On Highly Politicized or Conflictive Situations: Baha'i Avoidance of Partisan Politics
The Bahai avoidance of partisan politics is absolute. It is a central position of the Faith, and one that Baha'is remind themselves about a lot currently with the world in such upheaval and with such a polarization of positions occuring. When asked about "highly politicized or conflictive situations," Baha'is simply refer to the general principles of the Faith. That is the Baha'i way.
Although apparently not a Baha'i, bn_nerd on LiveJournal must have previously gleaned an understanding of the Baha'i way when he or she noted the following. -gw
One of the nice things about being an undergrad here is that you sometimes have to walk far between classes. You get to see a lot of interesting goings-on that way. I kind of miss Turlington Plaza. I enjoyed laughing at the preachers, fire and brimstone spewing from their mouths. It was fun to watch the various student cause groups, battling it out. My favorite was the day the student pro-Israel group had a table, near the student pro-Palestine group.... The only group between them? The Baha'i. It was perfect.
bn_nerd, "Some days I miss walking across campus," My Own Totally Irrelevant Thoughts
4 comments:
There are a few things about Baha'i that I have trouble accepting thus far and this idea of being neutral politically is one of them.
I'm just don't think I can ever stop having strong opinons about world and national issues and voicing those opinions when I think it is necessary.
Two things: First, the EXACT same thing happened on our campus a few years back.
Second: Jess, non-involvement in politics does not mean that we do not care about the world & national issues, or that we don't have opinions. For me, what it truly means is that I don't let politics (and the devisiveness & fighting that comes with it) get in the way of my service to humanity.
Jess
I think when talking about Baha'i's involvement in politics, one really has to sit back and reflect on the meaning of that word - politics.
The Baha'i Faith is founded on the message of Unity. Partisan politics, such as the left and right wing, totally negate this message. The idea of "I am a democrat, and you are a republican, therefore we are on opposite sides of the voting pool, and I am going to vote for my guy, and you are going to vote for your guy, rather than both of us voting for the right guy" this is what we Baha'i's stive not to be a part of.
From what I can gather, many view politics as the quickest way to affect change in this world. For example, many Baha'i's have written letters to their state Senators and representatives to alert them of the situation of Baha'i persecution in Iran. In today's society, politics equal power. However, when you put power into the hands of one or few, things get corrupt. I think it can be said without argument that some of the political powers in the world of today and yesterday are and have been corrupt.
Politics is also very different from Baha'i Consultation, which basically holds that when members gather together to find a solution to a problem, once they throw their idea's on the table, they no longer belong to the person that suggested it, that idea belongs to everyone. Then everyone is free to talk about the pro's and con's of that idea without it being associated with a specific person. In politics, many people focus on "their" idea, and "their idea being right" and "getting their idea into place."
Just as Sholeh said, Baha'is care about the world and national issues. But many believe that all social changes will be brought about by the dedication to the Baha'i Faith by it's members. Perhaps it will take quite some time, but if members of the Baha'i Faith devote their time to the core activities that we Baha'i's are asked to do, and devote ourselves to being the best Baha'i's that we can, social change will happen!
Sholeh and I are on agreement here. As a Baha'i, I research many views and situations, study history and the process of change and transition in our world. This does involve global politics, private assessment, and reaching some conclusions. I study these things and ask questions. However, I try to be careful not to get drawn into discussions that are fruitless, condemnatory, or involve political parties.
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