Reflecting on the Declaration of Independence

While Nikhil and I were in DC for the 4th of July weekend, we visited, among many other places, the National Archives, where one can read the originals of cornerstone documents like the Declaration of Independence. As I was reading through the Declaration of Independence, I was particularly struck by these words:

"That to secure these rights [a.k.a. life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness], Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

Firstly, how eloquently our founding fathers wrote! What words of wisdom for founding a country! But more importantly, I was struck by the spirit of service that's imbibed in these words. Governments should serve the people and uphold the rights of the people. If only all of those who govern this country were to work through a spirit of service grounded in these noble principles. And if only all of us were to hold our governments to upholding these principles!

This quote reminded me of a saying in the Baha'i writings, which is that if religion becomes the source of antagonism and strife, the absence of religion is to be preferred. The sayings are not exactly the same, but I think they both wisely point to the purpose of each and that government and religion are both meant for a higher purpose, and that they should not merely perpetuate their own self interest.

Arising to Serve through Religion

I am still distilling the multitude of things that I learned at the Southwest Regional Baha'i Conference in Los Angeles last weekend, one of 41 conferences being held around the world over 3 months (you can read a report on the event here). One lesson that came across quite clearly is important role each of us plays in service to humanity. We must all arise to serve. Each of us has unique talents and skills and all of these can integrate into a larger whole to build unity and harmony across this planet.

Many people (particularly here in Santa Cruz County) consider themselves spiritual but are aversive to organized religion. I can appreciate this perspective. Indeed, in the Baha'i Holy Writings Abdu'l-Baha writes: "An essential principle of Bahá’u’lláh’s teaching is that religion must be the cause of unity and love amongst men; that it is the supreme effulgence of Divinity, the stimulus of life, the source of honor and productive of eternal existence. Religion is not intended to arouse enmity and hatred nor to become the source of tyranny and injustice. Should it prove to be the cause of hostility, discord and the alienation of mankind, assuredly the absence of religion would be preferable.… In this sense the absence of religion would be at least some progress toward unity."

While it is so important to keep this perspective of religion, of not letting it become a source of discord, I also recognize that being part of a larger spiritual/religious community helps to further this purpose of building greater harmony and unity in this world. Abdu'l-Baha writes also about religion:

"Superstitions have obscured the fundamental reality, the world is darkened, and the light of religion is not apparent. This darkness is conducive to differences and dissensions; rites and dogmas are many and various; therefore, discord has arisen among the religious systems, whereas religion is for the unification of mankind. True religion is the source of love and agreement amongst men, the cause of the development of praiseworthy qualities, but the people are holding to the counterfeit and imitation, negligent of the reality which unifies, so they are bereft and deprived of the radiance of religion. They follow superstitions inherited from their fathers and ancestors. To such an extent has this prevailed that they have taken away the heavenly light of divine truth and sit in the darkness of imitations and imaginations. That which was meant to be conducive to life has become the cause of death; that which should have been an evidence of knowledge is now a proof of ignorance; that which was a factor in the sublimity of human nature has proved to be its degradation."

This is something I am going to be thinking more about, that of how being part of a religious organization helps us in better developing "praiseworthy qualities" and translate these into action so that we can have the most positive impact possible. With all this in mind, I was quite moved to read the following quote today:

"Join those who are serving so that you are united in changing this world to a paradise established by God, a paradise where there is prosperity and beauty for all and where all are honored in who they are." - John Morton

Religion Should Not Motivate Conflict

I heard about this this morning on NPR: Pope calls for peace, end of religious strife. This story warmed my heart.
National Catholic Reporter, Dec 7, 2001, by John L. Allen, Jr.

"Asserting that 'religion must never become the motive for conflict,' Pope John Paul II has, for the third time in his pontificate, invited religious leaders from around the world to join him in Assisi to pray for peace. The gathering in Assisi, birthplace of peacemaker St. Francis, will take place Jan. 24." 

This statement rings true with the Bahá'í Faith's teaching about religion, which goes one step further: "Should it prove to be the cause of hostility, discord and the alienation of mankind, assuredly the absence of religion would be preferable." -'Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace