Bahai Faith; Peace -- Religious aspects -- Bahai Faith
Answer: It is very evident that in the future there shall be no
centralization in the countries of the world, be they constitutional in
government, republican or democratic in form. The United States may be
held up as the example of future government—that is to say, each province
will be independent in itself, but there will be federal union protecting
the interests of the various independent states. It may not be a
republican or a democratic form. To cast aside centralization which
promotes despotism is the exigency of the time. This will be productive of
international peace. Another fact of equal importance in bringing about
international peace is woman’s suffrage. That is to say, when perfect
equality shall be established between men and women, peace may be realized
for the simple reason that womankind in general will never favor warfare.
Women will not be willing to allow those whom they have so tenderly cared
for to go to the battlefield. When they shall have a vote, they will
oppose any cause of warfare. Another factor which will bring about
universal peace is the linking together of the Orient and the Occident.
Question: What is your belief about reincarnation?
Answer: The subject of reincarnation has two aspects. One is that which
the Hindustani people believe, and even that is subdivided into two:
reincarnation and metempsychosis. According to one belief the soul goes
and then returns in certain reincarnations; therefore, they say that a
sick person is sick because of actions in a previous incarnation and that
this is retribution. The other school of Hinduism believes that man
sometimes appears as an animal—a donkey, for instance—and that this is
retribution for past acts. I am referring to the beliefs in that country,
the beliefs of the schools. There is a reincarnation of the prophetic
mission. Jesus Christ, speaking of John the Baptist, declared he was
Elias. When John the Baptist was questioned, “Art thou Elias?” he said, “I
am not.” These two statements are apparently contradictory, but in reality
they do not contradict. The light is one light. The light which illumined
this lamp last night is illuminating it tonight. This does not mean that
the identical rays of light have reappeared but the virtues of
illumination. The light which revealed itself through the glass reveals
itself again so that we can say the light of this evening is the light of
last evening relighted. This is as regards its virtues and not as regards
its former identity. This is our view of reincarnation. We believe in that
which Jesus Christ and all the Prophets have believed. For example, the
Báb states, “I am the return of all the Prophets.” This is significant of
the oneness of the prophetic virtues, the oneness of power, the oneness of
bestowal, the oneness of radiation, the oneness of expression, the oneness
of revelation.
Question: What is the attitude of your belief toward the family?
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