Get Your Fortress On!

"O my Lord, O my Lord! These two bright orbs are wedded in Thy love, conjoined in servitude to Thy Holy Threshold, united in ministering to Thy Cause. Make Thou this marriage to be as threading lights of Thine abounding grace, O my Lord, the All-Merciful, and luminous rays of Thy bestowals, O Thou theBeneficent, the Ever-Giving, that there may branch out from this great tree boughs that will grow green and flourishing through the gifts that rain down from Thy clouds of grace.Verily Thou art the Generous, verily Thou art the Almighty, verily Thou art the Compassionate, the All-Merciful.
'Abdu'l-Baha,









I've just returned from Green Acre Baha'i School's Married Couples Weekend, the best course I have ever taken at that august institution in my ten years as a Baha'i. Nine couples of diverse ages and life stages ranging from less than a year married to thirty four years married, were ably guided by marriage educators Susanne M. Alexander and Craig Farnsworth, through a series of exercises, study of the Baha'i Writings and group consultation that helped each couple "walk a spiritual path with practical feet". On Friday evening, we began with the all important issue of communication, including the three levels of listening as well as an exercise to see if we were meeting our partner's emotional needs. Saturday was a really full day of learning, beginning with discussing the importance of gender equality in marriage and introduction to "character qualities" that are described magnificently in the book Pure Gold: Encouraging Character Qualities in Marriage. I highly encourage everyone to go out and buy this book that is filled with practical guidance on how important character is to a successful marriage. One of the most valuable parts of the Saturday morning for me, involved exploration of the "Five Love Languages" and figuring out what my love languages were and those of my wife. Amazing how just understanding how each of us most wants love to be expressed by the other can change things in a snap. After the Love Languages, we moved on to the issue of forgiveness in marriage and what we can do today as we strive toward the ideal given to us in the Baha'i Writings. We also dove into the all important matter of practicing consultation in marriage as a powerful means of collaborative and unified truth seeking and decision making. My wife and I discovered that refining our skills in this area was something that we needed to work on. Luckily we have the rest of our lives to do it! After a break, we got into a section on humor and fun that included a pretty wild exercise with balloons (I won't spoil it, you have to take the course and find out) and then looked at the power of making explicit "marriage commitments". Green Acre treated us to a romantic candle light dinner, which alone was worth participating in the weekend. After dinner we turned up the heat a bit with a section sex and intimacy in marriage which was explicit, spiritual and mature. There was some blushing that went on, but on the whole it was
the best experience I've ever had of
people having a meaningful discussion about sex since I discovered and embraced the Baha'i Faith ten years ago. It was like getting a glimpse of the future as our faith community continues to learn and grow and develop new models of discourse on human sexuality that balance dignity with honesty. On Sunday, we had devotions commeorating the 9th Day of Ridvan and then launched into an exploration of unity and mutual goal setting in marriage. It was a truly fabulous weekend and my wife and I did a lot of gazing into each other's eyes, giggling, and consulting up a storm. I left with a deeper appreciation of one of the statements that Baha'u'llah makes about marriage:

"And when He desired to manifest grace and beneficence to men, and to set the world in order, He revealed observances and created laws; among them He established the law of marriage, made it as a fortress for well-being and salvation, and enjoined it upon us in that which was sent down out of the heaven of sanctity in His Most Holy Book. He saith, great is His glory: "Marry, O people, that from you may appear he who will remember Me amongst My servants; this is one of My commandments unto you; obey it as an assistance to yourselves."
(Compilations, Baha'i Prayers, p. 104)

A fortress, as I understand it, is a structure that is unique in the sense that it is constructed explicitedly to withstand attack rather than simply as a place in which to live. This is true not only for the full-time occupants but also for the wider community around the fortress. In difficult times it serves as a refuge in which all can seek shelter and protection from destructive forces. Of course sometimes the trouble comes from within and a fortress often has even stronger structures within its walls in which one can retreat to when necessary. This fortress not only ensures the well-being of those inside but also provides a protective environment in which souls can develop those qualities necessary for success in the next world and fulfill the purpose of life which is "salvation".

If only this was the way that the majority of Americans viewed marriage. You can read some of the statistics regarding the health of this institution here, here, here, and here. You should also check out Susanne and Craig's work at www.marriagetransformation.com

I'll end with this selection from the Baha'i Writings about the profound implications for society of the health of marriage and family life:

"Compare the nations of the world to the members of a family. A family is a nation in miniature. Simply enlarge the circle of the household, and you have the nation. Enlarge the circle of nations, and you have all humanity. The conditions surrounding the family surround the nation. The happenings in the family are the happenings in the life of the nation. Would it add to the progress and advancement of a family if dissensions should arise among its members, all fighting, pillaging each other, jealous and revengeful of injury, seeking selfish advantage? Nay, this would be the cause of the effacement of progress and advancement. So it is in the great family of nations, for nations are but an aggregate of families."
(Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 156)

What do you think about marriage?

Coming Soon On Baha'i Thought: Marriage in Black and White

Blogwarriors: April 27th Edition

This is what people look like when they realize that they have forgotten to read Baha'i Thought for awhile. Poor things. Read about this famous painting right here

It's time for another edition of Blogwarriors where I'll share some of my favorite Baha'i blogging of the past week or so including both familiar folk and some new friends that I've discovered. Here goes:

Australian Baha'i blogger Sabha has a really cute photo of kids in a circle

Dave at Correlating is nice enough to share his research about the attitudes of young adults about the Baha'i community

Bilo at Baha'i Faith in Egypt informs us of a new blog about the struggle of that Faith community for freedom and also a new lawsuit that has been filed regarding the ID crisis


UK blogger Barney continues his learning process regarding the abolitionist movement in England

Costa Rica blogger Jere at Bumpstuff has a couple of posts about visiting Amherst, Massachusetts where yours truly not only discovered the Baha'i Faith 10 years ago, but married his darling wife 3 years ago. Small, small world indeed

Dan, of the infamous Doberman Pizza has news of the new Baha'i Center in Ottawa. Hoorah!

