The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys
Introduction
The Bahá’í Faith
Religion can be reasonable without losing any of its fire. True religion avoids magic trappings and pays attention to man’s hope for a more abundant life. Armed with the shield of faith, we can free this earth from the curses of ruinous war, abject poverty, needless disease, and tyranny. Too much stress on images and rituals has snapped the vitality of man’s faith in God. Bahá’ís believe that “the world of humanity is walking in darkness because it is out of touch with the world of God.” Men have placed their trust in the false gods of racialism, nationalism, and communism, and they have spurned the God of love, justice, and mercy.
Bahá’ís testify to the excellence and the ennobling influence of all the Prophets. Their goal is the union of all peoples in one universal cause, one common faith. The Prophet of God comes to earth and dwells among men “to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.” Obedience to the Prophet is the mainspring of human progress. The Divine Messenger can heal the world’s sickness and bring the people into “one fold” with “one shepherd.” Figs are not borne of thistles. Many committees and councils have worked hard for religious harmony but World War II supplied the spectacle of Protestants fighting Protestants and Catholics killing Catholics.
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