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Prayer for America

Dawnofhope

Non-Proselytizing Baha'i
Staff member
Premium Member
I’ve been experiencing an intense preoccupation with the United States of America and even feeling intense love and irritation for a nation I’ve never even lived in. Funny thing that.

Last night I attended a Baha’i meeting but couldn’t stop thinking about America. At the end of our meeting one of my friends recited a prayer for America and it really helped calm my troubled spirit.

Here’s the prayer:

O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to Thee. These hearts are radiant with Thy love. These minds and spirits are exhilarated by the message of Thy glad tidings. O God! Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees, even as it has aspired to material degrees, and render this just government victorious. Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity, to promulgate the Most Great Peace, to become thereby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the nations of the world. O God! This American nation is worthy of Thy favors and is deserving of Thy mercy. Make it precious and near to Thee through Thy bounty and bestowal.

I see it was published in the Huffington Post.

Baha'i Prayer and Quotes About America | HuffPost

The prayer was said by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Chicago 1912 long before Woodrow Wilson’s proposal for the League of Nations and later the United Nations came to pass. Much has changed for the better in the last 108 years of course but a little room for improvement too.

So I’ve been thinking about crisis being an opportunity for the USA to rise to even greater heights. Anyway, I just wanted to post because America, like Georgia, is always on my mind.

How do you see America’s spiritual capacity?

upload_2020-11-6_22-23-25.jpeg


Btw, this is in the Interfaith Discussion section. No debating and definitely no decisive politics.
 

PoetPhilosopher

Veteran Member
America is in a bad time. There's been something I've been thinking about though. It's, if things get worse rather than better, I know it may be a little unconventional to think this... but I wonder if God would send a manifestation?

Things look promising still. But there's a certain percent chance they could go for the worse, as democracy hangs in the balance.

Now I realize that in not all cases is a manifestation of God needed, either. There can be a great spiritual and nation revival without God intervening to that magnitude, for example.

But the current course isn't working as my country now really needs a shutdown to stop the coronavirus. And only 1 of the 2 candidates seems to believe in such a thing at this point.
 

Terrywoodenpic

Oldest Heretic
I am sure the crisis in the USA is on everyone's minds throughout the world.
Probably to a far greater extent than they would like to admit.
I am also sure that a lot of praying is going on.
Though it is probably mostly of the kind seeking support for one side or another ,
rather than for the good of either the USA or the rest of the world.

The world has has become increasingly divisive over the past few years.
that is so, both inside nations and between nations.
This has spread to divisions in and between religions.
Even though many religious leaders have been speaking out for restraint and common love between them.
The world is in a period of extreme stress; from global warming, destruction of the environment, Pandemic,
international envy, hate and trade wars, and political division, terrorism, and financial instability. and the break up of cooperative institutions of all kinds
Like rats in a barrel, everyone is fighting against something.
No one it seems can see the wood for the trees.
The problems all require friendship, cooperation and good will and genericity of spirit, to overcome them.
not enough of us recognise the universality of God, and his love, as a rallying point for every one to muster behind, and do the right things,
rather than stand by and watch the world sink into destruction and oblivion.
At the moment we are all watching the USA's political system implode,
with the prospect of a further four year period of stalemate and crisis,
as their political parties stubbornly refuse to cooperate to solve their national problems.
Nor address those that affect the world.
 

Dawnofhope

Non-Proselytizing Baha'i
Staff member
Premium Member
America is in a bad time. There's been something I've been thinking about though. It's, if things get worse rather than better, I know it may be a little unconventional to think this... but I wonder if God would send a manifestation?

Things look promising still. But there's a certain percent chance they could go for the worse, as democracy hangs in the balance.

Now I realize that in not all cases is a manifestation of God needed, either. There can be a great spiritual and nation revival without God intervening to that magnitude, for example.

But the current course isn't working as my country now really needs a shutdown to stop the coronavirus. And only 1 of the 2 candidates seems to believe in such a thing at this point.

120,000 new coronavirus cases yesterday and 1,100 deaths is very sobering. Being one of the most technologically advanced and prosperous countries counts a lot less than unity, caring for those most in need and following the science. These are some of the key spiritual principles. I see a desire amongst many across the political divide to apply those principles.
 

Terrywoodenpic

Oldest Heretic
120,000 new coronavirus cases yesterday and 1,100 deaths is very sobering. Being one of the most technologically advanced and prosperous countries counts a lot less than unity, caring for those most in need and following the science. These are some of the key spiritual principles. I see a desire amongst many across the political divide to apply those principles.

I see much the opposite in the American political divide. There is a distinct lack of belief in the science and following guidelines and holding large public gatherings, being promoted by the followers of Trump, compared to the social distancing, mask wearing and postal voting of the Democrat camp.
The same can be said for virtually all environmental issues, and global warming as well as supporting and funding international efforts.

