Archive for April, 2006

Photo: Ella on right with cousin and uncle
Jess continues to write remarkably and openly about her experience of studying the Baha’i Faith. Growing up in the country, she had what my wife likes to call “good home training.” She has a strong family, the members of which are very supportive and loving to one another. The family values are strongly rooted in Christianity. Naturally, there are many emotions that can accompany investigation of the Faith by the sincere seeker, as these excerpts from Jess’ blog Rambles, Reviews and Rants clearly demonstrate.

Sunday, April 16, 2006 — “Easter”

I was really fortunate this year that my mother and my sister and her little family could come visit with my family for the Easter holiday. We had good intentions of going to church but we realized Saturday morning when we were trying to get all three girls and ourselves ready and at the photo studio by 10 a.m. for pictures (my mom’s Mother’s Day gift is a pic of all 5 of her girls) that getting to church by 9:30 in a town 40 minutes away would be a stretch. Then, all the children would have to be checked into childcare and our car would have to be valet parked because my church has limited parking. Then the adults would have to be bussed to the site where the Easter service was to be held- under a large tent away on property owned by the church that would fit 2,000 folks instead of the smaller sanctuary that only seats a fraction of that amount. I wasn’t sure how the daycare location vs. the tent would work out. Anyway, this short story is getting long… I guess I am trying to make excuses for feeling guilty for missing church on the biggest day of the Christian year.

And to make matters worse, I sort of feel like an adulterous Christian. I am cheating on the faith of my childhood by actively pursuing another. At least Baha’is accept that everyone is worshipping the same God, so no matter what a practitioner of that faith does or does not do on a holy day of another faith it would probably be acceptable as long as they behaved respectably. Oh my. I am just feeling guilty, guilty guilty. Well, guilty or not, I didn’t go to church today and I have plans to attend a Baha’i meeting on Thursday. I guess that just says it all right there.

On a lighter note, here are a couple pics from today of my daughter and me in our Easter finery. We got dressed up for dinner even if we didn’t make it to church!

Ella and me:
Monday, April 17, 2006

I have been feeling muddled, worried and guilty over this Easter holiday. I have not been sure if my emotions stem from nostalgia or because I am finally admitting to myself after years of secret doubt that Christianity’s dogma is not what I truly believe. I wonder if people who leave other religions feel as awful about it as I do? Surely they must. It feels like I am losing a best friend, someone that I know so well and have been able to trust and depend upon. Or for another analogy (probably a poor one), it is like I am breaking up with my high school boyfriend and I am on the search for my life mate. I think I am falling in love and this could be the one but I am so afraid that I am wrong and I am going to get hurt. I guess I have to keep on dating Baha’i to find out! Does that sound really silly?!

What follows is an “academic” discussion, in the words of the blogger, a brief excerpt from one of the most moving blog posts I’ve read yet to date, “A Comb of Stings,” by Jenna on MySpace. But first, here is half of a stanza from a poem Jenna posted by Edward Taylor written 350 years ago: “Is Grace’s Honeycomb a Comb of Stings? This makes me ready leave Thy Grace and run, Which if I do, I find I am undone.”

… I wasn’t raised to believe that in the eternal battle between God and Satan. The Baha’i Faith doesn’t allow for demons–nor hell, for that matter. We believe heaven is like a sea of light, so resplendent that, if you knew its wonder, you’d cut your throat to be there now. Once, Baha’u'llah did write down a tablet that described heaven. His scribe, so overcome with desire to be there, slit his own throat. Baha’u'llah had the tablet destroyed.

We believe that, based on choices made, souls will have different connections to God. Some souls–angels, prophets, martyrs, children–will dwell in His presence without shame. For the rest, it’s the life lived that determines one’s nearness to Him. Baha’is believe that true hell is separation from God; we don’t need demons torturing us to know that pain.

And we don’t need Satan, either. We just don’t believe in him. All wrong-doing, all sins are upon our own souls. When we are called to account for our trespasses, we must take full responsibility. As a Baha’i, you can’t say, “The Devil made me do it.” You can’t say, “He tempted me, Lord.”

While Christians do take responsibility for giving into temptation, the sin doesn’t originate within them. It’s outside them, because, in their minds, Satan preys upon them.

