OLATUNDE ALLEN TIMILEHIN
MAY 2010
THE BAHA'I FAITH AND ITS WORLD COMMUNITY
The Baha'i Faith is an independent world religion with adherents in virtually every country. The Baha'i world community includes almost all nationalities, classes, trades and professions. Its membership of over 5 million is comprised of people living in more than 118,000 localities in over 200 countries and territories - 166 of these independent nations - and unites men and women of various religious and ethnic origins. More than 2,000 ethnic groups and tribes are represented. The central principles of the Baha'i Faith are the oneness of God, the oneness of religion, and the oneness of mankind. Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the religion, taught that divine Revelation is a continuous and progressive process and that the missions of the messengers of God represent successive stages in the spiritual evolution of human society. Baha'is believe that humanity is one family created by God. The Baha'i community promotes the unity of mankind and the establishment of peace in the world. The teachings of the Baha'i Faith provide solutions to problems which have been barriers to the achievement of unity and peace.
From online source (http://www.bahai.org/faq/facts/bahai_faith), anonymous writer opines that the unified principle of Bahai faith has some elements of national building capacity that can be applied to nations where there are economical, political, social and religion differences and prejudice like Nigeria. In West African Nations, the issue of unity has been an ancient trap that always victimized the innocent and the unprivileged in getting national right and privilege because there is self interest and diversion. The nepotism and partiality by tribe and discrimination of gender and religious status has become the order of the day and the masses suffer in silence. Bahai Faith in their solution to national differences which suffer economic growth of a nation, they came up with twelve principles that will justify unity on the ground of rejection of diversity by tribe, religion gender or political status.
PRINCIPLES OF THE BAHÁ'Í FAITH
Encyclopedia Britannica (2009) states that the principal Bahá'í tenets are the essential unity of all religions and the unity of humanity. Bahá'í believe that all the founders of the world's great religions have been manifestations of God and agents of a progressive divine plan for the education of the human race. The principles of the Bahá'í Faith were established by Bahá'u'lláh, the Founder of the Faith, in the latter half of the nineteenth century and promulgated by His Son and appointed successor, 'Abdu'l-Bahá during a tireless twenty -nine year ministry. While on an historic teaching trip in 1912 throughout the United States and Canada, 'Abdu'l-Bahá explained Bahá'u'lláh's Teachings to audiences of infinitely varied backgrounds. From online source (http://www.bahai.com/Bahaullah/principles.html)
Many of His talks included discussions of such Bahá'í principles as:
1. The Oneness of the World of Humanity.
2. The independent investigation of the truth
3. The Foundation of all Religions is One
4. Religion Must be a Source of Unity
5. Religion must be in accord with Science and Reason
6. Equality of men and women.
7. Elimination of prejudice of all kinds.
8. Universe Peace
9. Universal compulsory education.
10. A spiritual solution to the economic problem.
11. A universal auxiliary language.
12. Establishment of an International Tribunal.
1. THE ONENESS OF THE WORLD OF HUMANITY
A fundamental teaching of Bahá'u'lláh is the oneness of the world of humanity. Addressing mankind He says, "Ye are all leaves of one tree and the fruits of one branch." By this it is meant that the world of humanity is like a tree, the nations or peoples are the different limbs or branches of that tree and the individual human creatures are as the fruits and blossoms thereof. Although in former centuries and times this subject received some measure of mention and consideration, it has now become the paramount issue and question in the religious and political conditions of the world. History shows that throughout the past there have been continual warfare and strife among the various nations, peoples and sects, but now.... in this century of illumination, hearts are inclined toward agreement and fellowship and minds are thoughtful upon the question of the unification of mankind. Online Source (http://www.bahai.com/Bahaullah/).
What incalculable benefits and blessings would descend upon the great human family if unity and brotherhood were established! In this century when the beneficent results of unity and the ill effects of discord are so clearly apparent, the means for the attainment and accomplishment of human fellowship have appeared in the world. From online source (http://www.bahai.com/Bahaullah/principles.html)
Nigeria as a nation of diverse tongue of dialects and multi socio-cultural community needs the application of this principle when the art of unification of culture and belief shall incline towards agreement and fellowship which will progress the social, economical and political trends of achieving stability and peace without strife with one another. This principle is much needed as the counsel for the social, religious and political crisis especially in Jos, Nigeria which has marred the unification of the nation.
