and luminous in the afterlife. If we lived lives of selfishness, greed, and suspicion—then we are called to account for our deeds and enter the next world in a state of insignificance and confusion. As the Founder of the Baha’i Faith, Baha’u’llah wrote, “Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its separation from the body, will continue to progress until it attaineth the presence of God, in a state and condition which neither the revolution of ages and centuries, nor the changes and chances of this world, can alter. It will endure as long as the Kingdom of God, His sovereignty, His dominion and power will endure. It will manifest the signs of God and His attributes, and will reveal His loving kindness and bounty. The movement of My Pen is stilled when it attempteth to befittingly describe the loftiness and glory of so exalted a station.” (Baha’u’llah, GWB, p. 155).

Clearly, the world has no shortage of suffering in it. We see children too often abused and neglected. We see accidents take our loved ones from us. We see diseases strike without warning or mercy. We live in a world where every single life is touched by some tragedy or loss. No one escapes. The rich, the poor, the smart, the mentally challenged; all will feel some pain in life. Why? What is the point? How could a loving God allow children to suffer? How could a generous Creator take our loved ones from us? How could a merciful Lord watch and do nothing, as terrible crimes are committed against the weak and innocent. It is understandable then, that many people see this suffering and wonder how there could be a God to allow it.

First of all, Baha’is believe that this life is only a temporary reality. Baha’is believe that death is the great leveler, and that all men face Divine Justice. As the Baha’i Holy Writings state, “To dust shall ye return, even as your fathers of old did return.” (GWB, p. 125). And as Baha’u’llah wrote, “O My servants! Sorrow not if, in these days and on this earthly plane, things contrary to your wishes have been ordained and manifested by God, for days of blissful joy, of heavenly delight, are assuredly in store for you.”  (GWB, p. 328). So if we live a life here that seems torturous, that is full of poverty, oppression, or disease—we know that our eternal condition in the next world will either offer us reward (or punishment).  As Baha’u’llah wrote of God, “He, verily, shall increase the reward of them that endure with patience.” (GWB p. 129). Baha’is believe in a God who is loving and just. Baha’is believe in a God that will reward those who endure with patience and who show compassion. And God will (punish) those who hurt and abuse others. As Baha’u’llah wrote, “Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness.” (HW).

As terrible as the suffering is in this world, Baha’is ultimately believe that suffering is the price the world must pay to fulfill a greater purpose: that of mankind’s exercise of free will. We have free will because God wants to be chosen, found, discovered, and appreciated. In fact, Baha’u’llah states that everything God has ever created was for this very purpose, “… He (GOD)… chose to confer upon man the unique distinction and capacity to know Him and to love Him -- a capacity that must needs be regarded as the generating impulse and the primary purpose underlying the whole of creation.” (GWBp. 65). God wants to be discovered by humanity. He wants to be loved and worshiped. Baha’u’llah wrote of God that, “He chose to hide His own Self behind a thousand veils, lest profane and mortal eyes discover His glory.” (GWB, p. 74). In order to find God, mankind must choose to turn away from the material world and self, and instead turn to develop heavenly qualities that will please our Lord. Humanity must therefore be able to choose virtues such as nobility, kindness, and forgiveness. In order to make these choices, the world must allow life with an absence of such virtue.  In such an absence of virtue—suffering often exists. This virtue is one way how Baha’is find, love, and worship their God. Baha’u’llah wrote, “O Son of Spirit! There is no peace for thee save by renouncing thyself and turning unto Me; for it behooveth thee to glory in My name, not in thine own; to put thy trust in Me and not in thyself, since I desire to be loved alone and above all that is.” (HW). Choosing God, means to choose to live a life that would please Him. Without darkness, you cannot know the light.

