Baha'i Way to Heaven A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MOST WIDESPREAD UNDIVIDED RELIGION by Nafeh Fananapazir Baha'is have been called distinct in that they are perhaps the largest group of people on the planet with the common hope and expectation that a time will come when the world will not be plagued by racism, ruinous wars, and the inability to tolerate and love. The Baha'i Faith goes so far as to state that the entire religious and spiritual history of humanity has been spent in preparation for this day: a day when it is finally possible to unite the globe on a spiritual level to the same extent it is being united through communication, transportation, politics, and other material means. For example, Baha'is see the creation of bodies such as the United Nations as a significant and necessary component of an age in which the inevitability of increasing clashes of different cultural and political systems will require some means to peacefully facilitate and mediate such interactions. Therefore, the Baha'i Club at U.Va. would be proud to be called a civil rights organization, a movement aimed towards the liberation of women, or a group focused on world peace, with the understanding that these titles emphasize principles being promoted today because they are truly part of God's present plan for humanity. The various religions -- Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, the Baha'i Faith -- are seen as various chapters in God's plan for humankind. Though these religions are separated by geography and time, the members of the Baha'i Club truly see the religions as rays from the same sun, waves arriving from the same ocean, fruits of the same tree. God teaches humanity through the divine figures of Christ, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Muhammad, Abraham and so on. Baha'i Writings, the tenets of which are the primary concern of the members of the Baha'i Club at U.Va., teach us that in this day God has blessed us with a new revelation that reaffirms the religions and revelations of the past. The Baha'i Faith is simply the most recent of these faiths, but it should be considered the most relevant in terms of its social teachings and implications for humanity. It is intimately connected to religions of the past in the same way as Christianity sees itself connected to Judaism. Though an independent religion in its own right, the Baha'i Faith condemns sectarian attitudes that promote division rather than unification. The Baha'i Faith teaches that the purpose of religion is to bring more and more unity into the world. It is only when man uses religion for his own selfish interests that the beautiful faiths of God are warped into excuses for power, self-glorification, and bloodshed. As a Baha'i, I believe in the divinity of Christ, the truths proclaimed by Buddha, the Prophethic teachings of Muhammad, indeed, in the stations conferred on all of God's Messengers. The Baha'i Faith was founded in Iran during the nineteenth century when, from prison and exile, its Founder, Baha'u'llah (meaning "Glory of God") proclaimed the world to be but one country, and mankind its citizens; he proclaimed that men and women are like the wings of one bird since both should be of equal strength in order for humanity to take wing, and that religion without the rigors of rational thought and scientific inquest can quickly deteriorate into mere superstition. Though imprisoned and banished for proclaiming such bold and fundamental truths, Baha'u'llah unfalteringly and unceasingly attested that these principles were true and necessary in this day and age. He called upon humanity to investigate the truth of His revelation in the same manner as the followers of Moses were asked to investigate the validity of Christ. "The Prophets of God," Baha'u'llah declared, "should be regarded as physicians whose task is to foster the well-being of the world and its peoples, that, through the spirit of oneness, they may heal the sickness of a divided humanity." So what does this mean in the most practical of terms? Well, if you are interested in coming to a Baha'i fireside (informal gatherings held by Baha'is every week for the purpose of sharing their beliefs with those who are seeking truth), you will find one of the most diverse groups of people on U.Va. grounds -- U.Va. Baha'is are Black, White, Chinese, Persian, and Hispanic. They come from Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, Zoroastrian, and Buddhist backgrounds and upbringings. You would also see that they are united in their zeal to unify the hearts of humanity and that this is manifested in their attempt to be a model for such unity. From what I can see as a fellow Baha'i, our effort is worthy of investigation. As a group, the love that is generated amongst ourselves and for others is almost palpable. Our gatherings are always relaxed and are ideal settings for inquiry into a host of subjects ranging from eliminating prejudice, to resolving the seeming disparities between the various religions, to learning how one can truly make a difference in this world at a time during which the most mighty of institutions and ways of thought are being toppled suddenly and dramatically. In the past year, the Baha'i Club at U.Va. has doubled its membership and interest in its teachings continues to mount. On Monday, March 17th, the U.Va. Baha'i Club made a presentation to the students living in Mosaic House regarding some of the Faith's unique features. Last year, the Baha'i Club was an outspoken component of the recent initiatives taken to promote contemplation on the issue of racism. This week, on March 21st at 5 p.m. in Wilson auditorium, the Baha'is will be represented on a panel composed of members of various religions. In turn, the Baha'is will explain how they view the other religions of humanity. In addition, the Baha'i Club will be coming out this week with a new publication entitled "The Royal Falcon," wherein more of its teachings will be presented for study by the university community. It may come as a surprise that the Baha'i Faith is the most widespread of the undivided religions on the planet. What might not come as a surprise is that we believe its unity and widespread appeal is precisely what will continue to bring its noble principles to life in the hearts of humankind; God willing, this will result in a day when there shall truly be peace on Earth. It is time.

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