Baha'u'llah: Prisoner, Prophet and Promised One

This is a photo of the author standing near the place where Baha'u'llah was held prison in Akka, (then Palestine) in the 1800's.

In the early morning hours (which for some Baha'is on the planet is right now) Baha'is around the world wipe their weary eyes and gather here and there to commemorate the Ascension of Baha'u'llah. This Holy Day does not generate the excitement in me that Ridvan does, but it packs its own emotional punch which is qualitatively different than any other in the Baha'i calender except for the Martyrdom of the Bab that is commemorated in July. During this somber time that at once breaks and mends the heart, I often reflect on one of my favorite passages from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, that I have committed to memory:

"Be not dismayed, O peoples of the world, when the day star of My beauty is set, and the heaven of My tabernacle is concealed from your eyes. Arise to further My Cause, and to exalt My Word amongst men. We are with you at all times, and shall strengthen you through the power of truth. We are truly almighty. Whoso hath recognized Me, will arise and serve Me with such determination that the powers of earth and heaven shall be unable to defeat his purpose."
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 137)

I find myself getting emotional even now simply typing the words and my whole being longs to feel the presence of Baha'u'llah's transcendent and All-Loving Spirit moving within and around me. The last sentence of this beautiful statement I have taken as my personal marching orders, "Whoso hath recognized Me will arise and serve me with such determination that the powers of earth and heaven will be unable to defeat his purpose."

One of the delightful things that I have been enjoying lately is reading about the Bible, particularly the way that African Americans have understood this Holy, magnificent and transformative book, "The Good Book" as people say. I was just thinking about some of the ways that African Americans historically resonated with certain images of both Moses and Jesus in the Bible. It occured to me that there are certain images of Baha'u'llah in Baha'i scripture and other literature that hit my heart in certain ways as an African American Baha'i.

Baha'u'llah as "Prisoner"
I can't tell you how many times that I have been at professional gatherings concerning the plight of African Americans, where we have all been asked to raise our hands if we have a family member in the criminal justice system. Every hand in the room shoots up, reaching for the ceiling. These days, the young, black, male and poor (whether urban or rural) comes with a high probability of "doing time". You can read about this trend right here. For too many African American families struggling to raise children and youth, there is a culture of incarceration that has emerged as a predictable experience of life. While Baha'u'llah, like Jesus was an innocent who suffered at the hands of both church and state, it is His triumph over these forces that has the greatest spiritual significance, a significance that cannot be lost upon African Americans. Some of the greatest moments of Baha'u'llah's Ministry occured while He was in prison and this verse of a Baha'i prayer for detachment speaks to the redemptive power of God, even under the most trying conditions:

"I beseech Thee, O my Lord, by Him Who is Thy Name, Who, through the power of Thy sovereignty and might, hath risen above the horizon of His prison, to ordain for every one what becometh Thee and beseemeth Thine exaltation. Thy might, in truth, is equal to all things."
(Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 34)

Of course, Baha'u'llah as Prisoner can be understood in a spiritual sense as well. "Prison" in Baha'i scripture is frequently used to represent a soul becoming too attached to the things of this world or to the dictates of the "insistent self":

"O MY SERVANT! Free thyself from the fetters of this world, and loose thy soul from the prison of self. Seize thy chance, for it will come to thee no more."
(Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words)

For African Americans, our captivity has never simply been physical, whether you are talking about chattel slavery or the contemporary prison industrial complex. Our captivity has been both spiritual and psychological as well. Ironically, at the very moment that our long struggle for liberation would appear to have gained its greatest successes, we now find ourselves captive to the raging consumer culture of American society. The excesses of certain species of Hip-Hop is but one of the many examples of this form of captivity. Baha'u'llah offers a powerful symbol of the possibility of liberation from all forms of captivity, spiritual and material.

Baha'u'llah as "Prophet"
In this sense of thinking more of "prophet" in the sense of the Old Testament as those who offer an thunderous critique of the systems of oppression on earth and those who are complicit in perpetuating them. The harshest critique is leveled at those who have been entrusted with leadership of the community and the well-being of those less powerful than they are such as the leaders of church and state. Anyone familiar with Baha'u'llah's life knows that He embodied these words of Isaiah:

"And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a twig shall grow forth out of his roots. 11,2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. 11,3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears; 11,4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the land; and he shall smite the land with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked." (Nev'im (Prophets), Yeshayahu (Isaiah))

In His Writings, Baha'u'llah puts it simply and directly:

"O OPPRESSORS ON EARTH! Withdraw your hands from tyranny, for I have pledged Myself not to forgive any man's injustice. This is My covenant which I have irrevocably decreed in the preserved tablet and sealed with My seal."
(Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words)

The prophetic dimension of Baha'u'llah's Ministry, cannot but appeal to African Americans whose religious and spiritual experience in America was born of the fight for survival in the face of withering oppression. As I have said in the past, the religion of Baha'u'llah is very much "prophetic" religion.