Cooperation is at an all time low.
 

Laika

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
How do you see America’s spiritual capacity?

It is very strange to find myself grieving over a political system I do not support for a country I have never lived in. Whoever wins this election, it will be by a very narrow margin and will be greatly contested over the next few weeks and months. Looking ahead I worry about what it means for our failure to address climate change and how the world will be affected by that, probably within my own lifetime.

And yet, somehow, I think about how that small group of wealthy old white men gathered in Philadelphia to defy the world and the political realities of their times to write a constitution for a republic that has lasted America through a civil war, a great depression, two world wars and the threat of a thermonuclear annihilation in the cold war, and lived to tell the tale. Slavery was wrong, but even the founding fathers, as slave-owners with a vested interest in perpetuating it, had the belief and hope that it would disappear and be abolished in the end. They were willing to discuss it's evil and consider whether it was compatible with their ideals, and there is a strange nobility in seeing far beyond your immediate concerns in order to achieve that.

I can understand how people might have sided with Hitler or Stalin in the 1930s and 1940's, as they were both representatives of bold, new experiments in systems of government which, in retrospect, we know were terrible for the people who lived under them. I will even concede a grudging respect for the Neo-Nazis and Neo-fascists who spend their lives dedicated to an ideology, suffering the consequences of going against the currents of public opinion and history. They are doing it for something they believe in, which unfortunately happens to be hideous, but their is a weird virtue in the courage of that kind of naked and open defiance. Having experienced the terrible loneliness of dissent as a Communist, with the enormous amount of abuse and despiar that comes with it, I have the imagination to sympathise.

But I can't comprehend the frightening nihilism of throwing away America's system of government and the future security of the human race against climate-related disasters when there are so much easier alternatives readily available. That I am struggling with. The founding fathers, the Nazis and the Communists each sought to build a new world, and whilst we recognise- with the benefit of a great deal of hindsight- that some brought out the best and in others the worst of what people were capable of. They were fighting for something and were willing to life, die and kill for it, as terrible as that ultimately is.

I just don't have the comprehension to understand how refusing to wear a mask, wash your hands and stand two metres apart because you believe it is "tyranny" so you can risk a horrible, painful death from coronavirus in the name of "freedom", when it is so easily preventable, rises to the same level of martyrdom for a cause. I don't understand how the fear of "socialism" is so bad that it is a fate worse than death, that it is better to die in bankruptcy and to leave medical debts to your children than to face the "abject terror" of having free healthcare. This doesn't even touch the magnitude of nihilism for voluntarily supporting someone who will destroy the planet for "freedom" by refusing to act on climate change and deny it even exists so that you, your kids and grand children can suffer. I'm sorry... I just don't get it. It leaves me very cold, confused, perplexed and speechless.

All I can hope is the inconclusive nature of the current election is a repudiation of both major political parties. It may even give us the freedom to ask questions outside of what we previously believed was possible within the constraints of the two-party "liberal" versus "conservative" divide, because it has turned out they are both wrong, and shockingly so. There is a certain wisdom in that, in rejecting the efforts to manipulate and control us to behave a certain way that works to the benefit of others and ultimately not for ourselves, but I don't really know where we go from here.

All we can do is put one foot in front of the other and take it one step at a time, one day at a time. I don't know how we got here or where we are going, but America is leading the way to where ever it is, whatever it is. It is very strange and perplexing indeed.
 
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Native

Free Natural Philosopher & Comparative Mythologist
Last night I attended a Baha’i meeting but couldn’t stop thinking about America. At the end of our meeting one of my friends recited a prayer for America and it really helped calm my troubled spirit.
Nice intentions indeed :)
But when thinking of all political "God sawe America" wishes and the religious institutions in USA, it all doesn´t seem to have any effects at all so far. I´m "afraid" that everything is up to the American people themselves to find a common way to equality and democracy.
 

Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
So I’ve been thinking about crisis being an opportunity for the USA to rise to even greater heights. Anyway, I just wanted to post because America, like Georgia, is always on my mind.

How do you see America’s spiritual capacity?

Many Americans still tend to be very religious and believe that God has blessed America. There is still strong belief in the idea of "Manifest Destiny," even if the original idea has been altered somewhat (and the terminology changed to things like "American Dream" or "Shining City on the Hill"). Some might also believe that America has a role to play in God's plan.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
Just observations ...

I'm saddened by the degeneration of civility. Trump, and others like him, have accelerated it. Rather than look at policy, we look at personality. The GOP might well have won with a landslide if it weren't for their leader.
Somewhere about the 70s, a politician somewhere introduced attack ads, and discovered it worked. Here in Canada, it was tried on a former Prime Minister (Chretien) about a disfigurement on his mouth. It backfired miserably, and people like myself cheered, hoping we'd get back to a more civil time in politics, where politics on the opposite side could still be fishing buddies, or play a round of golf.

