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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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