Baha’is also recognize that not all suffering is a bad thing. While Baha’is would agree that warfare, starvation, and disease should be eradicated from the human experience; they also realize that humanity grows through trials and tribulations. Some people might think that those who live a life of poverty and pain have lived a wasted life and have not fulfilled their purpose. But for Baha’is, the purpose of life is not to live without difficulty. It is not to have a little house in the suburbs with a white-picket-fence. It is not to live out our days in perfect peace and total economic security with no worries or anxieties. For a Baha’i, the purpose of life is to develop spiritual qualities, and thus grow in their love and understanding of God. Baha’is believe we often develop such qualities through difficult life situations. When we face oppression and injustice, will we show forgiveness and understanding? When we face a string of bad luck, will we show patience and resignation? When we are tempted to envy someone who seems more blessed than us, will we wish him or her well? When we face a loss of someone dear to us, will we show thankfulness for the time we did have together? As is written in the Baha’i Writings, “It is clear, then, that tests and trials are, for sanctified souls, but God's bounty and grace, while to the weak, they are a calamity, unexpected and sudden.” (Abdu'l-Baha, SWA, p. 182). And in another place it is written, “O thou servant of God! Do not grieve at the afflictions and calamities that have befallen thee. All calamities and afflictions have been created for man so that he may spurn this mortal world -- a world to which he is much attached. When he experienceth severe trials and hardships, then his nature will recoil and he will desire the eternal realm -- a realm which is sanctified from all afflictions and calamities.” (Abdu'l-Baha, SWA, p. 239)

Baha’is believe that this lifetime is merely a blip in our existence. While we may feel that our life of 75+ years on this earth is a long and full life, in respect to eternity there is no any difference between a life of 15 years and a life of 100 years. The question that does matter is, ‘what did you do with the time you were given?’ A Baha’i would know that every moment of our existence in this world--or in the life hereafter—is a gift from God. Who are we to say that someone who meets an untimely end (by our standards), or faces a terrible crime, cannot overcome that suffering and develop some spiritual quality in the process? Who are we to say their life was not complete? The reality is that we cannot judge the worth of any life. Only God can do that. Each person who lives in this world has a chance to develop spiritual sight and hearing. And as Abdu’l-Bahá wrote, “…this inner sight, hearing, life and healing are eternal, they are of importance. What, comparatively, is the importance, the value and the worth of this animal life with its powers? In a few days it will cease like fleeting thoughts.” (SAQ p.102).

Finally, it is important to point out that much of our suffering is the result of mankind’s refusal to follow the laws of God. Baha’is believe that most of the social problems of the world exist because mankind chooses not to follow the teachings of religions. Religions preach peace, love, unity, charity, and compassion. As Abdu’l-Baha said, “All religions teach that we must do good, that we must be generous, sincere, truthful, law-abiding, and faithful; all this is reasonable, and logically the only way in which humanity can progress.” (PT, p. 141). Humanity has the free will to choose to follow the teachings of the world’s religions and thus prosper; or to disobey them, and thus suffer.

“The time is at hand when whatsoever lieth hid in the souls and hearts of men will be disclosed.” ~ Baha'u'llah

Some feel that they experience ‘inklings’ or ‘visions’ of past lives, such as deja-vu or feeling ‘connected’ to locations. Baha’is believe that reincarnation, though, is not an adequate explanation. To feel like you are in the same situation as you were before would imply that you lived the ‘exact’ same life as before, which would mean reincarnation is nothing more than continuous re-runs of our existence, and thus completely pointless. As Abdu’l-Baha wrote, “Now observe that in the sensible world appearances are not repeated, for no being in any respect is identical with, nor the same as, another being. The sign of singleness is visible and apparent in all things. If all the granaries of the world were full of grain, you would not find two grains absolutely alike, the same and identical without any distinction. It is certain that there will be differences and distinctions between them. As the proof of uniqueness exists in all things, and the Oneness and Unity of God is apparent in the reality of all things, the repetition of the same appearance is absolutely impossible. Therefore, reincarnation, which is the repeated appearance of the same spirit with its former essence and condition in this same world of appearance, is impossible and unrealizable.” (Abdu'l-Baha, SAQ, p. 283). Abdu’l-Baha goes on to explain that even if a leaf appears again every season, it is still a different leaf with its own birth and death. The same leaf will never appear twice.

