This is for the masochists among you. I’ve written a poem or two over the years. None of them is particularly good, but each says something about the way I see and experience the world.

If you’ve really nothing better to do, you can find my poetry here.

Technorati Tags: poetry

I’m mulling a longer post on freedom of religion or belief. Freedom of conscience is a central Baha’i principle, inextricably linked with the obligation that Baha’u'llah places on each individual to search out truth for him/herself and to see with his own eyes and not through the eyes of others. Only if we are free to choose our own path can we become fully rounded human beings. If we do not have freedom of religion, we cannot choose our own path, and so spiritual development and becoming a fully rounded human is denied us.

But what if we choose a path which leads us to religious exclusivism, hatred, extremism and violence? Are we free to choose such a path? What are the spiritual consequences of making such a choice?

Are we faced by a paradox? We must be free to choose our spiritual path, but it is possible to make right or wrong choices. If spiritual truth and spiritual laws are as objective as material laws (now, that’s a question for debate), what happens to our spiritual development if we choose to break those laws?

What are the spiritual consequences for religious leaders who guide their followers to make the wrong spiritual choices? Who is responsible - the religious leader? or the follower? or both?

Please God, ye will regard this blessed night as the night of unity, will knit your souls together and resolve to adorn yourselves with the ornament of a goodly and praiseworthy character. Let your principal concern be to rescue the fallen from the slough of impending extinction, and to help him embrace the ancient Faith of God. [Baha'u'llah, Gleanings, p. 316.]

Is this not the spiritually correct path?

Anyway, I’m still trying to get my head around what I want to say - there’s so much to be said, so many things to read, so much from the Sacred Texts to contemplate. I’d certainly be interested to know what you think. Do please leave a comment.

Technorati Tags: freedom of religion, Baha’i, spiritual development, religious leader