May 8, 2012 -- 9:56AM, Ken wrote:

May 8, 2012 -- 1:24AM, in_my_opinion wrote:

Get to know the Bahá'ís in your own locality. (We are the second most widely distributed Faith (after Christianity) on the planet, it should be easy.)

Not really. There are fewer than 170,000 Baha'is in the United States. Many communities have none. In my area there are so few that they're still meeting in private homes. 

But, you're aware of them... which sort of proves IMO's point.

I've lived in teeny rural Western communities most of my life, and always found other Baha'is.

In the town I'm in now, I'm the only one. However, just down the road, there is a Baha'i community, so I'm able to attend events from time to time. 

I have never met anyone who stated that their faith or religion was Baha'i.  I have lived on this planet and in this country for 52 years.

I can understand why I never met anyone in my early years due to the fact that I was raised in an extremely predominant Christian area...the Bible Belt.

But...I have lived in California for 30+ of those years and I have never met a Baha'i here either and this is a distinctly multi-cultural area.

Just my two cents.

Peace

<'{{><

May 8, 2012 -- 3:55PM, Thetwofish wrote:

Addition:  The only information that I have ever gleaned on the Baha'i religion is here.  Never even heard of it until I joined BN.

Peace

<'{{><

You're never going to see something, if you're not looking for it.

There are complex and vibrant Hispanic communities all over my part of the country. But many people who have lived here for most, or all, of their lives aren't aware of it, because they never bothered to look.

Trust me, there are probably very big and active Baha'i communities in your part of Cali. You should be able to locate one easily, if you wish. 

Also, while the Baha'i Faith encourages "teaching" to those who wish to know, we're forbidden from agressive prosthelytizing. 

And, you might very well know, or know of people who are Baha'i, but the subject never came up, so they never felt compelled to tell you.

Granted, I'm a exceptionatly private person, in my personal life, at least. Some days, my idea of a whopping good time is being out somewhere with nobody but my dogs, and they don't talk much religion.

But my job is actually quite public. And there are people who have known me for years, who have no clue I'm Baha'i. I don't think any of my current co-workers do. 

If somebody asks me about my religon, I'll tell them. I'm hardly ashamed of it. Or, if I'm in a situation where religion is the topic -- such as in a loosey organized interfaith discussion group we have here -- I'll talk volumes about it.

But -- Think about it. In day-to-day, regular casual social or business contact, how common a question is "what's your religion?"  

So, forgive me for being long-winded, but there's a good chance you might already know a Baha'i or some Baha'is.

May 8, 2012 -- 3:55PM, Thetwofish wrote:

Addition:  The only information that I have ever gleaned on the Baha'i religion is here.  Never even heard of it until I joined BN.

Peace

<'{{><

I had already heard of their existence because I met a person who travelled the entire country in his youth and he had either met or heard about them, but I have never met one in person that ever said. And I have travelled quite about both in this country and a couple of others. 

I had no idea what they were about or what they actually believed until I  came to bnet. But since so many Baha'i,  on other boards claim to have been every other faith at one time or another, or understand every other faith on the planet, I still don't know what those here stand for.

May 8, 2012 -- 5:03PM, Ken wrote:

May 8, 2012 -- 10:32AM, mytmouse57 wrote:

May 8, 2012 -- 9:56AM, Ken wrote:

May 8, 2012 -- 1:24AM, in_my_opinion wrote:

Get to know the Bahá'ís in your own locality. (We are the second most widely distributed Faith (after Christianity) on the planet, it should be easy.)

Not really. There are fewer than 170,000 Baha'is in the United States. Many communities have none. In my area there are so few that they're still meeting in private homes.

But, you're aware of them... which sort of proves IMO's point.

Actually, I'm not aware of them. I had to google them.

I am aware of many things, that does not make those things important, or a force for anything