James Howden also a neighbor from up north has a couple of sweeeet posts about Going Green

The incomparable Liz at Los Angelista's tells us what she is laughing about today

The lovable Leila at Love from Leila has a case of the morning giggles

Nishat at Mystic Logic informs us of two new blogs we should look out for

Literary prophetess Phyllis Ring tells us there's a time when intolerance is a good thing

June, another blogger "down under" has one of the nicest new blogs I've come across. One of the stars of her blog is "Max" who has gotten into basketball recently

Marco at Povo De Baha has a nice Ridvan video

The Neocrats talk about the challenges of prayer

I'm off to Green Acre Baha'i School for a weekend course about Marriage. Hopefully I will behave myself and learn something. Stayed tuned for my coverage of the weekend on Monday called: Get Your Fortress On. Until then Happy Ridvan to all!

"Hear Me, ye mortal birds! In the Rose Garden of changeless splendor a Flower hath begun to bloom, compared to which every other flower is but a thorn, and before the brightness of Whose glory the very essence of beauty must pale and wither. Arise, therefore, and, with the whole enthusiasm of your hearts, with all the eagerness of your souls, the full fervor of your will, and the concentrated efforts of your entire being, strive to attain the paradise of His presence, and endeavor to inhale the fragrance of the incorruptible Flower, to breathe the sweet savors of holiness, and to obtain a portion of this perfume of celestial glory. Whoso followeth this counsel will break his chains asunder, will taste the abandonment of enraptured love, will attain unto his heart's desire, and will surrender his soul into the hands of his Beloved. Bursting through his cage, he will, even as the bird of the spirit, wing his flight to his holy and everlasting nest."
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 320)

Black Nationalism: A Few Baha'i Thoughts

A picture of Marcus Garvey in 1924 courtesy of Wikipedia
Several months ago I read a remarkable book by Tommie Shelby called We Who Are Dark that I highly recommend. One of the most important statements he made was the following:

"Strains of black nationalism have become, for all practical purposes, a constitutive component of the self-understanding of a substantial segment of the African American population. These strains run so deep that an uncompromising and comprehensive attack on them will surely be met with hostility or suspicion, if it is taken seriously at all...The transformation of black political consciousness-or the political consciousness of any group, for that matter-is more likely to come about if the new vision can be comprehended as an extension of, rather than a radical rupture with, traditional beliefs of the group."

Shelby explains some of the elements that have constituted the various strains of black nationalism in American history, including the following:

"black self-determination, racial solidarity and group self reliance, various forms of voluntary racial separation, pride in the historic achievements of persons of African Descent, a concerted effort to overcome racial self-hate and to instill black self-love, militant collective resistance to white supremacy, the development and preservation of a distinct black cultural identity, and the recognition of Africa as the true homeland of those who are racially black."

If as, I have said in the past black people have be called by Almighty God to provide spiritual leadership in the creation of a new civilization and the Baha'i Faith is the key to unlocking this potential, then it is important to address black nationalism as "constitutive component of the self-understanding of a substantial segment of the African American population". This of course is a book length topic to get into so I'm only going to get the conversation going with a few Baha'i Thoughts. Shoghi Effendi has suggested that there is a "sane and legitimate patriotism" and my question is whether or not there is a sane and legitimate black nationalism? Here is one selection from the Baha'i Writings that may provide some illumination:

"Let there be no misgivings as to the animating purpose of the world-wide Law of Bahá'u'lláh. Far from aiming at the subversion of the existing foundations of society, it seeks to broaden its basis, to remold its institutions in a manner consonant with the needs of an ever-changing world. It can conflict with no legitimate allegiances, nor can it undermine essential loyalties...It does not ignore, nor does it attempt to suppress, the diversity of ethnical origins, of climate, of history, of language and tradition, of thought and habit, that differentiate the peoples and nations of the world. It calls for a wider loyalty, for a larger aspiration than any that has animated the human race."
Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah

When I consider this statement in light of the question of whether or not there is a "sane and legitimate" black nationalism it seems to me "the world-wide Law of Baha'u'llah" does not aim at the subversion the existing foundations of African American life but seeks to "broaden its basis". It cannot conflict with ones "legitimate allegiances, nor can it undermine essential loyalties" that African Americans may have with each other or those institutions that have helped us to survive enslavement and systemic discrimination. It does not "ignore, nor does it attempt to suppress, the diversity of ethnical origins, of climate, of history, of language and tradition, of thought and habit, differentiate" African Americans from Americans of other backgrounds. It rather, "calls for a wider loyalty, for a larger aspiriation than any that has animated" the African American community thus far in our history. I believe that it is possible for some strains of black nationalist thought and Baha'i thought to exist comfortably in the same mind and heart. While I may not walk around in a T-Shirt proclaiming myself as a Baha'i Black Nationalist, I can embrace black nationalism as a kind of moral imperative within the context of that "wider loyalty" and "larger aspiration" that the "world-wide Law of Baha'u'llah" requires.

What do you think?

The Ridvan Festival: A Baha'i Testimony

"Arise, and proclaim unto the entire creation the tidings that He Who is the All-Merciful hath directed His steps towards the Ridvan and entered it. Guide, then, the people unto the garden of delight which God hath made the Throne of His Paradise. We have chosen thee to be our most mighty Trumpet, whose blast is to signalize the resurrection of all mankind."
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 31)









I'm beginning to really enjoy including lots of pictures in these posts, so here are some from the celebration of the First Day of Ridvan and also the ever popular Arts Night at the Boston Baha'i Center that featured a wonderful visual artist Richard Haynes and Jazz Singer Rachel Price. The beginning to this 12 Day period known as the Festival of Ridvan began for me with the Baha'i elections that I mentioned in my last post. The next day I went to a commemoration of the First Day of Ridvan at a chapel at the Harvard Business School. This chapel was complete with gardens, fountains and even real fish. It was a little taste of what it might have been like to be with Baha'u'llah and His companions and family in 1863 when He publicly proclaimed His station as the Promised One of All Religions and His Mission to unify the human race into a global civilization, the Kingdom of God on Earth. Shoghi Effendi describes the Station of Baha'u'llah in this way:

