Sunday, February 10, 2013
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Persecution
http://www.bahai.org/dir/worldwide/persecutionBaha’i understand this pattern of persecution as a manifestation of the misunderstanding and fear that occur when a new religion emerges from the matrix of a well-established orthodoxy. The pattern has been repeated through the ages; indeed, virtually all of the world’s great religions have faced intense persecution in their early history. "
While I was familiar with the fact that Baha'i suffer persecution, I was not fully aware of the scale of this persecution until researching this project. I was even unsure if I should share this information that I had learned about my community in this forum. I decided that this information should be shared and shared often, not only should Baha'i be moved by this deplorable treatment, but all people should be made aware of this peaceful group of people who are being persecuted and treated so inhumanly.
Below are links that I found to be insightful and informative on the subject of Baha'i persecution, in Iran.
Meet Iran’s Oldest Security Threat - 80 Year Old Baha’i Leader Behind Bars
What is the definition of a criminal? At its most basic level, it is someone who deliberately breaks a law. Now, picture a man who is a loving father and grandfather, a devoted husband, and a businessman who is open, warm, and spends time engaged in service to his community. Sounds criminal, right?
Meet Mr. Jamaloddin Khanjani, an 80 year old Iranian arrested at least three times in the past few decades, who was most recently incarcerated in 2008 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Among the false allegations? Endangering Iran’s national security by being a member of the Baha’i Faith.
According to Khanjani’s brother, Kamal, who now lives in the United States, Khanjani’s kindness, sense of humor, and desire to help others is unmatched. Kamal recalled a story of his brother bringing 40 children from a rural village to the town of Isfahan, where he lived, to receive an education. He also pointed to the ways in which his brother was continually serving the Iranian Baha’i community, which is the reason for his multiple arrests.
In 1984, Khanjani served on the elected governing council of the Baha’is of Iran, which tragically saw all but two of its nine-member body executed by the Iranian government. Khanjani’s most recent prison term is a result of his involvement in a seven-member ad-hoc leadership group for the Baha’is of Iran.
Given Khanjani’s age, this 20 year sentence is for life: an injustice so cruel. Yet, the length of his sentence is not the only cruelty Khanjani has experienced.
In 2011, roughly three years after his most recent arrest, Khanjani’s wife of over 50 years, Ashraf Khanjani, passed away. To make matters worse, Khanjani was not allowed to visit her during her final days, nor was he permitted to attend her funeral. When injustice of this magnitude takes place, it is imperative that action is taken.
The U.S. government has stepped up to the plate with the passage on January 1 of House Resolution 134, “condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights.” This resolution had a total of 146 co-sponsors, 78 Republicans and 68 Democrats.
This bipartisan effort calls on the President and the Secretary of State to condemn Iran for its continued human rights violations and to demand the immediate release of all prisoners held for their religious beliefs (including Khanjani and the six other Baha’i leaders), as well as to impose sanctions against officials and individuals responsible for these violations.
Some may ask why the U.S. House of Representatives would be concerned with such things as religious persecution in Iran. The social stability that increased human rights and religious freedom would provide to Iran and, by proxy, other countries in the region is reason enough to want these freedoms for all Iranians.
But the reasons for desiring the end of persecution against the Baha’is specifically are also significant. As the largest religious minority in Iran, with some 300,000 adherents, the persecution of the Baha’is affects all Iranian citizens. If Baha’is, unjustly labeled by the Iranian government as members of a “deviant sect,” were to gain the human rights and religious freedom that Iran is obligated to provide under the International Covenants on Human Rights, this would virtually guarantee that minorities in officially recognized religions, such as Christians, Zoroastrians, and Jews, would gain greater religious freedom as well.
The injustice seen in Khanjani’s case alone is shocking. More generally, however, arbitrary detentions, the harassment of Baha’i school children, the pressuring of private sector employers to dismiss Baha’is, the denial of business licenses, and abrupt business closures are increasingly frequent. And, there are 107 Baha’is who are currently incarcerated, which is about double the number of Baha’is in prison in early 2011. These are parts of an alarming trend of increased state sponsored persecution.
