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oalues SATURDAY

March 22, 2003

Baha'isgreetingnew yearwith fastReligion started in1844 counts 150K ..members in U.S.By BILL CESSATO

..-B~li~onNews Service

\YiSHINGTON -Even before the brightSunday sun rose overthe nation's capital,

important decisions had to bemade - none of which dealtwith foreign policy or home-land security. Instead, break-fast.

One woman crunched onan apple. Another chose ahearty breakfast of cornmeal'pancakes and yogurt. Andone man bravely decided togo the entire day on a mereglass of water.

The three belong to theBaha'i tradition, a faith thathas nearly 150,000 membersin the United States.

At this time of year, a deci-sion over breakfast fare takeson extra importance forBaha'is. Currently they areengaging in their annual 19-day fast. Once the sun comesup, they may not eat or drinkagain until sundown. Follow-ers, ages 15 to 70, observe thefast from March 2 to 20, cul-minating in ''Naw Ruz" or theBaha'i new year.

On Sunday, March 9, thethree Baha'is joined about 20others at the Baha'i Faith cen-ter on 16th Street in Wash-ington. The center serves as avenue for children's classes,monthly worship gatheringsand public meetings.

Followers, who had beenfasting for a week by thatpoint, cited a number ofeffects from the practice.

"Fasting is not designed totorture or kill;' said MargaretMattinson, the center's inter-im resident manager. "It isdesigned so that you orientyourself -like a plant's leavesdo - toward God:'

"The spiritual energy gen-erated by the fast will give usjoy, radiance and inspirationto serve humanity;' said VasuMohan, a Baha'i living inWaShington.

"It's an ,indivijual thing;'said Hazel Neave, who servedas center manager for fouryears. "But it· makes you feelgood you're doing this thingothers are doing:'

As Baha'is, Mattinson,Mohan and Neave belong to atradition that dates back to1844.

That year - according to"The Baha'is;' a publication of

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the Baha'i International Com-munity - a young merchantin Iran proclaimed he wasIslam's promised Qa'im, or"Hewho will rise:' He took thename Bab, meaning "gate" or"door," and he indicated amessenger of God was forth-coming.

Baha'u'llah, a Persianleader in the Babi movement,announced in 1863 that hewas that messenger. Thefounder of the Baha'i faith,Baha'u'llah recorded his reve-lations and lived for years inexile until his death in 1892.

The tradition, now withmore than 5 million followers,has spread throughout rough-ly 230 countries and depend-ent territories.

Back in Washington, DeanB. Mohr, who became a Baha'iin 1980, discussed some of thefaith's teachings during thatSunday gathering at the cen-ter. \

Mohr said, for example,Baha'is believe in "progressiverevelation," or the idea that"one religion is establishedand then it is expanded upon"and that "(the religion) has aperiod of time when it's validand (when) it has its missionto fulfill:'

Thus, Baha'is hold thatthere is one God whose willhas been revealed to humani-ty through a series Of messen-gers, including Moses, Krish-na, Buddha, Zoroaster, Jesusand Muhammad. Each cameto meet humanity's needs forthat particular time.

"Baha'u'llah claimed to bethe prophet of God for allmankind for this day ap.dage,"said Mohr, noting a newprophet will emerge after

FAITH&VALUES~863 - the1,000th anniver- san politics, no alcohol or .sary of Baha'u'llah's drugs - unless doctor pre-announcement. scribed, prayer, fasting, chasti-

"(Baha'u'llah's) claim is ty and attendance at monthlyeither ,tru~. or ~alse," said meetings or "feasts:' There areMohr. Were asking you to 19months in the Baha'i calen-mak~ a dec~slo~b~ed on your dar, each containing 19 days.own mvestlgatio~. .. For Mohr, the 19 days of

Independent mv~sti~ation, fasting, en route to a new year,another ,~entral pnnciple to force him to reflect on histhe Baha IS,meat;tsthat m.em- spirituality.bers make up theI,r?wn,mm?s "How do you really suffer~ased upon Baha u llahs wnt- for the cause of God," hemgs. There are no clergy or k d "UT 11 f: t' . ffi

rtsas e . vve , as mg ISsu er-

expe . . F'· k"One of the blessings of this mg. astmg eeps. you

faith is," said Kweli Powell, a . focused, for that 0t.Ie tlme ofgraduate student at the Uni- th~ rear, on our ultimate ~rueversity of Maryland at College spmtual. ~urpo~e. It re~~ndsPark "I can open the book us. And It ISa gift to God.mys~lfand make my own con- ~iven the.. communal,clusions. So there's no pres- SOCIaland spintual lessonssure:' Baha'is saythey discoverwhile

Other Baha'i beliefs, fasting, it is not really surpris-according to Mohr, encom- ing that Mohr closed his talkpass such areas as gender with an unusual invitation.equality, racial integration, '~t this point," quippedparticipation in government, Mohr, "you cannot have anyavoidance of gossip and parti- refreshments:'