“WE believe in progressive revelation, which means that religion is something that is renewed periodically, from time to time a person is sent from God and renews the message, brings some new social teachings,” Mount Gambier resident Hoveida Saberi said on the upcoming Baha’i religion celebration.
While only a small community in the Blue Lake city, the Baha’i faith is internationally one of the most widespread religions in the world with a following of around six million people.
Coming from all different racial and religious backgrounds, Baha’i followers believe in one God, a supreme being known by different names.
They claim the teachings of Baha’u’llah – the founder of the Baha’i faith and whose birth will be celebrated by many across the world this weekend – inspire individuals and communities to improve society.
“Improving society is really important to us, we believe that by improving ourselves, and transforming our own lives, we can transform our society,” Ms Saberi said.
“Every person, whether they are black or white, man or woman, Muslim or Christian, we are all people and all the same.”
Participating in activities with like-minded community members – who do not follow the Baha’i faith themselves – they focus on working together to empower others.
“My sister and I run a playgroup at the library every week, learning about different virtues such as love and compassion,” Ms Saberi’s daughter Sahra said.
“While this one is for children under the age of four, the virtues project is used often in schools and workplaces to improve people’s understanding of their own capacities.”
Although not currently operating in Mount Gambier, Ms Saberi said she hopes to also start a junior youth spiritual empowerment program that is inspired by Baha’i teachings.
“It is not a religious program and is formed to encourage junior youth between the ages of 12 and 15 who often in our societies are frowned upon, to look at their own capacities,” she said.
“They learn about power of expression, how to express their ideas and look at society and see what they need to improve.”
Taking part in the program in Adelaide when she was younger, Sahra will this summer learn how to become an initiator with hopes of starting it up in Mount Gambier in the near future.
“We can see a real need in this community, unfortunately there is so much drug and alcohol abuse by young people, we just haven’t got the manpower to start the program at the moment,” Ms Saberi said.
“If we can take responsibility for our actions we can transform society.”
Wanting to build friendships and connections within the community with others who would like to create change, Ms Saberi will hold a gathering at her home this weekend in celebration of Baha’u’llah.
“For us it will be an occasion to build friendships and let people know that we would like to work with them to help make things that are working well in the community even better or improve things that aren’t,” she said.
