I have noticed that some religious people are just going about their ‘business as usual’ while the world economy is crashing and people are dying from this virus. I cannot put my finger on it, but something does not seem right about that. I mean in my religious community all they are talking about is being able to keep up with their regular activities which they are now doing online since we are not allowed to meet in groups per order of the governor.
So they have figured a ‘workaround’ whereby they can keep going on living as they always have as if nothing is even happening, and to top that off they are so happy just because they can continue to meet. I just don’t get it. All they seem to care about is having their meetings and get-togethers, including prayer meetings online, even a concert and their Naw Ruz celebration. Well, maybe I don’t get it because I am not sociable, at least not in person, only on forums, but this does not seem like a time to be celebrating.
Well, to be fair, maybe some people do not think this coronavirus pandemic is that serious. Do they have a television set? Or maybe they lost their remote control? Or maybe I am wrong and this is pandemic really no big deal? After all, it has only shut down schools and businesses across the United States and ravaged economies worldwide, not to mention all the sick and dying. But maybe it is no big deal.
I am always open to opinions from those who agree or disagree with me, or those who just have an opinion of their own.
According to the Baha’i Faith, Baha’u’llah brought the solution to the problems we are facing in the world today, the political, social and economic injustices, but not many people even know about the Baha’i Faith because all the Baha’is ever do is meet and meet and meet and meet amongst themselves. Nobody can blame Baha’u’llah for that; He brought the medicine but they are not distributing it.
Obviously a religious group is not going to cure the coronavirus. According to my religion, science is just as important as religion and absolutely necessary for the continuance and advancement of life on earth. A vaccine for the coronavirus rests solely in the hands of scientists, and treatment falls in the hands of the health care workers. I do not imagine they are sitting in meetings talking about what they are going to do, they are doing it.
So what are we going to do now, as a nation, as a world? According to Baha’u’llah we are all one people living in an interdependent world and we have to work together in service to the entire human race. The reason I became a Baha’i in the first place was because of quotes like the following, as I am an idealist, but I also have practical considerations:
“It is incumbent upon every man of insight and understanding to strive to translate that which hath been written into reality and action…. That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race. The Great Being saith: Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth. In another passage He hath proclaimed: It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 250
Obviously I am not going to come up with any solutions on my own but at least I am concerned. How many religious people are concerned? Do they believe that God is going to fix the coronavirus pandemic and the mess the world is in, or have they even noticed there is a problem? Do they even care? From what I have seen religious people are either waiting for Jesus to return and fix everything, or if they are a member of my religion they are sitting in meetings and talking and praying. What real practical value does that have? How is that going to help people who have been economically ravaged by this pandemic, people who have no job and no money, people who lost everything in the market crash?
For me, religion is not a social club. I have no interest in affiliating with members of my religion unless they are going to talk about what really matters, according to the Writings of Baha’u’llah. But I am sure they do not want to hear from me anyway, because all I do is rock their boat. I do not call myself Trailblazer for no reason.
