The key to America’s spiritual destiny remains Racial Harmony, a goal toward which she has been gradually approaching–until the present Administration.
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, Abdu’l-Baha, son of Baha’u’llah, founder of the Baha’i Faith, referred to this nation as “just, revered and worthy of God’s favors.” Elsewhere in the Baha’i Holy Writings is stated: America must first “…become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees…and lead all nations spiritually!
Referred to as “its most vital and challenging issue” is racial prejudice–(vital being 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; wounds must be healed and souls must find ways to overcome and learn to appreciate differences in order to come together in love!
The breeding ground of all these intrinsic problems 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 and in politics! So long as this “aping of the past” persists, so long will the foundation of the social order be blown to the four winds, just so long will humanity be continually exposed to direct peril.
Commitment to rooting out our own prejudices is among the guiding principles of the Baha’i community that helps to create safe places for diverse peoples to come together and practice community building for over a hundred years through building model Administrative Orders on national, state and local levels.
For more information visit www.babai.us; www.bahai.org or call 1-800-22UNITE)!
