Terence Mukasa
The Bahá’í community in Namibia is gearing up to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Windhoek on 27 November.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá was the eldest son of Bahá’u’lláh, known to Bahá’ís as the ‘Perfect Exemplar’ and the ‘Mystery of God’, a living embodiment of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá (servant of God) passed away in the Holy Land on 27 November 1921. His life and legacy are commemorated throughout the world during this centenary year.
After the first world war, Ábdu’l-Baha delivered his tablet to the League of Nations in The Hague, calling for peace.
In his tablet, Ábdu’l-Bahá explained that peace would require a transformation in human consciousness and a commitment to fundamental spiritual principles enunciated by Bahá’u’lláh such as the abolition of all forms of prejudice and the harmony of science and religion, which includes the equality of women and men.
The Bahá’í Faith was first established in Namibia in the 1950s. Since that time, increasing numbers of people throughout the country have been finding inspiration and guidance in the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Abrahimic Interfaith Council chairperson Vic Gorelick said in today’s life, people still experience hunger and many other social problems, which limit the extraction of the truth from the lies in the media.
“Peace is at the heart of humanity…100 years later, we are still not there. Today, many wars are still ongoing. We are suffering from the Coronavirus and hunger and many other serious problems in society today, and we find it very hard to tell the truth from the lies in the media, and even in our religious institutions,” he stated.
Gorelick added that everyone has to work together to save this planet.
The Abrahimic Interfaith Council of Namibia was formed in 2017 to act as a platform for interfaith dialogue and as a forum for cooperation and communication between the different faith groups (Jewish, Christian, Islamic, Bahá’í and Buddhist) as well as a forum for religious leaders.
The Golgotha community has been benefiting in terms of faith, religious education and alleviating social problems such as alcohol and drug abuse in the community.
Natashia Nampala (31), who joined the Bahá’í faith at the age of 15, said the faith and the community at large helped her shy away from social temptations.
Being a Bahá’í requires you not to consume any alcohol, not being entangled with anyone, and also discourages the usage of drugs and cigarette smoking.
“These principles have helped me align my life and faith in a way that I now see the world differently,” added Nampala.