About

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I am writing the Divine Curriculum series of books as the central element of a long-term endeavor which aims to promote the oneness of the human race and fellowship among the major religions of the world. Inspired by the ancient idea of one God for all of humanity which has gradually developed and woven its way through human history for many centuries, the Divine Curriculum series of books is committed to the idea of giving equal respect, admiration and devotion to all of God’s Divine Educators. Specific focus is given to historic Founders within the Abrahamic lineage, such as Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb, and Bahá’u’lláh.

I personally am a member of the Bahá’í Faith. I was raised Jewish and, growing up, did not have a good experience with it at the time. In my youth I became an atheist, until I encountered the Bahá’í Faith during my first year of college, at the University of Virginia. This was an encounter that profoundly changed the course of my life, and I became a Bahá’í in 1973. That was about 46 years ago. One of the most profound changes that I experienced was learning to treat the Founders of the world’s religions equally. 

My mantra, you might say, comes from this statement in the Sacred Writings of the Bahá’í Faith: “No distinction do We make between any of His Messengers.”(1)

My community is anyone, anywhere in the world that loves the idea of respecting equally the Divine Educators Who founded the world’s major religions – Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the Bahá’í Faith. We also have equal respect for the Divine Educators associated with Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and Buddhism.

What kind of person will feel at home in this community?

My community includes anyone who considers him or herself a seeker of truth. This is especially true if you feel a longing and a passion to find answers to meaningful questions, and if putting in a reasonable effort of investigating is appealing to you. Some seekers are undecided about religion, others have already decided on a path for themselves. Either way, if you're eager to continue expanding your horizons of knowledge and understanding, you’re in our community.

If you find it hard to accept that people who are outside of your particular religion are going to be punished for eternity, you’re in our community.

If you think God has found ways throughout history to care for the people of every race, nation, and creed, you’re in our community.

If you think that surely God must have some sort of plan to deal with the suffering in the world, including especially the suffering caused by religious strife, and if you want to help advance that plan if you could just find out how to contribute to it, then you’re in our community.

If you think the religious leaders of the world have sometimes led the people who follow them astray, even while doing some good things in other ways, then you’re in our community.

If you think that when people talk about religion, any religion, it is more important to be kind, respectful and courteous, and to be a good listener, than to “be right” or to “win” an argument, then you’re in our community.

If you think it’s a good thing to learn about other religions so you can be informed and able to engage in meaningful conversations, without getting judgmental or divisive in the conversation, then you’re in our community.

And if you think its fun to talk about religion with enthusiasm and dedication about your own beliefs while at the same time listening to others doing the same, and not trying to force your views down anyone’s throat, or to have anyone else’s views forced down your throat, then you’re in our community.

Finally, if, after such discussions, someone still disagrees with you, and you’re willing to be OK with that and let the other person be as they are, and still love them as a friend and fellow human being, then you really are in our community!

The Báb wrote this:

“The path to guidance is one of love and compassion, not of force and coercion. This hath been God's method in the past, and shall continue to be in the future!” – The Báb(2)

Welcome to our community!

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NOTES:

1. Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 50
2. The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 77