John Danesh > Quotes

“Baháʼís believe that the individual's right to unfettered enquiry is the most fundamental of all freedoms: 'There is nothing of greater importance to mankind than the investigation of truth... Look into all things with a searching eye' (Abdu'l-Bahá) This process should be free from imitation, heredity and blind faith: 'Set aside superstitious beliefs, traditions and blind imitation of ancestral forms of religion and investigate reality' (Abdu'l-Bahá)”
― John Danesh, The Baha'i Faith in Words and Images

“Baháʼí teachings have certain safeguards against religious intolerance. Baháʼí writings contain statements that affirm freedom of conscience, the right to different religious beliefs, or to no religious belief. Baháʼís are told not to discriminate in any way against those who are not Baháʼís, and children born into Baháʼí families are free to choose their own spiritual paths.”
― John Danesh, The Baha'i Faith in Words and Images

“Baháʼí writings describe racism as 'an outrageous violation of the dignity of human beings'.

'Numerous points of partnership and agreement exist between the two races [i.e. black and white]; whereas the one point of distinction is that of colour. Shall this, the least of all distinctions be allowed to separate you as races and individuals?' ('Abdu'l Bahá)

'Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land...' (Baháʼu'lláh)”
― John Danesh, The Baha'i Faith in Words and Images

“It [the Baháʼí Faith] does not ignore, nor does it attempt to suppress, the diversity of ethnical origins, of climate, of history, of language and tradition, of thought and habit, that differentiate the peoples and nations of the world. It calls for wider loyalty, for a larger aspiration than any that has animated the human race. It insists upon the subordination of national impulses and interests to the imperative claims of a unified world. It repudiates excessive centralization on one hand, and disclaims all attempts at uniformity on the other. Its watchword is unity in diversity.”
― John Danesh, The Baha'i Faith in Words and Images