"He Who in such dramatic circumstances was made to sustain the overpowering weight of so glorious a Mission was none other than the One Whom posterity will acclaim, and Whom innumerable followers already recognize, as the Judge, the Lawgiver and Redeemer of all mankind, as the Organizer of the entire planet, as the Unifier of the children of men, as the Inaugurator of the long-awaited millennium, as the Originator of a new "Universal Cycle," as the Establisher of the Most Great Peace, as the Fountain of the Most Great Justice, as the Proclaimer of the coming of age of the entire human race, as the Creator of a new World Order, and as the Inspirer and Founder of a world civilization. To Israel He was neither more nor less than the incarnation of the "Everlasting Father," the "Lord of Hosts" come down "with ten thousands of saints"; to Christendom Christ returned "in the glory of the Father," to Shí'ah Islam the return of the Imam Husayn; to Sunni Islam the descent of the "Spirit of God" (Jesus Christ); to the Zoroastrians the promised Shah-Bahram; to the Hindus the reincarnation of Krishna; to the Buddhists the fifth Buddha."
(Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 93)

The program was simple and beautiful. There were prayers and readings regarding the greatness of the Day ushered in by Baha'u'llah, instrumental music and then story telling by various young Baha'is portraying people who knew Baha'u'llah during His 10 year exile in Baghdad. I was asked to do some music quite suddenly and offered a gospel version of a verse from Baha'u'llah's Writings and then a Yoruba song from West Africa complete a little drum corp we put together on the spot.

I then made my way with my lovely wife to the Baha'i Center for the Arts Night. The paintings by Richard Haynes were magnificent, and the jazz music was sweeeeet, as we say in Boston. The whole atmosphere was magical and the place was packed with beautiful happy people of all races and nations. The whole day made me so grateful to Baha'u'llah for what He has already done in the world and in my life. I can say without hesitation that Baha'u'llah has saved my life. When I found Him, it was like I was Alice, tumbling down the rabbit hole into a new and undiscovered world of new people, new places, new thinking, new living. I spent 21 years of my life having no idea of the Day in which I was living, that a new world was being born, that God had plans for me. And then, because of a chance encounter with a book I bought at the store, Baha'u'llah reached out to me from the realm of Glory and started the process of making a young African American man into a new creation. All I can say is Ya Baha'u'l-Abha (O Thou Glory of the Most Glorious!). I'll close with a few lines from a prayer that I think says it all:

"In the love I bear to Thee, O my Lord, my heart longeth for Thee with a longing such as no heart hath known. Here am I with my body between Thy hands, and my spirit before Thy face. Do with them as it may please Thee, for the exaltation of Thy word, and the revelation of what hath been enshrined within the treasuries of Thy knowledge. Potent art Thou to do what Thou willest, and able to ordain what Thou pleasest."
(Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 243)

Voting Rites

A few photos of Boston Baha'is who were at the Annual Meeting last night. Lovely, lovely people.

It's that time of year again and Baha'is all over the planet have gathered together to elect their Spiritual Assemblies. As most of you may know, there are no clergy in the Baha'i Faith and Baha'u'llah has created a new System of leadership and social organization in which power and authority is no longer concentrated in individuals or small elites but resides in the community as a whole. Power to the people as they say! In Boston we started with a dinner of chili and rice (nothing special about that it's just what was on the menu). We then had some prayers focused on the vision that the Baha'i writings have for our city and the spiritual reality and station of the Spiritual Assembly. We then studied and discussed a recent message to the Baha'is of the world from the Universal House of Justice that talked about the Baha'i electoral process. Here's the opening paragraph:

"One of the signs of the breakdown of society in all parts of the world is the erosion of trust and collaboration between the individual and the institutions of governance. In many nations the electoral process has become discredited because of endemic corruption. Contributing to the widening distrust of so vital a process are the influence on the outcome from vested interests having access to lavish funds, the restrictions on freedom of choice inherent in the party system, and the distortion in public perception of the candidates by the bias expressed in the media. Apathy, alienation, and disillusionment are a consequence, too, as is a growing sense of despair of the unlikelihood that the most capable citizens will emerge to deal with the manifold problems of a defective social order. Evident everywhere is a yearning for institutions which will dispense justice, dispel oppression, and foster an enduring unity between the disparate elements of society."

Studying this letter together evoked some rich reflection and commentary and prepared our minds for the sacred task we would next perform, the election of our Assembly. In an atmosphere empowered by prayer, we each voted for those 9 souls whom we believed would best serve the needs of the Faith and the community. No nominations, no campaigns, no electioneering, no nonsense. In this moment it was just me,my Maker and my ballot. It was awesome. This is one of my favorite times in Baha'i life because my spiritual identity is most clear to me and I remember why I became a Baha'i in the first place; to build a new world. The Baha'i Faith has taught me the Kingdom of God, promised in the Bible will not descend from heaven but will be built by everday people, brick by brick, heart by heart, vote by vote. Baha'u'llah has given humanity the blue print for a new civilization, but we have to do the work. It's nice to be reminded of that. Eventually the votes were all counted and the results announced. Some us look forward to another year of serving on an institution that has been given authority by God over the affairs of the Boston Baha'i community, while others will be having their first experience of this challenging path of service. Each of us will, in our own way try to live up to the lofty standard given to us by Baha'u'llah when He described the Spiritual Assembly (what in the future will be referred to by its proper name 'House of Justice') in the Most Holy Book:

"The Lord hath ordained that in every city a House of Justice be established wherein shall gather counsellors to the number of Baha,... They should consider themselves as entering the Court of the presence of God, the Exalted, the Most High, and as beholding Him Who is the Unseen. It behoveth them to be the trusted ones of the Merciful among men and to regard themselves as the guardians appointed of God for all that dwell on earth. It is incumbent upon them to take counsel together and to have regard for the interests of the servants of God, for His sake, even as they regard their own interests, and to choose that which is meet and seemly. Thus hath the Lord your God commanded you. Beware lest ye put away that which is clearly revealed in His Tablet. Fear God, O ye that perceive."
(Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 29)

No pressure right? Luckily for us we have the assurances of 'Abdu'l-Baha:

"These Spiritual Assemblies are aided by the Spirit of God. Their defender is 'Abdu'l-Bahá. Over them He spreadeth His wings. What bounty is there greater than this? These Spiritual Assemblies are shining lamps and heavenly gardens, from which the fragrances of holiness are diffused over all regions, and the lights of knowledge are shed abroad over all created things. From them the spirit of life streameth in every direction. They, indeed, are the potent sources of the progress of man, at all times and under all conditions. What bounty is there greater than this?"
(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 80)

Coming Soon on Baha'i Thought: What Ridvan Means to Me.