So I don’t believe in demons, and I don’t believe in hell. Hell, after all, is not even a word you can find within the Bible, except in translation. It was taken from the Norse goddess, Hel, which was also the name of her dominion. In the sixth century, Pope Gregory the Great sent missionaries out into Europe to preach to the pagans. He was fascinated by pagan culture and folklore and admonished his followers to accommodate their culture, not force people into the Christian Faith. And so the missionaries began translating words with very different meanings–Sheol, Hades, Gehenna–into the one word: hell.

I’m getting too academic, too distant. I can’t displace the pain I’m feeling this morning with scholastic ramblings. The point is that I don’t believe in the “lake of fire.” I don’t believe in demons, no matter how vivid my dreams are. And I don’t believe that a battle is being waged for my eternal soul.

That’s why Michael and I are taking time apart. We ended our relationship, over this matter of religion. I’m a Baha’i and he’s a Southern Baptist. … [Read the full story]

Jenna, “A Comb of Stings,” MySpace

During my coffee break this afternoon I fired up Ice-Rocket, the blog search engine, and came up with the following blog banter…

Jenyfer on Debaser is “Just Getting Started” : i’m taking a trip to Israel and the Greek Islands in May. i practice yoga about 5-6 days a week. i am exploring the baha’i faith.

Kalin Nestor on Welcome to Funkytown: I was talking to yes_rhade about the Baha’i Holy Days coming up and how the kids were going to miss a day or two of school.

Shellanne on Let Me Fly Away: I had a wonderful weekend at a Baha’i retreat and I really got to reflect on the progress I’ve made and where I need to go from here, in a very holistic perspective, not dividing my baha’i faith from everything else I do, but seeing it all as one. I feel so healed and empowered to serve God’s cause and believe that’s God’s profits came to empower us with love, uplift us, and build up our character to better serve him. Guilt and shame do not serve God and actually hidden good action; they are dis-empowering and only stagnate our service. The time has come and I now see that my life no longer has room for this. I am so filled with love for God that there is no room for hate, especially hatred of myself. I wish you all the best. You have been kind and supportive in dark times. I’m now choosing to walk a different path and I will pray for you. In the meantime, if you ever need encouragement, I am hear. If you would like to know more about the Baha’i Faith and what has brought about this change, you can visit www.bahai.org or just ask. Enjoy your journeys.

nafisto of dev/navis is “Finally on Holiday”: So I’m sitting in a lounge in Terminal 1 of London’s Heathrow airport right now … my family (both my own immediate family and Shirin’s parents and sister) are here on the first stop of our three week trip. In a few minutes we’re leaving to go to Istanbul for a week and then it’s off to Haifa, Israel for Baha’i pilgrimage. I’ll hopefully have some more updates later, but just wanted to say that we’ll be saying lots of prayers for all of our friends (except for those of you living in Haifa that we’ll be seeing–you already have access to the Holy Places!). Stay tuned…

Listening in to blog chatter using “Baha’i” as my keyword for my blog-search today using Intelliseek’s BlogPulse, this is what I discovered.

Senzatema on LiveJournal: one of the girls actually declared tonight. it was completely amazing. i’ve never witnessed anything like it. so…normal, really. and yet really powerful. it’s just amazing, like i said before…. it’s been a long time since i was there for anything social or Baha’i-related. makes me a little nostalgic, actually….

Photo: never happens, a.k.a. paradox, “my own shadow with a stupid hat on,” flickr
Paradox on Blogspot: relevant or not, through paradox, i went to this page. it’s interesting that Baha’i has 7 m but Zoroasterianism has 2.6 m believers (both religions emerged in iran, although Zoroasterianism is way more ancient). actually a few months ago, i heard from a friend that her co-worker, being Quebecois, is converting to Baha’i as his wife (a Quebecoise) was believing in it since i-dunno-when. and they were planning on going on a sort of religious mission to Bosnia in summer. i was like: !!!???then this made me read more on it in internet… seems the Bahai’s are actively spreading their belief round the globe !

Lynxlee on Blogspot: I found a Test of Religion. Anyone who is always wondering of religions should go there. They ask great questions. I apparently is referred to a religion of “Baha’i”. Erm.. apparently a Persian Arabic ones.. Anyway, it’s not entirely accurate as I don’t know anything about religion or so on… Hey, it’s better than believing there’s no god, huh?

