Unity- By eliminating racial inequality? Yes
By eliminating social inequality? Yes…and No. The presented idea is that, in the future when the world is mostly Baha’i, that there will be social strata, but without the extremes of social injustice.
By equalizing men & women? Yes…and No. Women aren’t allowed on the international governing body. Some Baha’is are very modern in their ideas of men & women and some are not. This depends of what community you are in, who you are talking to, and what writings you cherry pick. Some Baha’i writings that were advanced for their time a century ago seem dated in 2023. Modern Baha’is are supportive of the equality of women in careers, although the station of Motherhood is considered exalted, if not supported by any practical means.
Unity of science & religion - Yes. As long as the Baha’i Faith has the final authority. Evolution is ok, for instance, but humans cannot be descended from a shared primate ancestor according to Abdul-Baha: We were always a separate sentient species from other mammals according to the son of the prophet, for example.
One big happy family- it did seem that way before I became a Baha’i. It May depend on what community you are in also, but there are the usual class distinctions among Baha’is that you will see in other religions. Some Baha’is are very accepting while others are snobs. Opinions are ok as long as they do not conflict with the Baha’i writings or cause disunity. Once you become a Baha’i, you are expected to obey local, National, and international institutions and authorities and not disagree with them.
The Baha’i Faith does want their members to police their thoughts and feelings to live in harmony with Baha’i institutions and be positive.
Baha’is who do these things may have a very strong community experience, and I can understand the attraction. Baha’is who leave may be shunned. Baha’is who openly disagree with institutions are seen as a threat to unity and may be declared ‘Covenant Breakers’, whom other Baha’is are forbidden to talk to including spouses, parents, and siblings. Those who consort with Covenant Breakers are themselves considered Covenant Breakers and lose their community.
I left the Baha’i Faith over 10 years ago and now considered an apostate. Some Baha’is that I run into are kind and will talk to me. Others look daggers at me & then look away, not saying a word. So the unity applies to other Baha’is, but not to everyone. The small Baha’i community I joined was very egalitarian in terms of social class. The larger Baha’i community I later moved to had strong class distinctions.
Like many religions, it varies by community, and there is a difference between the ideal presented to the recruits and the lived reality of members.
I hope this perspective is helpful. Good luck with your essay!
https://www.reddit.com/r/religion/comments/12zqru3/what_exactly_is_bahai/
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