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SECTION NINE
ATTAINMENT TARGET TWO KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE BAHÁ’Í FAITH AND OTHER RELIGIONSa) LAWS
Perhaps in reaction to the excessive strictness of attitude, in the Nineteenth and first half of the Twentieth centuries, to laws, duties, regulations and codes of conduct, the second half of the Twentieth century seems to have swung into a mode of complete licence where anything goes. In such a liberal climate chaos and anarchy reign, no one’s safety is guaranteed, no building is immune from vandalism, no institution invulnerable to cynical undermining, no authority holds any credibility and no one’s life is worth anything.
The hallmarks of all social interaction are self-interest, profit-making, and buck-passing. Corruption is the norm; abnegation of all personal responsibility is endemic. It should come as no surprise to any one, therefore, that, as the traffic signals of life are being ignored, there are many fatalities and serious injuries in the population and the collapse of life’s infrastructures.
Between puritanical dictatorship and hedonistic libertarianism lies a happy medium. What truly sets a person and their society free is adherence to and respect for the law; a law, moreover, which is so framed as to promote the best interests and advancement of the human race, from local to global levels.
The Bahá’í student must be so inspired and trained that they come to see the divinely revealed laws of Bahá’u’lláh as the standard for human living, as a mighty stronghold for society’s protection and as a shelter for all who seek peace, justice, dignity and recompense.
Programme of Study for Laws
God given, a gift from God, God’s bounty and mercy
Unsealing of the choice wine
Renewed periodically, evolving to promote the progress of humanity
The test of the true believer
A standard to measure behaviour by
Laws as a code to live by
Laws as liberation
Sorting sheep from goats
Notions of reward and punishment
As basis of a new civilisation
The Kitáb-i-Aqdas
Other tablets and writings of Bahá’u’lláh
Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Writings of Shoghi Effendi
The Universal House of Justice
Daily prayer
Daily reading of sacred scripture
Fasting
Giving to the Fund
Marriage laws
Burial laws
Making a will
Paying Huqúq’u’lláh
Obedience to just government
Education of children
Having a trade or profession
Cleanliness etc.
v. Prohibitions in Bahá’í Law
Asceticism
Monasticism
Begging
Priesthood
Slavery
Alcohol
Drugs
Gambling
Sex outside marriage
Party politics
Voluntary military service.
Murder, Arson, Theft
Cruelty to animals
Lying
Backbiting etc.
KEY STAGE APPROPRIACY
KS 0, KS 1: Here laws might chiefly be approached through looking at rules for home, school and playing of games. The laws of daily prayer and reading, and of backbiting should be touched on.
KS 2: Introduce laws as traffic rules that allow everyone to drive freely. Basic Bahá’í laws to do with daily duties and what to avoid.
KS 3: Greater sophistication of ideas, looking at the nature of divine laws and their purpose, etc. Get students to keep a diary of what comes up as issues each day of their lives.
KS 4: Enable students to discuss all aspects of divine laws with confidence, to be confident in their own obedience to the laws of Bahá’u’lláh, and to know how to enhance knowledge and practice of Bahá’í law in themselves and others.
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