How do you think its going to happen?

If as Baha'is we believe in bringing about peace among the nations and our faith being a prime mover behind these events, how and at what level will the undertaking be most noticeable?

Finding your niche

Being able to find a place in life where all your being feels that it is being utilized and challenged at the same time is truly something we should all be searching for. In my case, being stuck in a job I hated and having a predictable schedule and lifestyle was exactly the thing that would cut my lifespan in half due to stress. It is just completely against my nature to be the officer jock--so I have discovered. Each one of us has an obligation to ourselves and those around us to try and be happy and successful in all that we do. To cruise through day to day in a job that may be easy or difficult is not the point. To be the part of something that not only completes it, but also you is truly worthy.

Thinking about theses

So I got into Georgetown and I plan on doing an MA in international affairs with a certificate in arab studies. All in all, it requires two theses. One graduate theses is no small task, let alone two. In any case I feel prepared and well disposed to tackle the subjects I want.--security and diplomacy. While the first is relevant to my future career, the latter is something of a conundrum given the fluid nature of international relations. If i approach it from a Baha'i perspective I am afraid it will be over the heads of my first and immediate audiance--an academic panel of stuffy professors. If I were to go about it from the traditional book worm approach, I stand to gain yet another inconsequential perspective, albeit one that serves an immediate purpose---graduating. The world has changed only in the direction of splintering toward a creaking decay. Like an old decaying ship about to capsize, the planet has its history and its systems have run thier course, nothing now but inevitable cycle that the sea is supreme at administering can salavage that which truly is its eternal essense--a noble and destined spirit.

A few thoughts on the future...

As a young person I find myself thinking a lot about what will happen next year, decade and century. As a Bahá'í I have been accustomed to think that a certain series of events will transpire that lead to the establishment of the Most Great Peace. As someone who wants to make his mark, I often think about how I can take part in, or speed up this process and these events. Man does it keep me up at night. There is no silver bullet and no one true path that will satisfy this desire to see what I believe happen. Meaning that despite my best effort to be 100% accurate and sure that what I did helped, or did not, there truly is no worldly way to know for sure. Only God does. In every dispensation there is a period in which the fervor of the believers burns so strong that it guides there every action and animates their every thought. early Christians didn't believe that it would take more than a few weeks for Jesus to return. The German Templar in Haifa created a colony on a belief system that was darn near on target.

My question is this: Is there a school of thought or a course of action that will ultimately be accurate in regards to when all of this non-sense that is our world today fades away and the World wakes up to the message of Bahá'u'lláh? When will world leaders ask the UHJ for advice? There have been many events in the World today that lead us to think that we are approaching a peace of lasting measure. conventional warfare has become obsolete. There are only a handful of tyrannical regimes. Even those realize that their time is ending. Even China is experimenting with democracy on local grassroots levels.

The World for the most part realizes that trade, dialog and the pursuit of wealth is more sustainable and less manipulated than other activities. The media and direct accountability keep leaders on their toes like never before. The internationalization that is a prerequisite of peace is slowly taking shape. That people can make up their own minds and don't need the institutional idiocy that permeates other religions is becoming common knowledge.

I am however confused at some things I hear and read about when we talk about the role of the Bahá'ís. I am sure it is only due to my elementary understanding of the grandiose nature of the Bahá'í purpose, but apparently the World is not out of the woods yet. Some say that there is a catastrophe to come and only when it passes will the Bahá'í Faith truly be appreciated and be all but entirely embraced by the whole World--which after years of asking why should they, makes the most sense in the most ways.

So, what is it we are waiting for? A biblical event? That seems to be moot now. Nuclear Holocaust? Possibly. Global economic meltdown? Ehh...that's not enough. A really big terrorist attack? Not likely. Is it then perhaps a drawn out and subtle disintegration and dissolving of the petrified way of thinking? Could it be the shedding of generational and institutionalized forms of greed, injustice, hatred and unfairness?

Any ideas?

Economic Evil and the solutions...

“There is a tremendous darkness in the world today, the darkness caused by mankind’s going against the Laws of God and giving way to the animal side of human nature. People must recognize this fact, and consciously struggle against pessimism and depression.”

From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, July 14,

“It is surely they who will suffer most if some calamity sweep over the world. They should therefore open their eyes to the existing conditions, study the evil forces that are at play and then with a concerted effort arise and bring about the necessary reforms — reforms that shall contain within their scope the spiritual as well as social and political phases of human life.”

3 March 1932 to an individual believer, published in “Bahá’í News” 68 (November 1932), p. 3

Shoghi Effendi writes in Citadel of Faith “a relentless and all-pervasive materialism, the cancerous growth of militant racialism, political corruption, unbridled capitalism, wide-spread lawlessness and gross immorality.”

Shoghi Effendi, Citadel of Faith, p. 154

“In whichever direction we turn our gaze, no matter how cursory our observation of the doings and sayings of the present generation, we can not fail to be struck by the evidences of moral decadence which, in their individual lives no less than in their collective capacity, men and women around us exhibit."

This above mentioned quotes are prophetically appropriate for this current economic crisis we are in right now. While the World is in the middle of a reccession, it would be fruitful to pause and think for a moment why this is. In one corner we have the so called liberal and in the other conservative views of economic theory. American capitalism is one of the most free in the World and look what has happened. The theories put forward by the economic thinkers of the past have and are being tested to thier very bone. Some advocate that we let the markets take care of themselves and all this will be sorted out within due time. Other say that pure capitalism is crushing and unforgiving. Shoghi Effendi metioned elsewhere in a very forward looking fashion that at one point capitalism will be to be modifed a bit in order to fit a World economy. Nothing could be more evident today. The youth indeed are responsible for this development and we should sincerely study economics to show, prove, discuss and implement new ideas, models, theories and practices to show the World that unless we start working together more, it will do little to fix things continuing down this path.

Beware Jewish Baha'is

There is a new blog that has popped up claiming to be a site for "Jewish Baha'is". http://jewbahais.blogspot.com/ In fact it is probably a Muslim person or regime, (ahem...Iran) trying to discredit or confuse your average surfer.

This website is not a Baha'i website and Yohanna is not a Baha'i. However, it appears that the knowledge and details that they are aware of points to a serious effort at undermining and a nice little propaganda exercise.

Try again Bucko.

Bahá'í Military Service

I have been reading through lights of guidance to seek...well...guidance on the above mentioned subject. I have the opportunity to serve as an officer, after much training and rigor of course, and I am seriously considering it. Given the timing though, it would be unatural not to have reservations. Any stories or thoughts??