2. THE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF THE TRUTH
All must be free to seek out truth in their own way. Truth is the object of search among the principles of finding and gaining new knowledge about the existence of ourselves. Without the gained knowledge, we are but in darkness, unlearned, uncaring and an unimportant animal of creation. However, when mankind is stimulated to even investigate the simplest of items, radiant brilliance of truth of science, religion, knowledge of all things are opened to his understanding.
Truth is one, of one accord, and can not contradict another truth, for being of the same origin; truth is always of the same radiant vibration. The use of the intellect is the fundamental tool and foundation to search after truth and knowledge. A pure heart and free will to search, to investigate, is the very foundation of an independent search for Truth. Let it swell in the hearts of all mankind. Once truth is found, then unity can be achieved in its total essence. Online Source (http://www.bahai.com/Bahaullah/).
Search for the truth in Nigeria is substituted with corrupt panels that know the truth but refuse to express the truth. The inadequacy of truth-upholder in this nation will not achieve express revival of truth. When the facts that perpetuate stronghold of disunity is known, the peace will arise. Nigeria Senates and other committees that make law need to apply this principle to promote unity in social and communal life; and also work the eviction of constant religious crises.
3. THE FOUNDATION OF ALL RELIGIONS IS ONE
The foundation of all the divine religions is one. All are based upon reality. Reality does not admit plurality, yet amongst mankind there have arisen differences concerning the manifestations of God. Some have been Zoroastrians; some are Buddhists, some Jews, Christians, Mohammedans and so on. This has become a source of divergence whereas the teachings of the holy souls who founded the divine religions are one in essence and reality. Religious prejudice thus becomes the cause of warfare and battle. If we abandon these time-worn imitations and investigate reality all of us will be unified. No discord will remain; antagonism will disappear. All will associate in fellowship. All will enjoy the cordial bonds of friendship.
This principle emphasizes mainly on the accommodation of religious bodies without bias and conflict of interest on who is superior. Such promotes morality. If Nigerian religious bodies should maintain peaceful atmosphere on the scene of religious crisis in the Northern part in which Mohammedans want to prove supreme over others and wanting to initiate all other religion to become their strong foundation of unity should be established. Bahai Principle on oneness in the religion affairs of a nation will maintain peace and unity.
4. RELIGION MUST BE A SOURCE OF UNITY
The oneness of Religion is an essential part of World Order. For until men are united spiritually, there can be no true brotherhood, nor any universally accepted authority.
God does not leave us to fight it out among ourselves. His Book of Laws has the same authority as the Ten Commandments or the Sermon on the Mount and is acceptable to all religions. This new age, this new cycle of human power, revolves around a new principle, the principle of Unity. World unity is the goal towards which a harassed humanity is striving. Nation building has come to an end. The anarchy inherent in state sovereignty is moving towards a climax. A world, growing to maturity, must abandon this fetish, recognize the oneness and wholeness of human relationship and establish once for all the machinery that can best incarnate this fundamental principle of its life." Online Source (http://www.bahai.com/Bahaullah/).
Religion in Nigeria has bone of contention in national diversity in which unity has suffered much from. Everyone belongs to one religion in which the psychological acts of individuals have background effect influence from religion. However, the religion has a big say on everyone and it is affecting the political system of this country. Yet, we could not achieve that but crisis, riot, massacre and burning of properties in the name of religion. Nigerian needs religious revival that we theme her mission to be unity and unity. Religion must be a source of unity in making communal responsibility active and promoting development among the citizenry. Nigeria needs this principle especially in Northern part that militated the rest religion.
5. RELIGION MUST BE IN ACCORD WITH SCIENCE AND REASON
There exist conflict between science and religion today, which is not new to the chronological records of man's history. The annals of history provide numberless accounts of scientists who have been persecuted in the name of religion and forced with horrible tortures to deny their discoveries. A recent trend, changes the swing of the pendulum the other way, forcing religion now to adapt its theological universe to the realities uncovered by science. The steady, victorious advance of science has tended not only to technologize but also to secularize the life of humanity. This has proved an advantage from one point of view, in that it has freed man's mind and man's creative activities from the chains and trammels of religious creed and tradition. Human beings are no longer burned at the stake for proclaiming scientific truth.
