Iran’s persecution of the Bahais

          
          . p . ,‘*, .r. .. p pt ..tt'r., .. p VP P
          I S ) 4 *
          ST. PETERSBURG TIMES CrN55roNd5 MAGAZINE OF REu:i:: SEPTEMBER 10, 1983
          Tampa Mayor Bob
          Martinez asks
          clergy to ‘provide .
          the care' that .
          nv rnrn nt ..
          8 4. ...r.bo ,gTln *..
          A majority of
          Americans favor an
          amendment that .
          would permit
          voluntary group
          prayer in public
          schools page 9
          After a year on the .• .. ‘Ret red police
          job, Archbishop ‘.‘ officer, now living
          Joseph L . Bernardln in Port Richey, says
          brings calm to . .. . . the rough job
          the Chicago . . created a need for
          archdiocese, page 6 ‘Cops for
          Christ,' page 8
          
        

          
          Iran's persecutic'r f 'thE”Bhá.is”
          American Bahais hope for the weight
          of world opinion to end the violence
          Her flight from religious
          oppression began early
          Schole Raouf i,31, lea native of Iran, cultural an-
          thropologist and linguist who came to the United
          States several years ago from Weet Germany and is
          currently seeking permanent resident status as a po-
          litical-religloue refugee. Her situtation is unique,
          however, because her family's flight from religious
          persecution in Iran began when ehe was only 2 years
          old.
          She said her father, a civil engineer whose company
          built bridges, roads and airports for the government of
          the late Shah Rem Pahlavi for two decades, moved his
          family to Germany in 1954 during a wave of Bshai
          persecutions fomented by an influential Muslim mul-
          lab (priest). The mullsh's preaching against the Bshais
          inspired mobs to plunder and loot Bahsi homes, busi-
          nesses and institutions. A number of Babsis were
          murdered, and the Bahai National Center in Tehran
          was taken over and vandalized by police, army and
          clergy.
          The persecutions subsided after the shah, sensitive
          to world opinion and threats of economic sanctions,
          responded to a United Nations appeal and ordered the
          restoration of Bahai properties and civil rights.
          BELIEVING THAT the respite was only tem-
          porary, Miss Raoufi's father kept his wife and four
          daughters in Germany. The family home in T 2 hrgn
          was retained, however, and Raoufi continued his
          business operations there. During “safe periods,” the
          family traveled frequently to Iran'to visit friends and
          relatives.
          Then, in 1978, Miss Raoufi said, her father was
          forced to leave Iran permanently when the Islamic
          revolution resulted in the installation of the Ayatollah
          Khomeini regime. He and one of Miss Raoufi's sisters
          escaped from the country with only one suitcase each.
          Since then, all of the family's properties and business
          assets have been confiscated by the Iranian govern-
          ment, and their former home has been taken over by
          the gardener, maid and chauffeur who once served
          them, she said.
          The tenuous status of aliens in Germany led Miss
          Raoufi to come to the United States to complete her
          education. She earned her BA. degree in cultural an-
          thropology and comparative religion from the
          University of California at Santa Cruz, where she also
          taught in the Department of Religious Studies and
          introduced the Bahai Faith as an accredited subject.
          She is continuing her studies as a candidate for a
          doctoral degree in cultural anthropology, working on
          a dissertation based on her research into the cultural
          adaptation of foreign workers living in Germany and
          the impact of their marginal, status on their children.
          MISS RAOUFI came to St. Petersburg two
          years ago to enroll the youngest of her three sisters in
          St. Petersburg Junior College. Granted a temporary
          working permit, she has been teaching German at the
          University of South Florida, acting as an interpreter
          and selling real estate while awaiting a decision from
          immigration authorities about the status of her ap-
          plication for permanent asylum.
          In the meantime, she has succeeded in helping her
          parents emigrate to Canada. Her two other sisters now
          reside in Spain and Greece.
          ByJEANNE PUGH
          5t. P.t.rIbarp Times staff Writ.,
          Schole Raoufi of St. Petersburg does not like to speak too
          openly about her relatives in Iran because calling attention
          to them could put them in prison, or worse, put them in
          danger of execution, she says.
