Bahai 101

Lesson 4: Principles Of The Faith

Social Principles of the Bahai Faith

The social principles in the Bahai Faith are also looked called "the lesser Covenant of God".

In each time, a new Manifestation, or prophet, is brought down to remind us of God and His Message. At this time the Manifestation moves mankind a step further than before, by establishing the social principles. While the spiritual principles always remain the same, social principles change from age to age.

The social principles of the Bahai Faith are as follows:

1. Elimination of prejudice. This includes elimination of racism of any kind, ageism, setting aside cultural boundaries, or any other "ism". Because of this concept, most Bahais consider themselves to be world citizens.

   "Consider the flowers of the garden; though differing in kind, color, form and shape, yet, inasmuch as they are refreshed by the waters of one spring, revived by the breath of one wind, invigorated by the rays of one sun, this diversity increaseth their charm and addeth unto their beauty." (Abd'u'lBaha)

2. Equality of Men and Women. Although men and women are different, Bahais believe that they should be given the same opportunities and chances in a growing modern society. Until women and men are treated equally, mankind will not be able to advance.

   "Only as women are welcomed into full partnership in all fields of human endeavor will the moral and psychological climate be created in which international peace can emerge." (Shoghi Effendi)

3. Universal Education. This concept means that every child should have the opportunity for the same kind of education.

   "The cause of universal education, which has already enlisted in its service an army of dedicated people from every faith and nation, deserves the utmost support that the governments of the world can lend it. For ignorance is indisputably the principal reason for the decline and fall of peoples and the perpetuation of prejudice. No nation can achieve success unless education is accorded all its citizens." (Shoghi Effendi)

4. Universal Language. It is said in the writings that the world will one day only speak one language. This does not mean that we will loose our old languages, rather this new language will be a means of communication worldwide. It does not explicitly state what the new language will be, but it does give guidelines as to details that the language will include.
5. Universal Government. This concept is one that follows the development of the administrative order in the Bahai Faith. Its main purpose is to unite the world so that no one governing body can have power over another.

   "The earth is but one country, and mankind it's citizens." (Baha'u'llah)

6. Unity of religion. This is a very important social concept in the Faith. Bahais believe that every religion is valid. We believe in Jesus as the Son of God, Muhammad as the Seal of the Prophets, etc. Every one of them was brought down by God to fulfill his Covenant. As time progresses, so do the religions. This means that the Bahai Faith, about 1,000 years from now, will have a new prophet of a new religion. Because of this concept, Bahais believe that even though one may come from a different religion, they still hold the same principles and ideas that we do.

   "The fundamental principle enunciated by Bahá'u'lláh, the followers of His Faith firmly believe, is that religious truth is not absolute but relative, that Divine Revelation is a continuous and progressive process, that all the great religions of the world are divine in origin, that their basic principles are in complete harmony, that their aims and purposes are one and the same, that their teachings are but facets of one truth, that their functions are complementary, that they differ only in the nonessential aspects of their doctrines, and that their missions represent successive stages in the spiritual evolution of human society." (Shoghi Effendi)

7. Elimination of extremes of poverty and wealth.

   "...the base of life is this mutual aid and helpfulness, and the cause of destruction and non-existence would be the interruption of this mutual assistance. The more the world aspires to civilization the more this important matter of cooperation becomes manifest." (Baha'u'llah)

8. Independent Search for the Truth. The Bahais do not have a clergy or preacher. They also believe that every believer is entitled to their own investigation inside and outside of religion. This means that we do not promote the Bahai Faith in any way, nor do we try to force people to become Bahais.

   "Being one, truth cannot be divided, and the differences that appear to exist among the many nations only result from their attachment to prejudice. If only men would search out truth, they would find themselves united....

   The fact that we imagine ourselves to be right and everybody else wrong is the greatest of all obstacles in the path towards unity, and unity is necessary if we would reach truth, for truth is one." (Abd'u'lBaha)

9. Religion and science agree.

   "Religion and science are the two wings upon which man's intelligence can soar into the heights, with which the human soul can progress. It is not possible to fly with one wing alone! Should a man try to fly with the wing of religion alone he would quickly fall into the quagmire of superstition, whilst on the other hand, with the wing of science alone he would also make no progress, but fall into the despairing slough of materialism." (Abd'u'lBaha)
   "This is the Day", Bahá'u'lláh proclaims, "in which God's most excellent favors have been poured out upon men, the Day in which His most mighty grace hath been infused into all created things."

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