To recapture the imagination and character of man, religion must first make terms with science. Not by surrendering to science one jot of truth or principle, but by restating spiritual truth in terms compatible with the known and accepted truths of science. There must be reconciliation between science and religion. Both are needed by humanity. Both Religion and Science are approaches to truth, and can not be in opposition. Scientists and Priests may disagree, and either may be wrong, but Science, which is knowledge of the universe, can not be opposed to Religion, which is the art of living. Online Source (http://www.bahai.com/Bahaullah/).
6. THE EQUALITY OF MEN AND WOMEN
There must be an equality of rights between men and women. Women shall receive an equal privilege of education. This will enable them to qualify and progress in all degrees of occupation and accomplishment. For the world of humanity possesses two wings, man and woman. If one wing remains incapable and defective, it will restrict the power of the other, and full flight will be impossible. Therefore the completeness and perfection of the human world is dependent upon the equal development of these two factors.
Nigerian gender discrimination is paramount in the issue that mounted pressure on the citizenry that are female. The nation is segregated on the bases of man and woman. Politics are for men while home duties are for women; this hypothesis kills unity in the country. Let all citizenry maintain equal right. Some religions humiliated women as nonentity and thereby mishandle and misuse for any useless and scrap use. Bahai Faith principle preaches equality that will cause rapid development within a country.
7. REMOVAL OF ALL PREJUDICE
Prejudice of all kinds, whether religious, racial, patriotic or political is destructive of divine foundations in man. All the warfare and bloodshed in human history have been the outcome of prejudice. This earth is one home and nativity. God has created mankind with equal endowment and right to live upon the earth. As a city is the home of all its inhabitants, although each may have his individual place or residence therein, so the earth's surface is one wide native land or home for all races of humankind. Only when our hearts are free from every form of prejudice can they become the 'chrysolite tablet' whereon may be engraved our thoughts and motives. Harmony and fellowship between peoples and nations is a necessary foundation for universal peace and world federation. So important, in fact, is this factor of friendship that Baha'u'llah in all preachments concerning the New World Order insisted on the elimination of prejudices of all kinds, whether religious, racial, patriotic, or political.
"All warfare and bloodshed in human history have been the outcome of prejudice. This earth is one home and one nativity. God has created mankind with equal endowment and right to live upon the earth. Racial prejudice or separation into nations proceeds from human motives or ignorance. Why should we be separated by artificial and imaginary boundaries? This is one globe, one land, one country." Online Source (http://www.bahai.com/Bahaullah/).
The tenets of Bahai Faith will help Nigeria as a nation in fighting prejudice of any type. The removal of racial differences and tribal collision will make Nigeria home for native and even the foreigners to establish investments in our land. We should know that Nigeria territory is big enough to accommodate everyone without interference with either parties.
8. UNIVERSAL PEACE
The world longs for peace. World peace is not merely a matter to be arranged between governments by treaties. It is the concern of every citizen of this one-world home of humanity. This is the point of exercising our free will to avoid that nullification of progress, that race annihilation that threatens us.
"The unity of the human race, as envisaged by Bahá'u'lláh, implies the establishment of a world commonwealth in which all nations, races, creeds and classes are closely and permanently united, and in which the autonomy of its state members and the personal freedom and initiative of the individuals that compose them are definitely and completely safeguarded." The abolition of war is to be only the first step in a colossal plan for a world organized in effective unity. The miracle of the rapid growth of a will-to-peace throughout the world is directly concomitant with the development of new and terrifying death-dealing military weapons. (http://www.bahai.com/Bahaullah/).
African country like Nigeria, the giant of Africa, has role to play in maintaining peace within the scope of Africa, at least West Africa. The principle places more emphasis on abolition of war and international discrimination of race, tribes, creeds and classes. Nigeria can be better of and be the active giant if universal peace is seen as reality beginning from her sea shore to the other neighboring countries.
9. UNIVERSAL EDUCATION.
Universal education is a universal law. It is therefore incumbent upon every father to teach and instruct his children according to his possibilities. If he is unable to educate them, the body politic, the representative of the people, must provide the means for their education. Education is one of the most important factors in the evolution of humanity. Only one department of life is more potent, and that is religion. Compulsory educations for children, and the extension of education facilities for adults, have become a new primary policy of government. Nations which deliberately seek to restrict the independence of mind and spirit among their citizens, by that very policy have aroused revolution within and suspicion and fear outside their boundaries. Online Source (http://www.bahai.com/Bahaullah/).
