Bahá’ís working for world without walls

By Lisle Veach
FROM HEART TO HEART for The Register-Guard
November 12, 2005

Today, Nov. 12, is the 188th anniversary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh, the prophet-founder of my religion, the Bahá’í Faith. While this isn't our most important holiday, it is one of my favorites, because Bahá’u’lláh and his teachings have become such an integral part of my life.

I'm reminded daily as I read the newspaper how deeply my faith has changed my attitude about the world, a world that seems to be growing increasingly adversarial. Articles overflow with violent and frenetic acts that divide us; editorials and letters bristle with name-calling and finger-pointing: liberal, conservative, religious zealot, secularist.

They, not we, are always identified as the real problem. One group may gain momentary ascendancy, then the other side, with much shouting and waving of signs, will simply strive harder to regain its righteous position at the top of the pile.

During the Vietnam War era, I served in the military, but later a change of view led me to protest the war I'd once supported in uniform. At such a divisive time in America, it seemed so important to take a side and reinforce the walls that separated our crowd from the "wrong" crowd.

Sometime during those turbulent years I discovered some people who were different from any I'd known. Rather than pointing fingers, they steadfastly refused to make such simple distinctions and instead pointed out how all people could be made right, together.

I tagged along with some of them to a youth conference near Chicago. What I saw there had a profound impact on me and led to the gradual crumbling of the dividing walls I had been so painstakingly constructing. People of every color, language and religious, educational and cultural background intermingled, excited about doing something truly fresh and with an unshakable conviction in the spiritual power of a unity built upon diversity.

It was absolutely contagious. Through them, I began to understand that the divisiveness I thought necessary to protect the world was actually the very root cause of the world's problems.

Bahá’u’lláh said, "The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established."

I learned that Bahá’ís not only believe this unity is possible for all humanity, but that it is, in fact, the inevitable object of our spiritual development, though how soon that will happen depends upon a radical shift in our thinking.

I spend most of my time now with Bahá’ís in my community, slowly learning what a world without walls really should be like. During our celebration of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh, we read his words together and reconfirm that the peoples of the world are, like waves of one ocean, destined for oneness.

Like an old house, our outdated, disunified world is disintegrating around us with every divisive action we take, but my faith gives me confidence that we will be able to join together to build a world that's different, but much more beautiful.

Lisle Veach is a member of the Bahá’í Faith. This column is coordinated by Two Rivers Interfaith Ministries, a network of more than 35 religious traditions in the Eugene-Springfield area. For more information, visit www.interfaitheugene.org or call 344-5693.