Bahai Faith; Peace -- Religious aspects -- Bahai Faith
Tonight I wish to speak upon the oneness of the world of humanity. This is
one of the important subjects of the present period. If the oneness of the
human world were established, all the differences which separate mankind
would be eradicated. Strife and warfare would cease, and the world of
humanity would find repose. Universal peace would be promoted, and the
East and West would be conjoined in a strong bond. All men would be
sheltered beneath one tabernacle. Native lands would become one; races and
religions would be unified. The people of the world would live together in
harmony, and their well-being would be assured.
From the beginning of human history down to the present time the various
religions of the world have anathematized and accused each other of
falsity. Each religion has considered the others bereft of the face of
God, deprived of His mercy and in the direct line of divine wrath.
Therefore, they have shunned each other most rigidly, exercising mutual
animosity and rancor. Consider the record of religious warfare, the
battles between nations, the bloodshed and destruction in the name of
religion. One of the greatest religious wars, the Crusades, extended over
a period of two hundred years. In this succession of great campaigns the
western crusaders were constantly invading the Orient, bent upon
recovering the Holy City from the hands of the Islamic people. Army after
army raised in Europe poured its fanatical legions into the East. The
kings of European nations personally led these Crusades, killing and
shedding the blood of the Orientals. During this period of two hundred
years the East and West were in a state of violence and commotion.
Sometimes the crusaders were successful, killing, pillaging and taking
captive the Muslim people; sometimes the Muslims were victorious,
inflicting bloodshed, death and ruin in turn upon the invaders. So they
continued for two centuries, alternately fighting with fury and relaxing
from weakness, until the European religionists withdrew from the East,
leaving ashes of desolation behind them and finding their own nations in a
condition of turbulence and upheaval. Hundreds of thousands of human
beings were killed and untold wealth wasted in this fruitless religious
warfare. How many fathers mourned the loss of their sons! How many mothers
and wives lamented the absence of their dear ones! Yet this was only one
of the “holy” wars. Consider and reflect.
Religious wars have been many. Nine hundred thousand martyrs to the
Protestant cause was the record of conflict and difference between that
sect of Christians and the Catholics. Consult history and confirm this.
How many languished in prisons! How merciless the treatment of captives!
All in the name of religion! Consider and estimate the outcome of other
wars between the people and sects of religious belief.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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