But the 'attack the opponent' gained strength. Rudeness grew, and instead of voting against it, or ignoring it to look at policy, voters took to personality. Looking at policy is difficult. It takes time, it takes education. Looking at inane simple attacks is easy. Anyone can do that. (Try asking Joe Ordinary about taxes.)

America also has another challenge much of the world doesn't ... the 2 party system that has evolved. It limits your choice. Many countries have several parties, and they are faced with making alliances to co-operate. It's more complex. America is simple. Them, or us. Not healthy.

Peace, America.
 

wellwisher

Well-Known Member
The problem within America was the elite in Washington, felt threatened by Trump. The dual standards of justice, they had installed for themselves, were under assault. Hillary Clinton was not punished for destroying evidence since she was above the law. Biden did what many do in Washington; influence peddling, and this was ignored since he was also above the law.

The deep state commandeered the media to run a perpetual negativity campaign that divided the country. Why would anyone blame one person who is being bullied by 90% of the media; cast of thousands, every single day, using misinformation and lies? Talk about a bunch of zombies. Remember the collusion delusion and the censorship by Facebook and Twitter? There was also censorship of good news and truth that painted a misleading picture designed to divide.

This latest election fraud scam, by those who do not fear punishment, is going to backfire. Trump led the media for four years. He kept many failing media outlets, like the NYT, alive by being their constant scapegoat. As private citizen Trump, liable and copyright laws will apply, and there is no reason to believe Trump will not start his own media empire, base on his popularity, brand and vision.

As a self proclaimed journalist, this will place Trump beyond the deep state, where he can finish the job of equal justice for all. Trump was less a risk as president since the the enemy of the deep state was kept close. But as a journalists, he farther away and can dig up dirt on all his political and media opponents and feed it to his 50 million person audience. One system of justice for all we restore unity.
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees, even as it has aspired to material degrees
...
How do you see America’s spiritual capacity?

"Shining City on the Hill"). Some might also believe that America has a role to play in God's plan.

The USA has been probably the most material country in the world in the last couple of centuries at least. We have celebrated self-reliance and material progress and it has made this country a world power.

The task now is to meld the spiritual with the material, not by rejecting one for the other, but by the classic: thesis/antithesis/synthesis.

That I think is God's plan and America's role.
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
America is simple. Them, or us. Not healthy.

Peace, America.

I think it comes down to that, really.

I've heard it said "you get the government you deserve", and our politics, to me, seems just a symptom of a larger problem. In the US, it seems there's increasingly becoming a 'right' and 'wrong' way to do things. When it comes to lifestyles, a person choosing to live a certain way isn't 'doing things differently than I would' they're 'doing them wrong'. And as time goes by, we're becoming increasingly militant over it... And I'm not talking about large movements or incidents that need to be addressed, its the little things. You're raising your kids wrong. Your diet is wrong. You buy your clothes from the wrong sources. You're in the wrong religion/lack of religion. Wrong wrong wrong. Always wrong. After a while, a person tires of hearing this, and they get hostile back in that direct, "no, you're wrong! Not me!" With all this yelling and screaming, we can't focus on things long enough to actually work together to get any problems solved...

Until we fix our social issues, our politics will always be a hot mess.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
I think it comes down to that, really.

I've heard it said "you get the government you deserve", and our politics, to me, seems just a symptom of a larger problem. In the US, it seems there's increasingly becoming a 'right' and 'wrong' way to do things. When it comes to lifestyles, a person choosing to live a certain way isn't 'doing things differently than I would' they're 'doing them wrong'. And as time goes by, we're becoming increasingly militant over it... And I'm not talking about large movements or incidents that need to be addressed, its the little things. You're raising your kids wrong. Your diet is wrong. You buy your clothes from the wrong sources. You're in the wrong religion/lack of religion. Wrong wrong wrong. Always wrong. After a while, a person tires of hearing this, and they get hostile back in that direct, "no, you're wrong! Not me!" With all this yelling and screaming, we can't focus on things long enough to actually work together to get any problems solved...

Until we fix our social issues, our politics will always be a hot mess.

After I posted I googled Sweden and Germany, just out of curiousity. Sweden has 8 main parties, and Germany had 5. That would most certainly bring about dialogue in the politician, as nobody gets to rule without a coalition, and for the people, they have to think some, as there are several choices, not just 'this' or 'that'. Those systems seem altogether healthier. Just imagine if there were a couple more presidential candidates, with some chance of winning. Far more likely to vote because of the positive, than because of the negative.

But I certainly wouldn't know how to change it.
 
