Baha'is call leaders to religious tolerance

Saturday, July 13, 2002 (Cover Page)

Tolerance of other faiths and racial and ethnic groups is central to the Baha'i religion. The Universal House of Justice, the Baha'is world governing council, issued a statement this year calling for all religious leaders to combat religious prejudice.

The statement is not likely to be universally accepted in this country or elsewhere. For instance, it suggests that all the major religions should be recognized as "equally Divine in origin."

Whether that will sit well with Southern Baptists or not, Baha'is say that the dangers of religious hatred should force people of faith to recognize the perils.

"This is an appeal to the leadership of organized religion to vigorously and decisively address the issue of religious hatreds, which has become a source of conflict around the world," said Kambiz Rafraf, chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Dallas.

The text of the statement is at www.bahai.org at the "What's new" link.