Baha'u'llah as "Promised One"

Baha'is believe that Baha'u'llah is that Promised One, called by many names but anticipated in some form in the scriptures and oral traditions of all the peoples of the world, particularly the Bible and the Quran. The essence of religion is God's promise to humanity to provide us with that progressive guidance needed for our spiritual and social evolution and and humanity following that guidance. Unlike the popular notion among many religious people, that the process of Divine Revelation has ended, Baha'is believe that God will always have more to say to humanity in proportion to our level of spiritual receptivity and maturation. As humanity is entering its long await stage of spiritual adulthood, God has fulfilled His Promise to Provide us with One Whose teachings will usher in the Kingdom of God on earth, a global civilization that unites all humanity as members of one family. Baha'u'llah is the fulfillment of this ancient promise.

Of course, this promise of God involves more than the geopolitical impact that the Revelation of Baha'u'llah is destined to have, or even the spiritual revolution that is already taking place in human consciousness (both of which African Americans stand to benefit from). This promise of God, which God has always kept, is an expression of the love and trust that should distinguish any relationship that has integrity. It is the abscence of such integrity shown over and over again by those who have held the reigns of leadership in their grasp that represents the greatest betrayal of the soul and has been the source of all the suffering that African Americans have experienced. Baha'u'llah as Promised One represents God's intention to heal the rifts among His children that are the fruits of this betrayal.

I'll close with Baha'u'llah's Own Testimony that captures all of these images in one brilliant and moving statement:

"The Ancient Beauty hath consented to be bound with chains that mankind may be released from its bondage, and hath accepted to be made a prisoner within this most mighty Stronghold that the whole world may attain unto true liberty. He hath drained to its dregs the cup of sorrow, that all the peoples of the earth may attain unto abiding joy, and be filled with gladness. This is of the mercy of your Lord, the Compassionate, the Most Merciful. We have accepted to be abased, O believers in the Unity of God, that ye may be exalted, and have suffered manifold afflictions, that ye might prosper and flourish. He Who hath come to build anew the whole world, behold, how they that have joined partners with God have forced Him to dwell within the most desolate of cities!"
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 99)

Piracy and Immortality: At Worlds End

Geoffrey Rush, Keira Knightley and Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End

If there is anything that I enjoy as much as watching movies with flesh-eating zombies, it's watching movies with another kind of popular Hollywood monster, pirates. I just sat through the opening night of the third film in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, At Worlds End. If you have no idea what I am talking about, read some background here and here. In summary, old friends Will Turner, Captain Barboza, and Elizabeth Swann go on a swash-buckling adventure to rescue the consumed-by-a-Kraken, Captain Jack Sparrow and make the world "safe" for piracy (In this film criminality represents "freedom") while old villains like the octopus-headed Davey Jones and the capitalism-run-amok, East India Trading Company try to stop them. Along the way there are all kinds of strange, funny, silly, and frankly boring things that go on that I won't mention in this post in case you might want to watch this movie. I did not like At Worlds End, even the sword fighting that brings out my inner eight year old got tiresome after awhile (maybe I'm getting old). However, watching this movie did give me a chance to apply some Baha'i thinking to a film, something I really enjoyed doing with 28 Weeks Later. There's actually a lot in this movie (like the previous two installments) that addresses death and immortality. There's lots of people in the film who either are dead, on their way to being dead, come back from the dead or are trying to avoid being dead. You could say there is an "un-dead" element to this film actually, though everyone is so good looking a zombie would be quite jealous. One of the many plots lines in this convaluted picture is that in order to kill Davey Jones, you have to take his place as Captain of his supernatural ship the Flying Dutchman. The bad news is that you have to do this forever and ferry the dead from this world to the next and only get to come ashore for one day every ten years. The good news is that you get to live forever. One of the characters who is brought back from the dead thinks this is a good deal and spends most of his time plotting to kill Jones and inherit his immortality. Another is willing to kill Jones for the sake of freeing his father from being a slave on the Dutchman but knows that he will have to give up the woman he loves. Jones, who is shown to be a tortured and literally "heartless" villain has a signature phrase that he says before dispatching an enemy, "Do you fear death?" If you answer is yes, you get offered a chance to be part of his crew for 100 years and delay the inevitable. If you say no, he makes you exit from this world quick and brutal. Jone's question is a provocative one and worth thinking hard about. If he asked me I would probably say "no" or "sometimes", but the real issue is not that I fear death but that I fear the responsibility that comes with life and the possibility that I will fail to live up to it. As a Baha'i I understand myself to have been created by God to inhabit this world for a short time (relatively speaking) and use my human experience as an opportunity to develop the powers and capacity of the soul that will be necessary for my "rebirth" in the new world and my eternal journey from God to God. The immortality of my soul is not so much in question as the condition that it will be in when I leave, which is ultimately up to me to a degree that nothing else in my entire life is. This is one of the many statements that Baha'u'llah makes about the soul that is at once reassuring and terrifying:

"Thou hast asked Me concerning the nature of the soul. Know, verily, that the soul is a sign of God, a heavenly gem whose reality the most learned of men hath failed to grasp, and whose mystery no mind, however acute, can ever hope to unravel. It is the first among all created things to declare the excellence of its Creator, the first to recognize His glory, to cleave to His truth, and to bow down in adoration before Him. If it be faithful to God, it will reflect His light, and will, eventually, return unto Him. If it fail, however, in its allegiance to its Creator, it will become a victim to self and passion, and will, in the end, sink in their depths."
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 158)

The key word for me in this statement is "if". So do I fear death? Not so much since becoming a Baha'i. What I do fear is the "if" inherent in the human experience in this world.

