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They are unaware that, over the long term and as members of
a world community which they know little about, they may be irretrievably
damaging rather than improving their children's chances for a better life. Any
attempt to protect nature, must, therefore, also address the fundamental
inequities between the world's rich and poor. Likewise, the uplifting of women to full equality with men
can help the environmental cause by bringing a new spirit of feminine values
into decision-making about natural resources. The scriptures of the Bahá'í
Faith note that: "...man has dominated over woman by reason of his more
forceful and aggressive qualities both body and mind. But the balance is already shifting; force is losing its
dominance, and mental alertness, intuition and the spiritual qualities of love
and service, in which woman is strong, are gaining ascendancy. Hence the new age
will be an age less masculine and more permeated with feminine ideals...." Education, especially an education that emphasizes Bahá'í
principles of human interdependence, is another prerequisite to the building of
a global conservation consciousness. The Faith's theology of unity and
interdependence relates specifically to environmental issues. Again, to quote
the Bahá'í sacred writings: "By nature is meant those inherent properties and
necessary relations derived from the realities of things. And these realities of
things, though in the utmost diversity, are yet intimately connected one with
the other.... Liken the world of existence to the temple of man. All the organs
of the human body assist one another, therefore life continues... Likewise among the parts of existence there is a wonderful
connection and interchange of forces which is the cause of life of the world and
the continuation of these countless phenomena." |
There is perhaps no more powerful impetus for social change
than religion. Bahá’u’llah said: "Religion is the greatest of all
means for the establishment of order in the world and for the peaceful
contentment of all that dwell therein." In attempting to build a new
ecological ethic, the teachings of all religious traditions can play a role in
helping to inspire their followers. Bahá’u’llah, for example, clearly addresses the need
to protect animals. "Look not upon the creatures of God except with the eye
of kindliness and of mercy, for Our loving providence hath pervaded all created
things, and Our grace encompassed the earth and the heavens." He Himself expressed a keen love and appreciation for
nature, furthering the connection between the environment and the spiritual
world in Bahá'í theology. "The country is the world of the soul, the city
is the world of bodies," Bahá’u’llah said. This dichotomy between spirituality and materialism is a
key to understanding the plight of humankind today. In the Bahá'í view, the major threats to our world
environment, such as the threat of nuclear annihilation, are manifestations of a
world-encompassing sickness of the human spirit, a sickness that is marked by an
overemphasis on material things and a self-centeredness that inhibits our
ability to work together as a global community. The Bahá'í Faith seeks above all else to revitalize the
human spirit and break down the barriers that limit fruitful and harmonious
cooperation among men and women, whatever their national, racial or religious
background. |
All
Faiths Public Gathering for Prayer and Devotions Fillmore CommUnity 1st Saturday of the Month, January 7th Call
Luanne at 524-0683 for details Oxnard CommUnity 1st Sunday of the Month, October 8th 10:30 AM.
Locations May vary. Call Barbara at 984-4390 Camarillo CommUnity 3rd Sunday of the Month, October 15th Call Renee
at 383-3904 for details. Dawn Prayers Join us
for dawn prayers, 7 am every Wednesday morning; at the beach at the foot of San
Jon/ on Harbor Blvd, followed by a quick trip to the coffee shop.
Call Allison, 653-6011 for more information. To learn more about the Bahá’í Faith,
contact the Bahá’í House of Worship or the Bahá’í community in your
area. Further information is also available at www.us.bahai.org and www.bahai.org.
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