Online Reporter
Flora Teckie
Bahá’í Perspective
As we mark the International Day for Tolerance on November 16, it is opportune to reflect on the impact of observing tolerance and righteousness on building a united and peaceful global society.
To honour diversity, and not to make our differences a cause for conflict and contention, requires a new way of thinking, based on the acceptance of the oneness of the human family, and observing moral and spiritual principles.
We have to bear in mind that we belong to one human family created by one Almighty God. Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, states: “There can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God”.
Bahá’u’lláh adds: “Observe tolerance and righteousness, which are two lights amidst the darkness of the world and two educators for the edification of mankind”.
To create a tolerant and peaceful international community, the complex and varied cultural expressions of humanity must be allowed to develop and flourish, and to interact with one another in ever-changing patterns of civilisation.
To build a tolerant and unified global society, we need to confront all kinds of prejudice. As the Bahá’í International Community states: “Clearly, the promotion of tolerance and mutual understanding among the diverse segments of the human race cannot be a passive or rhetorical exercise.
“All forms of provincialism, all insularities and prejudices must be directly confronted. The implementation of appropriate legal measures that safeguard the rights and opportunities of all and the adoption of educational initiatives that foster human solidarity and global citizenship should be among the first practical steps taken by all nations”.
Racism, xenophobia, and religious intolerance will be eliminated only when the peoples of the world are convinced of the oneness of humanity, and proceed to reconstruct their lives and their communities on that basis.
The principle of human oneness is not a vague hope or slogan. It reflects an eternal spiritual, moral, and physical reality. If we wish to eliminate discrimination against those who differ from us, we must embrace the concept of the oneness of humanity.
The Bahá’í Writings note: “Every human creature is the servant of God. All have been created and reared by the power and favour of God; all have been blessed with the bounties of the same Sun of divine truth; all have quaffed from the fountain of the infinite mercy of God; and all in His estimation and love are equal as servants.
“He is beneficent and kind to all. Therefore, no one should glorify himself over another; no one should manifest pride or superiority toward another; no one should look upon another with scorn and contempt; and no one should deprive or oppress a fellow creature”.
Eliminating racism, religious intolerance, discrimination due to nationality, or ethnic group, is only possible through a profound change of heart and mind.
The Bahá’í Writings say: “The purpose of the one true God in manifesting Himself is to summon all mankind to truthfulness and sincerity, to piety and trustworthiness, to resignation and submissiveness to the Will of God, to forbearance and kindliness, to uprightness and wisdom.
“His object is to array every man with the mantle of a saintly character, and to adorn him with the ornament of holy and godly deeds”.
Through spiritual principles and by following the teachings of God solutions can be found for every social problem. Well-intentioned groups often try to devise practical solutions to the problems facing humanity.
But good intentions and practical knowledge are usually not enough. A spiritual solution induces an attitude, a dynamic, a will, an aspiration, which facilitates the discovery and implementation of practical measures.
Spiritual qualities develop in a matrix of growing love and knowledge, and in accordance with divine law.
According to the Bahá’í Writings: “. . . we must strive to become more spiritual, more luminous, to follow the counsel of the Divine Teaching, to serve the cause of unity and true equality, to be merciful, to reflect the love of the Highest on all men, so that the light of the Spirit shall be apparent in all our deeds, to the end that all humanity shall be united, the stormy sea thereof calmed, and all rough waves disappear from off the surface of life’s ocean henceforth unruffled and peaceful”.
The need for conscious, deliberate, and sustained effort to foster tolerance and mutual understanding, among individuals and diverse groups, cannot be over emphasised.
Acceptance and implementation of the principle of oneness of humanity, and following moral and spiritual principles that promote unity, are crucial in empowering individuals to overcome prejudice, and to promote cooperative interactions that lead to building tolerant and peaceful societies.
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