Archive for April, 2006

First, a Jess update. Regular readers of this blog know that Jess has been systematically investigating the Baha’i Faith and reporting on it on her blog Rambles, Reviews and Rants. Through the efforts of a woman who works where Jess does, arrangements had been made for Jess to meet with some local Baha’is, her first meeting with Baha’is other than her co-worker. Here is an excerpt from her “Update…” from yesterday:

I did go to meet the Baha’i woman last night. It turned out that the event I was going to was a youth group of sorts for teen aged Baha’is in a very nice home in Great Falls. They kids had a great party going on in the basement! It began with prayers, followed by dinner and by the time I was leaving the dance music had come on and things were getting lively. Almost everyone there (there was a German woman, an American woman and me) was Persian and had gorgeous dark eyes and hair. After the prayers two men played two different traditional Persian instruments that I cannot recall the names of. One instrument sat on a table and had strings and the man hit them with two mallets. It made an ethereal musical sound. The other man played a drum of some sort. It looked wooden and was shaped sort of like a spitoon (sorry, it did!). The music was fantastic. I wonder if there are CD’s recorded of that style of music?

For many Persian music is synonymous with the sound of the santur. The santur (سَنتور) is a hammered dulcimer of Iran. It is a trapezoid-shaped box often made of walnut, with 72 strings. The name means one hundred strings in Persian. The special-shaped mallets (mezrab) are lightweight and are held between the index and middle fingers. A typical santur has two sets of bridges, providing a range of three octaves. The right-hand strings are made of brass, while the left-hand strings are made of steel.

According to Wikipedia one of the leading santur players in the world is Ostad Manoochehr Sadeghi, a Baha’i who performed at the Second World Baha’i Congress in New York City in 1992 and whose music can still be heard today. Samples of his music are at Santur.com, concert videos can be viewed, and copies of his most current CD ordered.

Collage: University of Alberta Libraries
The Baha’i Faith can be an especially intriguing subject for religious scholars, those inclined towards the academic study of religion, or simply those who have an abiding interest in the phenomenon of religion although not necessarily formal training. It is interesting for Baha’is to see how their Faith is presented by those who study it and write about it. Shadows is a new Baha’i blog that features “religious news and opinion.” The blogger, Bradley Richert, aspires to be degreed in religious studies. He is an undergraduate student at the University of Alberta which has, by the way, a Campus Association for Baha’i Studies. Perhaps he is familiar with Baha’is on campus.

Today which is the first day of Ridvan, a Baha’i Holy Day, Bradley has featured the Faith on his blog. His description is that of a person looking in from the outside. His expressions are not quite how a Baha’i might characterize their Faith, but are for the most part accurate factually. His treatment is certainly positive in nature. Here is his blog.ca profile, followed by excerpts from his overview.

brichert (Bradley Richert), male, 23 years old, Edmonton, Canada, speaks English (CA). “I am currently an undergraduate (still) student at the University of Alberta. I am a double major in Philosophy and Religious Studies. My main interests are in ethics as well as gnostic/esoteric studies. Eventually, and I really mean eventually since I have a kid on the way, I will continue my education in hopes of attaining a MA in Religious Studies.”

… One such significant religion is the Baha’i Faith. Much like the founders of the world’s other major religions, Bahá’u'lláh received an explicit vision from God. The history of the Baha’i Faith reads like a condensed version of the Judeo-Christian scriptures. And like the Christian faith, the Baha’i was founded during a crucial epoch in history which would contribute to the exponential growth of the religion. As early Christians took advantage of the Pax Romana complete with safe passage on the newly built road system, the Baha’i have spread their message with the use of ocean liners, automobiles, and now the internet. …

In just over 150 years since that first declaration, the Baha’i Faith has become known as one of the most ethnically diverse religions boasting approximately 5 million adherents. It is often used as a functionary by the United Nations because of its distinct advocacy for human rights. It is one of the new independent major religions, meaning that it has transcended a “cult” like status and is taken seriously on the world religious stage.

