ha, ha. Its taken me years to be able to read the olivet discourse and associated books with the eye of faith so slow learner award for me to.
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The Role of Women in establishing Peace
- Thread starter loverofhumanity
- Start date
ha, ha. Its taken me years to be able to read the olivet discourse and associated books with the eye of faith so slow learner award for me to.
This is another letter which is saying that we should avoid war at all costs but as you read in Paris Talks we wouldn't just surrender and allow ourselves to be attacked. We would definitely defend ourselves. It's common sense but we don't go looking for wars to fight in if it can be avoided.
Note the emphasis on voluntary below.
1351. Bahá’ís Cannot Voluntarily Enlist Where Subject to Taking Human Life
"Bahá’ís cannot voluntarily enlist in any branch of the Armed Forces where they would be subject to orders to engage in the taking of human life."
(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Fiji Islands, August 2, 1971)
oldbadger
Skanky Old Mongrel!
Did you mean 'NOT obligated'?
See your later post:-
1351. "Bahá’ís cannot voluntarily enlist in any branch of the Armed Forces where they would be subject to orders to engage in the taking of human life."
Baha'is should avoid combat at all costs and not volunteer to go and kill but in the case of being attacked we would be obligated to defend our country or home but try and seek non combatant duties.
Have I understood your question? (help me if the penny hasn't dropped)
There's more information in this link
Lights of Guidance/Military Service - Bahaiworks, a library of works about the Bahá’í Faith
Now that all the fireworks have died down I just wanted to share an excerpt from a talk given by Abdu'l-Baha in 1912 during his 9 months in America. This was over 100 years ago and it highlights how far we have come and reminds us that many of us on this discussion are probably from countries where we take some of these principles for granted. However even in the West the experiences for many of us are that there is a long way to go. Viewing the generation of my parents I see many were deprived of opportunities of education, men too, and how it restricted their lives. In my professional life I have seen the consequences of a lack of parenting has had on many of my patients when working in both psychiatry and general practice. At the heart of this is the special relationship mothers have with their children and what happens when this attachment at an early age is adversely affected. I agree fathers are just as important but often in different ways. As has been rightly highlighted this is about 'all people' and not just men or women. Its about shifts in values and attitudes that make the world a better place for us all.
"The status of woman in former times was exceedingly deplorable, for it was the belief of the Orient that it was best for woman to be ignorant. It was considered preferable that she should not know reading or writing in order that she might not be informed of events in the world. Woman was considered to be created for rearing children and attending to the duties of the household. If she pursued educational courses, it was deemed contrary to chastity; hence women were made prisoners of the household. The houses did not even have windows opening upon the outside world. Bahá’u’lláh destroyed these ideas and proclaimed the equality of man and woman. He made woman respected by commanding that all women be educated, that there be no difference in the education of the two sexes and that man and woman share the same rights. In the estimation of God there is no distinction of sex. One whose thought is pure, whose education is superior, whose scientific attainments are greater, whose deeds of philanthropy excel, be that one man or woman, white or colored, is entitled to full rights and recognition; there is no differentiation whatsoever." Abdu'l-Baha
"The status of woman in former times was exceedingly deplorable, for it was the belief of the Orient that it was best for woman to be ignorant. It was considered preferable that she should not know reading or writing in order that she might not be informed of events in the world. Woman was considered to be created for rearing children and attending to the duties of the household. If she pursued educational courses, it was deemed contrary to chastity; hence women were made prisoners of the household. The houses did not even have windows opening upon the outside world. Bahá’u’lláh destroyed these ideas and proclaimed the equality of man and woman. He made woman respected by commanding that all women be educated, that there be no difference in the education of the two sexes and that man and woman share the same rights. In the estimation of God there is no distinction of sex. One whose thought is pure, whose education is superior, whose scientific attainments are greater, whose deeds of philanthropy excel, be that one man or woman, white or colored, is entitled to full rights and recognition; there is no differentiation whatsoever." Abdu'l-Baha
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