"lighten and uplift
them, so that they may soar on the wings of the Divine verses"
-Baha'u'llah
Social
and Moral Teachings
The
Oneness of Humanity
The idea that all humanity is one race forms the foundation
for the other principles of social justice in the Bahá'í
Faith. Bahá'u'lláh condemned racial and ethnic prejudice,
urging: "Close
your eyes to racial differences, and welcome all with the
light of oneness."
Bahá'u'lláh
also unequivocally proclaimed the equality of the
sexes-at a time when the women's movement was only
beginning its fight for suffrage in the West and such
ideas were unheard of in the Middle East-thus becoming
the first Founder of a world religion to explicitly
uphold strict equality for women and men.
"Women
and men have been and will always be equal in the
sight of God."
- Bahá'u'lláh
Indeed,
girls should receive priority in education--if by some
circumstance a family (or a society) cannot afford to
educate its children equally. "Until
the reality of equality between men and women is fully
established and attained, the highest social development of
mankind is not possible," the
Bahá'í scriptures state.
This challenge to
full equality does not ignore natural differences between
the sexes. Bahá'u'lláh emphasized the importance of
motherhood, fatherhood and family life.
Bahá'u'lláh's call for economic justice also reflects His
central theme of human oneness. He wrote extensively about
the necessity of promoting economic justice and proposed
specific remedies to help control the extreme inequalities
of wealth in human society. The redistribution of wealth
through a tax on income, for example, and the concept of
profit-sharing are both promoted in His teachings.
"He
Who is your lord, the All-Merciful, cherisheth in
His heart the desire of beholding the entire human
race as one soul and one body."
- Bahá'u'lláh
This challenge to full
equality does not ignore natural differences between the
sexes. Bahá'u'lláh emphasized
the importance of motherhood, fatherhood and family life.
Bahá'u'lláh's call for economic justice also reflects His
central theme of human oneness. He wrote extensively about the
necessity of promoting economic justice and proposed specific
remedies to help control the extreme inequalities of wealth in
human society. The redistribution of wealth through a tax on
income, for example, and the concept of profit-sharing are
both promoted in His teachings.
Education is given a special emphasis as humanity is
considered capable of tremendous progress and advancement.
"Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable
value," wrote Bahá'u'lláh.
"Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures,
and enable mankind to benefit therefrom."
Education, accordingly, should be universal and should
incorporate positive spiritual values and moral attitudes. Bahá'ís
envision a future in which even "basic education"
goes beyond rote learning and the teaching of simple skills.
Students must be given the tools to analyze social conditions
and requirements themselves, to take part in community
planning and action, and to investigate truth on their own.
The oneness of humanity is an essential element of every Bahá'í
curriculum.
The theme of unity also emerges in Bahá'u'lláh's teachings
on science. His writings portray science and religion as
different yet harmonious approaches to the comprehension of
reality. These two paths are essentially compatible and
mutually reinforcing.
Scientific method is humanity's tool for understanding the
physical side of the universe. It can describe the composition
of an atomic nucleus or the molecular structure of DNA. It is
the key to new technologies. Science cannot, however, guide us
in the use of such knowledge. The revelation of God offers to
humanity a basis for values and purpose. It provides answers
to those questions of morals, human purpose, and our
relationship to God that science cannot approach.
The independent investigation of reality, whether scientific
or religious, is strongly encouraged in Bahá'u'lláh's
writings. Individuals should strive, He said, to free
themselves from prejudices, preconceptions and reliance on
tradition or traditional authorities. Consultation is a
critical tool for discovering truth. Bahá'u'lláh also called
for the adoption of a universal auxiliary language as a means
to promote unity. "The
day is approaching when all the peoples of the world will have
adopted one universal language and one common script,"
He wrote. "When
this is achieved, to whatsoever city a man may journey, it
shall be as if he were entering his own home." The
term "auxiliary" is important: Bahá'u'lláh's
injuction is not a mandate for cultural uniformity. Indeed,
the Bahá'í teachings both value and promote cultural
diversity.
When first outlined by Bahá'u'lláh more than 100 years ago,
these principles were as radical as any social program ever
drafted. The fact that they have not only borne the passage of
time, but, indeed, become ever more widely proclaimed and
recognized is a testimony to the vision that produced them.
Bahá'u'lláh's moral code for the individual, and His pattern
for marriage and family life are wholly consonant with the
genuine needs of modern society. As with the social
principles, the laws of Bahá'u'lláh on individual morality
and family structure are aimed at the promotion of unity and
well-being for society at large. "They
whom God hath endued with insight will readily recognize that
the precepts laid down by God constitute the highest means for
the maintenance of order in the world and the security of its
peoples," Bahá'u'lláh
wrote.
This
insight--that the standards for social justice and
individual conduct outlined by Bahá'u'lláh offer an
integrated and distinctive approach to the apparently
intractable problems faced by humanity today--underlies
the essential optimism of the worldwide Bahá'í
community. Whether considering the threat of
environmental degradation, the cancer of racism, or the
erosion of the family, Bahá'ís believe firmly that
answers are available in the writings of Bahá'u'lláh.
Their commitment is to share these insights with the
world. > MORE
"The
well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are
unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly
established"
