Bahai Faith; Peace -- Religious aspects -- Bahai Faith
From the beginning of human history down to this time the world of
humanity has not enjoyed a day of absolute rest and relaxation from
conflict and strife. Most of the wars have been caused by religious
prejudice, fanaticism and sectarian hatred. Religionists have
anathematized religionists, each considering the other as deprived of the
mercy of God, abiding in gross darkness and the children of Satan. For
example, the Christians and Muslims considered the Jews satanic and the
enemies of God. Therefore, they cursed and persecuted them. Great numbers
of Jews were killed, their houses burned and pillaged, their children
carried into captivity. The Jews in turn regarded the Christians as
infidels and the Muslims as enemies and destroyers of the law of Moses.
Therefore, they call down vengeance upon them and curse them even to this
day.
Consider what injuries, ordeals and calamities have been inflicted upon
mankind since the beginning of history. Every city, country, nation and
people has been subjected to the destruction and havoc of war. Each one of
the divine religions considers itself as belonging to a goodly and blessed
tree, the tree of the Merciful, and all other religious systems as
belonging to a tree of evil, the tree of Satan. For this reason they heap
execration and abuse upon each other. This is clearly apparent in books of
historical record and prevailed until the time of the appearance of
Bahá’u’lláh.
When the light of Bahá’u’lláh dawned from the East, He proclaimed the
promise of the oneness of humanity. He addressed all mankind, saying, “Ye
are all the fruits of one tree. There are not two trees: one a tree of
divine mercy, the other the tree of Satan.” Again He said, “Ye are all the
fruits of one tree, the leaves of one branch.” This was His announcement;
this was His promise of the oneness of the world of humanity. Anathema and
execration were utterly abrogated. He said, “It is not becoming in man to
curse another; it is not befitting that man should attribute darkness to
another; it is not meet that one human being should consider another human
being as bad; nay, rather, all mankind are the servants of one God; God is
the Father of all; there is not a single exception to that law. There are
no people of Satan; all belong to the Merciful. There is no darkness; all
is light. All are the servants of God, and man must love humanity from his
heart. He must, verily, behold humanity as submerged in the divine mercy.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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