Readers of this blog and my wife’s blog Flitzy Phoebie, may be familiar with Jess, a dear soul who has expressed interest in the Baha’i Faith and has written about her study of it on her blog Rambles, Reviews and Rants. Jess has a Baha’i friend locally and will soon be accompanying that friend to meet other Baha’is there, if plans work out. ~~~ It is my impression that many people fall in love with the Faith through visiting online such websites as www.bahai.us, the official website of the Baha’is of the United States, but then find that making connection with local Baha’is and the local Baha’i community does not always go smoothly, as one recent LiveJournal post would indicate. ~~~ We may have one image in our minds reading bahai.org the official website of the international Baha’i Community, but another upon encountering a roomful of living, breathing Baha’is. Our preconcieved notions may not always be completely validated. In any case, it is worthy of great celebration when dear souls encounter the Faith, the recognize the station of Baha’u'llah and the truth of His teachings, and are able to enter into the community of believers that invoke His name and experience the true joys of Baha’i community life. ~~~ Jess and her family live in the Northern Virginia/DC area. My wife and I reside in Western Washington, the other Washington. I have never visited N VA/DC as a Baha’i, although I know there are dear Baha’is there. Today I’ve decided to try to get to know the area where Jess and her family live with a little help from the Internet, posting what I come across. So this post is for me, but also for Jess, my attempt to introduce her further to the Baha’is in her area from 3000 miles away. ~~~ If you are from the Northern Virginia/DC area and would like to comment on or add to the information provided here, such as it is, please do so. Or you can go to Jess’ blog and do so there. Northern Virginia/D.C., say hello to Jess and her family!

Jess’ baby, Ella Cerise (a.k.a Baby Beau)

Well, one of the first things I notice as I search the Internet is that there is a great website for a Baha’i School in the area. I see that there are weekly classes into June.

There must be many well-trained teachers for Baha’i school in the area as many Baha’is there have had Core Curriculum training, as this picture of trainees from the summer of 2004 would indicate:



I see that the Baha’i Community of Washington DC has a spiffy website. They offer devotional meetings, study circles and childrens classes, and they have a Baha’i Center.

I know that Jess is a hairdresser.
She may find it of interest that there is a “Baha’i-owned hair salon and day spa offering a full range of services for all of humanity with the highest customer care” located in Alexandria, Virginia, according to an ad on The Baha’i Faith Index.

I count 10 Baha’i communities in Northern Virginia and Maryland in the immediate vicinity of DC. I note a website of a Baha’i artist, a watercolorist, who lives in Mount Vernon and has a studio in the Alexandria. I can’t drop a picture of her work onto my blog here because of copyright, but images of breathtaking beauty is just a click away.

I note that the area is home to “a world-class Baha’i singing group,” the Washington Metropolitan Bahá’í Chorale, according to its website. Baha’i gospel, the likes of which stirred the souls of the assembled thousands in at the the 2nd Bahá’í World Congress, held in New York City in November 1992, is much loved here.

There is a radio program “Payam-i-Doost” that airs on WUST 1120 AM in Falls Church, VA Sundays, 9:30 -10:30 a.m. according to the Baha’is of Mt Vernon website. I think it may be a Persian-language program.

Alexandria has its own website. There is a newsetter linked to it that serves Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax Co. East, Falls Church, Mount Vernon. BINGO! No the Baha’is in these communities don’t offer bingo, the newsletter is full of up-to-date information — BINGO!

“April Events: All events are open to the public. Please call ahead for directions,” it reads. Here are the listings for the rest of April:

FIRST DAY OF RIDVÁN- Work is suspended on this Holy Day.
FRIENDLY FRIDAYS!
April 21, 7:00 PM until 10:00 PM
Alexandria Bahá’í Center, 5400 Eisenhower Ave., Alex.
What to bring: yourself, your family, your friends, songs,
poems, art, and your favorite food.
Call 703-751-8886 or email wpc09@hotmail.com
for more details.
ONE WORLD BAHÁ’Í SCHOOL in Falls Church
Sunday, April 23, 10:00 am - Ridván Celebration!
Falls Church High School, 7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church
BAHÁ’Í CHILDREN’S CLASSES for preschool to age 7 and a
Ruhi Book 1 study circle for Children 8 years old to 13.
DEVOTIONAL & DISCUSSION FOR ADULTS
is held at the same time. Everyone is welcome!