Baha’is do believe that our souls progress, develop, and grow through many stages. But they do not believe that this existence is limited to this petty material world around us. Baha’is see this world as a reflection of a far deeper reality that is beyond our comprehension. As Abdu’l-Baha wrote of this material world, “This cup was not so sweet that one would care to drink of it a second time.”(SWA, p. 183). The problem with reincarnation is that no one on the earth is living a truly ‘rewarding’ life. Everyone suffers in various forms. Poor and rich alike in this world are often unhappy and unsatisfied. On the other hand, even the lowliest person can be happy, content, and satisfied; whereas the wealthiest of people can be cruel, resentful, and evil. As Abdu’l-Baha wrote, “When thou lookest about thee with a perceptive eye, thou wilt note that on this dusty earth all humankind are suffering. Here no man is at rest as a reward for what he hath performed in former lives; nor is there anyone so blissful as seemingly to pluck the fruit of bygone anguish.” (SWA p. 184).

Sadly, there are many wealthy individuals who might claim to a belief in reincarnation in order to avoid any sense of responsibility for helping the poor and underprivileged. These people hide behind an imaginary veil that somehow the unfortunate souls in this world must deserve their lot. Baha’is renounce this belief. Baha’is believe that an All-Loving God deals justice for all, and those who live in poverty and suffer will be comforted and rewarded for enduring their unfortunate lot with patience and grace. Those who are lucky enough to pull themselves out of poverty will also see that they have gained valuable spiritual skills of resilience and strength. On the other hand, those who are wealthy in this lifetime, and who squander their wealth on material toys and pleasures while ignoring the masses of suffering around them will no doubt face the Lord’s justice.

In the end, Baha’is believe this earthly reality is a womb-world. They believe after we die we will find ourselves in a liberated condition where our new spiritual limbs and organs are put to use, and where we will truly begin to understand the nature of our own existence. So just as any human being who has been born and lived in the world would find a return to the womb completely unnatural and incredibly limiting—so too the idea of returning to this material world after death would be a pointless and terrifying proposition.

“The Evil One is he that hindereth the rise and obstructeth the spiritual progress of the children of men.” ~ Baha'u'llah

The Bible says to be wary of the machinations of Satan, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour…”(1 Peter 5:8). Baha’is are also warned of the Devil’s ways, when Baha’u’llah writes, “Watch over yourselves, for the Evil One is lying in wait, ready to entrap you. Gird yourselves against his wicked devices, and, led by the light of the name of the All-Seeing God, make your escape from the darkness that surroundeth you. Let your vision be world-embracing, rather than confined to your own self.” But Baha’u’llah goes on to explain who this ‘Evil One really is when He writes, “The Evil One is he that hindereth the rise and obstructeth the spiritual progress of the children of men.” (GWB, p. 94). Therefore, Baha’is believe that the ‘devil’ is used as a symbol and, therefore, that the use of the ‘devil’ imagery in the Bible is another use of a parable designed to educate us.

Baha’is believe that people have two natures, one is heavenly, the other is animal. The heavenly nature comes from our souls, which are the realities that give us free will and consciousness. The animal nature comes from our material bodies that gives us our lower nature. The animal nature is innate, the heavenly must be cultivated. The animal nature we are born with. The baby is the perfect incarnation of this animal nature, perfectly greedy, self-centered, and completely oblivious to anyone else’s needs or wants. As the baby grows to adulthood, it hopefully becomes aware of others, and learns to be empathetic and caring. Baha’is believe that this animal nature is not evil in itself, it is just ignorant and in need of development. By cultivating the spiritual side of man, we gather our strength and will power that is needed to master our animal nature. Therefore when educating children, Baha’is strive to help children cultivate their own spiritual qualities such as kindness, wisdom, and justice. Without such qualities, Baha’is believe a person is doomed to ignorance and a wasted life.

The animal nature must therefore be trained and controlled by the spiritual nature. The analogy of a horse and a rider is useful here. A horse must be trained, and controlled for it to get the rider safely to his journey’s end. Therefore, our souls must learn to master our animal condition so that we might pass through this material world in spiritual safety.   As Bahau’llah wrote, “Then we must labor to destroy the animal condition, till the meaning of humanity shall come to light.” (SV, p. 34). Our Writings also tell us that, “The ego is the animal in us, the heritage of the flesh which is full of selfish desires. By obeying the laws of God, seeking to live the life laid down in our teachings, and prayer and struggle, we can subdue our egos. We call people "saints" who have achieved the highest degree of mastery over their ego.” (UHJ, 1985 Dec 02).

