Post by duh on Jul 5, 2006 13:23:20 GMT -5
Thirty years ago, Rebecca Schmidt could count on one hand the number of people in Jackson who shared her religion.
Now, she can count that number on two hands.
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But that is in no way representative of the worldwide population of people who practice the Bahai Faith. The Bahai Faith is an independent monotheistic religion with a worldwide population of about five million people. It is regarded as the widest spread religion in the world, after Christianity. The Bahai founder, Baha'u'llah, started this religion in the mid-19th century in Iran.
There are Bahai centers in Memphis and Nashville. But because of the small number of believers in Jackson, there is not a Bahai center here yet. But the group is prayerful that one day there will be.
Today, Schmidt said, "there are 12 Bahai's that live in Jackson," all of whom gather at 6 p.m. every Tuesday in her living room for prayer. The group started fasting March 2 in preparation for their New Year. The New Year for Bahai's, which they call Naw Ruz, is observed on March 21.
Members pray for many things year-round, including the need for a universal language, the promotion of the equality of men and women, the equality of the races, and the need to eliminate all forms of prejudice. They are not allowed to participate in partisan politics. They also engage in prayer, fasting and meditation. They do not use just one spiritual text. They study and read many different texts including books from other world religions. They are accepting of all major religions, and frequently read from interfaith prayer books.
"Many people don't know about us," says Sharon Holley, a Bahai member who recently moved to Jackson from Muscle Shoals, Ala., with her husband Brian. "We don't go out and knock on doors" because "we're not allowed to proselytize."
What typically happens is that open invitations are extended for members of the community to come to one of their nondenominational prayer meetings. On the glass coffee table in the Schmidts' home are the books "The Bounty of Allah" and "The Glorious Journey to God" stacked on top of one another.
On a recent Tuesday, three candles are lit on the coffee table as Bahai members gather for this informal prayer meeting. Rebecca Schmidt's husband, Rick, opens up the meeting with a Buddhist ritual.
"I get to ring my bell of awareness," he says. In the palm of his hand, he holds a small circular bell. To help get them in the mindset for meditation and prayer, he says "present moment, perfect moment" before he taps the bell with a wand three times. After the sounding of the third bell, the prayer meeting begins.
Rick Schmidt, though he is the only Buddhist in the room, doesn't feel like an outsider. In fact, he says, "the similarity I see between Buddhism and Bahais is acceptance and compassion," he says.
Members are free to go around in the room and share prayers, meditation or songs. On this recent night prayers for healing are rendered as well as prayers for unity. Some nights are longer than others depending upon the number of prayers there are. On this evening, prayers are said in less than an hour.
There is no one designated leader or minister in this religion.
"It's independent investigation. We're all educated. So, we don't need priests," says Penny Roberts of Jackson, who became a Bahai in 1998.
Through study,"I found all my answers to all my questions in the Bahai Faith," says Roberts, who grew up in the Church of Christ.
Roberts' four children attend the prayer meeting with her. Young people are not allowed to become Bahais until the age of 15, when they are deemed old enough to study and make spiritual decisions for themselves. Bahais are forbidden from engaging in alcohol, drugs and gossip.
Roberts' 15-year-old, Kachina, said she likes being a Bahai. When her peers ask her what she is or what she believes, she tells them she believes in the teachings of Bahai. Overall, Penny Roberts says, people have been very accepting of her and her faith.
No one can give money to the Bahais unless they are also members of the Bahais. So, you won't see any collection baskets being passed around during this prayer service. If people do give money to Bahais who are outside of the faith, Rebecca Schmidt says, "that money is given to a reputable charity group."
Visit jacksonsun.com to share your thoughts.
- Wendy Isom, 425-9782
Originally published March 11, 2006
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Now, she can count that number on two hands.
ADVERTISEMENT
But that is in no way representative of the worldwide population of people who practice the Bahai Faith. The Bahai Faith is an independent monotheistic religion with a worldwide population of about five million people. It is regarded as the widest spread religion in the world, after Christianity. The Bahai founder, Baha'u'llah, started this religion in the mid-19th century in Iran.
There are Bahai centers in Memphis and Nashville. But because of the small number of believers in Jackson, there is not a Bahai center here yet. But the group is prayerful that one day there will be.
Today, Schmidt said, "there are 12 Bahai's that live in Jackson," all of whom gather at 6 p.m. every Tuesday in her living room for prayer. The group started fasting March 2 in preparation for their New Year. The New Year for Bahai's, which they call Naw Ruz, is observed on March 21.
Members pray for many things year-round, including the need for a universal language, the promotion of the equality of men and women, the equality of the races, and the need to eliminate all forms of prejudice. They are not allowed to participate in partisan politics. They also engage in prayer, fasting and meditation. They do not use just one spiritual text. They study and read many different texts including books from other world religions. They are accepting of all major religions, and frequently read from interfaith prayer books.
"Many people don't know about us," says Sharon Holley, a Bahai member who recently moved to Jackson from Muscle Shoals, Ala., with her husband Brian. "We don't go out and knock on doors" because "we're not allowed to proselytize."
What typically happens is that open invitations are extended for members of the community to come to one of their nondenominational prayer meetings. On the glass coffee table in the Schmidts' home are the books "The Bounty of Allah" and "The Glorious Journey to God" stacked on top of one another.
On a recent Tuesday, three candles are lit on the coffee table as Bahai members gather for this informal prayer meeting. Rebecca Schmidt's husband, Rick, opens up the meeting with a Buddhist ritual.
"I get to ring my bell of awareness," he says. In the palm of his hand, he holds a small circular bell. To help get them in the mindset for meditation and prayer, he says "present moment, perfect moment" before he taps the bell with a wand three times. After the sounding of the third bell, the prayer meeting begins.
Rick Schmidt, though he is the only Buddhist in the room, doesn't feel like an outsider. In fact, he says, "the similarity I see between Buddhism and Bahais is acceptance and compassion," he says.
Members are free to go around in the room and share prayers, meditation or songs. On this recent night prayers for healing are rendered as well as prayers for unity. Some nights are longer than others depending upon the number of prayers there are. On this evening, prayers are said in less than an hour.
There is no one designated leader or minister in this religion.
"It's independent investigation. We're all educated. So, we don't need priests," says Penny Roberts of Jackson, who became a Bahai in 1998.
Through study,"I found all my answers to all my questions in the Bahai Faith," says Roberts, who grew up in the Church of Christ.
Roberts' four children attend the prayer meeting with her. Young people are not allowed to become Bahais until the age of 15, when they are deemed old enough to study and make spiritual decisions for themselves. Bahais are forbidden from engaging in alcohol, drugs and gossip.
Roberts' 15-year-old, Kachina, said she likes being a Bahai. When her peers ask her what she is or what she believes, she tells them she believes in the teachings of Bahai. Overall, Penny Roberts says, people have been very accepting of her and her faith.
No one can give money to the Bahais unless they are also members of the Bahais. So, you won't see any collection baskets being passed around during this prayer service. If people do give money to Bahais who are outside of the faith, Rebecca Schmidt says, "that money is given to a reputable charity group."
Visit jacksonsun.com to share your thoughts.
- Wendy Isom, 425-9782
Originally published March 11, 2006
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