Human rights advocates, both inside and outside Iran, can be encouraged by this most recent congressional action. Kamal Khanjani believes that there is a “need for a reaction on the international level, no question about it.”
The passage of H. Res. 134, together with the U.N. General Assembly’s passage of a resolution on December 20 chastising Iran for its egregious human rights violations, including specifically those perpetrated against the Baha’is, are significant steps by the international community towards further
exposing the Iranian government’s abuses and calling for action to improve the state of religious freedom for all Iranian citizens."http://iranian.com/posts/view/post/6936
Community Statistics
Figure 2 - Month Activity Participation.
Figure 3 - Prior Religion.
Figure 4 - Members Age.
Figure 5 - Education Level.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Letter to My Community-Community in a Global Society
Dear Tigard Baha’i
Community,
Being a part of the Tigard Baha’i community has helped to
shape my families identity in many ways.
I was raised Catholic but in large part I was non-practicing. As an adult I sometimes longed for faith in
God but it was just not something that I could convince myself of. After my husband and I divorced, our daughter
longed for education and information about God that I could not give her. We were invited by neighbors to attend a
Baha’i children’s class. At this class we
met some of the most kind and since people that we had ever met. My children loved the welcoming and fun
class. Some of the other parents that
were in attendance invited me to some other Baha’i events that I agreed to
attend. I immediately took notice that
at Sunday school my children were learning virtues instead of just scriptures,
they were learning how to be respectful and loving, giving and studious. The children learned what independent
investigation of truth was. I was struck
by these things as it was so unlike any other religion that I had been exposed
to. Baha’i actually encourages followers
to investigate the faith and other faiths, to question what they read and
hear.
In working on this project I have come to recognize that membership and interest in the Baha'i faith has helped me to develop friendships that I would have likely never had the opportunity to develop. The Tigard Baha'i community is a very diverse group of people in most every way. Members of the community are brought together threw a common belief that Bahá'u'lláh is a messenger of God and that all humanity is one family. This community is full of amazing, kind and good hearted people, who may have little in common but treat others as though they are a part of their own family in light of their differences. The community has always been warm and inviting with no regard to the many differences that we all may have. To me the overwhelming warmth that the Baha'i community as a whole shows to all people and not just members of the faith, has been one thing that has struck me the most. After learning a bit more about the injustices and persecution that so many of my Baha'i friends have faced (largely those from Iran) it is even more amazing to me that in the face of this, they can still hold true to the principles of the Baha'i faith, namely the elimination of prejudice of all kinds. I feel so blessed to be a member of an amazing community such as this one.
In working on this project I have come to recognize that membership and interest in the Baha'i faith has helped me to develop friendships that I would have likely never had the opportunity to develop. The Tigard Baha'i community is a very diverse group of people in most every way. Members of the community are brought together threw a common belief that Bahá'u'lláh is a messenger of God and that all humanity is one family. This community is full of amazing, kind and good hearted people, who may have little in common but treat others as though they are a part of their own family in light of their differences. The community has always been warm and inviting with no regard to the many differences that we all may have. To me the overwhelming warmth that the Baha'i community as a whole shows to all people and not just members of the faith, has been one thing that has struck me the most. After learning a bit more about the injustices and persecution that so many of my Baha'i friends have faced (largely those from Iran) it is even more amazing to me that in the face of this, they can still hold true to the principles of the Baha'i faith, namely the elimination of prejudice of all kinds. I feel so blessed to be a member of an amazing community such as this one.
