Tag: religion

The religious landscape of England and Wales has been changing for decades. The Census offers a striking picture of this transformation: 59.3% of the population identified as Christian, while 25.1%—around 14.1 million people—described themselves as having “no religion.” Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, Buddhists, and followers of other religions together form part of an increasingly diverse society.

These figures raise an important question: What place does religion have in the modern world? And what happens to a society when people gradually lose their connection with it?

For many, religion may seem outdated or associated with division, conflict, or rigid institutions. Yet the Bahá’í teachings invite us to consider religion from a different perspective—not simply as a collection of beliefs and rituals, but as a powerful force for transforming individuals and society.

From a Bahá’í point of view, religion awakens human capacities, develops moral character, and provides a foundation for collective life. Throughout history, the great religions have transformed human consciousness and contributed to the development of ethics, culture, community, and civilisation.

The Bahá’í Faith teaches that humanity has received divine guidance through a succession of Divine Messengers, including Abraham, Krishna, Moses, Buddha, Christ, Muhammad, the Báb, and Bahá’u’lláh. Their teachings are understood as part of progressive revelation: a continuing process of spiritual education suited to humanity’s changing needs.

Religion, therefore, is not simply a legacy of the past. It can be a force for the future.

The Bahá’í writings suggest that religion has a unique power to unite people around values that transcend individual interests. Scientific and material progress can tell us what we can do, but religion can help us ask what we ought to do.

This does not mean returning to outdated forms of religious authority. Rather, the Bahá’í vision calls for a renewal of religion, one that is compatible with science and reason, promotes equality, rejects prejudice, and inspires service to humanity.

Perhaps the growing number of people who identify as having “no religion” should lead us to ask not only why people are leaving religion, but also:

What kind of religion does humanity need today?

The Bahá’í answer is a religion that unites rather than divides, and that helps humanity discover its shared spiritual purpose.

Folashade Josiah, a princess from the Fidipote royal family in Ijebu Ode, Nigeria, was raised in a deeply Muslim environment. She studied Islam from a young age and learned to recite the Qur’an in Arabic. At the age of twenty-seven, she met Alfred Josiah, a Christian man, in the northern city of Katsina. Despite their different religious backgrounds, they fell in love and eventually married after overcoming family objections.

Although their marriage was filled with love and they later had a daughter together, Folashade felt there was still something missing. Spiritually, they lived in separate worlds. They could not truly pray together or share the same faith, and this deeply troubled her. She began praying to God, asking if there was a religion that could unite both Muslims and Christians.

She spent the night reading Bahá’í books and prayers and soon decided to become a Bahá’í.

Only a few days later, she met a young man named Mutalib Saka, who introduced her to the Bahá’í Faith. He explained that the religion teaches the unity of humanity and the harmony of all religions. Folashade was overwhelmed, feeling as though her prayers had been answered directly. She spent the night reading Bahá’í books and prayers and soon decided to become a Bahá’í.

Her husband was initially uncertain, but after further conversations and reflection, he also embraced the faith just three days later. For Folashade, this was one of the happiest moments of her life because she finally felt spiritually united with her husband.

In the years that followed, she became actively involved in the Bahá’í community in Nigeria, serving in leadership and community-building roles.

In the years that followed, she became actively involved in the Bahá’í community in Nigeria, serving in leadership and community-building roles. Her story became a powerful example of faith, love, and unity beyond religious differences.

In the words of Baha’u’llah:

“There can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God.”

.

.

.

Source:

https://www.bahaiblog.net