Transcript The Baha’i Faith - Diocese of Salisbury

The Bahá’i Faith
Baha’i Teachings
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Independent investigation of truth
Oneness of God
Oneness of religion
Progressive revelation
Oneness of mankind
Universal Education
Equality of men and women
Elimination of prejudice
Abolition of extremes of wealth and poverty
Universal auxiliary language
The harmony of science and religion
The promise of world peace
Independent investigation of
truth
“By its aid thou shall see with
thine own eyes and not
through the eyes of another,
and shall know of thine own
knowledge and not through the
knowledge of thy neighbour.
Ponder this in your heart; how
it behoveth thee to be. Verily
justice is My gift to thee and
the sign of My loving kindness.
Set it then before thine eyes.”
“He does not ask us to follow Him
blindly…God has endowed
man with a mind to operate as
a torchlight and guide him to
the truth.”
Oneness of God
“ He is, and hath from everlasting been, one and
alone, without peer or equal, eternal in the past,
eternal in the future, detached from all things, ever
abiding, unchangeable, and self-subsisting.”
“Every created thing in the whole universe is but a
door leading unto His knowledge.”
“So perfect and comprehensive is His creation that no
mind or heart, however pure, can ever grasp the
nature of the most insignificant of His creatures;
much less fathom the mystery of Him Whom is the
daystar of truth”
Oneness of religion
“The religions brought to mankind by a
succession of spiritual luminaries have
been the primary link between
humanity and that ultimate reality, and
have galvanised and refined mankind’s
capacity to achieve spiritual success
together with social progress.”
“The religions have one truth underlying
them; therefore, their reality is one…
In brief, every one of the divine
religions contains essential
ordinances, which are not subject to
change, and material ordinances,
which are abrogated according to the
exigencies of time…By investigating
the truth or foundation underlying their
own and others beliefs, all would be
united and agreed, for this reality is
one; it is not multiple nor divisible.”
Progressive Revelation
“Everyone of them is a mirror of God, reflecting naught else
but His Self, His Beauty, His might and Glory…”
“For every age requires a fresh measure of the light of God.
Every Divine revelation hath been sent down in a manner
which befitted the circumstance of the age in which it hath
appeared”
“God’s purpose in sending His prophets unto men is twofold.
The first is to liberate the children of men from the darkness
of ignorance and guide them to the light of true
understanding. The second is to ensure the peace and
tranquility of mankind, and provide all the means by which
they can be established.”
Universal Education
“…inasmuch as ignorance and lack of education are barriers of separation
among mankind, all must receive training and instruction… universal
education is a universal law.”
“ The education and training of children is among the most meritorious acts of
humankind”
“ Knowledge is as wings to man’s life, and a ladder for ascent…The knowledge of
such science, however, should be acquired as can profit the people of the
earth…’
“ Regard man as mine rich in gems of inestimable values, education can alone,
cause it to reveal its treasures and enable mankind to benefit there from.”
Equality of Men and Women
“ Among the teachings… is the equality of
women and men. The world of humanity
has two wings. Not until both wings are
equally developed can the bird fly.”
Elimination of Prejudice
“All prejudice, whether of
religion, race, politics or
nations, must be
renounced, for these
prejudices have caused
the world’s sickness.”
“The fact that we imagine
ourselves to be right and
everybody else wrong is
the greatest of all
obstacles of the path
toward unity”
Abolition of extremes of wealth
and poverty
“It is important to limit
riches, as it is important
to limit poverty. Either
extreme is not good.”
“In all matters moderation is
desirable – if a thing is
carried to excess it will
prove a source of evil” –
Bahá’u’lláh
One universal auxiliary language
“ The day is approaching when all the people of
the world will have adopted one universal
language and one common script… these things
are obligatory and absolutely essential.”
The Harmony of
Science and Religion
“Religion and science are the two wings upon which man’s intelligence
can soar… should a man try to fly with the wings of religion alone he
would quickly fall into the quagmire of superstition, whilst on the other
hand, with the wings of science alone he would also make no
progress.. but fall into the despairing slough of materialism.” Abdu'lBaha
“There is no contradiction between true religion and science” – ‘Abdu'lBaha
The promise of world peace
“ Should any king take up arms against another, all
should unitedly arise and prevent him”
“peace must first be established among
individuals, until it leadeth in the end to peace
among nations”
“The wellbeing of mankind, its peace and security,
are unattainable unless and until its unity is
firmly established.
“The Earth is but one country
And mankind its citizens”