The next five years for the Tigard Baha’i community, I
believe will be prosperous. The Baha’i
Faith is among the fastest growing religions in the world and is found on each
continent. To help further the cause of
my faith, I plan on continuing to hold Baha’i gatherings at my home. I plan on continuing to educate my children
on the principles of the Baha’i Faith, the oneness of mankind, independent
investigation of truth. As the
opportunity arises I plan on telling others about the Baha’i faith and what it
is all about.
|
The principles of the Bahá'í
Faith were established by Bahá'u'lláh, the Founder of the
Faith, in the latter half of the nineteenth century and promulgated by His Son and
appointed successor, 'Abdu'l-Bahá during a tireless twenty -nine year ministry. While on
an historic teaching trip in 1912 throughout the United States and Canada, 'Abdu'l-Bahá
explained Bahá'u'lláh's Teachings to audiences of infinitely varied backgrounds. Many of
His talks included discussions of such Bahá'í principles as:
The explanations of these principles in the sections
following are excerpts from the public talks of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in America in 1912,
published in The Promulgation of Universal Peace.
*A fundamental teaching of Bahá'u'lláh is the oneness of the world of humanity. Addressing mankind He says, "Ye are all leaves of one tree and the fruits of one branch."
By this it is meant that the world of humanity is like a tree, the nations or peoples are
the different limbs or branches of that tree and the individual human creatures are as the
fruits and blossoms thereof.
* Although in former centuries and times this subject
received some measure of mention and consideration, it has now become the paramount issue
and question in the religious and political conditions of the world. History shows that
throughout the past there have been continual warfare and strife among the various
nations, peoples and sects, but now.... in this century of illumination, hearts are
inclined toward agreement and fellowship and minds are thoughtful upon the question of the
unification of mankind.
* What incalculable benefits and blessings would
descend upon the great human family if unity and brotherhood were established! In this
century when the beneficent results of unity and the ill effects of discord are so clearly
apparent, the means for the attainment and accomplishment of human fellowship have
appeared in the world.
[Ref: http://www.bahai.com/Bahaullah/principles.htm]
Baha'i Holy Gardens
“When the buildings are completed, they will stand as the visible seat of mighty institutions whose purpose is no other than the spiritualization of humanity and the preservation of justice and unity throughout the world.”
“The beauty and magnificence of the Gardens and Terraces now under development are symbolic of the nature of the transformation which is destined to occur both within the hearts of the world’s peoples and in the physical environment of the planet.”
— The Universal House of Justice
"Each year, thousands of Baha’i pilgrims come from around the world to pray and meditate in the Baha’i Shrines and holy sites in the Haifa/Acre area of Israel.
This region of Israel is sacred because it is where the Faith’s prophet founder Baha’u’llah spent his last years and passed away. At Baha’u’llah’s instruction, the spiritual and administrative center of His Faith is also permanently fixed in the Haifa/Acre area.
Pilgrimages serve to
not only inspire those individual believers who make them, but to also
by bring together Bahá’ís from all over the world and give social
cohesion to the Faith.
Bahá’ís are encouraged to undertake a
pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. The pilgrimage spans nine
days and consists of guided visits to the Holy Shrines, various other
sites in the Holy Land associated with the Central Figures of the
Faith, and the Terraces and gardens on Mount Carmel."www.bahai.us/welcome/principles-and-practices/pilgrimage/
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Spiritual and moral education
Providing
spiritual education for children has long been an element of the
culture of the Bahá’í community. In neighbourhoods across the United
States, Bahá’ís and their friends offer moral education classes that
nurture the hearts and minds of children, complementing the education
they receive at school.
These
classes are open to children of all backgrounds and are often run in
collaboration with their families. Drawing on the teachings of the
Bahá’í Faith, the classes aim to inspire in children a love for God and
the Founders of all the great religions in the world.
The classes, both by studying sacred verses and talking through the questions that children face in their lives, help children apply spiritual principles – such as love, unity and justice – to their own lives, to their families and their friends.
All
children are welcome to these classes, and no child participates
without the approval of his or her parents. These classes include short
lessons, activities to build social skills and friendships, games,
stories that illustrate virtues like love, kindness, generosity, and art
and music.
http://www.bahai.us/“Among the greatest of all services that can possibly be rendered by man to Almighty God is the education and training of children…”
— `Abdu’l-Bahá
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