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Spring Cleaning at the Website
The keepers of the Salem-Keizer Baha’i website have been inspired to do some “spring cleaning”. We have moved our website to a new platform that gives it a fresher appearance and a more visitor friendly path through the news and pages. We will be sharing news from our Salem-Keizer community and we will soon have news of our neighboring Baha’i communities in Marion and Polk Counties. We are all committed to building a society that supports the well-being of everyone. “It’s
11 hours ago1 min read
Why are there so many Religions?
As a young adult I began to ask serious life questions rather than just follow my parents. One of my first questions was “why are there so many different religions?” I grew up in a Midwest town where “different religions” meant Baptist, Methodist or maybe Jewish. After moving to St. Louis, I learned there were a lot more religions. I read Buddhist and Hindu teachings. I read the Qur’an and writings of religions that I had never heard of. Unfortunately, nothing I read that hel
5 days ago2 min read
Justice: the path to unity?
When we think of "justice" we usually think of a court case with opposing lawyers, or lawmakers deadlocked over partisan agendas. In the end, the good intentions too often result in very little being accomplished. Shouldn’t justice help us organize our society and resolve conflict by bringing together differing ideas? What can we do when the conflict isn’t really resolved? Can we fight injustice without fighting each other? “The purpose of justice is the appearance of unity a
Apr 11 min read
Science / Religion: What is the truth?
This month we examine the relationship between two firmly-established knowledge systems. Religion and science have frequently been at odds with each other. For instance, there’s a difference in how each one gathers information. Science relies on empirical evidence and investigation, while religion depends on faith, inner perception and spiritual beliefs. When these two lenses focus on the same questions, these differences become apparent: How old is the earth? How did man com
Feb 271 min read
We stand on her shoulders
Beatrice Morrow Cannady a power for Oregon Civil Rights Family stories are important because they give us roots and help define who we are today. And if we pay attention, they can guide us forward. One story in the early 20th Century in our Oregon family history is that of a courageous young African American woman who battled the exclusionary laws and attitudes in our state. From 1912 to 1938, Beatrice Morrow Cannady worked to bring together Black and White communities in und
Feb 22 min read
Why can’t we feed everyone?
Is it due to a global shortage of resources or is something else going on? At present, just 1% of the world’s wealthiest people control a disproportionate amount of the world’s wealth, leaving billions of people struggling to survive. Source: BBC News "The inordinate disparity between rich and poor, a source of acute suffering, keeps the world in a state of instability, virtually on the brink of war.” The Promise of World Peace, 1985 There is also a critical shortage of housi
Jan 82 min read
Is there a path to peace?
It’s a rough wake up call each morning when we're met with headlines of ongoing conflict and chaos everywhere. But if we persist, we can find uplifting stories beneath the rubble: heartwarming accounts of people risking their lives to help others, sharing their own scant food supplies with people they don’t know. There's still good to be found in our world. How much longer will this conflict and chaos continue? Millions of people around the world are speaking out for justic
Nov 19, 20251 min read
Creative Spirit: How can the arts move us forward?
In our next conversation, the Creative Spirit, we'll explore the often overlooked relationship between the Arts and the Community. Can creative expression help us appreciate humanity’s rich diversity and envision a peaceful future for everyone? "The true worth of artists and craftsmen should be appreciated, for they advance the affairs of mankind.” ~ Bahá’u’lláh, Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i Faith We'll look at various quotes on the Arts and talk with some creative friends
Oct 30, 20252 min read
What Does Equality Actually Look Like?
The conversation around women and men tends to focus on the inequalities faced by half the population. We know what the problems are. This time, we'd like to turn it around and look at the issue from the other end: What will equality make possible? "The world of humanity has two wings - one is women and the other men. Not until both wings are equally developed can the bird fly." ~ Baha’i Writings If humanity really is flapping on just one wing, what could we accomplish if bo
Sep 9, 20251 min read
How Different Are We?