Blogwarriors: Ridvan Eve Edition

Ok, I know there is no such thing as Ridvan Eve, but I wish there was because it would be kind of cool. In a world gone mad, it's nice to know that the super heroes of the blogosphere are hard at work offering the power of their keyboards in service to the Cause of unity, justice and sometimes just good fun:

Liz at Los Angelista's Guide to the Pursuit of Happiness shares comments on "skirt length"

New Zealand blogger John at Vox Cosmicos ponders "Does Religion Meet Reality?"

Heather at A Season for Everything reminds us to "Pay Attention"

The absolutely magnificent James Howden has a righteous post about the decision by media networks to play the final rantings of the shooter at Virginia Tech. You. Must. Read. This.

David at Correlating takes on social science regarding trustworthiness

Bilo of Baha'i Faith in Egypt is hopeful about the Secular Islam Summit
Marco at Povo De Baha also talks about this summit in Portugese

Doberman Pizza reflects on growing up as a Baha'i

Druzelle at Luminous Realities takes on the all important issue of domestic violence

The prophetic Phyllis Ring comments on the culture of excess and how things should be

Malik at the Struggle Within encourages readers to support the efforts of a grieving mother to go to Virginia for her son's funeral

The ever clever Neocrats have a beautiful post about playing the piano

Coming Soon on Baha'i Thought: Blogs4God a round-up of my favorite posts from other great religion bloggers. This will probably be once each month.

Virginia Tech: Is God Guilty?

Gavel Photo courtesy of Joe Gratz

I wasn't planning to do this but the more I thought about it, the more it seemed disrespectful to not say something about the massacre at Virginia Tech. What can a person really say though in the face of such senseless violence, the kind that has become all too common in America? I find myself at once attracted and repulsed by the media coverage of this national trauma. Much like the outrage parade that was on full display last week, we're now in the midst of another social ritual, the grief machine. There will be non-stop coverage, the face of the perpetrator and the victims will flash across screens over and over again, experts will go blah, blah, blah about the kind of weapons that were used, the psychological profile of the killer, and the implications of what has happened for our society. And the usual debate about gun control will involve the same old arguments from the usual suspects. I don't really want to talk about any of that though because it will all be talked about until people are out of breath. What I want to talk about is a question that may be being asked both privately and publicly all over the country: "What kind of a God would allow something like this to happen?" I've heard this question repeated in some form whenever terrible things like this take place in the world. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday (depending on your faith community) religious leaders will be trying to offer some kind of response to this question and soothe the souls of their flocks whether they have been directly or indirectly impacted by what took place at Virginia Tech. I do not envy these leaders or anyone else who has to come to grips with a just and fair question about God: Is God guilty of negligent homicide for allowing so many innocents to die?

I cannot pretend that if something like what has happened to the students and families at Virginia Tech happened in my life, that it would not be a severe test of faith. I might very well ask the same kinds of questions about God and experience a roller coaster of emotions. There is a different question that could be asked however, which is this: "Why should God keep these kinds of horrors from happening?"

Here is where I am coming from. All human beings are endowed by God with free will that can be used for good or for evil. This profound and complicated gift is part of what makes us human.
Why should God be obligated to protect us from the cause and effect inherent in the exercise of free will? Why give us free will and not allow us to learn (however painfully) how to use it properly? God is often referred to as being like a "parent" in relationship to humanity. In my line of work, which is in addictions, I sometimes come across parents who have become obsessed with trying to shield their children from the inevitable negative consequences of addictive behavior. They spend tremendous time, energy and wealth in this effort which is rarely successful. Ironically, many of the parents blame themselves for their child's problems and the child usually agrees with them. In addictions counseling, we refer to such relationships as being co-dependent. It seems to me that there are times when people want God to act the way that these co-dependent parents do, to protect them from the consequences of their bad choices or a world full of other people who make bad choices. However, if God really related to humanity in this way, it would only deepen our pathology, much like the parents whose children I try to help to recover from addiction. Ultimately, we have to wrestle with the possibility that what Baha'u'llah has said may actually be true:

Know thou that all men have been created in the nature made by God, the Guardian, the Self-Subsisting. Unto each one hath been prescribed a pre-ordained measure, as decreed in God's mighty and guarded Tablets. All that which ye potentially possess can, however, be manifested only as a result of your own volition. Your own acts testify to this truth...Will ye not bear witness? Men, however, have wittingly broken His law. Is such a behavior to be attributed to God, or to their proper selves? Be fair in your judgment. Every good thing is of God, and every evil thing is from yourselves.
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 149)

And further:

They say: 'Where is Paradise, and where is Hell?' Say: 'The one is reunion with Me; the other thine own self...
(Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 132)

Clearly my point is not to blame the victims or their families for what has happened to them, but rather to ponder some of the implications of this tragedy and similar ones. I know that it is of little comfort, especially at a time like this, but I feel this is the most useful commentary that I can make. Humanity must accept responsibility for the kind of world that we have created through the operation of our free will. Such acceptance would be the first step on the road to recovery and healing. The tendency of some to blame God rather than accept this responsibility says more about humanity than it does about God. I'll close with these Words of Baha'u'llah:

O My servants! Could ye apprehend with what wonders of My munificence and bounty I have willed to entrust your souls, ye would, of a truth, rid yourselves of attachment to all created things, and would gain a true knowledge of your own selves -- a knowledge which is the same as the comprehension of Mine own Being. Ye would find yourselves independent of all else but Me, and would perceive, with your inner and outer eye, and as manifest as the revelation of My effulgent Name, the seas of My loving-kindness and bounty moving within you. Suffer not your idle fancies, your evil passions, your insincerity and blindness of heart to dim the luster, or stain the sanctity, of so lofty a station.
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 326)