What do you think reader?

Positive Assimilation

These are pictures of some of the beautiful people the love of God so effectively brought together at the Baha'i Center in Boston a couple of nights ago.

Assimilation is a word I've been hearing a lot in the popular media, especially regarding illegal immigration. It's inspired to me to think about a few statements made in the Baha'i Writings:

"The Faith seeks to maintain cultural diversity while promoting the unity of all peoples. Indeed, such diversity will enrich the tapestry of human life in a peaceful world society. The House of Justice supports the view that in every country the cultural traditions of the people should be observed within the Bahá'í community as long as they are not contrary to the Teachings. The general attitude of the Faith towards the traditional practices of various peoples is expressed in the following statement of Shoghi Effendi's, published in The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, U.S. 1982 edition, pages 41-42.

Let there be no misgivings as to the animating purpose of the world-wide Law of Bahá'u'lláh.... 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.... Its watchword is unity in diversity such as 'Abdu'l-Bahá Himself has explained:

"Consider the flowers of a garden.... Diversity of hues, form and shape enricheth and adorneth the garden, and heighteneth the effect thereof...."

Of course, many cultural elements everywhere inevitably will disappear or be merged with related ones from their societies, yet the totality will achieve that promised diversity within world unity." (25 July 1988, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly) [5]

"...the oneness of mankind will not be based on forced assimilation, but upon protection of cultural diversity. At the same time, however, we should beware of inadvertently settling upon a limited model, such as the one sometimes associated in contemporary discourse on multiculturalism. A distinctively Bahá'í culture will welcome an infinite diversity in regard to secondary characteristics, but also firmly uphold unity in regard to fundamental principles, thereby achieving a vigorous complementarity. For example, in Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá (Haifa: Bahá'í World Centre, 1982), page 260-1, we find the following intriguing statement:

What a blessing that will be -- when all shall come together, even as once separate torrents, rivers and streams, running brooks and single drops, when collected together in one place will form a mighty sea. And to such a degree will the inherent unity of all prevail, that the traditions, rules, customs and distinctions in the fanciful life of these populations will be effaced and vanish away like isolated drops, once the great sea of oneness doth leap and surge and roll.

The point is not to minimize differences, nor to make of unity and diversity a false dichotomy, but ever to keep in mind that the Bahá'í standard is very high and grounded in divine love."
(13 February 1996, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer) [7]

One of the problems that I see with the way that assimilation has historically worked in America is that it has been a process of ethnocentrism and oppression. Virtually all discussion of assimilation begins with the assumption that the dominant Western culture is obviously the best one and that to assimilate means to become more Western (basically a code word for "white"). Thus assimilation has functioned less as a civic virtue than as a enabler of white supremacy. Many of those being asked to assimilate are well aware of this historical dynamic, are less than enthusiastic about the idea and strive to uphold their distinct ethnic and cultural identities. On the other hand, those who strongly advocate assimilation believe that it is the most effective way of dealing with diversity because it promotes unity and social cohesion. What I believe is different about the Baha'i approach is that it discourages the negatives aspects of traditional assimilation (ethnocentrism and oppression) while encouraging what could be called a "positive assimilation". Positive assimilation is God-centered, consultative, voluntary, affirming and symmetrical.

Positive assimilation is God-centered in the sense of springing from a consciousness of one's spiritual identity, an identity that transcends the limitations of race, ethnicity, nationality or culture and weighs the relative value of each of these aspects of human experience against the Revelation of Baha'u'llah, the Manifestation of God for this Day. Positive assimilation is consultative in the sense that decisions about what aspects of one's culture should or should not continue to be practiced involve the communities effected rather than being imposed from outside and are guided by institutions who are committed to fostering unity among people of all backgrounds. Positive assimilation is voluntary in the sense that membership in the Baha'i community is something people chose for themselves and those cultural practices that do not contradict Baha'i teaching are largely left up to individual conscience. Positive assimilation is affirming because it does not involve the assumed superiority or inferiority of any particular culture and does not view diversity as a problem to be eliminated but as something that lends beauty and power to the community. Because of the affirming aspect of positive assimilation, it frees all people to engage in a symmetrical process where everyone's culture can influence everyone else's on the basis of unity, equality and justice rather than ethnocentrism and oppression. I'll close with these Words of Baha'u'llah:

No two men can be found who may be said to be outwardly and inwardly united. The evidences of discord and malice are apparent everywhere, though all were made for harmony and union. The Great Being saith: O well-beloved ones! The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. We cherish the hope that the light of justice may shine upon the world and sanctify it from tyranny. If the rulers and kings of the earth, the symbols of the power of God, exalted be His glory, arise and resolve to dedicate themselves to whatever will promote the highest interests of the whole of humanity, the reign of justice will assuredly be established amongst the children of men, and the effulgence of its light will envelop the whole earth.
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 218)

While you're here, check out the new poll question in the "What Do You Think?" section of this blog.

Blogwarriors: Almost Declaration of the Bab Edition

This is a photo of one of the terraces near the Shrine of the Bab in Haifa, Israel that I took in December, 2006

So Baha'is around the world are on the eve of the anniversary that marks the beginning of their Faith and the beginning of a new Dispensation in human history. Here's some of my favorite Baha'i blogging from the last week or so:

Anxiously Concerned reminds us that diversity is more than "skin-color" deep

The Baha'i Faith in Egypt asks, Is the Fox Guarding the Hen House?