Sunday, April 23, 10:00-12:00 am
Alexandria Bahá’í Center, 5400B Eisenhower Ave., 703-548-0929
BOOK 6 STUDY CIRCLE in Arlington
Monday, April 24, 7:00 pm (Every Monday)
Varied locations - Contact Ciara Rhodes or Olya Vinnik
STUDY CIRCLE at the Alexandria Bahá’í Center
Ruhi Book 1: Reflections on the Life of the Spirit
Tuesday, April 25, 7:00 - 9:00 pm (Every Tuesday)
Alexandria Bahá’í Center, 5400B Eisenhower Ave.
Hosted by the Sadeghians. For information, e-mail
kjsadeghian@aol.com or phone 703-356-0925.
DEVOTIONS in Falls Church
Tuesday, April 25, 8:00 pm All are welcome.
at the Adriances’, 703-241-7015.
DEVOTIONS and STUDY CIRCLE in Alexandria
Wednesday, April 26 (Every Wednesday)
Devotions: 6:45-7:15, Book 4 Study Circle: 7:15-9:00 pm
At Roya’s home, Alex. 703-627-3912.
RUSSIAN STUDY CIRCLE
Ruhi Book 1: Reflections on the Life of the Spirit
Wednesday, April 26, 7:00 pm (Every Wednesday)
Varied locations. For information, e-mail vinnik@american.edu or
phone 703-395-7644. Hosted by Olya Vinnik.
FRIENDLY FRIDAYS!
April 28, 7:00 PM until 10:00 PM
Alexandria Bahá’í Center, 5400 Eisenhower Ave., Alex.
What to bring: yourself, your family, your friends, songs.
Call 703-751-8886 or email wpc09@hotmail.com
for more details.
9th DAY OF RIDVÁN Celebrations
PICNIC IN ALEXANDRIA
Saturday, 29th April, 11 am-3 pm
Fort Ward Park, 4301 West Braddock Road, Alex. 22304
We’ve reserved the area just above the playground. Bring your picnic
lunch, a blanket, and enjoy time together. The Assembly will bring
the water, fruit and cookies. Those who love to share stories of our
rich Bahá’í history may bring some along!
CELEBRATION/POTLUCK DINNER IN FALLS CHURCH
Saturday, 29 April, starting at 5 pm
At the Adriances’, 216 Great Falls St., 703-241-7015.
All are welcome.
ONE WORLD BAHÁ’Í SCHOOL in Falls Church
Sunday, April 30, 10:00 am
Falls Church High School, 7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church
BAHÁ’Í CHILDREN’S CLASSES for preschool to age 7 and a
Ruhi Book 1 study circle for Children 8 years old to 13.
DEVOTIONAL & DISCUSSION FOR ADULTS
is held at the same time. Everyone is welcome!
Sunday, April 30, 10:00-12:00 am
Alexandria Bahá’í Center, 5400B Eisenhower Ave., 703-548-0929

Events in May
12th DAY OF RIDVÁN PRAYERWALK & Lunchtime Picnic
Tuesday, 2nd May, 11 am
Meet at the Bahá’í Riverside Property in Maryland for a Holy Day
walk along the meditation trails and prayer stations. Bring your
lunch and we’ll munch together while enjoying the most beautiful
river view!
Directions: Just after crossing the Woodrow Wilson Bridge into
Maryland, head south on Indian Head Hwy (Rt. 210). After 3.5+
miles or about the 5th light, turn right onto Ft. Washington Road. At
the second light, turn right onto Riverview Road. Turn right into the
property at 11111 Riverview Road 200 yards after Riverview Road
makes a hard turn to the left. There’s a lone black mailbox among
trees and a field. Call Steve for help at 703-201-3790.

Here is how to get the newsletter regularly:

This Bahá’í Newsletter is specially prepared and mailed to those who have either expressed an interest in learning more about the Bahá’í Faith, have attended Bahá’í functions, or have been suggested by Bahá’í members. If you wish to communicate further with Bahá’ís, to find out about other events, or to change your receipt of this newsletter, please call 703-548-0929.

