The Baha’i Faith started in Iran in 1844. It came out of Islam the same way Christianity came out of Judaism. It is an independent world religion that believes in the unity of humankind, the elimination of all forms of prejudice, the education and equality of women with men, free education of all children of the world, a balance of the truths of science and religion, and other such uplifting beliefs. One of the Baha’i beliefs is obedience to one’s government. They also do not deny their faith. In Iran, they have been severely persecuted since their beginning there. Since the Baha’i Faith came after Islam, they are considered a heretic religion. The same way Pontius Pilate allowed persecution and crucifixion of Christ, the Baha’is are denied justice in the court system, educational system, marriage and family institution, funeral and burial practices, and any other basic human right allowed other peoples. In the Faith’s beginning, same as the Christians were treated in the time of and immediately after Christ, they were put in prison, tortured and killed in horrible ways. Today it is becoming even worse and more barbaric than a few decades ago. When you deny education to a nation of people, they become more & more barbaric and without a sense of justice and morality. They become worse than animals, subjecting their fellow human beings to barbaric cruelty without remorse. Baha’i students are denied access to colleges just on the basis of their religion. Mothers are being put into prison with their children, and parents put into prison without their children, leaving the children at home stranded, just for saying prayers within their own home. This is the world we live in. We are one world, one human people. I long for the time when peoples of the world will rise up and collectively demand nothing less than a just and peaceful world.
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“Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education alone will cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom.”
“The earth is one country and mankind its citizens.”
“Now is the time to cheer and refresh the downcast through the envigorating breeze of love and fellowship.” — Baha’i Writings.
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nothing is too much trouble,
and there is always time.”
-Abdul’Bahahttp://www.bahai.org/
It is almost comical to write about only 7 Bahai’s imprisoned in Iran, when in the past, when the Faith first began in the 1800s, 20,000 were executed by the govt. of Iran, all in the most inhumane ways you can imagine. We know their history because historians, sometimes European historians of that age and time, documented their fates and were appalled at the atrocity of their deaths. Some had holes cut into their chests where lit candles were then placed, as they were paraded through the streets where crowds of people would taunt them as enemies of the State. They were not, of course, but oppressive regimes always see any movements with growing numbers of followers as enemies. Was not Christ welcomed on Palm Sunday and then paraded and taunted with a crown of thorns the next week, crucified while the people laughed and jeered at Him?
Doctor Grandma 