Barnabus quotes an article in Foreign Policy that suggests the Baha'i Faith is the second fastest growing religion after Islam

Doberman Pizza waxes philosophical regarding Systematic Action

Los Angelista talks about an interesting example of bravery

My friend Phyllis addresses something I rarely hear Baha'is talking about, military spouses

Pearlzdreaming has a sweet little post about moonlight

Poetry of Peace takes on Anti-Social Behavior

PS. Lots of folks have participated in the Baha'i Thought Poll question and there have been some interesting one's offered in the "other" box as well. I will keep this up for another week or so and then start a new one. Suggestions for poll questions are also welcome when you leave comments. Happy almost Holy Day to all.

Invasion?

Photo courtesy of the Christian Science Monitor









"O contending peoples and kindreds of the earth! Set your faces towards unity, and let the radiance of its light shine upon you. Gather ye together, and for the sake of God resolve to root out whatever is the source of contention amongst you. Then will the effulgence of the world's great Luminary envelop the whole earth, and its inhabitants become the citizens of one city, and the occupants of one and the same throne."
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 217)

I was planning to do something about the Bible in this post but the illegal immigration debate is heating up once more and as a thoughtful American Baha'i, I have to address it. It appears that there is some movement towards what is being called "comprehensive immigration reform" by our national leadership who have actually discovered something they can agree about. People who are unhappy with this development have gone into ethnic hysteria and are shouting "amnesty" from the roof tops! Those ever present pundits of doom in the popular media are predicting the demise of America in the next 15-20 years as the tide of immigration, both legal and illegal continues and minorities, who recently reached 100,000,000 of the population eventually become the majority. Most of these minorities will be from (gasp!) Latino backgrounds. I actually heard one radio talking head claim that he would leave the United States permanently and live abroad if these trends continue. Mr. Clash of Civilizations himself is deeply concerned that somehow salsa dancing and enchiladas are going bring down the world's only superpower. This would all be kind of funny if the people saying these things were not so completely and totally serious. What makes me concerned is that historically, when those who possess most of the power in our society (in America that is still largely people of European ancestry) start getting scared of those who possess the least power (guess who that would be), people start getting hurt or dead. Here's a couple of things worth considering:

1. The relationship between minorities and majorities is a global challenge that no nation seems to have yet figured out. However the simple fact that a group of people is small in a numerical sense does not mean that fundamental power relationships will be different. People of European ancestry have centuries of experience ruling over people of color who outnumber them. Anybody remember South Africa?

2. African Americans have centuries of experience living as a minority in a society which is at best, ambivalent about our humanity. We are well prepared to live in a majority Latino society, if Latinos actually have political and economic power equal to their numbers (not likely to happen anytime soon, see number 1). This is not to suggest, as some people do that there is some kind of natural affinity between African Americans and Latino Americans, or that Latino's are not just as racist as some whites are. African Americans are survivers and we will make the best of the situation regardless of who is in charge or who the majority is. Our day is on the way and nothing can stop it.

3. Most of the challenges that Latino's are bringing with them to America, cultural, social, or economic have solutions to them. If all Americans put more energy into trying to solve these problems rather than attempting to criminalize and dehumanize an entire population, the benefits to our society would far outweigh the cost. Again we have much experience with attempting to deal with the challenge of diversity by criminalizing and dehumanizing a whole population (i.e. African Americans). IT DIDN'T WORK! Let's try something different this time.

Ok reader, roll up your sleeves and weigh in. I want to know what you think.

Metropolis of Satan: 28 Weeks Later

My poor spouse has had to practice acceptance and patience as far as some of my choices in movies. At the risk of losing some readers I have to confess that I am a fan of sci-fi/horror movies. What can I say, I like zombies. I was not disappointed when I finally got a chance to see the film about the "rage virus" saga that has been unfolding in a fictional London that has been ravaged by a bizarre biological disaster. When people get infected with the rage virus they develop a serious attitude problem and fierce desire eat human flesh. Sounds like a great date movie, yes? 28 Weeks Later is the title of this latest film that is a sequel to the 2005 hit, 28 Days Later that you can read about here. In this film the American military has decided that the outbreak is over and that people can begin returning to London. Everyone, other than a really smart and empathic young doctor is confident that the virus has died with all of its hosts who starved to death six months ago. Among the returning settlers are a father and his children. The children had been in Spain during the outbreak, while the father had managed to survive in England, in part through committing an act of betrayal of his wife that will later come full circle in an almost karmic way. Needless to say that the optimism and confidence of the Americans is misguided and before you know it, infected people are running around the streets of London, chewing up their fellow citizens, while the seemingly impotent military begin to kill everyone in sight in an effort to finish off the virus. In case you want to see this film, I won't spoil it by giving you anymore information, but you can watch the preview and clips here and read more of the back story including information about a graphic novel inspired by the first film.

As a Baha'i thinking, watching this film inspired me to ponder a couple of things that are addressed frequently in the Baha'i Writings, aggression and consumption.