Education is priority in national development. Nigeria has been struggling with developmental system of making education a must for a citizenry but religion and social system are driving back the move. If the system of universal education will work, the religion novices that are ignorant of the benefit of education should be orientated or banished from unlawful act. Education has been the metamorphical steps of progress within the country and to achieve more and better, the need to educate the coming generation should be paramount. The principle of Bahai Faith without religion bias is very much useful in planning a sustaining country that will live to produce and provide for the needs of the people and establishment of tranquility.
10. THE SPIRITUAL SOLUTION OF THE ECONOMIC PROBLEM
There is no cut and dried system of economics. Bahá'u'lláh establishes certain principles and leaves it to us to build the structure. There is a danger of the popular term "new world order" conjuring up a picture of something for nothing, of state supported individuals enjoying all the advantages of prosperity without any adequate contribution of hard work or service. Bahá'u'lláh requires every-one to work, no idle rich and no idle poor. Economic self-sufficiency is born of fear and selfishness and leads straight to war. In this modern world all people are in need of each other, can supply each other's wants, and by the reciprocal action of buying and selling, contribute to an increasing standard of living. This is provided of course that the results of labor are equitably shared, and not concentrated in the hands of a minority. And the basis of equity must be universal, otherwise some nations will undersell all the others by using cheaper labor, and that will start the same old round again of nations will undersell all the others by labor, and that will start the same old tariffs, and etc...
The economic problem, like every major difficulty facing us today, is insoluble except on a world scale. We cannot have poverty in one country and prosperity in the rest, the Atlantic Charter recognizes this. Neither can we cure poverty and unemployment in one country alone, it is a world problem. Online Source (http://www.bahai.com/Bahaullah/).
Nigeria out of the pool of poverty is still swimming back into ocean of poverty, because of ignorance, though much effort is provided to alleviate poverty, yet it abound. Equality in work production makes a equal wealth. Riches of the nation are managed by minority and in favour of the few that keenly support their agenda. World, even Africa will suffer the pain of poverty, if Nigeria refuse to heal her world of economy. This is provided of course that the results of labor are equitably shared, and not concentrated in the hands of a minority. Though Bahai Faith propounded principle solution by spiritual effort, the efficacy of such principle in Nigeria needs strict war against the act of corruption, whereby the religious and political leaders are not exempted.
11. A UNIVERSAL AUXILIARY LANGUAGE
"In all the world there is nothing more important than to be understood by your fellow men, for upon this depends the progress of civilization itself." 'Abdu'l-Baha. One of the major causes of differences today among the peoples and nations of the world is the diversity of their languages. Each nation and people has their culture history, territory and language, isolated by boundaries from a neighboring people. Wars, misunderstandings, conflicts and disputes arise from the lack of clear understanding and communication between them. Although they belong to the same race, the lack of a common language is the greatest barrier between them. "Oneness of language will transform mankind into one world, remove religious misunderstandings and unite East and West in the spirit of brotherhood and love. Oneness of language will change this world from many families into one family.
This auxiliary international language will gather the nations under one standard, as if the five continents of the world had become one, for then mutual interchange of thought will be possible for all. It will remove ignorance and superstition, since each child of whatever race or nation can pursue his studies in science and art, needing but two languages his own and the international. The world of matter will become the expression of the world of mind. Then discoveries will be revealed, inventions will multiply, the sciences advance by leaps and bounds, the scientific culture of the earth will develop along broader lines. Then the nations will be enabled to utilize the latest and best thought, because expressed in the International Language. Online Source (http://www.bahai.com/Bahaullah/).
One language syndrome in Nigeria is a case study because of numerous dialects of each tribe whereby the individualism and belongingness to communal language has torn apart the country into ‘your own’ and ‘our own’ situation. Bahai Faith principle of one language will help Nigeria as a nation to embrace one goal in which we can accomplish when we see oneness though different in language but in understanding – unity in diversity will be resolved. Economic growth depends on the cooperation of individual, not by language but by national identity. World may not be world if Nigeria is not united at home.
12. ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL
We cannot live under twenty-first century conditions guided by eighteenth century concepts. Most of our present day problems can be laid to the door of our unwillingness to make a correspondingly swift change in our thinking and consciousness as citizens of this one world order. The pace has 'upset our equilibrium'. Planetary civilization will emerge from the wreckage of nationalism, just as nationalism emerged from the wreckage of feudalism. Old forms have to break up before new ones can evolve. Nationalism has run its course but is loath to relinquish its prerogatives. Nothing short of experiences such as world wars, world depressions, world revolutions can convert a nationalistic psychology into an international psychology. Under the duress of such events, however, we are witnessing this very change take place before our eyes.
