Bahai Faith; Peace -- Religious aspects -- Bahai Faith
Answer: According to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh the family, being a
human unit, must be educated according to the rules of sanctity. All the
virtues must be taught the family. The integrity of the family bond must
be constantly considered, and the rights of the individual members must
not be transgressed. The rights of the son, the father, the mother—none of
them must be transgressed, none of them must be arbitrary. Just as the son
has certain obligations to his father, the father, likewise, has certain
obligations to his son. The mother, the sister and other members of the
household have their certain prerogatives. All these rights and
prerogatives must be conserved, yet the unity of the family must be
sustained. The injury of one shall be considered the injury of all; the
comfort of each, the comfort of all; the honor of one, the honor of all.
Question: What is the relation of the Bahá’í teaching to the ancient
Zoroastrian religion?
Answer: The religions of God have the same foundation, but the dogmas
appearing later have differed. Each of the divine religions has two
aspects. The first is essential. It concerns morality and development of
the virtues of the human world. This aspect is common to all. It is
fundamental; it is one; there is no difference, no variation in it. As
regards the inculcation of morality and the development of human virtues,
there is no difference whatsoever between the teachings of Zoroaster,
Jesus and Bahá’u’lláh. In this they agree; they are one. The second aspect
of the divine religions is nonessential. It concerns human needs and
undergoes change in every cycle according to the exigency of the time. For
example, in the time of Moses divorce was conformable to the needs and
conditions; Moses, therefore, established it. But in the time of Christ,
divorces were numerous and the cause of corruption; as they were not
suitable for the time, he made divorce unlawful and likewise changed other
laws. These are needs and conditions which have to do with the conduct of
society; therefore, they undergo change according to the exigency of the
time. Moses dwelt in the desert. As there were no penitentiaries, no means
of restitution in the desert and wilderness, the laws of God were an eye
for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Could this be carried out now? If a man
destroys another man’s eye, are you willing to destroy the eye of the
offender? If a man’s teeth are broken or his ear cut off, will you demand
a corresponding mutilation of his assailant? This would not be conformable
to conditions of humanity at the present time. If a man steals, shall his
hand be cut off? This punishment was just and right in the law of Moses,
but it was applicable to the desert, where there were no prisons and
reformatory institutions of later and higher forms of government. Today
you have government and organization, a police system, a judge and trial
by jury. The punishment and penalty is now different. Therefore, the
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