Anyone paying attention, Baha'i or not, knows that human beings don't need a "rage virus" to bring out the animal side of our nature. Whether you consider the Virginia Tech tragedy, the recent news about road rage, or the gladiator style antics that broke out at a recent Boston Pops concert, it seems like far too many folks are on the edge of flipping out at any moment. The Baha'i Faith encourages people to counter their aggressive tendencies through a variety of means, including replacing negative thoughts with more positive thoughts, focusing on the strengths of others rather than their faults, working on our own short comings rather than trying to change others, praying, and responding in the opposite way when people treat us badly. These practices are more than just "playing nice", they exert a transformative influence that is spiritual, mental and physical for both the person who does them and the people around that person. I believe the failure to utilize these practices in stressful situations is one of the factors that is contributing to what seem like increasing outbursts of rage in our society. Such outburst only strengthen a view of humanity that the Universal House of Justice said in 1985 is an obstacle to peace:

"...so much have aggression and conflict come to characterize our social, economic and religious systems, that many have succumbed to the view that such behaviour is intrinsic to human nature and therefore ineradicable. With the entrenchment of this view, a paralyzing contradiction has developed in human affairs. On the one hand, people of all nations proclaim not only their readiness but their longing for peace and harmony, for an end to the harrowing apprehensions tormenting their daily lives. On the other, uncritical assent is given to the proposition that human beings are incorrigibly selfish and aggressive and thus incapable of erecting a social system at once progressive and peaceful, dynamic and harmonious, a system giving free play to individual creativity and initiative but based on co-operation and reciprocity. As the need for peace becomes more urgent, this fundamental contradiction, which hinders its realization, demands a reassessment of the assumptions upon which the commonly held view of mankind's historical predicament is based. Dispassionately examined, the evidence reveals that such conduct, far from expressing man's true self, represents a distortion of the human spirit. Satisfaction on this point will enable all people to set in motion constructive social forces which, because they are consistent with human nature, will encourage harmony and co-operation instead of war and conflict."
(The Universal House of Justice, 1985 Oct, The Promise of World Peace, p. 1)

In the film, people infected with the rage virus are afflicted with a desire for consumption that rises to the level of cannibalism. However, people don't have to eat each other to engage in compulsive consumption that has profound implications for the survival of their fellow human beings. Climate change is but one dramatic example of the apparent consequences of consumption gone beyond the bounds of moderation. Baha'u'llah had this to say about such an approach to life:

"Whoso cleaveth to justice, can, under no circumstances, transgress the limits of moderation. He discerneth the truth in all things, through the guidance of Him Who is the All-Seeing. The civilization, so often vaunted by the learned exponents of arts and sciences, will, if allowed to overleap the bounds of moderation, bring great evil upon men. Thus warneth you He Who is the All-Knowing. If carried to excess, civilization will prove as prolific a source of evil as it had been of goodness when kept within the restraints of moderation. Meditate on this, O people, and be not of them that wander distraught in the wilderness of error. The day is approaching when its flame will devour the cities, when the Tongue of Grandeur will proclaim: "The Kingdom is God's, the Almighty, the All-Praised!"
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 342)

In the film, the city of London is literally devoured by fire as the American military begins to firebomb the entire area in order to halt the spread of the rage virus. This is just a movie after all but our cities in America are already burning, burning with poverty, disease, alienation, racial conflict, addiction, crime, crumbling infrastructure, political corruption and despair. As humanity becomes increasingly urbanized, as was detailed in the most recent Economist Magazine, these challenges will only increase. It makes me wonder if 28 Weeks Later is simply a sci-fi/horror fantasy or a prophetic metaphor of the near future:

"Indeed the actions of man himself breed a profusion of satanic power. For were men to abide by and observe the divine teachings, every trace of evil would be banished from the face of the earth. However, the widespread differences that exist among mankind and the prevalence of sedition, contention, conflict and the like are the primary factors which provoke the appearance of the satanic spirit. Yet the Holy Spirit hath ever shunned such matters. A world in which naught can be perceived save strife, quarrels and corruption is bound to become the seat of the throne, the very metropolis, of Satan."
(Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 176)

Blogwarriors: Pre-Mother's Day Edition

This picture is of one of the lovely mothers that I met in Ghana. What are your plans for Mother's Day? What could be sweeter than to gather around the old computer and enjoy a little Baha'i blogging. Doesn't that image bring a tear to your eye? Here's what my favorite Baha'i bloggers have been up to since last week:

The ever ferocious Malik at The Struggle Within begins a new series of posts addressing the impact of racism on moral, mental and physical cohesion

Marco in Portugal describes the strange Sheik Baha'i incident in Iran

UK Blogger Afshin at Poetry of Peace has info and video about a new group of Baha'i inspired artists called the Dawnbreaker Collective. Hot, hot, hot!

The wise and "Yoda-like" Phyllis Ring comments on motherhood and fear

Lovable Leila gets serious commenting on my recent post Proud to Be White

West Coast blogger Liz at Los Angelista reminds us to Los Angeles is Burning

Canadian Blogger Dan at Doberman Pizza was lucky enough to attend the Cultivating the Roots conference in California

UK blogger Barnabas waxes philosophical about Facebook and Freedom

Bilo at Baha'i Faith in Egypt, delivers another knock-out punch to the absurd policy regarding ID's and the Baha'is in the country

Coming soon on Baha'i Thought: A Bible Thumpin' Baha'i

PS: There is a new poll question: What do you most often pray for? Come and cast your votes!