          They hsvs already been subjected to harassment and
          denial of civil rights. So far, only one — a dentist married to
          Miss Rsoufi's cousin—is feared dead. He was arrested by
          revolutionary guards on Aug. 21, 1980, and has not been
          heard from since.
          His crime? He was a member of an auxiliary board of the
          Bahai National Spiritual
          Assembly in Tehran. As a
          prominent Bahai, he was a
          vulnerable target in the cur-
          rent wave of persecutions
          that has resulted in the dis.
          enfranchisement of thou-
          sands of Iranians and the
          deaths of hundreds in the
          past 3½ years.
          The Bshai Faith was
          founded in Iran in 1844 and
          now claims more than
          300,000 followers in that
          country and 3.5-million ad-
          herents around the world. It
          has won the respect of many
          who admire its tenets of hu-
          man equality, racial and re-
          ligious tolerance and the
          essential unity of humanity.
          BUT, SINCE the faith'a beginning,Bahais have been
          under continual attack in the land of its origin where leaders
          of the Shuts Muslim majority have branded it heretical to
          Islam. The intensity of the persecution in Iran has waxed and
          waned during the past 139 years, depending upon the degree
          of political power held by the Muslim mullahs (clergy).
          Persecutions have escalated rapidly since the Islamic
          revolution of 1978 and the installation of the Ayatollah
          Khomeini as arbiter of the nation?s politicAl and religious life.
          Documentation supplied by Bahai leaders records a tragic
          litany of injustices:
          I' Since the fall of 1978, 151 Bahais have been killed —
          some were stoned, beaten or burned to death by mobs during
          the early days of the revolution, but most have been executed
          by government authorities-They have included nearly all the
          prominent leaders of the Bahai community and their fami-
          lies.
          ‘ Sixteen other Bahai leaders have disappeared after
          arrest or abduction from their homes or businesses, and most
          of them are presumed to be dead. -
          1' More than 250 Bahais-have been imprisoned for in-
          definite terms, either without formal charges against them or
          on charges that Bahsi sources say are “trumped up.”
          I' Thousands of Bahais have lost their jobs — some ass
          result of Khomeini's edict forbidding the employment of
          Bahais by government agencies, and some because of gov-
          ernment hyrsssment of private businesses employing Bahais.
          Scores of Bahai businessmen and professionals have been
          deprived of their livelihoods by denial of trade and profes-
          sional licenses.
          i ' Thousands have been driven from their homes by
          mobs incited by Muslim clergy and government agents or
          have seen their homes demolished or burned.
          V All of the major Bahai holy places, including the
          House of the Dab (founder of the faith), have been demol-
          ished. Bahsi cemeteries have been desecrated and, in some
          cases, paved over as roadways.
          V Bahal children and young adults have been dismissed
          from public schools and colleges, and Bahai-run schools and
          hospitals have been closed or confiscated by the government.
          V Bahai bank accounts and assete have been frozen or
          confiscated. Bahai Larmers have lost their livestock, which
          has been stolen, killed or sold at public auction. Their crops
          have been burned.
          V Balsais trying to escape the country have been denied
          visas, And those with valid passports have been turned back
          at the airports and borders. Iranian consuls around the world
          have been instructed to revoke the passports of Bahais out-
          side the country and issue only travel documents permitting
          them to return to Iran — to face certain further harassment
          tooL:
          and persecution.
          AMNESTY International, an independent watchdog
          agency that monitors human righte violations around the
          world, has “documented proof from many sources” that these
          atrocities are taking place, accordj,ng'to Betsy Ross, a
          spokesperson in the agency's New York office, She said this
          week that Amnesty has put the Iran government at the top of
          its list of violators of human rights and “we don't publish
          anything until we have confirmation from a number of
          independent sources.”
          She added, “There is no evidence that any of the Bahais
          executed since 1979 have been guilty of espionage — the
          - reason (for their deaths) is
          their faith,” she said.
