Cornel West Speaks on the Baha'i Faith

[43894674126438564036]

Iran is not keeping people in. We are keeping people out. Let them come here. Let everyone come here.

[43894674126438564036]

Ya why can't we have compassion and let everyone who wants to come to America just come. Why must we force these oppressed people to stay in their corrupt country. Let everyone come to America. Then who would corrupt people have to oppress. Enough of this hypocrisy.

[ChadC919]

Drum major of justice -- love it!

[scorpian8king]

i ended up in the bahai temple in haifa, palestine. and i t was so beautiful as a native american i believe their religion is a beautiful one. in my langage we have a saying (o'da'baha'jo'ba'hi) it means they are in a disagreeable state and we should help them. it is a term of compassion. peace

[9bahai9]

Thank you Dr. West! I heard you speak at Sonoma State University some years ago in Northern California. You said you were a democrat, with a small "d", and that you were a lay minister, but you "hang loose!" You are very open-minded and God will surely bless you for that. Your comments here are right on target.

[holobody]

Thank you Dr. Cornel! I have long admired you, especially when listening to the solid wisdom and conviction you provide in your various talks and interviews. I am always riveted!

[rossinibkk]

Thank you for your openness and sincerity. My friend's sister was hanged in Iran just for being a Baha'i. Its been going on for a long time and its time for the world to know what has been going on in Iran.

[fctchk]

@rossinibkk Then it's also time for Bahais to face up to the discriminatory and denigrating Bahai position on the rights and liberties of homosexuals which describes homosexuality as:

an "Immorality"; "spiritually condemned in the writings of Baha'u'llah;" "not a permissible way of life;" "A distortion of his or her nature which should be controlled and overcome;" An "aberration subject to treatment."

[BahaiNationalCenter]

@fctchk Thank you for your comment. There are Baha'is who have a homosexual orientation yet still are active members of the Baha'i Faith. It is not the homosexuals’ desire to love that is considered unacceptable, but rather the expression of love in the sexual act. A letter written in 1995 by the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith, the Universal House of Justice, states: "To regard homosexuals with prejudice and disdain would be entirely against the spirit of Baha'i Teachings."

[fctchk]

@BahaiNationalCenter Homosexual expression of love in the sexual act is prohibited. Heterosexual expression of love in the sexual act is not prohibited. Do you not notice the discrimination against homosexuals? Do you not see that prejudice - injury or damage resulting from some judgment or action of another in disregard of one's rights - i.e. condemning gays for expressing their sexuality is the exact result of this position?

[BahaiNationalCenter]

@fctchk For Baha'is, chastity prior to marriage is required of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. Baha'is do not expect those who are not members of their religion to follow Baha'i laws and teachings and because the unification of humanity is at the heart of the Baha'i Faith, Baha'is are more than willing to extend a hand to all. As noted above Baha'is are forbidden from condemning or judging any individual's journey or path towards God.

[fctchk]

@Bahai You are just sidestepping, not addressing the point, filibustering with recitations of typical empty stock religious platitudes and strawmanning: I am not talking about "chastity prior to marriage". I am not talking about expecting non Bahais to follow Bahai teachings.

I am talking about, e.g. a married gay Bahai couple whose religion judges it unacceptable for them to fully live their sexuality. What do you propose in their case?

[BahaiNationalCenter]

@fctchk The institution of marriage is viewed as being primarily for the purpose of raising children, and marriage is intended for a woman and a man. But, it is important to note that as Baha'is, we believe that we are defined by our spirituality; our identity is that of a spiritual being, not sexual beings. Our sexual preference is not the foundation on which our characters and souls are shaped.

[fctchk]

@Bahai You continue to sidestep. Your persist in bringing up things which are irrelevant to the point that Bahai discriminates against gays in general and Bahai gays in particular by condemning their sexuality. A fact for which you have failed to offer any justification. Indeed for which there exists no justification as there exists no justification for discriminating against women which Bahai does by prohibiting women membership in its highest governing body.