Culture Wars or Consultation?

Prayer and protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court. Photo courtesy of AOL News

I've been thinking a lot about the so called "Culture Wars" for a few months now, especially with the presidential campaign season in full swing and politicians, pundits and other members of the chattering class all weighing in on the divisive and controversial issues of the day, such as the U.S. Supreme Court's recent upholding of a ban on "partial birth abortion". What is it with American society and war anyway? We've had a War on Poverty, a War on Drugs, a War on Terror and now we are in a Culture War about everything from gay marriage to whether or not a Christmas Tree should be called a "Holiday Tree" instead. This Baha'i thinker is personally, war-weary. I just can't listen to the shouting match called "debate" in the popular media, in politics or in the academy anymore, much of which is either driven by or in reaction to the misguided political religion I have spoken of in the past.

In Baha'i spiritual practice there is a process of collaborative investigation of truth, and decision making called "consultation". Here are a few of the gem-like statements that Baha'u'llah makes about consultation:

The Great Being saith: The heaven of divine wisdom is illumined with the two luminaries of consultation and compassion. Take ye counsel together in all matters, inasmuch as consultation is the lamp of guidance which leadeth the way, and is the bestower of understanding.
(Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 168)

Consultation bestoweth greater awareness and transmuteth conjecture into certitude. It is a shining light which, in a dark world, leadeth the way and guideth. For everything there is and will continue to be a station of perfection and maturity. The maturity of the gift of understanding is made manifest through consultation.
(Compilations, NSA USA - Developing Distinctive Baha'i Communities)

The intent of what hath been revealed from the Pen of the Most High is that consultation may be fully carried out among the friends, inasmuch as it is and will always be a cause of awareness and of awakening and a source of good and well-being.
(Compilations, NSA USA - Developing Distinctive Baha'i Communities)

Consultation is a spiritual discipline in which the individuals involved freely and frankly offer their views, not as right or true, but as a "contribution to the consensus of opinion" at which point those views become independent of whoever offered them and belong to the consultative process itself and may be adopted, amended or abandoned entirely. If a consensus cannot be reached a majority of voices must prevail and all involved submit to the majority decision, whatever their personal beliefs may be. Participants move forward in unity and follow through on the decision faithfully in a way that allows the merits of the decision to become clear with time and decisions that may have been wrong to be corrected through the same consultative process. For me, however, it is not so much the practice of consultation that I find most interesting, but the sense that Baha'u'llah is not simply encouraging people to communicate or make decisions more effectively but is making a comment on the nature of knowledge itself.

In the above quotes from Baha'i Scripture, Baha'u'llah describes consultation as a "lamp of guidance that leadeth the way, and is the bestower of understanding", that it "transmuteth conjecture into certitude", that the "maturity of the gift of understanding is made manifest through consultation", and that "it is and will always be a cause of awareness and of awakening". What I take from these and other quotes about consultation in Baha'i Scripture is that knowledge itself is most effectively acquired and gains its fullest maturation through relationships distinguished by a high degree of unity. Truth seeking is not an individual, but fundamentally relational process, with both its beginning and end being the relationship between the soul and God. When I think about it this way, it suggests to me that no matter how much knowledge I may acquire through my personal efforts, it is in relations that whatever I know will gain full maturity. This means that I need God and I need other human beings as well, including those who disagree with me. 'Abdu'l-Baha said it better than I ever could:

If...people meet together to seek for truth, they must begin by cutting themselves free from all their own special conditions and renouncing all preconceived ideas. In order to find truth we must give up our prejudices, our own small trivial notions; an open receptive mind is essential. If our chalice is full of self, there is no room in it for the water of life. The fact that we imagine ourselves to be right and everybody else wrong is the greatest of all obstacles in the path towards unity, and unity is necessary if we would reach truth, for truth is one.
(Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 136)

It is way past time to call for a cease-fire as far as the Culture Wars go. What Americans need is unity. Unity is the principle and consultation is the practice. Let's give it a try.

Proud To Be White

My sister gave me permission to do a post about a statement that was shared with her from one of her MySpace Friends. I don't think that this friend of my sister's actually was the author but this person did react with surprise to my sister taking offense to it, claiming that "some parts are true". Here is the rhetorical cannon ball that the author has fired in frustration:

Proud To Be White

Someone finally said it.
How many are actually paying attention to this?

There are African Americans, Mexican Americans,
Asian Americans, Arab Americans, Native Americans, etc.
And then there are just Americans.

You pass me on the street and sneer in my direction.
You Call me "White boy," "Cracker," "Honkey,"
"Whitey," "Caveman" .. And that's OK.

But when I call you, Nigger, Kike, Towel head, Sand-nigger,
Camel Jockey, Beaner, Gook, or Chink ...
You call me a racist.

You say that whites commit a lot of violence against you,
So why are the ghettos the most dangerous places to live?

You have the United Negro College Fund. You have Martin Luther King
Day. You have Black History Month. You have Cesar Chavez Day. You
Have Yom Hashoah You have Ma'uled Al-Nabi You have the NAACP.
You have BET.

If we had WET (White Entertainment Television) ..
We'd be racists.