And finally, there is a website provided by CapitolAreaBahais.org that provides email addresses for the following Baha’i communities: Alexandria VA, Arlington VA, Berwyn Heights MD, College Park MD, Fairfax East VA, Falls Church VA, Montgonery County SE MD, Mount Vernon MD, Prince Georges County South MD, and Takoma Park MD.

So, there you have it, Jess — and world! There is a lot more I could come up with about the Baha’is of Northern Virginia/DC, but I will call this good for now. But one more picture, from the DC Youth Congress 2005, taken by Ryan, who specializes in “capturing real glimpses of people” and “catching and portraying joyous moments,” per his profile on flickr. Ryan’s cutline: “Nasim and Derick began a little salsa (more or less) demonstration after Nevin’s workshop.”

I am facinated by the personal profiles Baha’is put together for their blogs. P FOB’s latest and only blog entry is on the persecution of Baha’is in Iran. Below is her “About Me”. (Before you click on you might want to turn off your speakers tho.)

I appreciate my friends. I enjoy nature but prefer the grit and grime of cities, and the energy they have. I like smelling good. If you put a mustache on me I look like my dad, scary? Yes, a little. I am family oriented. I am a worry wort but, oddly enough, very relaxed at the same time. I can be sarcastic. I hate it when people call “shot-gun” before getting into a car, not because I want the front seat, but because it’s stupid. Sunny days make me really happy. I wish I spoke Farci fluently. I am a Baha’i. I love a good cup of tea. I am sick of the cowboy boots look, and don’t understand why girls where Uggs with mini skirts; if it’s warm enough to wear a mini you don’t need warm fuzzy boots. I don’t like anything that says: “princess”, “diva”, “angel”, “hottie” etc. I listen to music practically every minute of every day. I love sleeping in, especially if I have a down comforter. I hate hair in drains, makes me gag. I don’t agree with men blasting techno from supped up vehicles. I like to read the fine print in CD sleeves (yes, I still buy CDs), production etc interests me.I find society and pop culture interesting. SF and NYC are my favorite U.S. cities. Like most, I want to save the world but don’t know how. I admire people with artistic talent and creativity. I tend to stay clear of superficial people. I make people laugh. I’ve never seen or read Harry Potter. I like gaudy things. Fat animals and babies will probably bring a tear to my eye. I love good mexican food (the east coast just doesn’t know!). My looks are sometimes deceiving. I like speaking French and Spanish, as well as Frenglish and Spanglish. People tend to remember me because of my earrings. I like talking. I like diverse groups of people. I believe in the will of God. I think humility is an important virtue. I like most people. I have a driver’s license, but no insurance and no car, MUNI baby! I am doing this to procrastinate, and will probably add something the next time I want to procrastinate. Por favor, do not adress me as “ma” or “gurl”. Also, no invites to parties with flyers containing images of scantily-clad mujeres. Merci.

What do Baha’is look like? Where do Baha’is live? These are trick questions. Baha’is look like the people of the world, because the world is where they live.

With my key word “Baha’i,” my search engine took me to Papua New Guinea this morning. Well, not exactly the country, but an official website for the country. One does not expect to find a concisely written and accurate description of the Baha’i Faith on a embassy website, but there it is. As it is as good an introduction to the Faith as any on the Internet, I include this for readers of Baha’i Views, with thanks to the Embassy of the Americas for Papua New Guinea in Washington, D.C.

On a larger scale, Baha’is are loyal to the government of the country and also support the aims of the United Nations. The Baha’i International Community is a recognised non-governmental organization at the United Nations, with consultative status in the Economic and Social Council.

“Country Profile: Religion,” Website of the Embassy of Papua New Guinea

Some members of the Pupua New Guinea Baha’i community

A special responsibility must rest upon the believers in Papua New Guinea, constituting the largest body of Baha’is in Australasia, to strive unceasingly to build a vibrant community which embraces all strata of society and which is renowned as a dynamic and enlightened segment of their nation.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE, “Ridván 153 letter, To the Followers of Baha’u'llah in Australia, the Cook Islands, the Eastern Caroline Islands, the Fiji Islands, French Polynesia, the Hawaiian Islands, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Korea, the Mariana Islands, the Marshall Islands, new Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and the Western Caroline Islands”