BMG New Jersey

I was told in the past that I did not include enough pictures so I tried to do better this time. This freedom rider has returned from the land of gigantic and plentiful shopping malls (New Jersey) and another weekend of black men changing their lives and the world through prayer, study, fellowship and service. The heart of the BMG is prayer, prayer that catapults the soul beyond this world, prayer that breaks the bonds of four centuries of enslavement, systemic discrimination, and pathological social conditioning. There was plenty of prayer this weekend, both during the formal BMG program and also during a devotional meeting with the children and families of the wider community. One of the things about the prayers this weekend is that they included several musicians who brought their flavor to supplicating the Almighty. One of the sweetest moments of the devotional meeting on Sunday was when an itty-bitty children piped up and started to sing an African song. When the rest of us did not immediately join is with her she paused and asked, "Doesn't everybody know this song?" in the sweetest little voice you've heard in your life. Everyone joined in with her and it was delightful! Another moment came after the formal devotions were over and the musicians started to jam out in purely instrumental prayer. It was out of this world. It went on and on
until it was like we had all just took off into space. It was really cool to see
that an environment had been created where people could stretch the boundaries of what prayer could be. Another thing that
was nice to see was that men from
all over the New England states and
beyond attended in a show of unity
that is truly inspiring and bodes well
for the spiritual transformation of
the East Coast. Massachusetts was
a strong contingent I am proud to say
and brothers from New York and
Philadelphia also attended. Another
really special part of the weekend was that there were several men
who had become Baha'is within the
the past two years. Their testimonies about the way that the Faith had changed their lives sweetened the personal introduction of participants that is an important part of every Gathering. I have to run but will end with a quote from the Baha'i Writings that captures the spirit of this weekend:

"If a small number of people gather lovingly together, with absolute purity and sanctity, with their hearts free of the world, experiencing the emotions of the Kingdom and the powerful magnetic forces of the Divine, and being at one in their happy fellowship, that gathering will exert its influence over all the earth. The nature of that band of people, the words they speak, the deeds they do, will unleash the bestowals of Heaven, and provide a foretaste of eternal bliss. The hosts of the Company on high will defend them, and the angels of the Abha Paradise, in continuous succession, will come down to their aid."
(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 80)

Coming Soon on Baha'i Thought:
Black Nationalism and the Baha'i Faith

Freedom Rider

Just a quick thing. It's really early and I'm about to get myself together and head to New Jersey for another Black Men's Gathering that I will be covering for Baha'i Thought (as well as participating in with vigor). I thought it would be nice to let folks know that you won't be hearing from me again until Monday (I don't think they have wireless where I'm going) and there will be a full report of the goings on in the land of gigantic shopping malls (or so I've heard). I'll have a photo or two as well. In the mean time, for people who may not be familiar with what the Black Men's Gathering is or who are just slackers when it comes to reading this blog on a regular basis, I'm going to provide some links to previous posts about what is affectionately known as the BMG. Here goes:

America to Africa, Africa to Israel

BMG in NYC

Bloggin the BMG

Bloggin the BMG Part 2

Bloggin the BMG 3

Bloggin the BMG 4

BMG Monopoly and More

BMG Wrap Up and Beyond

And if you want a little more background to the BMG you can read this nifty piece in the American Baha'is News (there will be a quiz when I get back to town!) I'll close with a bit of one of my favorite Baha'i prayers that I feel was practically revealed for the men of the BMG:

Heroes are they, O my Lord, lead them to the field of battle. Guides are they, make them to speak out with arguments and proofs. Ministering servants are they, cause them to pass round the cup that brimmeth with the wine of certitude. O my God, make them to be songsters that carol in fair gardens, make them lions that couch in the thickets, whales that plunge in the vasty deep. Verily, Thou art He of abounding grace. There is none other God save Thee, the Mighty, the Powerful, the Ever-Bestowing. - 'Abdu'l-Bahá

Black Power Comes From God

Photo of Tommie Jones and John Carlos, 1968 Mexico City Olympics


I wasn't going to do this. I wasn't going to say anything else about the Don Imus thing, but yesterday while I thought about it, something gnawed at my soul. What bothered me are the implications of the way that some people are discussing this incident. I know that I just wrote a piece about the power of words and I'm not trying to contradict that (we'll see if I succeed), but something about watching the parade of clearly well-fed, well-educated Black folk go on and on about how "hurt" they feel about Imus' comments started to bug me. What I concluded is that the excessive focus on how upsetting these kinds of statements are to African Americans is a way of saying that we are so fragile from the experience of racism in this country, that such comments are psychologically devastating to us, rather than simply offensive or annoying. If we want to talk about how language reflects the ways that race and gender have been socially constructed and how that relates to issues of inequality and oppression, fine. But going on and on about how bad African Americans feel, beyond a certain point, becomes paternalistic and condescending, which is just as bad as what was said in the first place. My personal experience and my study of history suggests that African Americans are made of tougher stuff. Let's talk about racism, sexism, and oppression, but let's stop talking as if every time a person says something sexist or racist or just plain ignorant, that we've experienced some kind of profound, debilitating trauma. Every Black American, even on their worst day is living proof that we have survived the worst that white supremacy could throw at us. As the Baha'i Writings recognize, African Americans have sustained "grievous and slow healing wounds" and I live with those wounds every day in my own life and the lives of people I love. However, there is more to who we are. We are a resilient people richly blessed by God. We are powerful (as all human beings are) because God made us that way:

"O SON OF BEING! With the hands of power I made thee and with the fingers of strength I created thee; and within thee have I placed the essence of My light. Be thou content with it and seek naught else, for My work is perfect and My command is binding. Question it not, nor have a doubt thereof." (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words)

"O SON OF SPIRIT! I created thee rich, why dost thou bring thyself down to poverty? Noble I made thee, wherewith dost thou abase thyself? Out of the essence of knowledge I gave thee being, why seekest thou enlightenment from anyone beside Me? Out of the clay of love I molded thee, how dost thou busy thyself with another? Turn thy sight unto thyself, that thou mayest find Me standing within thee, mighty, powerful and self-subsisting." (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words)

"O SON OF MAN! Thou art My dominion and My dominion perisheth not; wherefore fearest thou thy perishing? Thou art My light and My light shall never be extinguished; why dost thou dread extinction? Thou art My glory and My glory fadeth not; thou art My robe and My robe shall never be outworn. Abide then in thy love for Me, that thou mayest find Me in the realm of glory." (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words)

When I meditate upon my true identity as a noble creation in the image and likeness of God, I feel confident that I can chose to not allow my thoughts, feelings or behavior to be determined by the words or deeds of any other human being. They did not make me and they cannot destroy me. When I remember who I really am, I am empowered to chose to respond to others with nobility and grace in spite of what they do:

