Inspired
by the
Baha’i Faith
The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. The official website of the Baha'i Faith is: Bahai.org. The official website of the Baha'is of the United States can be found here: Bahai.us.
GOT IT
The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.
How do I become Baha’i?
Culture

Guns of Love, not Death

Hoda Hosseini | Mar 10, 2018

The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.

Interested in Other Topics?

We’ve got something for everyone.
Hoda Hosseini | Mar 10, 2018

The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith.

Now yet another bloody massacre … Multiple young innocent lives lost in a high school, to guns and madness, right in my neighboring city of Parkland, Florida.

What can anyone say?

Well, a century ago Abdu’l-Baha gave some serious, compelling Baha’i advice to a gun lover and manufacturer. In 1912, as America and the nations of Europe began to bristle with new weapons of war, the wealthy inventor, gun manufacturer and arms dealer Hudson Maxim had a bone to pick with Abdul-Baha, widely known then as the visiting “prophet of peace.”

Maxim asked to meet with Abdu’l-Baha while he was in New York, and Abdu’l-Baha agreed. They met on April 15, 1912 at the Hotel Ansonia in New York City. Abdu’l-Baha began the meeting, which included W. H. Short, the secretary of the New York Peace Society, by praising the efforts of all peacemakers:

In this day the majority of mankind are endeavouring to destroy the foundations of the happiness of the world. How many are engaged in the invention of means for the destruction of human kind; how many are employed in the science and practice of war; how many are occupied in various kinds of strife and antagonism; how many stand ready to shed the blood of innocent men, their brothers! So it is that history is blackened with this record of human intention and accomplishment. –  Abdu’l-Baha, Star of the West, Volume 2, p. 4.

The New York Peace Society, an anti-war group that opposed the entry of the United States into World War I, received its primary funding from the industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie—who also met with Abdu’l-Baha during his North American trip. In a later message to Carnegie written before World War I broke out in 1914, Abdu’l-Baha wrote:

All the leaders and statesmen of Europe are thinking on the plane of war and the annihilation of the mansion of humanity, but thou art thinking on the plane of peace and love and the strengthening and reinforcement of the basis of the superstructure of the human world. They are the heralds of death, thou art the harbinger of life. The foundations of their palaces are unstable and wavering and the turrets of their mansions are tottering and crumbling, but the basis of thy structure is firm and unmovable. – Star of the West, Volume 4, p. 82.

Abdu’l-Baha praised the efforts of the peacemakers, but also encouraged the warmongers and weapons manufacturers to stop contributing to the world’s culture of carnage and death:

“I understand you are a messenger of peace to this country,” Maxim said to Abdu’l-Baha. “What is your opinion of modern war?”

“Everything that prevents war is good,” Abdu’l-Baha replied.

“Do you consider the next great national war necessary?” Maxim asked

“Why not try peace for awhile?” Abdu’l-Baha answered. “If we find war is better it will not be difficult to fight again; but if we find that peace is the glorification of humanity, the impulse of true civilization, the stimulus to inventive genius and the means of attainment to the good-pleasure of God, we must agree to adhere to it and establish it permanently. …

“You are a celebrated inventor and scientific expert whose energies and faculties are employed in the production of means for human destruction … Now you have the opportunity of becoming doubly famous. You must practice the science of peace. … You must discover the means of peace; invent guns of love which will shake the foundations of humanity.

Then will it be said by the people of the world, this is Mr. Maxim, inventor of the guns of war, discoverer of high explosives, military scientist, who has also discovered and invented means for increasing the life and love of man; who has put an end to the strife of nations and uprooted the tree of war. … Then will your life become pregnant and productive with really great results … God will be pleased with you and from every standpoint of estimation you will be a perfect man.” – reported by Howard MacNutt in Star of the West, Volume 2, pp. 4-11.

No one will ever say it better than Abdu’l-Baha. We need those “guns of love” even more today.

You May Also Like

Working on Climate Change: An Inconvenient Insomnia
Culture

Working on Climate Change: An Inconvenient Insomnia

White Buffalo Maiden: Sacred Rites, Dances, Songs, Values
Culture

White Buffalo Maiden: Sacred Rites, Dances, Songs, Values

How Is Porn Affecting Us and What Can We Do About It?
Culture

How Is Porn Affecting Us and What Can We Do About It?


Comments

characters remaining
  • Maria Jimena
    Mar 25, 2018
    -
    Thank you so much for sharing this! I think The underlying message of Abdu’l-Baha is also the urge to use our capacities and talents for the betterment of our human condition and build a civilization of peace. Peace is not only achieved in a paper or agreement between organizations but it is the reflection of our daily actions and the support we give to each other as part of one Human Family.
  • Melanie Black
    Mar 12, 2018
    -
    Great article. Where I live in the state of Massachusetts, assault rifles have been banned. Thus we have fewer mass shootings. We have other restrictions as well, but until our culture understands that owning weapons, except for peaceful reasons such as hunting or sport, is unnecessary, then needless deaths will continue.
  • Hilton McConnell
    Mar 11, 2018
    -
    Guns are a tool that can be used for good or bad. It is the people that we need to cure of there problems, we need to help those who need help. We have to stop blaming the tool used as it can be a car as we have seen or even a hammer. We have to get to the root cause, and cure it. I see the root cause, lack of religion, and good virtues. All the good virtues are necessary, form bought sides. If we were to put others ahead of our self, and ...look out for others, who need protection, and a kind word, and understanding, these attacks , mite never happen. I have a saying that I like to share. To have the privilege of doing something for someone, is much more important than doing something for yourself.
    Read more...
  • Rosslyn and Steven Osborne
    Mar 11, 2018
    -
    Brilliantly put, and I totally agree about the Masters words. Thank you very much.
x
x
Connect with Baha’is in your area
Welcome!
What's your name?
Thanks my friend ! We want to connect you with a Baha’i in your area, where would that be?
Thank you so much! How can they best reach you?
To put you in touch with a Baha’i in your area who can answer your questions, we would like to kindly ask for a few details about yourself.
Connect with Baha’is in your area
Connect with Baha’is in your area
Get in touch with the Baha’is in your community.