A Logical Appeal

Baha'is give a variety of reasons for adopting their chosen faith, but one in particular stands out: the logicality and open-mindedness which they find in their religion.

"It makes sense in our society," Andrews says, adding that she thinks that quality is responsible for the appeal the faith holds for many.

"We believe science and religion have to agree, so it's very logical--no superstitions. If science and religion don't agree, either religion is being misinterpreted or science hasn't developed that far yet. That made a lot of sense to me," Harrison says.

Many Harvard Baha'is come from Baha'i families, but members stress that no one is supposed to accept the faith merely because it is practiced by his family. Sadeghi says he had been "immersed in the Baha'i faith" all his life, but adds that "I never accept anything until it's proven. What I like best [about the Baha'i] is that anything can be questioned--you're encouraged to ask why."

Constance M. Chen '90, a Baha'i who lives in Canaday Hall, joined the religion with no previous family background in the faith after learning about it from friends. "I started learning more about their beliefs," she says, "and it all seemed so obvious, but I didn't really believe in God. I didn't want to be a dope and believe in something that didn't exist--[I was] agnostic."

But she says the hurdle of disbelief was conquered when "I realized [God] is something you don't really understand. If you could comprehend it, it would become non-existent. [Then] everything became more clear."

MIT senior David Jull, originally from an Anglican family, became Baha'i within the last year after hearing about the faith from a receptionist in his chiropractor's office who encouraged him to attend a fireside. Jull says that for him, the faith linked ideas and beliefs that had long been a part of his value system.

"Many of these things I had already accepted as being true and I needed something that tied them together, and made [them] into one piece," Jull says.

Peace on Earth

One of the main concerns of the Baha'i may already be shared by many at the present time--world peace. A booklet entitled "The Promise of World Peace" was published this year for the first time by the Universal House of Justice, a group of nine elected representatives who comprise the highest governing body of the Baha'i faith.

The booklet has been distributed to major world leaders, including President Reagan, and Baha'is on campus are trying to arrange a meeting to present it to Harvard President Derek C. Bok, Cook says.

Baha'is believe world peace will eventually be reached via a two-stage process: a lesser, or political, peace and a greater, or religius, peace. By the year 2000, the lesser peace will be achieved, Andrews says, quoting Baha'i writings.

"Before that time a lot of turmoil and changes are going to be happening in the world. We don't believe the world will self-destruct. Through it all we're going to reach world peace, but a lot of us won't be here for it," she says.

"Things are going to get really bad before the year 2000--unimaginable horrors--we will end up with some kind of peace but it won't be because we love each other, it will be because we have to exist," Harrison says.