          ________________________ The Islamic government
          initially claimed that its
          actions against the Bshais
          were the result of evidence
          that members of the group
          were traitors or spies — ei-
          ther agents of Zionism or of
          “American imperialism” —
          and had nothing to do with
          religious persecution.
          But, in recent months, no
          such pretense has been used.
          Bahais are told openly that,
          if they denounce their faith
          and convert to Islam, all will
          be forgiven. In some cases,
          Bahais have been offered
          more wealth than they have
          lost if they, agree to become Muslims.
          Miss Raoufi, a third generation Bshai, said that such
          invitations are rarely accepted. Just this past June, 17 Bahais
          — including 10 women and teen-age girls — were hanged
          publicly in the city of Shiraz after refusing four times to sign
          statements of recantation.
          Since then, 63 more Bahais, including 10 more women.
          have been arrested, and many of these will probably share a
          similar fate, Miss Raoufi said.
          The pace of persecutions continues despite a rising tide
          of protest from governments and international agencies
          throughout the world.
          AMONG THOSE that have issued statements con-
          demning the Iranian action and pleading for a cessation of
          the persecution are: both houses of the U.S. Congress, the
          U.N. Commission on Human Rights, the European Council
          of Nations, Amnesty International, the U.S. National Council
          of Churches, the World Council of Churches, and the gov-
          ernments of Canada, Great Britain, West Germany, Austra-
          lia, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
          Last month, 89 professors of Iranian and Islamic studies
          at colleges and universities throughout the United States —
          including Christians, Jews, Muslims and Bahaia — signed an
          open letter to the Iranian government, calling the per-
          secutions “a contradiction of all that is best in the traditions
          of Islam and the Iranian people.”
          In addition, religious leaders of all faiths and political
          leaders from throughout the world have appealed in-
          dividually, in ‘private and in public, to the Ayatollah
          Khomeini and other Iranian leaders to stop the carnage.
          President Reagan issued his strongest public appeal on
          May 22, asking specifically that 22 Bahais then under sen-
          tence of death-be spared. The June executions were carried
          out despite his plea.
          MEAN WHILE, Iranian newspapers continue to print
          justifications for the atrocities, including statements by
          judges of the revolutionary courts intimating that even
          harsher measures may be in store for Bahais who cling to
          their beliefs.
          The president of the Revolutionary Court of Shiraz.
          ‘quoted ins Shiraz newspaper, declared: “Before it is too late,
          the Bahaia should recant Bshsism, which is condemned by
          reason and logic. Otherwise, the day will soon come when the
          Islamic nation will deal with the Bshais in accordance with
          its religious obligations, asit baa dealt with other hypocrites
          who have appeared in more dangerous garb and have ref i-
          - gioua and satanic gatherings.”
          See BAHAIS. page 10
          Schole
          Raoufi was
          only two
          years old
          when her
          family left
          Iran.
          Religious leaders of all faiths and
          political leaders from throughout
          the world have appealed
          individually.,in private and in public,
          to the Ayatollah Khomeini and other
          Iranian leaders to stop the carnage.
          S' St. Potsrsburg Times Saturday. Saptsmber 10. issa
          
        

          
          Toleranceof.Bahai Faith seen.:
          as threat to Iranian Moslems
          Q YJEANNE PUGH
          St. P•tsrsborg Tim .. Staff Writer
          The Balsai Faith would seem, at first glance, to be the
          least likely religion, to become the subject of persecution. Ita
          beliefs are among the most non-violent, tolerant and unob-
          trusive of all the world religions.
          But Schole Reoufi, an Iranian by birth and a third.
          generation Bshai, explains thst the faith is viewed as dan-
          gerous by Iranian Moslems for two main reasons:
          ‘ It threatens to undermine the authority of the
          powerful Shiite Moslem mullahs (clergy);
          5- And it represents a kind of progress, both social and
          spiritual, that many Iranian people are not yet ready to ac-
          cept.
