Attainment of universal peace, brotherhood and religious unity may seem like an idealistic dream if not an impossible task.
But for six million people worldwide, including several in Barbados, their everyday lives are fashioned around the attainment of this goal. They are the members of the Baha’i faith – the youngest of the major world religions which was founded by the prophet Baha’u’llah in 19th century Persia (now Iran).
The Baha’i faith emphasises the spiritual unity of all people regardless of race, class or religion. For Baha’is, religious history is believed to have unfolded through a series of divine messengers, each of whom established a religion that was suited to the needs of the time and the capacity of the people.These messengers include Abraham, Buddha, Jesus and Muhammad, and most recently, the Báb and Baha’u’llah.
Public information officer for the Baha’is of Barbados, Marcille Haynes, met with the SUNDAY SUN recently at the headquarters of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Barbados in 2nd Avenue, Belleville, St Michael.
She discussed the fundamental beliefs of the religion and gave some insight into members’ way of life.
Haynes noted that Baha’i faith was brought to Barbados in 1958 by an American and since then the number of believers had steadily increased.
“What we have on record is the number of people who have joined the Baha’i faith, so I would say it’s between 300 and 400, but the actual persons that we see on a regular basis, like most organizations, we see about 120.”
She noted, however, that members could be “active but not be seen”.
While the Baha’i community would welcome an increase in its numbers, Haynes said they “don’t proselytize or say come and join the faith”.
“What we do is share the principles and the practices of the faith and it’s up to the individual to decide. One of the principles of the faith is that there’s individual search for truth so a person has to be seeking independently for a religion and then become a Baha’i.”
The faith is based on inclusion.“We have community projects where we work with people who aren’t Baha’i. People can come here, worship here and not necessarily join. There’s no pressure for anyone to join the faith. They can freely come and examine and expose themselves to the teachings.”
For Baha’is, worship and service are closely intertwined and form a critical part of being “active members”. In fact, worship takes place every day.
“We worship when we’re working because one of the statements by Baha’ullah is work is worship if done in the spirit of service,” Haynes noted.
She explained that most of their worship was done within private homes but they meet at the headquarters for congregational worship once per month.
On occasion, they rent a location that can hold larger numbers.
As part of their service to humanity, the Baha’is host devotional meetings which include both Baha’i and non-Baha’i families. They also conduct classes for children which are geared towards moral development through service and the arts.
In addition, there is a junior youth programme for those between 12 and 14 which seeks to empower young people and help them to develop their artistic talents.
Haynes said members do not receive negative reactions from Barbadians. In fact, non-Baha’is look forward to celebrating their holy days with them, she added.
She suggested that the Baha’is belief in inclusion comes across when they interact with non-members.
“To be Baha’i, I have to believe in the teachings of Mohammed, Krishna, Buddha, Christ, all the other religions that were brought by God, so it gives me confirmation of the oneness of mankind. You don’t look at anybody’s religion and see it negatively,” she said.
One distinctive aspect of the Baha’i faith is the absence of either a clergy or a single individual at the helm.
“There’s no one person in charge, but like any organisation you have to have an administration so we have an administrative body which makes decisions on what happens in the Baha’i faith.
“It’s a nine-member body and it’s unique in that they are elected by the believers every year at our convention but there is no electioneering. We prayerfully select the people to serve. So you just write down nine names, then they’re all added up and the top nine become the national spiritual assembly of Barbados,” Haynes explained.
The Baha’is also abstain from partisan politics.
“We don’t take sides because we believe in the government of the country. We can’t promote unity if we’re picking sides,” she said.
This emphasis on unity is one of the major elements of the faith and it is so critical that unlike other social, political or religious movements, no sects have developed.
Haynes also shared her personal experience which perhaps summarises the Baha’i faith.
She said: “I didn’t give up being a Christian. I added to it. Most people think when you join another religion that you have to throw the other one aside, but I didn’t have to do that.”
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