“Racial Harmony, the key to America’s Spiritual Destiny” was emphasized when the Baha’i Unit Convention was hosted in Roanoke this past Sunday. Held nationwide the first Sunday of each October, the Unit Conventions often incorporate another neighboring state. Ours includes a portion of West Virginia. From a convention insert please allow us to share these pertinent views. . .
The youngest of the world’s major religions, the Baha’i Faith teaches that the United States of America has a great spiritual destiny. In a prayer revealed in 1912 while visiting here, the son of Baha’u’llah, founder of the Baha’i Faith, calls this nation “just, revered and worthy of God’s favors.” Elsewhere in the Baha’i Writings is stated that America must “become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees . . . and lead all nations spiritually.
The Baha’i Holy Writings call the elimination of racial prejudice “the most vital and challenging issue” facing America – (vital meaning essential for life and challenging meaning that its achievement will not be easy).
Much has changed since 1912 but recent events remind us that we still have much to do. Many laws have changed but many hearts have not. We can continue to improve our laws and systems but much of the work left to do must be done on a personal level. Hearts and minds need to be enlightened. Unconscious prejudices need to be acknowledged and transformed. Wounds must be healed and souls must find ways to overcome differences and come together in love.
The breeding ground of all these tragedies is prejudice–of race and nation, of religion, political opinion, etc., and the root cause of prejudice is blind imitation of the past–in religion, racial attitudes, national bias, in politics! So long as this aping of the past persists, so long will the foundations of the social order be blown to the four winds, just so long will humanity be continually exposed to direct peril.” ‘Abdu’l-Baha
A commitment to rooting out our own prejudices is one of the guiding principles of the Baha’i Community. It has helped make us a safe place for diverse peoples to come together and practice community building for over 100 years while building model Administrative Orders. We would love to have you come practice with us.
For more information visit www.bahai.us or www.bahai.org or call 1-800-22-UNITE