“...time changes conditions, and laws change to suit conditions.” ~ Abdu'l-Baha

But religions also obviously differ from each other. For example, Christianity is different from Judaism in that Christ changed some of the laws of the Torah, such as the law of the Sabbath and the requirement of circumcision. This was despite the fact that the Old Testament claimed the law could never be changed one iota. Other religions clearly differ from one another in their teachings on diet, prayer, and legal matters. How do Baha’is resolve these apparent contradictions? Baha’is believe that the social teachings change depending on the needs of the age. The Jewish slaves of Pharaoh at the time of Moses had very different social needs than the tribes of Arabia at the time of Muhammad. We believe that the part of the Torah that never changes are the eternal teachings that are consistent across all faiths. The laws that can change are the ones that are determined by the time and place that the Manifestation comes, as the Holy Texts state, “time changes conditions, and laws change to suit conditions.” (Abdu'l-Baha, BWF, p. 274)

Additionally, these teachings help mankind grow collectively towards higher levels of development. For example, Moses preached about law and order; Jesus preached forgiveness and mercy; and Muhammad preached submission and tolerance. Each religion brings an added benefit to humanity’s experience. They build on each other. This allows mankind to evolve collectively. But, for Baha’is, the most important teachings are the ones that endure from one religion to the next. They are the teachings that unite all people of Faith around the globe, and they are the teachings that should be emphasized. As the Baha’i Holy Texts state, “We must remember that these changing laws are not the essentials; they are the accidentals of religion. The essential ordinances established by a Manifestation of God are spiritual; they concern moralities, the ethical development of man and faith in God. They are ideal and necessarily permanent; expressions of the one foundation and not amenable to change or transformation. Therefore the fundamental basis of the revealed religion of God is immutable, unchanging throughout the centuries, not subject to the varying conditions of the human world.” (Abdu'l-Baha, BWF, p. 275).

Baha’is believe that through high standards of decency, acceptance, and justice; the Baha’i Faith is building a new consciousness amongst its followers, one that transcends the traditional mindset of the community; and one that acknowledges that all peoples (from every village, city, nation, race, and continent) are members of one family. Baha’u’llah wrote that the people of the world are exhorted to “Cleave unto that which draweth you together and uniteth you.” (GWB, p. 217) Baha’u’llah desired us to acknowledge that “The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.” (TB, p. 167).

Baha’is believe that this concept of ‘world citizenship’ is one of the most powerful unifying forces bringing mankind together. Therefore, Baha’is believe the time has come for mankind to adopt a higher sense of allegiance, one that supersedes our nationalistic impulses with a truly global identity where all humanity is considered our countrymen. As our Writings state, “Baha’u’llah teaches that the world of humanity is in need of the breath of the Holy Spirit, for in spiritual quickening and enlightenment true oneness is attained with God and man. The Most Great Peace cannot be assured through racial force and effort; it cannot be established by patriotic devotion and sacrifice; for nations differ widely and local patriotism has limitations. Furthermore, it is evident that political power and diplomatic ability are not conducive to universal agreement, for the interests of governments are varied and selfish; nor will international harmony and reconciliation be an outcome of human opinions concentrated upon it, for opinions are faulty and intrinsically diverse. Universal peace is an impossibility through human and material agencies; it must be through spiritual power. There is need of a universal impelling force which will establish the oneness of humanity and destroy the foundations of war and strife. None other than the divine power can do this; therefore, it will be accomplished through the breath of the Holy Spirit.” (Abdu'l-Baha, PUP, p. 108)

Baha’is believe that unity in diversity is possible. As the Baha’i Writings state, “The world of existence is like unto an orchard and humanity is like unto the trees. All these trees are planted in the same orchard, reared through the heat of one sun, watered with one rain. We must be the cause of the adornment of this orchard. The world of humanity is like unto a rose garden and the various races, tongues and people are like unto contrasting flowers. The diversity of colors in a rose-garden adds to the charm and beauty of the scene as variety enhances unity. Why should we not look upon the human world with rose-colored vision?” (Abdu'l-Baha, DP, p. 183).