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Baha'is and politics...

arthra

Baha'i
I'm posting an article on Baha'is and politics because at least this time of year in the USA there is an abundamce of partisanship and bitter debate going on... Also you'll find no shortage of various religious groups taking up partisan positions....I think it's pretty easy sometimes for some of us to get taken up by all the hoopla of an election and so it's important to remember our principles!



Baha’is and Politics

Baha’i teachings prohibit Baha’is from engaging in partisan politics because partisanship is inherently divisive in nature, pitting groups of people against one another in struggle. Therefore, Baha’is may not join political parties, campaign for candidates in elections or participate in other forms of partisan activity.

The Baha’i writings encourage members of the Faith to vote in any political election as long as the ballot is secret and provided that voters are not required to identify themselves with a political party. Baha’is also must bear in mind that they are voting on the merits of the individual rather than because the candidate belongs to a particular party.

Not being involved in partisan politics does not mean that Baha’is are unconcerned about important issues of the day. As Baha’u'llah wrote: “Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.” Baha’is are therefore very interested in the key issues of our time: eliminating racism and promoting the equality of men and women, economic justice, moral education and peace among nations.

The Baha’i teachings center on the principle of the oneness of mankind and emphasize humanity’s need for unity and spiritual awakening. For example, Baha’u'llah wrote: “The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.” Whenever engaging in any issue, the Baha’i teachings encourage taking an approach that is unifying rather than divisive in nature. Therefore, the Baha’i Faith emphasizes helping people, communities and nations to improve their behavior through education, good deeds and the process of Baha’i consultation to solve problems.

While many of the teachings of the Baha’i Faith have political implications – promoting international peace or achieving economic justice in society, for instance – the Baha’i approach to all social issues is to promote unifying solutions instead of ones that are politically or socially divisive in nature.


Baha’is and Politics – Bahai Faith | Baha'i Faith | United States Official Website
 

arthra

Baha'i
Talk at Grand Hotel
Cincinnati, Ohio
From Stenographic Notes

As we are in Cincinnati, the home of President Taft, who has rendered such noble service in the cause of peace, I will dictate a statement for the people of Cincinnati and America generally. In the Orient I was informed that there are many lovers of peace in America. Therefore, I left my native land to associate here with those who are the standard-bearers of international conciliation and agreement. Having traveled from coast to coast, I find the United States of America vast and progressive, the government just and equitable, the nation noble and independent. I attended many meetings where international peace was discussed and am always extremely happy to witness the results of such meetings, for one of the great principles of Bahá'u'lláh's teachings is the establishment of agreement among the peoples of the world. He founded and taught this principle in the Orient fifty years ago. He proclaimed international unity, summoned the religions of the world to harmony and reconciliation and established fellowship among many races, sects and communities. At that time He wrote Epistles to the kings and rulers of the world, calling upon them to arise and cooperate with Him in spreading these principles, saying that the stability and advancement of humanity could only be realized through the unity of the nations. Through His efforts this principle of universal harmony and agreement was practically demonstrated in Persia and other countries.

Today in Persia, for instance, there are many people of various races and religions who have followed the exhortations of Bahá'u'lláh and are living together in love and fellowship without religious, patriotic or racial prejudices -- Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians and many others.

America has arisen to spread the teachings of peace, to increase the illumination of humankind and bestow happiness and prosperity upon the children of men. These are the principles and evidences of divine civilization. America is a noble nation, the standard-bearer of peace throughout the world, shedding light to all regions. Foreign nations are not untrammeled and free from intrigues and complications like the United States; therefore, they are not able to bring about universal harmony. But America -- praise be to God! -- is at peace with all the world and is worthy of raising the flag of brotherhood and international agreement. When this is done, the rest of the world will accept. All nations will join in adopting the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh revealed more than fifty years ago. In His Epistles He asked the parliaments of the world to send their wisest and best men to an international world conference which should decide all questions between the peoples and establish universal peace. This would be the highest court of appeal, and the parliament of man so long dreamed of by poets and idealists would be realized. Its accomplishment would be more far-reaching than the Hague tribunal.

I am most grateful to President Taft for having extended his influence toward the establishment of universal peace. What he has accomplished in making treaties with various nations is very good, but when we have the interparliamentary body composed of delegates from all the nations of the world and devoted to the maintenance of agreement and goodwill, the utopian dream of sages and poets, the parliament of man, will be realized.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 388-390





 
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