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All prejudices, whether
of religion, race, politics or nation, must be renounced, for these prejudices
have caused the world's sickness. It is a grave malady which, unless arrested,
is capable of causing the destruction of the whole human race. Every ruinous
war, with its terrible bloodshed and misery, has been caused by one or
other of these prejudices.
The deplorable wars
going on in these days are caused by the fanatical religious hatred of
one people for another, or the prejudices of race or colour.
Until all these barriers
erected by prejudice are swept away, it is not possible for humanity to
be at peace. For this reason Bahá'u'lláh has said, 'These
Prejudices are destructive to mankind'.
Contemplate first the
prejudice of religion: consider the nations of so-called religious people;
if they were truly worshippers of God they would obey His law which forbids
them to kill one another.
The Bahá'í Terraces on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel.
If priests of religion
really adored the God of love and served the Divine Light, they would
teach their people to keep the chief Commandment, 'To be in love and charity
with all men'. But we find the contrary, for it is often the priests who
encourage nations to fight. Religious hatred is ever the most cruel!
All religions teach
that we should love one another; that we should seek out our own shortcomings
before we presume to condemn the faults of others, that we must not consider
ourselves superior to our neighbours! We must be careful not to exalt
ourselves lest we be humiliated.
Who are we that we should
judge? How shall we know who, in the sight of God, is the most upright
man? God's thoughts are not like our thoughts! How many men who have seemed
saint-like to their friends have fallen into the greatest humiliation.
Think of Judas Iscariot; he began well, but remember his end! On the other
hand, Paul, the Apostle, was in his early life an enemy of Christ, whilst
later he became His most faithful servant. How then can we flatter ourselves
and despise others?
Let us therefore be
humble, without prejudices, preferring others' good to our own! Let us
never say, 'I am a believer but he is an infidel', 'I am near to God,
whilst he is an outcast'. We can never know what will be the final judgment!
Therefore let us help all who are in need of any kind of assistance.
Dr. Pachauri called for a "groundswell of grassroots action" on what needs to be done to address the challenge of global warming. He spoke in New York as world leaders were gathering at the United Nations.
Let us teach the ignorant,
and take care of the young child until he grows to maturity. When we find
a person fallen into the depths of misery or sin we must be kind to him,
take him by the hand, help him to regain his footing, his strength; we
must guide him with love and tenderness, treat him as a friend not as
an enemy.
We have no right to look upon any of our fellow-mortals as evil.
Concerning the prejudice
of race: it is an illusion, a superstition pure and simple! For God created
us all of one race. There were no differences in the beginning, for we
are all descendants of Adam. In the beginning, also, there were no limits
and boundaries between the different lands; no part of the earth belonged
more to one people than to another. In the sight of God there is no difference
between the various races. Why should man invent such a prejudice? How
can we uphold war caused by an illusion?
God has not created
men that they should destroy one another. All races, tribes, sects and
classes share equally in the Bounty of their Heavenly Father.
The only difference
lies in the degree of faithfulness, of obedience to the laws of God. There
are some who are as lighted torches, there are others who shine as stars
in the sky of humanity. The lovers of mankind, these are the superior
men, of whatever nation, creed, or colour they may be. For it is they
to whom God will say these blessed words, 'Well done, My good and faithful
servants'. In that day He will not ask, 'Are you English, French, or perhaps
Persian? Do you come from the East, or from the West?'
Haifa, Israel.
The only division that
is real is this: There are heavenly men and earthly men; self-sacrificing
servants of humanity in the love of the Most High, bringing harmony and
unity, teaching peace and goodwill to men. On the other hand there are
those selfish men, haters of their brethren, in whose hearts prejudice
has replaced loving kindness, and whose influence breeds discord and strife.
To which race or to
which colour belong these two divisions of men, to the White, to the Yellow,
to the Black, to the East or to the West, to the North or to the South?
If these are God's divisions, why should we invent others? Political prejudice
is equally mischievous, it is one of the greatest causes of bitter strife
amongst the children of men. There are people who find pleasure in breeding
discord, who constantly endeavour to goad their country into making war
upon other nations - and why? They think to advantage their own country
to the detriment of all others. They send armies to harass and destroy
the land, in order to become famous in the world, for the joy of conquest.
That it may be said: 'Such a country has defeated another, and brought
it under the yoke of their stronger, more superior rule'. This victory,
bought at the price of much bloodshed, is not lasting! The conqueror shall
one day be conquered; and the vanquished ones victorious! Remember the
history of the past: did not France conquer Germany more than once - then
did not the German nation overcome France?
We learn also that France
conquered England; then was the English nation victorious over France!
Zoli is one of about 20 youngsters who belong to the Black Stars Juniors Football Club.
These glorious conquests
are so ephemeral! Why attach so great importance to them and to their
fame, as to be willing to shed the blood of the people for their attainment?
Is any victory worth the inevitable train of evils consequent upon human
slaughter, the grief and sorrow and ruin which must overwhelm so many
homes of both nations? For it is not possible that one country alone should
suffer.
Oh! why will man, the
disobedient child of God, who should be an example of the power of the
spiritual law, turn his face away from the Divine Teaching and put all
his effort into destruction and war?
My hope is that in this
enlightened century the Divine Light of love will shed its radiance over
the whole world, seeking out the responsive heart's intelligence of every
human being; that the light of the Sun of Truth will lead politicians
to shake off all the claims of prejudice and superstition, and with freed
minds to follow the Policy of God: for Divine Politics are mighty, man's
politics are feeble! God has created all the world, and bestows His Divine
Bounty upon every creature.
Are we not the servants
of God? Shall we neglect to follow our Master's Example, and ignore His
Commands?
I pray that the Kingdom
shall come on Earth, and that all darkness shall be driven away by the
effulgence of the Heavenly Sun.
('Abdu'l-Bahá:
Paris Talks, Pages: 145-151)
    
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The global community should look to the ethical teachings of the world religions as well as to international law to protect human rights, a keynote speaker told the European Bahá'í Conference on Law.
Professor Brian Lepard of the University of Nebraska in the United States said that violations of human rights appear to be relentlessly increasing despite dramatic advances last century aimed at safeguarding them.>br/> Professor Lepard was delivering the Dr. Aziz Navidi Memorial Lecture, which is named after a prominent Bahá'í lawyer renowned for his courage and skill in defending persecuted Bahá'ís.
Read the entire story.
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