If we had a White Pride Day .
You would call us racists.

If we had White History Month .
We'd be racists.

If we had any organization for only whites to "advance" OUR lives
We'd be racists.

We have a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Black Chamber of
Commerce, and then we just have the plain Chamber of Commerce.
Wonder who pays for that?

If we had a college fund that only gave white students scholarships
You know we'd be racists.

There are over 60 openly proclaimed
Black Colleges in the US , yet if there were "White colleges" ..
THAT would be a racist college.

In the Million Man March, you believed that you were marching
For your race and rights. If we marched for our race and rights,
You would call us racists.

You are proud to be black, brown, yellow and orange, and you're
Not afraid to announce it. But when we announce our white pride ..
You call us racists.

You rob us, carjack us, and shoot at us. But, when a white police officer
Shoots a black gang member or beats up a black drug-dealer running
From the law and posing a threat to society ..
You call him a racist.

I am proud.
But, you call me a racist.

Why is it that only whites can be racists?

There is nothing improper about this e-mail.
Let's see which of you are proud enough to send it on.

Hell of a point made here, isn't it?

When people make these kinds of statements out loud, I find it refreshing compared to the lack of candor encouraged by misguided political correctness which has only succeeded in pushing these kinds of attitudes underground. The best way to deal with the challenge of race is to have everyone's real thoughts and feelings exposed to the light of day. I salute the author's honesty and feel that it is a great example of the white rage, racial moral relativism and confusion about the difference between pride and prejudice that I have commented on in the past. It also exposes something else that I have been thinking about hard lately, which is convenient cluelessness. The primary problem with the argument being made by the author is that it completely denies the historical and contemporary realities of race in the United States. Virtually everything cited as evidence of some kind of "reverse racism" against whites on the part of ethnic minorities exists as a response to white supremacy itself. Yet the author speaks as if this were not the case and people of color just got together one day and decided to create an unjust social order that gives them privileges which are denied to whites. There was a time when I might have seen this kind of thing as a sort of willful denial of the truth, but now I see it as a highly effective psychological defense mechanism that reinforces the privilege that whites in America have long enjoyed. I call this defense mechanism convenient cluelessness because it functions at those very moments where the reality of race in America causes stress in the minds of those whites (not all by any means) who need to believe that racism is no longer a problem in spite of all evidence to the contrary. So at that critical moment where otherwise, intelligent and often well educated people would have to face the implications of reality, they behave as if they just don't get it.

What do you think reader?

I'll close with these words of Baha'u'llah:

People for the most part delight in superstitions. They regard a single drop of the sea of delusion as preferable to an ocean of certitude. By holding fast unto names they deprive themselves of the inner reality and by clinging to vain imaginings they are kept back from the Dayspring of heavenly signs. God grant you may be graciously aided under all conditions to shatter the idols of superstition and to tear away the veils of the imaginations of men. Authority lieth in the grasp of God, the Fountainhead of revelation and inspiration and the Lord of the Day of Resurrection.
(Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 58)

Baha'i Thought Goes Democratic

Ok, I thought that I would have a weekend of focused family interaction and was just surrounded by people all playing on their own individual computers. A brave new world indeed. So I guess I also have permission to play with my blog. Just a quick thing. I've been playing with the idea for awhile of having a new feature on this blog which would be a poll question that readers could respond to. It's another effort, in addition to encouraging people to leave their comments, to make this blog a dynamic experience of people sharing their thoughts rather than just reading mine. You can check out the poll in the side bar on the left side of the blog. This first poll will be up for two weeks and I'll see how it goes. This is a way for people who do not feel comfortable leaving a comment to share what they think in an indirect way. If this actually works, I might eventually begin to ask for poll question ideas from readers, but for now I'll generate them myself. Of course they will be related to the focus of this blog which is religion, race, psychology and social justice. Thanks to everyone all over the planet who have made this blog better through your encouragement, comments and prayers. I hope you like this new feature and I look forward to seeing the results.

Blogwarriors: May 4th Edition

Seems like Spider-Man is having a bad day. Nothing that some good Baha'i blogging from our friendly neighborhood Blogwarriors can't fix!

Planet Baha'i Blog has an interesting post about the art of working with Bonsai trees

PearlzDreaming asks, "What will you do for your Mum on Mother's Day?"

Luminous Realities meditates on Baghdad Today and Yesterday

Love From Leila reminds us that Tel Aviv is Fun

Los Angelista reminds men to keep their eyes on the road

James Howden offers thoughtful commentary on Richard Gere's imperialistic kissing escapades in India

Doberman Pizza offers thoughts on Virginia Tech

Barnabas gets personal and describes some of the Life Changes he is experiencing

I'll be partying with the family in Connecticut this weekend, celebrating my awesome sister's getting an M.B.A and my wedding anniversary (3 years and counting). You won't hear from me until Monday so enjoy this post and dive deep into the archives if you're new to this blog.

Coming Soon on Baha'i Thought: Assimilate, Separate, or Unite?

Ridvan Rocks!

