Local Bahai leader lends another voice to reflect on faith issues

Myrtle Beach Sun News ISSAC J. BAILEY

In such an overwhelmingly "Christian" area such as the Grand Strand, it is easy to forget that there are other voices of faith. I'm hoping to bring more of them to this space in coming weeks.

If you have suggestions, let me know.

I recently spoke with Margene Willis, a Bahai.

Willis was once head of the Community Coalition of Horry County, has helped lead race relations initiatives and now works at as a K-12 mentoring specialist with Horry County Schools and Coastal Carolina University.

I wanted to get her thoughts on some of the most widely-discussed faith issues while also giving unfamiliar readers a little background on the Bahais.

"There are no clergy in the Bahai Faith, but we have elected and appointed institutions which carry out those roles," Willis said. "I'm currently the Secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahais of Conway, which is elected annually, and also serve as an Assistant to the Auxiliary Board Members for South Carolina. The [following answers] are from me."

Bailey: How large is the Bahai community along the Grand Strand?

Willis: There are about 300 Bahais in Horry and Georgetown counties.

Bailey: What are the core beliefs?

Willis: That there is one God, the unknowable essence, the Creator of the Universe; that there is one religion, since God has continually and progressively guided humanity through His Manifestations, such as Buddha, Moses, Jesus, Mohammad, and today, through the Bab (Arabic for Gate ) and Baha'u'llah (Arabic title which means Glory of God); that all of humanity is created by God, we are all equal in God's eyes, and our purpose is to know and worship Him.

Baha'u'llah also taught over 100 years ago that education should be universal, that women and men are equal, that science and religion are different approaches to understanding reality and should be in harmony, that it is important to independently investigate truth, that all forms of prejudice are wrong, that we need one universal auxiliary language and that peace on earth is inevitable.

Bailey: Did the faith grow out of another religion the way Christianity grew out of Judaism?

Willis: The Bahai Faith is an independent world religion which began in 1844 in Persia with the Bab's declaration that he was the one promised by the prophets of previous religions, and that he was preparing the way for the "Him whom God shall make manifest" (Baha'u'llah). Both were born into Muslim families, so in that sense it is similar to Jesus being born into a Jewish family.

Bailey: There is a large imprint of Christianity on this area. From your point of view, what does that mean to religions who are less well represented?

Willis: I think many people are curious and are seeking to understand other religions, especially since 9/11 and our involvement in Iraq. Most people are respectful of others' beliefs, but may be hesitant to ask questions or associate more than superficially. It is very important that we understand the teachings of the world's great religions.

Bailey: It's election time and we often hear of "values voters" primarily being identified as conservative Christians. When you hear such a term, what does it mean to you?

Willis: I think it is very disunifying to our country, because many people have a very deep faith and strong moral values, but may not belong to either a particular party or religious group. Morality is an essential aspect of all religions - the Golden Rule may be found in all religions - but the role of religion as a moral force has declined all over the world.

Bahais are not involved in partisan politics. We vote for the individuals that seem most qualified to serve.

Bailey: There are major debates about the proper relationship of faith and science. Your take?

Willis: Baha'u'llah teaches that science and religion each have their sphere of truth, and neither sphere can overrule the other sphere's authority. God is the source of both science and religion. This is a very important question, as the international governing body of the Bahai Faith states, "the task of humanity is to create a global civilization which embodies both the spiritual and material dimensions of existence. The nature and scope of such a civilization are still beyond anything the present generation can conceive. The prosecution of this vast enterprise will depend on a progressive interaction between the truths and principles of religion and the discoveries and insights of scientific inquiry." (Universal House of Justice, May 19, 1995)

Bailey: What about gay marriage? Embryonic stem cell research?

Willis: Since this is such a controversial and divisive issue, I would like to quote directly from the Book of Laws: "The Bahai teachings on sexual morality center on marriage and the family as the bedrock of the whole structure of human society and are designed to protect and strengthen that divine institution. Bahai law thus restricts permissible sexual intercourse to that between a man and the woman to whom he is married."

Chastity is required of all individuals outside of marriage. There are many aspects to living a moral life, and this is just one. We have no specific guidance about stem cell research, but we do believe that the soul is associated with the body at the moment of conception. It is left to the individual to decide, based on his understanding of Bahai teachings and the research details.

Bailey: Local elected officials proudly let it be known that they are going to pray before public meetings, and often times that means a Christian prayer. Your reaction?

Willis: Since Bahais believe in Jesus Christ, I personally appreciate sincere prayers for guidance. I think God answers all prayers. However, when the officials elected to represent all of us focus on one religious tradition, individuals from other faiths can feel excluded. Why start a meeting with something that might divide us? Prayers can be said in private before the meeting, and/or use inclusive prayers that are acceptable to everyone.

Bailey: Every year for the past few years there have been rumblings about there being an attack on Christmas, that the so-called secular society is trying to eliminate any mention of Christ and dishonor Christianity. Considering your religious faith, how do you see that controversy?

Willis: I think that the celebration of Christ's birth has become overwhelmed by our society's excessive attachment to materialism. I recall this concern as a child in the 1950s, growing up in a very strong Christian home, and it has only escalated since then. We (our Western society) seem to celebrate material excesses, and ignore our spiritual reality, which is a concern for everyone.

(Please go to www.Myrtle BeachOnline.com to "A Different World" blog to read more, which includes a list of resources that explains more about the Bahai Faith and why it is built on the belief that God has manifested himself in many ways.)

Special note: The Faith and Ethics column published Oct. 30 was a complete mistake due to internal computer problems. Sometime Sunday night the correct, edited version of the column was lost. The version that ended up in print was the rough draft, or "notes" file, in which I cut and paste reader responses to questions into a file before doing anything with it. That made it appear as though it was an essay written by me, but most of those thoughts were from reader Terry Munson in Pawleys Island. The correct version of the column also included quotes and analysis from those who believe scientists should speak out forcefully against religious claims. I have no plans to express my thoughts on the subject. If we are able to retrieve the correct version of the column from our computer system, we will publish it online.
Looking ahead

Next week we will deal with the sex scandal surrounding the country's so-called most influential evangelical leader, Ted Haggard, and discuss whether such incidents undermine religious authority.

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/local/15942391.htm
South Carolina, USA

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