Unity is the central theme of the Baha'i Faith. This
theme encompasses the Oneness of God, the oneness of humankind and
the oneness
of religion. The essential oneness of humankind means
that all human beings are one species, one organic unit. This human
species is unique on this
planet as the only species to have the capacity to know and love God. Furthermore, each and every member is
divinely endowed with spiritual capacities. Each is created in the
image of God and possesses, inherently, all of the attributes of
God. Baha'u'llah has said:
"From the exalted source, and out of the essence of
His favor and bounty He hath entrusted every created
thing with a sign of His knowledge, so that none
of His creatures may be deprived of its share in expressing,
each according to its capacity and rank,
this knowledge. This sign is the mirror of His beauty
in the world of creation. The greater the effort exerted
for the refinement of this sublime and noble mirror, the more faithfully will it be made to reflect
the glory of the names and attributes of God, and reveal
the wonders of His signs and knowledge."
It is because of this priniciple
that Baha'is believe, live and teach love and acceptance of each person
regardless of external, cultural, social, or ethnic differences. There
is also an equal commitment to eliminating all forms of prejudice in
one's personal and public lives. Baha'is in the United States are especially
charged with eliminating the racial prejudice that continues to divide
our nation and inhibit the spiritual growth of a potentially blessed nation.
In recognizing the oneness
of humankind, Baha'is are in no way advocating sameness
nor alikeness. Rather Baha'is celebrate and embrace diversity and variety.
The glory of the human race is that, like snowflakes, no two are exactly
alike; each is beautiful in itself; and are wondrous and awesome when
massed together. Yet, like snowflakes, each human's essential core of being is the same -- a human. A
special, precious gift from God capable of recognizing
and reflecting God's glory.