"Wherefore must the loved ones of God associate in affectionate fellowship with stranger and friend alike, showing forth to all the utmost loving-kindness, disregarding the degree of their capacity, never asking whether they deserve to be loved. In every instance let the friends be considerate and infinitely kind. Let them never be defeated by the malice of the people, by their aggression and their hate, no matter how intense. If others hurl their darts against you, offer them milk and honey in return; if they poison your lives, sweeten their souls; if they injure you, teach them how to be comforted; if they inflict a wound upon you, be a balm to their sores; if they sting you, hold to their lips a refreshing cup." (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 24)

And furthermore:

"Soon will your swiftly-passing days be over, and the fame and riches, the comforts, the joys provided by this rubbish-heap, the world, will be gone without a trace. Summon ye, then, the people to God, and invite humanity to follow the example of the Company on high. Be ye loving fathers to the orphan, and a refuge to the helpless, and a treasury for the poor, and a cure for the ailing. Be ye the helpers of every victim of oppression, the patrons of the disadvantaged. Think ye at all times of rendering some service to every member of the human race. Pay ye no heed to aversion and rejection, to disdain, hostility, injustice: act ye in the opposite way." (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 3)

I know that most people reading this post already understand what I've tried to say, but what I've been hearing on the news has compelled me to say it one more time at the top of my lungs. African Americans are not what people have done, or will do to us in the future. We are the pupil of the eye!

Looney Leftie or Right Wing Nut?

Photo of Don Imus and Al Sharpton speaking on Sharpton's radio show courtesy of Freep.com

Contemporary American Race Theatre continues as I mentioned in a previous post, starring Don Imus and his "nappy headed hos" comment. This incident has taken on seemingly epic proportions in the popular media. I cannot turn on the TV or the radio without hearing more and more about what he said and all the efforts he's made to try and repair the damage. This is one of those moments in American life that offers the opportunity for spiritual maturation and the advancement of society, if we are willing to take it. You could say that Imus' comments were the Hurricane Katrina of public discourse regarding race and gender, exposing profound limitations in our collective consciousness of the oneness of humanity. While the statements in question are being widely discussed as being about racism and sexism (which they are), I believe this whole incident demands deep reflection on the quality of public discourse in our society in general and on the spiritual and social significance of the language we chose to use.

One example of this is the tendency toward "name calling" when discussing the challenging issues of the day, the hot topics of the so called "culture wars". For instance, it is quite common for me to hear people, especially in the media, arts, and academy refer to each other as members of the "looney left" or as "right wing nuts" or simply use the words "conservative" and "liberal" as perjorative terms. It always disappoints me when a person who is making an otherwise intelligent and reasoned argument (even if I disagree with it) begins name calling. I never see how this behavior strengthens the argument being made or illuminates the topic of discussion. The conclusion that I have reached is that the people who do this are engaged in bullying, trying to either intimidate those they disagree with, or to intimidate those who might be swayed to agree with their opponents. Basically, if you don't share their views they're going to call you names. The other goal of this kind of behavior is to invalidate what is being said by invalidating the speaker. If someone is a ________ then whatever he or she says is not to be listened to. Many of those who play the name calling card claim that even if they do it, they don't do it as badly or frequently as other people. I've yet to find evidence that supports this claim.

Even those who manage to avoid name calling often communicate with and about each other in ways that are self-righteous, hostile and alienating. Though from time to time, some figure in the popular culture, or a politician or intellectual will publicly bemoan the "lack of civility" in our society, it appears to me that as Americans we are at best ambivalent about how we should speak to and about each other, especially when it involves issues that evoke strong emotions in us. Baha'u'llah offers this commentary on the power of words:

"The Great Being saith: Human utterance is an essence which aspireth to exert its influence and needeth moderation. As to its influence, this is conditional upon refinement which in turn is dependent upon hearts which are detached and pure. As to its moderation, this hath to be combined with tact and wisdom as prescribed in the Holy Scriptures and Tablets. "Every word is endowed with a spirit, therefore the speaker or expounder should carefully deliver his words at the appropriate time and place, for the impression which each word maketh is clearly evident and perceptible. The Great Being saith: One word may be likened unto fire, another unto light, and the influence which both exert is manifest in the world. Therefore an enlightened man of wisdom should primarily speak with words as mild as milk, that the children of men may be nurtured and edified thereby and may attain the ultimate goal of human existence which is the station of true understanding and nobility. And likewise He saith: One word is like unto springtime causing the tender saplings of the rose-garden of knowledge to become verdant and flourishing, while another word is even as a deadly poison." (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 172)

The Universal House of Justice offers further commentary on this powerful phenomenon:

"From a Bahá'í point of view, the exercise of freedom of speech must necessarily be disciplined by a profound appreciation of both the positive and negative dimensions of freedom, on the one hand, and of speech, on the other."..."We return to the phenomenal characteristics of speech. Content, volume, style, tact, wisdom, timeliness are among the critical factors in determining the effects of speech for good or evil. Consequently, the friends need ever to be conscious of the significance of this activity which so distinguishes human beings from other forms of life, and they must exercise it judiciously. Their efforts at such discipline will give birth to an etiquette of expression worthy of the approaching maturity of the human race." (The Universal House of Justice, 1988 Dec 29, Individual Rights and Freedoms, pp. 7-9)

These statements and similar ones that I have studied in the Baha'i Writings suggest to me that being mindful of the way that I speak to and about my fellow human beings is not simply a matter of political correctness, but reflects a consciousness of the reality of the soul and the impact of language on both the soul and the social order. Systematically promoting such a consciousness throughout American society would be the most useful response to this latest episode of less than thoughtful speech.

What say you reader?