It is apparent that if we are to survive today and carry forward civilization today the only development possible in its evolution, a one-world society, we must undergo some surgical operations in our thinking and behavior as citizens. National rivalries, hatreds and intrigues will cease, and racial animosity and prejudices will be replaced by racial amity, understanding and cooperation. The causes of religious strife will be permanently removed, economic barriers and restrictions will be completely abolished, and the inordinate distinction between classes will be obliterated. Destitution on the one hand, and gross accumulation of ownership on the other, will disappear. The enormous energy dissipated and wasted on war whether economic or political, will be consecrated to such ends as will extend the range of human inventions and technical development, to the increase of the productivity of mankind to the extermination of disease, to the extension of scientific research, to the raising of the standard of physical health, to the sharpening and refinement of the human brain, to the exploitation of the unused and unsuspected resources of the planet, to the prolongation of human life, and to the furtherance of any other agency that can stimulate the intellectual, the moral, and spiritual life of the entire human race. However, no world government can succeed unless backed by the authority of the whole human race. This is the principle of unity and oneness of mankind with the complete abandonment of prejudices, on which the future of mankind depends. Online Source (http://www.bahai.com/Bahaullah/).
Nigeria ruling system does not give way to the masses in making headway through their poor but intelligent contributions in the running of this nation. Bahai Faith recognized the mankind presence in making the world what it should be. A single tree cannot make a forest is the summary of the Bahai Faith Principle but Nigeria prefers to maintain a tree so far it gives shadow for a few birds. Oneness in authority for people and for the masses will end causes of religious strife permanently, economic barriers; and restrictions will be completely abolished in our system. Inordinate distinction between classes will be obliterated. One nation, one language, one authority makes Nigeria a real giant of Africa indeed.
The unity of Nigeria hinges precariously on the ability of the leaders to resolve the national questions. Insecurity and uncertainty in the society will remain until the National Assembly members put aside their insatiable and selfish pursuit for monetary gains, and come up with a national consensus on how the society could remain together as one, and accomplish a true democracy anchored on true federalism. For unity and peaceful co-existence, no group should be allowed to subject other groups to its whims and caprices, or adopt a narrow perception of the national questions for sectional aggrandizement. A section of the society has been playing politics with the offshore and on-shore dichotomy bill, which has touched on the unity issue and injustices in Nigeria. (http://www.nigerdeltacongress.com/).
CONCLUSION
The principles of Bahai Faith propounded by Bahá’u’lláh has good effect on the development of nations in the world especially the Under-Developed and Developing Nations, mostly in Africa in which Nigeria is one of the victim of the scenario that almost torn down the socio-economic and religious system. Lack of oneness cannot structure or restructure a developing nation system. Dike (online writer) opines that the present democratic experiment in Nigeria has been tortuous, as the country has since its inception, witnessed many social upheavals. For sometime now, the leaders of this great nation have been glossing over the issue of the unity of Nigeria, as they have erroneously believed that the nation is united. Yet, at each turn, the issue stares the society in the face.
The Oneness of the World of Humanity builds Nigeria mentality of oneness. The independent investigation of the truth will expose the evil act and corruption of the wolverine leaders in Nigeria. The Foundation of all Religions is One is truth to practice to enable peaceful religious atmosphere. Religion must be a Source of Unity as Bahai Faith states to encourage good leadership in management of religious crisis in Nigeria. Equality of men and women should be encouraged in our institutions – religious, socio-cultural system. Elimination of prejudice of all kinds promotes equality and demotes inferiority that may mar good productivity in skills and human development.
WORKS CITED
Encyclopædia Britannica Bahá'í faith. Encyclopædia Britannica 2009 Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2009.
http://www.bahai.com/Bahaullah/principles.html - Adapted by permission from "Bahá'í Teachings for a World Faith". Copyright © 1943, 1971, 1972 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States of America. All rights reserved.
http://www.bahai.org/faq/facts/bahai_faith
http://www.nigerdeltacongress.com/tarticles/to_achieve_and_sustain_the_unity.html. To achieve and sustain the unity of Nigeria, Dike, Victor E. Chief Executive Officer Center for Social Justice and Human Development Sacramento, California, 2010.
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