Twelve Ethical Principles of the Baha'i

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In 1912, in his speeches in Paris , Abdul-Baha highlighted twelve ethical principles from the teachings of Baha'ullah . These central tenets of the Baha'i dominated the reception of religion in the West until the eighties of the twentieth century, which was primarily perceived as a humanitarian peace movement. The spiritual and philosophical teachings of Baha'ullah, such as on the nature of the human soul or life after death , have only attracted greater interest in the last few decades. The so-called twelve ethical principles are not written down commandments and were formulated differently by Abdul-Baha at different times. The following analogous list shows the most frequently cited classification with a few brief explanations:

  1. All humanity is to be seen as a unit. For the Baha'i there is no contradiction in terms of unity and diversity. Cultural diversity is welcomed and promoted, and humanity is also viewed as a unity, since all human beings (and religions) were created through the work of the same deity. Baha'ullah put it: "The earth is only one country and all people are its citizens."
  2. All people must research the truth independently. A person's belief depends only on himself. There is therefore no clergy to impart the faith. The Holy Scriptures are to be read and interpreted by all believers themselves. The image of man educates to come of age and self-determination. Numerous literacy programs, especially for young women, have been launched in the communities in South America, Africa and India.
  3. All religions have a common basis. The Baha'i teach that the same God is revealed in all religions. Every religion has time-related and eternal aspects. While social commandments differ because they are adapted to the time and the culture, the mystical core of the religions is always the same, although it is expressed in different words.
  4. Religion must be the cause of unity and harmony among people. Religion that leads to discord or even violence is considered an abuse of religion. If religion leads to strife and disagreement, says Abdul-Baha, it is better to do without it.
  5. Religion must be in harmony with science and reason . According to the belief of the Baha'i, religion explains connections that lie beyond what can be scientifically experienced. Sciences and religions should therefore complement one another and not contradict one another. Religion without science leads to superstition , science without religion leads to materialism . Both are rejected.
  6. Men and women have equal rights. The Baha'i see humanity entering a new age with the revelation of Baha'ullah, in which "violence will lose its weight" and "the male and female elements of the culture will be better balanced". The “new age” will be less male and more permeated by “female models” - such as intuition and care. Within the Baha'i community order, women had the right to vote and stand for election from the start.
  7. Prejudices of all kinds have to be put aside. This means both racist and religious prejudices. For example, there is no belief in salvation among the Baha'i, which divides people into “believers” and “unbelievers”.
  8. The World Peace must be realized. For the Baha'i, world peace is not a purely eschatological expectation , but requires human effort. World peace implies religious peace and the recognition of the equality of all people, regardless of their race or class. Disarmament and the establishment of a League of Nations are the first steps on this path.
  9. Both sexes must receive the best intellectual and moral education and upbringing. This does not only mean family upbringing, but also compulsory schooling . If the funds are not sufficient for all children, girls are preferred as “first educators of the next generation”.
  10. The social question must be resolved. With this statement in 1912, Abdul-Baha referred to the socio-political problems of the industrial age and the associated social tensions. The Baha'i are economically and socially committed to equality and justice in the globalization process. Organizations like the European Bahá'í Business Forum deal with this in terms of content.
  11. A world auxiliary language and a uniform font must be introduced. Baha'ullah already emphasized the need for a language that the peoples of the earth should choose together in order to be able to communicate worldwide. This should be learned in addition to the mother tongue. In fact, this is now English within the Baha'i community, which is not only used in the Baha'i World Center , but also as the conference language at international meetings.
  12. A world arbitration tribunal must be set up. Despite the numerous peace prophecies of Baha'ullah, the Baha'i do not assume that all local and global conflicts will in future be resolved by themselves. In the opinion of the Baha'i, not only an international court of justice is required to resolve such conflicts, but also an internationally accepted police force that is authorized, if necessary, to intervene in violent conflicts in order to preserve the peace. The holy writings of Baha'ullah state: The time must come when the imperative need to hold an extensive, all-encompassing gathering of people around the world will be recognized. The rulers and kings of the earth must absolutely attend it, take part in its deliberations and discuss such means and ways that lay the foundation for the greatest world peace among men.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The international House of Justice , to which only men are allowed to be elected, is still an exception . The advisory office in Germany, on the other hand, was headed only by women for decades.
  2. ^ Baha'u'llah: Messages from Akka . Revealed according to the Kitab-i-Aqdas . Bahai-Verlag, Hofheim-Langenhain 1982, ISBN 3-87037-143-9 ( online ). Verse 11: 8

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