Me So Sorry

In the latest episode of American Race Theatre, someone has made an ill-advised comment about a marginalized group in society, been hit with the usual thunderous chorus of, "Say you're sorry" and then proceeded to offer the apology. In this case, Don Imus has made remarks on his radio show referring to women on a basketball team as "nappy headed hos". I know that there are also people calling for him to be fired, but I'm not going to get into that in this post. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you can read about it here. I'm not interested in picking on Imus or what he said or trying to discern if he is a good or bad person because of his remarks (I'll leave that up to God). This episode does dramatize something that I've been thinking a great deal about these days: the power that has been given to apologies in race relations. I don't want to suggest that apologies have no constructive role in the process of healing (I am after all a social worker), however it concerns me is that apologies can become a substitute for meaningful change regarding race in America. It seems that virtually every day on the news, there is a white male (usually) saying that he is sorry for hurting the feelings of this or that minority group because of saying something that they should not have said. After awhile I've started to experience this as a kind of empty ritual. Yet both for those who demand the apology and those who offer it, there is the implication that the apology actually accomplishes something. It's as if for some folks, if you say you're sorry the blind will see, the sick with be healed and the infirm will arise and walk. This is what I would like someone to explain to me, how do these apologies (usually televised by the way) change a single condition under which far too many minorities live in American society? Are the hungry fed, are the poorly educated better educated, do disparities in health care and outcomes disappear because of another round of the "Me So Sorry Game"? Racial unity and justice are not just an issue of national group therapy and a round of hugs, but rather about Power, who has it, who doesn't and what you intend to do about it. Racial unity and justice are about transforming the social order in such a way that a person's skin color is no longer a negative factor in their quality of life as an American. I'd rather put my energy into working toward fundamental change, change that involves people becoming better people and creating a better society, rather than simply feeling better, which is what apologies are supposed to offer. It's this kind of change that the Baha'i Faith is all about:

Let there be no mistake. The principle of the Oneness of Mankind—the pivot round which all the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh revolve—is no mere outburst of ignorant emotionalism or an expression of vague and pious hope. Its appeal is not to be merely identified with a reawakening of the spirit of brotherhood and good-will among men, nor does it aim solely at the fostering of harmonious cöoperation among individual peoples and nations. Its implications are deeper, its claims greater than any which the Prophets of old were allowed to advance. Its message is applicable not only to the individual, but concerns itself primarily with the nature of those essential relationships that must bind all the states and nations as members of one human family. It does not constitute merely the enunciation of an ideal, but stands inseparably associated with an institution adequate to embody its truth, demonstrate its validity, and perpetuate its influence. It implies an organic change in the structure of present-day society, a change such as the world has not yet experienced. It constitutes a challenge, at once bold and universal, to outworn shibboleths of national creeds—creeds that have had their day and which must, in the ordinary course of events as shaped and controlled by Providence, give way to a new gospel, fundamentally different from, and infinitely superior to, what the world has already conceived. It calls for no less than the reconstruction and the demilitarization of the whole civilized world—a world organically unified in all the essential aspects of its life, its political machinery, its spiritual aspiration, its trade and finance, its script and language, and yet infinite in the diversity of the national characteristics of its federated units.

It represents the consummation of human evolution—an evolution that has had its earliest beginnings in the birth of family life, its subsequent development in the achievement of tribal solidarity, leading in turn to the constitution of the city-state, and expanding later into the institution of independent and sovereign nations.

The principle of the Oneness of Mankind, as proclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh, carries with it no more and no less than a solemn assertion that attainment to this final stage in this stupendous evolution is not only necessary but inevitable, that its realization is fast approaching, and that nothing short of a power that is born of God can succeed in establishing it.

Shoghi Effendi

Religion: Opiate or Stimulant?

Picture of an innocent looking poppy flower. Ironic that something so beautiful could cause so much damage

For those who've been reading this blog for a bit, you know that religion is something that I am passionate about. As a Baha'i I believe that true religion is the most powerful force for personal transformation and social change in history, which makes it something pretty important to try and understand. I've recently offered a few Baha'i thoughts about the problem of political religion, and the importance of both integrity and flexibility to mature religious faith. Now I'd like to comment on something that I've been thinking about a great deal lately: Is religion an opiate or a stimulant? Working in the addictions field, I see the human cost of both opiates and stimulants everyday, but in this case I'm speaking metaphorically, similar to the must-read document, One Common Faith, commissioned by the Universal House of Justice:

In large measure, the individual was left free to maintain whatever relationship he believed connected his life to a world transcending material existence, but society as a whole proceeded with growing confidence to sever dependence on a conception of the universe that was judged to be at best a fiction and at worst an opiate, in either case inhibiting progress. Humanity had taken its destiny into its own hands. It had solved through rational experimentation and discourse-so people were given to believe-all of the fundamental issues related to human governance and development.
(Commissioned by The Universal House of Justice, One Common Faith)

While I believe that true religion acts more as a stimulant than an opiate, opiate religion is very real and its influence on the soul and society are just as destructive as political religion. I define opiate religion as religion whose focus is on increasing the comfort and/or personal pleasure of those who adhere to it. While followers of opiate religion may display some level of social consciousness and commitment, their actions, both individual and collective, are guided ultimately by the seeking of pleasure and avoidance of pain. Opiate religion is the faith-based version of the cultural tendency I discussed in The Pursuit of a Pain Free America:

Generations of Americans who have grown up conditioned by a materialistic, consumption-driven culture have come to believe that they are entitled to a life free from pain or discomfort of any kind. According to this view of life, pain is pathological, even worse than death. The "pursuit of happiness" recognized by our Founding Fathers as an important aspect of freedom has mutated into an egocentric sense of entitlement to happiness on demand, 24/7. Our whole society has become increasingly organized around "feeling good" and if that doesn't work not "feeling" at all. If a pill can make either of those things happen reliably, "PASS ME THE PILLS!" This attitude is widespread and impacts every challenge America is facing at this time. The solution to these challenges requires a willingness to sacrifice, but that would involve pain, which has become unacceptable to the American psyche. This is not to suggest that there are not millions of Americans making sacrificial contributions every day for the betterment of our society and the world. But in my experience even well-meaning people have a "pain threshold" beyond which they are not willing to go even when achieving their well-meaning goals clearly demands it. Why? Because the right to happiness in the final analysis trumps everything else.

The psychological preoccupation with acquiring and maintaining comfort is something that can be found among all strata of American society. Both privilege and oppression have narcotic influences on the human soul. For the privileged, their capacity to tolerate pain and make sacrifices that might be necessary for spiritual growth and the advancement of society become progressively dulled as the development of those latent capacities of the soul is neglected. For the oppressed, the pain they are made to endure because of their oppression perverts a legitimate desire to be free, transforming it into a desire to get the same comforts they see the privileged enjoying, even if it means sacrificing their spiritual integrity to do so.