Walking down the street in our neighborhoods or downtown, we see all kinds of diversity—in restaurants, in multi-lingual signage and in the people we pass by. For some of us this different-ness can be a bit uncomfortable. But sometimes stepping out of our comfort zones can be enlightening. The Finding Common Ground series has challenged us to rethink some of our long-held assumptions for a new perspective. Given how fast our world is changing, some of these assumptions are du
Jul 29, 20254 min read
Finding Common Ground: Peace
Is there a path to world peace? Is it possible? It’s a rough wakeup call each morning when we are met with headlines of ongoing conflict and chaos everywhere. With my first coffee, I’m still looking for more uplifting stories somewhere beneath the rubble. If I persist, I can always find heartwarming stories of ordinary people risking their lives to help others, stories of people sharing their scant food supplies with people they don’t know. This reminds me that not all stori
Jul 1, 20252 min read
Finding Common Ground: Building Neighborhoods
How can a neighborhood be more like a family: connected, supportive, cooperative? We have no shortage of challenges facing us and it often feels as if we are not making any progress: So what do we do? I love this quote from Albert Einstein: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” So let’s tweak our thinking and see if we can find some new approaches. What if neighborhoods were more than just a place to house ourselves and our famil
Jun 5, 20251 min read
Finding Common Ground: Holding the Calm
The chaos surrounding us at present is mind numbing– chaos in the natural environment, in the political arena, everywhere in our local and global communities. (Do you find yourself wishing for a “mind-mute” button?) Before we can hold the calm, we first have to find it. That’s the challenge! Just maybe if we change our perspective we can begin to perceive something else in the chaos, like the calm in the eye of the hurricane. Surrounded by the storm, there might be somethi
May 2, 20252 min read
Coffee and Conversation Series
With so much uncertainty surrounding us it is easy to forget to be hopeful. There are such wide divisions in our community and all over the world. What we need is a new vision–one that aims for the well-being of all humankind. We have the ability to make lasting change, and it starts with listening to each other, sharing in meaningful conversations and building collective will. This is the goal of the Finding Common Ground series. The Baha’i community of Salem invites you to
Apr 23, 20252 min read
Foster Care donation drive a Success!
Delivery Day at the Foster Care Office The Baha’is and their friends in the Salem area recently delivered an amazing collection of needed items to the Marion County Foster Care office. For the last four years the office has shared a list of needed items. This year the request was for microwavable meals and diapers. We invited the wider Salem community to join in the donation drive through ads in the "Salem Reporter" and a donation table at the Salem Public Library. A special
Apr 17, 20251 min read
Thank you to Blick Art Materials
Thank you to Dick Blick Art Materials for their generous donation of a $200 gift card for our service project benefitting youth in foster care! This is the third year we have received a donation from Blick for our annual project. From it, we will include sketch books and drawing materials for youth in foster care. Drawing and journaling can be calming for the soul.
Jan 28, 20241 min read
Brighten your Spirits! New gatherings for Summer 2023
Many folks have been enjoying seeing old and new friends in person. The Salem LSA has arranged a new set of weekly gatherings for the months of July and August to Brighten our Spirits. Each gathering will be unique, including devotions, thoughtful stories and wonderful conversations. These are challenging times that we live in, and coming together can definitely brighten spirits. Friday Gathering The first weekend of the month (July 7 & August 4) has an in-person gathering at
Jun 29, 20231 min read
Good Thoughts in the Garden, Sun. June 18th'
Dear Friends, It's time to be together again in person. Come join us in our flower garden to share good thoughts and friendship. Thoughts and words are powerful; they can change our world. When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. -Bahá'u'lláh We are hosting Good Thoughts in the Garden gatherings during the summer on the third Sunday mornings at 11:00 a.m. There will be
Jun 18, 20231 min read
Holy Day- Observance of Martyrdom of the Báb, co-Founder of Faith
Shrine of the Bab in Haifa, Israel This holiday commemorates the 1850 execution of the co-founder of the Baha'i faith, the Báb, in Persia. It is one of nine holy days during which work and school is suspended. On July 9th, 1850, the Báb, the forerunner to Baha’u’llah was executed in Tabriz, Persia by a firing squad of 750 men. The Báb, which means “the Gate” in Arabic, was a Messenger of God, whose role can be likened to that of John the Baptist (who told of the coming of Ch
Jul 17, 20222 min read
Building Vibrant Communities May 14 & May 21, Saturdays
There's room for everyone at the table. Genuine change happens heart to heart- So that's where we are starting. We invite you & your friends to two grassroots gatherings to explore ways of building better communities for Everyone! With music and creative activities, we will explore a positive vision for humanity. Themes include- Our Vision for Humanity, Building Vibrant Neighborhoods, Role of Education in our Community and Contributing to Social Transformation. These gather
Apr 30, 20221 min read
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