However, the religious plurality, or more definitive, the religious relativity, of the Baha’i Faith occasionally runs into conflict when addressing certain congregations. The Baha’i Faith does not target conversions from the mainstream adherents of other rleigions, but to those who are disgruntled with the lack of tolerance and acceptance. …

Bradley Richert, “He Whom God Shall Make Manifest,” Shadows, Religious News and Opinion

Dallas Marie’s story is very compelling, I’m sure you’d agree. Below is the middle part. Go to her site and read what came before and what comes after. Then drop a comment on her site. I’m sure she would love to hear from you and would welcome your words of support.

Dallas Marie on MySpace
… I started going to Sunday school with Mallory. She was a Baha’i, which I didn’t understand, being I was raised in a pretty tight methodist community. We had our squabbles in the past on the religion, and had both left with hurt feelings. However I’d met her family and a select few others who I couldn’t put off as not worth learning what they believe in. If you’ve met a Baha’i, you’ve been touched for life. They tend to be some of the most genuine understanding people in the world…in my eyes at least. So, I went to Sunday school with Mallory every sunday, I decided I wanted to learn a bit about this and decide for myself whether she was right or wrong rather than going by what I had been taught and read. Ironically enough, the particular weeks I began going, they had combined the youth and adult classes, to show a series of videos in the subject of *surprise* teaching Christians. And what a blessing this was to me. I’ve never been shown the truth like what those videos provided me with. I was convinced this was right for me, and I signed my card. I converted to the Baha’i Faith and I was thrilled. I met so many people who have left marks on my heart for life. …

Dallas Marie, “Just letting my mind wander…,” MySpace

See the Doberman Pizza post about Dan’s attending a fireside by Louise Profeit-LeBlanc and then read the article about Louise on The Baha’i Community of Canada webpage. Dan’s observation:

Louise Profeit-LeBlanc with a mask from her art collection
[Photo by Lindsay Slavin]
Becoming a Baha’i is as much an act of courage for some people as it is an act of faith. Perhaps it would be easier if becoming a Baha’i wasn’t seen so much as “changing religions” as acknowledging the oneness of all religions. You know — rather than thinking of it as “switching from one family to another”, realizing that we’re all part of a much bigger family — the human family — that includes us all.

Recent “seeker” posts regarding the Baha’i Faith on LJBaha’i:

Photo: Stratford, Ontario, Canada

User: ia_rbgirl (4133075) Because you’re mine I walk the line..Name: Danielle. Website: myspace. Location: Clive, Iowa, United States. Hey everyone. I’m a college student who has recently started studying different religions. I came across Baha’i, and i was drawn to it quickly. Everything about it spoke to me and made sense. I was so drawn to it i decided to do a presentation over the religion.

Image: “DefaultKeywords: me”

Below are the questions posed by Erin. Check out the responses provided members of the LJBaha’i community. Erin Kay Carrigan (februaryskye) wrote in ljbahai:

Photo: Saginaw High School
Hi everyone. My name is Erin and I’m 18. I heard about the Baha’i faith for the first time yesterday, and I’m pretty sure it’s what I’ve been looking for. I’m going to learn some more about it before I join, but I love the idea of unity and that you aren’t calling out all other religions as wrong and saying everyone is going to burn in some eternal pit of fire just because they don’t believe the same as the next person. I have a few questions.

1.) I want to make sure that I’m reading correctly and that this is a very accepting faith. I’m right in thinking that Baha’is accept everyone, right?

2.) What is the Afterlife supposed to be like?

3.) How long have you been Baha’i? What drew you to it?

4.) What do you do at a Baha’i center? Is it like a church? I noticed there’s one right here in Saginaw so I was curious.

5.) How do I ease my mother’s mind on this? I mentioned it to her, and she looked like she was going to cry and said, “I don’t like this. I thought you were a Christian!” Which I am, but I see so many points where I disagree with it, that I can’t really see myself staying in the faith much longer. I disagree with it too much to even be calling myself a Christian. I think she’s worried because for a very long time (since I was like 7 until I was 16) I was an Atheist. Then I had a spiritual awakening after some really bad stuff went down in my life, and I’ve been a Christian since then. I think I chose Christianity at the time because my family had started going to a Christian church, and that’s what I was taught. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad I chose some kind of faith. My life got instant better for reasons that I can’t explain except that I found something to believe in.

