Month: July 2012

Women and the Olympics

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Female Saudi Arabian athletes at the London Olympic ceremony.
This year’s Olympic games have marked a special milestone in history. For the first time in the history of the Olympics, every participating country has at least one female participant.

Even more amazing is the fact that Saudi Arabia, a country widely known for banning women drivers within its borders, has sent its own contingent of female athletes. Whether or not the number of female athletes allowed to participate increases for future Olympic games remains to be seen. However, imagine the impact of the image above on a ten-year old girl living in Sudan who is seeing the Olympic games for the first time on television. This little girl is now aware that there are possibilities for her beyond her current situation.

Baha’i children

The advancement of women in all aspects of society is one of the primary tenets of the Baha’i Faith. Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Baha’i Faith, tells us:
“In this Day the Hand of divine grace hath removed all distinctions. The servants of God and His handmaidens are regarded on the same plane. Blessed is the servant who hath attained unto that which God hath decreed, and likewise the leaf moving in accordance with the breezes of His will. This favour is great and this station lofty. His bounties and bestowals are ever present and manifest”.

To hear more about the tenets of the Baha’i Faith and what we’re doing to advance the status of women in the world, contact the Baha’is of Arlington, Virginia.

Baha’is Commemorate the Martyrdom of The Báb, Forerunner of Bahá’u’lláh

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Photo courtesy of the Baha’i Media Bank.

“Verily the resplendent Light of God hath appeared in your midst, invested with this unerring Book, that ye may be guided aright to the ways of peace…” – The Báb

It was with these words that The Báb (translation from Arabic as “The Gate”) declared his station as the one who would declare the Promised One, Bahá’u’lláh, had arrived.

The Báb’s 1844 declaration came at a time when Christianity and Islam were abuzz with anticipation of the return of God’s manifestation. Christians were expecting the return of Jesus. Islam awaited “The Lord of the Age”. Both expectations were fulfilled when The Báb revealed that “Him Whom God shall make manifest” was now in their midst. The Báb’s task can be compared to the role of John the Baptist, the forebearer of Jesus Christ. The Báb was Bahá’u’lláh’s messenger whose principal assignment was to prepare the world for Bahá’u’lláh’s arrival. The founding of the Bábi Faith is viewed by Bahá’ís as being established with the founding of the Bahá’í Faith with its purpose fulfilled as Bahá’u’lláh declared in 1863 that He was the Promised One foretold by the Báb.

Want to meet the Baha’is and hear more? Contact the Baha’is of Arlington, Virgina by clicking here.

Spirits Renewed and Friendships Forged at the Prayer Station

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You’ll leave the Arlington Prayer Station with a smile on your face and a full stomach. That much is certain.

On Thursday, 22 June 2012, like-minded individuals with a love for prayer, music, food (of course), multi-faith scripture, and friendship gathered in northern Arlington for the Musical Prayer Station. Participants swooned to the loving rhythms and melodies of Afroditi Mitsopoulou on the piano and Mesbah Motamed on the violin. Listening to their musical collaboration is like tasting chocolate-covered raspberries for the first time.

The next Arlington Musical Prayer Station, featuring Walter Heath, will be on July 20th. Contact the host for more information.

For more information on similar activities or the Baha’i Faith, contact the Baha’is of Arlington, VA.