Going Green on the Baha'i Path
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Things have to make sense, completely, in order for me to embrace them. If it does not appeal to me logically, as well as aesthetically, it would be hard for me to accept. To me, the love, respect and care of our environment makes as much sense as the love and care we would have for our children. Polluting the Earth, damaging our natural environment is akin to giving God the middle finger. After all, God created the heavens and the Earth so who are we to trash it but insolent children? Too many of us think nothing of dumping motor oil down a storm drain or tossing that empty soda can to the side of the trail. It makes no sense to me why someone would travel all the way to a state or national park, hike a trail, and dump their empty water bottle! I am a witness to that.
To paraphrase Gordon Gekko, “Green is good!”, and if you love God does it not make sense to be respectful of this wonderful world He created for us? Love, respect, fear, submission to God’s will, however you want to put it, means having love and respect for Earth. You can do that by being a more conscious human being. Recycle, lessen your personal carbon footprint, do not toss trash to the side of the road, or trail. Purchase, or make your own, green cleaning products. Keep in mind how God would want you to live. In the Bahá’i Faith we are taught there is no separation between us and nature or the environment. We are interdependent. The plant is dependant on minerals for its existence as the animals are dependant on plants and humans on animals, plants and minerals.
I will close with a quote from the Son of the Bahá’i Faiths Prophet/Founder, Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdul-Bahá:
“…Of like kind are the relationships that exist among all created things. Hence it was stated that co-operation and reciprocity are essential properties which are inherent in the unified system of the world of existence, and without which the entire creation would be reduced to nothingness.”
To paraphrase Gordon Gekko, “Green is good!”, and if you love God does it not make sense to be respectful of this wonderful world He created for us? Love, respect, fear, submission to God’s will, however you want to put it, means having love and respect for Earth. You can do that by being a more conscious human being. Recycle, lessen your personal carbon footprint, do not toss trash to the side of the road, or trail. Purchase, or make your own, green cleaning products. Keep in mind how God would want you to live. In the Bahá’i Faith we are taught there is no separation between us and nature or the environment. We are interdependent. The plant is dependant on minerals for its existence as the animals are dependant on plants and humans on animals, plants and minerals.
I will close with a quote from the Son of the Bahá’i Faiths Prophet/Founder, Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdul-Bahá:
“…Of like kind are the relationships that exist among all created things. Hence it was stated that co-operation and reciprocity are essential properties which are inherent in the unified system of the world of existence, and without which the entire creation would be reduced to nothingness.”
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