Anyway, I want to ease my mother’s mind on this and make her realize I’m not joining a cult. Which I guess she realizes that it’s not anything bad, but she told me last night that the Bible says that during ‘the end times’ there’s going to people trying to get Christians to join a lot of off the wall religions. I tried explaining things to her, and she said it’s my decision…but she’s concerned for my soul, I guess. I told her nobody is forcing me to join or telling me any totally wacky things, but she’s still worried.

A lady from what I’m assuming to be the Saginaw Baha’i center e-mailed me today saying if I had questions, we could meet for coffee. If I decide to join and meet her for coffee, would it be a good idea to bring my mom if she wants to go? I don’t know much yet, so it’s hard for me to explain it to her. I told her Baha’is don’t condemn Jesus, Moses, or any other important figure from the major religions. That didn’t seem to do much.

But yeah, those are my questions. Sorry this is so long. I’m really interested though. Thank you so much!

How is this for an introduction?

Who am I and what am I doing here?
I answer to Barney Leith, although my full name is John Barnabas Leith.

I am probably very much mistaken about most of my ideas about what I am doing here. But I can tell you that I am a Bahá’í and I strive to follow the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh in my life.

Barney at the 2006 Naw-Rúz reception in the House of Commons
So reads Barney’s page “Welcome to a glimpsed reality,” portal to his three blogs, Barnabus Quotidianus, The Metaphysician, and My Photos on Flickr.

Barney has been busy! The quality of his efforts is wondrously apparent.

Press coverage of Baha’i comedian Omid Djalili is featured in the current post on Barnabas Quotidianus, personal diary of John Barnabas (aka Barney) Leith, one of the highest quality Baha’i blogs in the world, in my estimation

“A Buddhist Looks at the Self” is the current entry on The Metaphysician, explorations in humanness. Read “It’s a Start” for what inspired Barney to begin this new blog. Good going, Barney!

Barney has been on flickr for some time. I love the diversity of his photo sets, some Baha’i, some family, and some travel and nature. Great pics!

On his welcome page, Barney has a link to photos of the Naw-Rúz reception 2006, hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Friends of the Bahá’ís in the House of Commons.

Chastity before marriage and abstinance from drinking alcohol are but two laws of Baha’u'llah that his followers are called upon to follow. These prohibitions may seem quaint to some in today’s cultural climate. In fact, the whole idea of adhering to a moral code may seem odd or strange to many. The spirit with which Baha’is view the laws and ordinances of their Faith needs to be understood to appreciate just how different is the Baha’i approach to these matters.

Photo: The Shrine of Baha’u'llah
One of the primary purposes of the laws, as well as the teachings, that Bahá’u'lláh has given is the uniting of the peoples of the world .

O ye that dwell on earth! The distinguishing feature that marketh the preeminent character of this Supreme Revelation consisteth in that We have, on the one hand, blotted out from the pages of God’s holy Book whatsoever hath been the cause of strife, of malice and mischief amongst the children of men, and have, on the other, laid down the essential prerequisites of concord, of understanding, of complete and enduring unity. Well is it with them that keep My statutes.

In the West, people tend to see the law as something that limits their freedom and hence something that is only to be endured reluctantly because there is some indirect overall benefit. In the Bahá’í Faith, however, there is a more positive attitude towards the law brought by Bahá’u'lláh. It enables human beings to align themselves with the spiritual laws that govern the universe. We would not jump from a fourth-storey window because we know that the physical laws of the universe would cause us to injure ourselves badly. Similarly, Bahá’ís believe that we should not break these spiritual laws, otherwise we are inflicting spiritual harm upon ourselves. Bahá’u'lláh, therefore, does not see these laws as rigid legalistic framework, concerned with enforcement and punishment. He states that these laws are an indispensable part of a human being’s spiritual progress; signposts on the mystic path.

Think not that We have revealed unto you a mere code of laws. Nay, rather, We have unsealed the choice Wine with the fingers of might and power.

And so our obedience to these laws should not be for fear of punishment, but out of joy and love.

Observe My commandments, for the love of My beauty.

“Baha’i Laws,” An Introduction to the Baha’i Faith