Comments on: Why Baha’is Don’t Participate in Partisan Politics

By: Rodney Richards

Rodney Richards — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 18:02:46 +0000

Doug, politics per se is not evil; its what its become that shows terrible flaws today. democracy as conceived was the best, but as a human system, and we aren’t perfect, it’s become divisive and chilling in cruelty and injustice. Dictatorships cause outright oppression, injustice, war, and horrible suffering. So what can we do? We are all in a system, or under a government. We can pray things get better, and God hears prayers. But we have choice, and a voice, and right to call out injustice and change it peacefully. peacefully, because if we use violence, we are no better than that which we’re trying to correct. Believe me, we Baha’is are super active in pushing peace and justice thru unity, love, & fellowship wherever it appears

By: Douglas Goodall

Douglas Goodall — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 17:58:36 +0000

I have recently been introduced to the Baha’i Faith. I have read some teachings of Baha’u’llah, in particular the prohibition against partisan politics. In my 70 years I have spent most of my time in America believing what I was taught in civics classes about our form of government, three co-equal branches, and the value of the constitution and our bill of rights. During my life I have seen the progress made in the area of civil rights. Post 9-11, I watched as government made questionable changes to our laws in the name of national defense. However in 2016, things became bizarre. Massive corruption and destruction of the rule of law, as well as cruel new policies enacted by Trump threaten all the progress. How can I resist this evil?

By: benjamin nkundimana

benjamin nkundimana — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 10:10:36 +0000

0 God! Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees, and render this just government victorious. Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity, to promulgate the Most Great Peace, to become thereby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the nations of the world

By: Tom Halstead

Tom Halstead — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 12:40:39 +0000

Cool! Nothing “outside” of the Character Quotient of our own soul matters. There are no “others.”

By: Sen McGlinn

Sen McGlinn — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 20:03:07 +0000

However voting is a civic duty in a democracy. Abdu’l-Baha wrote

“… In the United States it is necessary that the citizens shall take part in elections. This is a necessary matter and no excuse from it is possible. My object in telling the believers that they should not interfere in the affairs of government is this: That they should not make any trouble and that they
should not move against the opinion of the government, but obedience to the laws and the administration of the commonwealth is necessary. Now, as the government of America is a republican form of government, it is necessary that all the citizens shall take part in the elections of officers and take part in the affairs of the republic.”
(Tablets of Abdu’l-Baha v2, p. 342)

By: Sen McGlinn

Sen McGlinn — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 19:53:13 +0000

In reply to Mark David Vinzens.

The prayer is not authentic, Mark. There are authenticated Persian notes of what Abdu’l-Baha said on that occasion, and they don’t resemble what we have in the “prayer for America.” In general, the interpreters and note-takers and editors of Abdul-Baha in America tended to be selective and spin his words to make him more appreciative of American society than he appears in the Persian notes.

There’s an article on “this great American democracy” on my Bahai Studies blog with further explorations of the various quotes in which Abdu’l-Baha refers to “American democracy.”

By: Maya Bohnhoff

Maya Bohnhoff — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 17:14:56 +0000

In reply to rodney Richards.

“While eschewing partisan political activity, Baha’is are to vigorously engage in constructive public discourse and in a wide range of social endeavours aimed at the betterment of the world and the progress of their respective nations.”

This is the crux of the message. We must be activists for social change without identifying ourselves with the purely political stances of a party or movement. Racism, injustice, poverty, materialism—these are not political issues & as a Baha’i i consider it my duty to resist the trend of politicizing and there trivializing these crucial human rights issues when I discuss them with others in any situation.

By: Trute Resound

Trute Resound — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 21:01:29 +0000

Hi Rodney, I sent you an email. I am a Bahai’ and I appreciate your perspective and the quotes. By the Bahai’ principle “Independent Investigation of truth” I find it difficult to reconcile the strictness of some of these doctrines, even when spoken from our sacred Master with that principle in mind. I have a friend who shares the same political views as I do, because of partisan politics. They are due to the other Bahai’ principle that states “Elimination of the extremes of wealth and poverty.” Money really is the root of most evil. Even Jesus thought so when he toppled the trading tables in the Synagogue in Jerusalem and said “Ye shall not do this in my Father’s house!” Simplified: Do not stir up controversy.

By: rodney Richards

rodney Richards — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 16:04:11 +0000

Jack, thanks for your perception, But I don’t know you or you know me except through these few words or perhaps other of my articles. i can say i am on the Environmental commission of my Township and take an active roll on our Green Team and environmental activities. I can say I was a trained court dispute resolution mediator for 24 years. I can say I read Time and The Week cover to cover to stay abreadst, and am a National Public Radio listener and member. I can say all that but that’s not who I am. I care what goes on in our world and speak out as I am able and moved to do so. Most of all I can say I try to keep an open mind, and don’t accept things blindly. I am still learning. Thanks to discourses like these, I hope that continues.

By: Mark David Vinzens

Mark David Vinzens — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 12:18:09 +0000

O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to Thee. These hearts are radiant with Thy love. These minds and spirits are exhilarated by the message of Thy glad tidings. O God! Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees, and render this just government victorious. Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity, to promulgate the Most Great Peace, to become thereby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the nations of the world. O God! This American nation is worthy of Thy favors and is deserving of Thy mercy. Make it precious and near to Thee through Thy bounty and bestowal.