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JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
After I posted I googled Sweden and Germany, just out of curiousity. Sweden has 8 main parties, and Germany had 5. That would most certainly bring about dialogue in the politician, as nobody gets to rule without a coalition, and for the people, that have to think some, as their are several choices, not just 'this' or 'that'. Those systems seem altogether healthier. Just imagine if there were a couple more presidential candidates, with some chance of winning. Far more likely to vote because of the positive, than because of the negative.

But I certainly wouldn't know how to change it.

I think this would be a good start. I know a lot of people who, during the last election, penciled in Bernie Sanders because they were disgusted at the Democratic party.

The 'this or that' is killing us over here. I think of it like two groups of people playing tug of war over a chasm. Eventually someone's gonna fall in, and the whole system will fall apart(maybe that's what's happening now?) And the terms 'left wing' and 'right wing'...what would happen if a bird has two left wings, or two right ones? It will fly in a circle and get no where...
 

IndigoChild5559

Loving God and my neighbor as myself.
I’ve been experiencing an intense preoccupation with the United States of America and even feeling intense love and irritation for a nation I’ve never even lived in. Funny thing that.

Last night I attended a Baha’i meeting but couldn’t stop thinking about America. At the end of our meeting one of my friends recited a prayer for America and it really helped calm my troubled spirit.

Here’s the prayer:

O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to Thee. These hearts are radiant with Thy love. These minds and spirits are exhilarated by the message of Thy glad tidings. O God! Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees, even as it has aspired to material degrees, and render this just government victorious. Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity, to promulgate the Most Great Peace, to become thereby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the nations of the world. O God! This American nation is worthy of Thy favors and is deserving of Thy mercy. Make it precious and near to Thee through Thy bounty and bestowal.

I see it was published in the Huffington Post.

Baha'i Prayer and Quotes About America | HuffPost

The prayer was said by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Chicago 1912 long before Woodrow Wilson’s proposal for the League of Nations and later the United Nations came to pass. Much has changed for the better in the last 108 years of course but a little room for improvement too.

So I’ve been thinking about crisis being an opportunity for the USA to rise to even greater heights. Anyway, I just wanted to post because America, like Georgia, is always on my mind.

How do you see America’s spiritual capacity?

View attachment 44761

Btw, this is in the Interfaith Discussion section. No debating and definitely no decisive politics.
Thank you for your prayers. We certainly need them.

I've been sick with anxiety over this election, so much has been at stake, and the threat about turmoil has been so real. Thankfully the violence I feared hasn't panned out.

There are some good things to be thankful for. It is a good thing that people are treating this seriously. It is good that so many turned out for the election. It is good that so many wonderful volunteers have given their time and energy as election workers, monitoring or counting. I think even the media have tried hard to be fair, fighting the temptation to make premature calls for who might have won.

I think we can all agree on the basics -- all legal ballots should be counted, and it's not over til its over.

And its really going to be a long time before it's truly over. We will probably have a preliminary declaration tonight (Friday night), but there must be recounts in Wisconsin and Georgia because the results were so razor thin. Some votes wont be in until today or Monday even, from ex-patriots and those in the armed services, even though they were cast by Nov 3, and those legal votes need to be counted. And as for the legal challenges, if they lack legal standing they will be thrown out, and if they do have legal standing they will be heard. We must trust the system.
 

loverofhumanity

We are all the leaves of one tree
Premium Member
Hi Adrian. Good reflection. For me, the way I view the current crisis in America is that tests are necessary if America is to lead the world spiritually according to Bahá’í prophecies.

To transform from the most politically corrupt nation on earth as Shoghi Effendi described, to then become the leader of the world spiritually, will take heaps more convulsions and calamities because nothings really changed at all, nor is it likely to change with a change in leader, because it is the system which breeds corruption.

Consumerism and capitalism has emptied our world of valuable spiritual virtues and replaced it with cheapened versions of love and happiness, with the sole aim of making profit. Money is used to gain power. The incumbent spent US$1 billion to try and win the senate instead of pouring it into the people. Then there’s the $trillion military budget.

Is a change of leader going to change this system based on greed and exploitation? Never. Just like Rome, I believe it will implode and it’s corruption, I believe, will bring it down, until we see some women leaders who really care about people gain ascendency,

Good women like that awesome lady in NZ.

These guys have run the world and brought us misery and wars. Let the family minded, people caring women start to have real impact and then we’ll see an America that is fit to be a spiritual example to the world. But for now, and the immediate future it’s a laughing stock, because the people allow so much corruption and think nothing of it. Not a person raised an eyebrow about the billion spent to try and win senate seats. So people are ok with corruption.

Only women I believe can and will put a stop to it but good women. Women won’t let America send their sons to be killed nor permit trillions spent on useless junk weapons. While men dominate America will degenerate further, is my conviction.


It’s like this for me - men are the body but women are the soul. We need both but at the moment the world, and especially America, is a body without a soul.
 
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