Ridván (meaning “Paradise” in Arabic) — is the most important of the Bahá’í holy days. It is the day on which Bahá’u’lláh declared His mission as a Messenger of God.
Following a six-year investigation into the Baha’i Faith. On July 8th, 1986 I made an acceptance and a declaration. The acceptance and belief that Baháʼu’lláh is the latest in a series of Devine Messengers sent from God. And a declaration to continue to investigate his teachings and put them into the action of my everyday life.
Abdul-Baha speaking at Unitarian Church in Dublin 1911. Abdu’l-Bahá points out that Bahá’u’lláh, his father, came to renew the divine spiritual teachings, at a time when they had been abandoned.
What are they?
- The unity of all peoples.
- The elimination of hostility based on race, nationality, politics, religion, and economics.
- Universal peace and the elimination of war.
- The need for every individual to investigate religious truth and avoid blind imitation.
- Equality between men and women.
- Universal education in both material and spiritual matters.
- Saving religion from superstition by applying science; tempering science with the moral guidelines of religion.
The tipping point in my decision to become a Bahai came from my study of the 1985 document of the Promise of Universal Peace from the Universal House of Justice (UHJ). It was presented to religious and political leaders around the globe The UHJ is the globally elected world governing body of 5 million Bahia’s living in over 200 countries and territories.
This is the first in a series of articles from the Spiritual Devine teaches mentioned above. The next article will be on Universal Peace and an end to war and entitled
World peace is not only possible but inevitable.