[BahaiNationalCenter]

@fctchk We find it unfortunate that you feel the Baha'i Faith is discriminatory towards homosexuals, when as previously noted, we are prohibited from being so. In regards to your comment about membership on the Universal House of Justice, ‘Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’u’llah’s son and chosen successor, stated “the wisdom of having no women on the International House of Justice, will become manifest in the future." This provision in no way diminishes the Baha'i commitment to gender equality.

[BahaiNationalCenter]

@fctchk Women have held and continue to hold positions of high rank within the Baha'i Faith. For a period of time, the affairs of the Baha’i community were under the “headship” of Bahiyyih Khanum, the daughter of Baha’u’llah. Other women held the high rank of “Hands of the Cause” and today serve as international and continental Counsellors and National Assembly members. The rights, well-being and advancement of women in the Bahá’í community are vigorously pursued by Baha'i institutions.

[fctchk]

@Bahai Do you not see that disdain is inherent to baselessly judging someone who engages in what you have branded as “unacceptable” i.e. objectionable, undesirable, unwelcome, damaged, displeasing, distasteful, improper, inadmissible, insupportable, objectionable, offensive, reject, repugnant, unappealing, undesirable, unpleasant, unwanted, unwelcome, bad?

You may not use that water fountain and you have to ride in the back of the bus but we won't regard you with disdain.

[BahaiNationalCenter]

@fctchk Again it is against the Baha'i Teachings to condemn or judge others. Baha'is believe in the oneness of humanity. 'Abdu'l-Baha, the son of the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, stated, "We must not make distinctions between individual members of the human family. We must not consider any soul as barren or deprived. The more love is expressed among mankind and the stronger the power of unity, the greater will be this reflection and revelation, for the greatest bestowal of God is love."

[ruru991]

Thank you Dr. Cornell.

[HumaneHuman4]

Thank you Dr. Cornell for your eloquent and passionate words! I quote from the Bahai Writings--"Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship." "If religion is the source of discord or disunity, rather that there be no religion at all." The Bahai teachings are about service to humanity and bringing people of different races, cultures and religions to work together as one.

[9zreed]

This was awesome! Thanks for speaking out Dr. West, you are a true friend!

[kuriaki71]

beautiful

[javedmahmood]

Religion of rich and educated people. But most of Human race do not have these two nice qualities.

[SuperBajack]

@javedmahmood I don't know where you get the impression most Baha'is are rich. Iran has the largest Baha'i population on earth, and those brave souls have been oppressed violently.

[waiotahi52]

@javedmahmood I am neither rich nor highly educated, but I am a Baha'i, and have done my best to improve on my education since becoming one. Wealth,alas, continues to elude me

[waiotahi52]

@javedmahmood I am not wealthy or highly educated.But I am a Baha'i

[slake]

Salute to Dr. West for his bold statement on the rights of Baha'is in Iran. This position would further expand human rights thoughts and actions, particularly in suppressive regime.

[BuddhaShiva1]

Very good video. I think that tolerance means accepting people's differences, as well as their similarities

[Shelron007]

Excellent, I respect your openness and willingness to support truth, wherever you find it

[dwallen11]

Thank you for being "a fanatic for fairness."

[nesreenbadi]

Thank you Professor West.  If we have more people like you speak about the rights of the Baha’is and others who are oppressed around the world, the world would be a better place for all of us. I wish the Iranian government would listen!

[dawnbreaker1844]

Thank you very much, Dr. West, for speaking out on behalf of the law-abiding, community-serving Baha'is in Iran who are suffering severe repression.

[Nerosink2000]

Great commentary by Dr Cornel !

[ryran]

Every time I hear this guy talk, I love it. He is an awesome soul.

[terry1919]

I now have MORE respect Dr West now.... before I was undecided... Now I know he does speak the truth... and must be listened to...

[mperry9]

Thank you, Dr. West! And thank you to Baha'i media for their fine work on this.

[deLeonArt]

Thank you for speaking out Dr West.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny." - MLK

[sunflowernoo]

Thank you Mr. West!