Finch

I am doing a research paper on Baha'i Religion, and I am just not sure what information should be posted under Society and Religion. Any idea, links, resources you have that would be helpful?

Thanks

cire perdue

Unity due to the Covenants of Baha'u'llah and Abdul'baha that are in the Wills and Testaments thereof is unique to this Faith. We have never had a world religion with clear succession. Baha'is agree to this to enroll whether they believe it or not. When one sees the unity at work it is an amazing experience.

We have elected institutions that are by secret ballot, allow NO campaigning, or even discussion of names even between husband and wife. Our institutions govern by concensus. Full majority is preferred and worked for, but not mandatory. We do not act as partisans for ideas when we do consultation to make decisions. I can propose an idea, and later diagree with it and support another. When I give an idea to the discussion it is no longer mine. The youngest Baha'i, the newest Baha'i, the most uneducated Baha'i have equal voice. We discount NO one's ideas the best ideas or plans have come from the unexpected. The accomplishments of this Faith have been done by ordinary people who made the effort to do extrordinary things. The new believer can be elected to an Assembly and become the Chairman, can have great responsibilities as treasurer. If there is individual status it is because that person is loving. To love others and to be loveable is what BAha'is strive to be. (Daniel Jordan-THE COMPREHENSIVE DEEPENING PROGRAM).

Baha'is seek to serve others, but it does not have to be overt like going to a 3rd world country and opening a school, all cannot do that, but we can serve our fellow man. We are not here to argue. It is against our principles to argue. Our primary focus is that mankind one and all men and women are our family.

Baha'is believe the purpose of man is to know and love God. I came into the Faith from a gay bar in 1972 where I met the Baha'i who taught me. I became a Baha'i that year. I wasn't enrolled as soon as I thought i was read, not until '73. however since then I have done whatever it took to be a Baha'i that lived as a Baha'i. Sometime I got help so I could keep a job, but always it was to be a Baha'i with those standards. In some ways I have not had a choice but to get help, but it has worked in that I feel I am a Baha'i who is acceptable to Baha'u'llah. During an illness recently i had a vision of Abdul'baha who if words were said I do not remember, but told me I was loved and acceptable,that things would be okay, and that if there was not enough laughter in my life, there was too much fear. It meant a great deal to me, though I get no status, but seem to spread hope.

The Baha'i Faith offers a mystical approach to God to all the believers. God is considered the Beloved and we are drawn to Him, as moths to the candle flame. We are expected to have an inner life of faith. We are to pray morning and night and to read sacred writings morning and night. We are to examine our lives and make effort to replace our defects with virtues. Myticism is NOT mysterious, it is simply having a personal relationship with God. I have had recent mystical experiences in the traditional view of mysticism, feeling the presence of God as well. I do not seek it, but it does seem to be happening. I cannot tell you how much it means, but i would still be a Baha'i without it. It is not to be expected, but it happens to many Baha'is.

Hope this helps.

tonybahaiforums

Revelation & Social Reality
Author: Paul Lample

Hope it is helpful ^o^

arthra

That's a very broad topic and there are so many references you can find in Baha'i Writings and other sources .. You could focus on the Principles of the Faith dealing with universal education, a world parliament. an international court of arbitration, race unity, equality of men and women, reducing the extremes of wealth and poverty, etc.,

or you could focus on how Baha'i communities are set up and function..

Finch

Thank you! During my research I didn't find all of that information about the elections.

Your dream is very interesting. Do you think you can have dreams like this with family members that have passed?

cire perdue

Well, I trust dreams a great deal. I have always had a dream about loved ones that pass. There aren't really memorable but I feel I have been greeted and they are okay. Baha'is don't believe in ghosts, but dreams are a pretty universal experience. Tahirih dreamed of meeting the Bab, she was one of the 18 who found Him without any announcement. Those 18 are called the Letter of the Living and sought and found the Bab on their own before He announced His Revelation. I'm glad you asked.

I have a friend of 34 years who I thought I had told about the "vision" (?). We had a great laugh, because he says, "I think you got cheated on that vision." He meant it in the best way. I mean how about a vision that is "there's gold in the hills....proclaim this Faith walking down the middle of the street downtown.....Go house to house and engage all in prayer....." The simplicity of the message tends to mean more toward it being valid than something that was really complex!!!!