The Bahai Faith and an Excerpt by Bahaullah - Essay Example

"Let your vision be world embracing" (The Baha'i Faith The International Web site of the Baha'is of the world). These words of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith, the youngest of the world's independent religions, conceptualize the central theme of Baha'i - that is, humanity is one single race and the day has come for its unification in one global society. Baha'i originated in Iran in the mid-nineteenth century by Mirza Husayn Ali (1817-1892). Later, he became known as Baha'u'llah and considered himself a spiritual leader who was a direct kin of the prophet Muhammad, who conceived himself to be the final prophet of God.

The Baha'i Faith originated more than 150 years ago and expanded around the world. Affiliates of the Baha'i Faith reside in more than 100,000 sections of the globe and derive from practically every civilization, occupation, nationality, and monetary environment. Baha'i Faith strives to find a unification of vision in seeking a purpose in life through true religion. Such a vision unfolds in the writings of Baha'u'llah. (The Baha'i Faith / The International Web site of the Baha'is of the world).

One of his writings, "The Moral Guidance in Ornate Prose", will be analyzed in this paper. Baha'u'llah begins his Moral Guidance piece with similar parallels to the eight Beatitudes taught by Jesus Christ. The Beatitudes are simply written but very profound statements that guide, teach and show values of Jesus' message, similar to Baha'u'llah's Moral Guidance excerpt. "Be generous in prosperity", "worthy of trust of thy neighbor", "treasure to the poor", "an answerer to the cry of the needy", "Be unjust to no man", "show all meekness to all men" (Tradition).

These teachings from the beginning of Baha'u'llah's Moral Guidance passage, emphasize that a firm sense of unity between all of us is essential to human progression and that all prejudice - racial, religious, national or economic - is destructive and must be overcome. Furthermore, "to be Baha'i" means to love the world; to love humanity and try to serve it; to work for universal peace and brotherhood. (Balyuzi). Further review of Baha'u'llah's Moral Guidance shows the true manifestation, or expression and reflection, in which Baha'u'llah proclaimed himself to be the manifestation of God for his era of time.

His divine mission was to bring about the spiritual rebirth and unity of all mankind. He preached that service to others in one's community is an important focus of Baha'i life. In Moral Guidance, Baha'u'llah references this with passages such as "Be a joy to the sorrowful", "a sea for the thirsty", "a haven for the distressed" and "be eyes to the blind". (Tradition). Possibly the most profound passages of Baha'u'llah's Moral Guidance appear at the end of his manifestation. Baha'i teachings stress the fundamental harmony of science and religion.

Baha'i Faith considers that it is the same unique God who is both the Author of revelation and the Creator of the reality which science investigates. (The Baha'i Faith / The International Web site of the Baha'is of the world). Baha'u'llah's underlined references below to that of the origin of the universe and life, illustrate that science and religion are in harmony: "Be a dew to the soil of the human heart", "a sun in the heaven of bounty", "an ark on the ocean of knowledge", "a shining light in the firmament of thy generation".

(Tradition). These are powerful statements that express the true Revelation of Baha'i! The Baha'i Faith supports scientific study, as one believes science serves to reveal rather than dispute God's awesome creative powers. (Nylen). In conclusion, Baha'i belief is all good philosophy and it proclaims the revelation of God's will is still proceeding. Baha'u'llah's Moral Guidance excerpt transcends into the 21st century with the message that NOW is the time for humanity to live in unity!Balyuzi, H.M. Baha'u'llah THE KING OF GLORY.

Oxford: George Ronald , 1980.Nylen, Steven Waldman and Robert. beliefnet - Inspiration. Spirituality. Faith. 1999. 8 June 2009 .The Baha'i Faith / The International Web site of the Baha'is of the world. 2009. 8 June 2009 .Tradition, World Religious Western. Moral Guidance in Ornate Prose from Baha'u'llah. Oxford: Oxford University Press, July 2001.