In a religious context, these dynamics get played out in a few ways. The privileged tend to create or be attracted to narco-congregations that gratify their need for comfort and either provide a rationalization for or at least do not seriously challenge, their privileged status in society. The privileged may engage in some form of charity towards the less fortunate, but this is largely paternalistic and has little to do with transforming the social order in any meaningful way that might require some pain on their part. For the oppressed, their narco-congregation provides a space where the pain of oppression is alleviated through an emphasis on either a personal relationship with God or promises of reward in the next life. In such settings, neither one's personal relationship with God, nor the promises of heavenly reward demand transforming society, or letting go of lusting after what one's more privileged neighbors possess. Opiate religion in some ways functions as the pods did in that movie, Invasion of the Body Snatchers. While one is sleeping their way through a dream world of material or heavenly delights, a noble and dynamic soul, capable of moral excellence and revolutionary action, becomes replaced by a narcissistic zombie, shuffling around moaning, "Make me feel gooooooood."

My point is not that joy and happiness are unimportant in religious life. Joy and happiness are significant in Baha'i teaching, as I have addressed in the past. Like integrity and flexibility in mature faith, it is a question of embracing both pain and joy as necessary aspects of spiritual development and social change. Faith without pain is like progress without struggle:

"If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning. "
Frederick Douglass

I want a religion of thunder and lightning of joy and pain. I refuse to fall asleep. I refuse to become a zombie.

How about you?

Blogwarriors: April 5th Edition

Throughout the blogosphere, Baha'i bloggers use the force to promote unity and justice!


For today's edition of Blogwarriors, I wanted to actually start with a couple of cool articles that feature Baha'i bloggers. One, from the American Baha'i news in which this blog was mentioned, you may already be familiar with. Here's a taste if you haven't already read it:

Anything you ever wanted to know about the Baha'i Faith and weren't afraid to ask is out there in the blogosphere. Blogging, for Baha'is, has proved to be an ideal format to talk about the faith, how it has changed their lives and how it may change the lives of others.

There are about 200-300 Baha'i blogs on the blogsophere at any given time. Conveniently and courteously, many Baha'i blogs provide links to other blogs. They're all in this together -- to connect with those in and outside the faith. (Enjoy the whole thing here)

Turns out there are lots of Canadian Baha'is in the blogging game as well, as this article describes.

The quality of Baha'i blogging is getting so good out there that it is getting harder to pick which ones I like most. Here are my personal favorites from the past week:

Doberman Pizza (probably the most interesting name of any Baha'i blog) has a Toronto Star article about the persecution of the Baha'is in Egypt.

Martin of Martin's Quest has suggestions for the ideal way to minimize movement while riding the bus. Never know when that will come in handy.

Dave at Correlating has really been churning out the posts lately and just put up something interesting about sociology and the arts.

George at Baha'i Views has a pretty, pretty collage from someone spending time in Costa Rica.

Both Bilo at Baha'is in Egypt and Marco at Povo De Baha' mention members of the German Parliament standing up for the Egyptian Baha'is. (Remember that Marco has the option on his blog to translate it into English so if that's your first language, have no fear)

Newly discovered (by me anyway) Mystic Logic has some reflections on the new film, The Namesake.

My friend Phyllis has a really amazing story about her family history and how it relates to Easter and the spring.

Malik at The Struggle Within has a piece about one of his slave ancestors that harmonizes in an interesting way with a lengthy post by U.K. Blogger Barney that focuses on the British commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade.

Onward Baha'i bloggers!

Baha'i Thought: Support the Mission

This is me on Mount Carmel in Haifa Israel near the seat of the Universal House of Justice in December of 2006. I love the Universal House of Justice!!!


If you've been reading this blog for any length of time or just checked out the Mission of Baha'i Thought, you know this is a serious blog with serious goals in the world. One of the things that I've been doing is working diligently to reach a wider group of readers who share similar goals or just enjoy some of my Baha'i thinking. Here are a few things that if you haven't already done, would be helpful to the mission of Baha'i Thought:

1. Leave comments: I know for some of you this would be a big step, but you can do it anonymously so you really have nothing to lose. The point of this blog is to provoke thought and dialogue among the readers and comments are a way to let people know that you're actually reading the blog. Thanks to all those who have already done so, you should see the dance I do when I get a comment (well, maybe you shouldn't but you know what I mean).

2. Include Baha'i Thought as a Link: There are several bloggers out there who have done this and I'm incredibly thankful. It's a real compliment and makes me feel good. It also lets people you know, know that this blog exists. As you can see from the list of Baha'i blogs that I've included on this one that I try to do that for other folks as a way of encouraging and supporting their blogging. Blogwarriors is something I've included as a regular feature to let my readers know about some of the awesome blogging that other folks are doing out there.

3. Share posts that you like with family, friends, neighbors and co-workers (or complete strangers for that matter!): So of you have approached me and let me know that you do this all the time and I love you for it. If you are not aware, at the bottom of each post is a little picture of an envelope. If you click on that it allows you to forward the post to a friend. Just think, you might brighten up a friend's day by sending them a post. It could be like Valentine's Day or Christmas every day.

4. If you read something you like, go tell somebody: Talk. It. Up. Anybody who knows me knows that I talk about blogging quite a bit, including the blogs that I personally like.

5. If you read something you don't like, go tell somebody anyway: You never know, someone might be curious about what bugged you and come and check it out for themselves. They might even leave a comment. Telling me that you disagree with me (as long as you're not too mean about it) is really healthy as it helps my thinking to develop.

6. Become a subscriber: If you subscribe, you don't have to keep making the effort to come back and see what I've written, it will just come right to your email in-box. How much easier can it get? You can then also share the posts with other people if you want without making much effort. If you are already a subscriber, thanks man! Now go and tell somebody else about this option. Maybe they will subscribe as well.

7. Vote for Baha'i Thought: I just signed up for one of these blog aggregators that ranks blogs based on how often they are read. There's already a couple of other Baha'i blogs that are listed as well as some pretty interesting religion blogs from other folks. Just go click the Vote for Baha'i Thought if you're interested in that. I think that you can do it once a day if you really wish to but once in a lifetime is just as good. It would be much appreciated.

I look forward to striving to provide some high quality, grass roots Baha'i scholarship about issues that are important in the world today. I'm grateful for whatever support you can offer towards that end. Have great night/day, depending on where you are on the planet.