I hadn't planned to do another Ridvan post, but it seems I've come down with a case of Ridvan Fever. I realized more clearly than ever before in my Baha'i life that Ridvan is my favorite time of the year. The Fast? Deep and profound. Naw Ruz? A great release after the "season of restraint". The birthdays of the Bab or Baha'u'llah? So, so sweeeet as we say in Boston. Ayyam-i-Ha? Good, clean fun for all. Ridvan? Nothing can touch it! Our 12th Day of Ridvan celebration last night at the Boston Baha'i Center was no exception. The usual crowd hailing from diverse points on the globe gathered for prayers, readings from Baha'i history detailing those epic twelve days in the Ridvan Garden outside of Baghdad in 1863 and some music. The evening was put together by some of the Baha'i youth who were well represented (they are the future of the Cause of God after all). Having reached my 30's I no longer qualify for inclusion in the youth demographic but it was fun to sit back and watch them shine in a grandpa Baha'i kind of way. One day I'll have to write something about the adventures of Generation X Baha'is like myself but I'll save that for later. The climax of this evening was a youth leading us in a song called the 12 Days of Ridvan set to the tune of the 12 Days of Christmas. The first time we attempted this it was excruciating. It was like something they might play to upset prisons being held at Guantanamo Bay. Luckily we gave it another try and this time we were sufficiently warmed up. We were all in a fit of laughter and I couldn't help but think that this would have pleased Baha'u'llah Who was known to have had a good sense of humor Himself! We ended as always with fellowship and food, not a morsel of which I could eat having just been put on a diet by my doctor (a friend told me not to call it a diet, but a change in lifestyle). My favorite part of any Baha'i event of course, are the children and we had some fine examples of those little munchkins last night (I've included some photos as evidence). The longer I've been living as a Baha'i, the more I've internalized the rhythms and cycles of Baha'i life. You could say I'm on Baha'i time now. Part of why I love Ridvan so much is that the spirit of this Holiest of Baha'i Festivals seems to take hold of me, mind, body and soul. It's like I can feel the warmth of the Divine Springtime all over me and I get this goofy smile for 12 days straight and I feel a sense of being spiritually renewed, resurrected, re-created. This is what Baha'u'llah said about this special time:

"O friends! It behoveth you to refresh and revive your souls through the gracious favors which in this Divine, this soul-stirring Springtime are being showered upon you. The Day Star of His great glory hath shed its radiance upon you, and the clouds of His limitless grace have overshadowed you. How high the reward of him that hath not deprived himself of so great a bounty, nor failed to recognize the beauty of his Best-Beloved in this, His new attire."
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 94)

If you want to read a more eloquent essay about Ridvan than I could ever write, you should head right over here.

Anyway, I have to clean up my home a bit in preparation for having a 12th Day of Ridvan breakfast featuring the world famous Copeland pancakes. You know you wish you could be there! I'll close with a selection from the Most Holy Tablet, known as the Tablet to the Christians, which is one of my favorites and highly appropriate for Ridvan:

"Say: Blessed the slumberer who is awakened by My Breeze. Blessed the lifeless one who is quickened through My reviving breaths. Blessed the eye that is solaced by gazing at My beauty. Blessed the wayfarer who directeth his steps towards the Tabernacle of My glory and majesty. Blessed the distressed one who seeketh refuge beneath the shadow of My canopy. Blessed the sore athirst who hasteneth to the soft-flowing waters of My loving-kindness. Blessed the insatiate soul who casteth away his selfish desires for love of Me and taketh his place at the banquet table which I have sent down from the heaven of divine bounty for My chosen ones. Blessed the abased one who layeth fast hold on the cord of My glory; and the needy one who entereth beneath the shadow of the Tabernacle of My wealth. Blessed the ignorant one who seeketh the fountain of My knowledge; and the heedless one who cleaveth to the cord of My remembrance. Blessed the soul that hath been raised to life through My quickening breath and hath gained admittance into My heavenly Kingdom. Blessed the man whom the sweet savours of reunion with Me have stirred and caused to draw nigh unto the Dayspring of My Revelation. Blessed the ear that hath heard and the tongue that hath borne witness and the eye that hath seen and recognized the Lord Himself, in His great glory and majesty, invested with grandeur and dominion. Blessed are they that have attained His presence. Blessed the man who hath sought enlightenment from the Day-Star of My Word. Blessed he who hath attired his head with the diadem of My love. Blessed is he who hath heard of My grief and hath arisen to aid Me among My people. Blessed is he who hath laid down his life in My path and hath borne manifold hardships for the sake of My Name. Blessed the man who, assured of My Word, hath arisen from among the dead to celebrate My praise. Blessed is he that hath been enraptured by My wondrous melodies and hath rent the veils asunder through the potency of My might. Blessed is he who hath remained faithful to My Covenant, and whom the things of the world have not kept back from attaining My Court of holiness. Blessed is the man who hath detached himself from all else but Me, hath soared in the atmosphere of My love, hath gained admittance into My Kingdom, gazed upon My realms of glory, quaffed the living waters of My bounty, hath drunk his fill from the heavenly river of My loving providence, acquainted himself with My Cause, apprehended that which I concealed within the treasury of My Words, and hath shone forth from the horizon of divine knowledge engaged in My praise and glorification. Verily, he is of Me. Upon him rest My mercy, My loving-kindness, My bounty and My glory." (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 16)

Hey readers, share your Ridvan reflections with the world in the comment section.

Coming Soon on Baha'i Thought: Culture Wars or Consultation?