          Miss Raoufi explains that the Babel Faith. founded in
          iran in 1844, has no ecclesiastical hierarchy of ministers,
          priests or mullahs. Its affairs are administered by Spiritual
          Assemblies (committees) elected democratically at local,
          national and internatjonal levels. While some Baltais who are
          experienced and Well-educated in the faith are recognized as
          teachers, no Balsa) is accorded any special privilege or power
          within the community and those few serving fuiltime
          administrative positions.receive compensation only for their
          expenses.
          TIlE BAHAIS also believe in universal education, the
          full equality of men and women, the oneness of God, the va-
          lidity of all the major religions and the equality of the races.
          All of these beliefs run counter to the teachings of Shuts Is-
          lain, the minority branch of the Moslem faith that is ‘pre-
          dominant in Iran.
          The Shuts 5 , moreso than many other branches of Islam,
          vlsw women as chattel and all members of other faiths asia-
          fidels. While acknowledging Judaism, Zoroastrianism and
          Christianity as root religions that paved the way for the ap-
          pearance of the Moslem prophet Muhammad in the 7th
          Century A.D., the fundamen ist Shiites consider their re-,
          ligion to be the final revelation from God.
          As a result, the Jewish, Christian and Zoroastrian re-
          ligions have been recognized in han as legitimate and per.
          mitted to exist. But the Balsa) Faith, which claims its prophet
          llslsaullsh was a modern successor to Mu ,hammad, is seen as
          heresy. Its tenets of human equality and universal education
          threaten the power of the mullahs who have for centuries
          lived on the largess of their followers, acquiring considerpble
          wealth and Influence.
          “The mullahs do not wa ist eduêation because their chief
          purpose is to interpret the Koran (the Moslem holy scrip
          turee) to the people,” Miss Raoufi says.
          MULLAH opposition to the Bahais emerged almost.
          Symbol of spiritual progression
          Bshsis believe that all prophets have been manifestat ions
          of a continuing and progressive dialogue between God and
          humanity. This concept is illustrated in'the Emblem of the
          Greatest Name, or the Ringstone. Its three horizontal linea
          ‘depict the three planes of existencef The World of God the
          Creator; The World of His Manifestations (The Prophets);
          and The World of Mankind. The connecting, vertical line,
          interse 3ting thethree, represents the Holy Spirit, which
          links the three planes. Tao five-pointed stars represent the
          twin “Messengers of God for This Age” —The Bab and
          Bahsul laf s.
          OUR LADY OF GOOD HOPE 2J
          I Traditional Catholic Latin Moss 9 30/ ,.M. —Eeglish I I & 1115A.M.
          [ ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Phone 347-4002
          Come Worsjj,c, With Us !
          TRANSFIGURATION CHURCH 4000.4 s,
          st P
          Satondoy Ev.nlng Mat,., 5,505 7,00 P.M.
          $andnyM otta s ,7, Sep , 1015, 11 .3oA.M..6 p
          DIOCESE OF ST. PETERSBUR __________________________________
          Con n,,inns Sotordoy 4,00 Ia 4 45 and 7 ,30 -8 ,50 P.M.
          ST. THERESE BYZANTINE RITE 426$.I3thAr.,N
          Fifth Aye. North & 59th Street seusda . St
          Sandoy5,45A.M e 5th, I I,15A.M. O rd, 5 lornnt,
          Setsrday Evening Masses, 4,30 and 6,30 p.M Wtthdays tOA.M.,5a, ayc:,,,f.,• ,,,, 41 • 5 P.M .
          SondoyMooses 6 .0O,a,00,9,3OyssIhUt gy 11,00A.M. BLESSED TRINITY CHURCH
          12,306 6,30 P.M. 1600-54th Avenue South, St. Petersburg
          Weekday Masses, Moe .F,i 6,30815 & I 1 .OOA.M. SATURDAY EVENING S 5:00 P.M.
          S et.6 , SOafldg,15A.M SUNDAY MA55ES 8:00, 9 30, 11:00 A.M.,
          Holy Days, (ta,ne as Satorday &Sonday) and 6:00 P.M .
          7 ,30 to 8.00 AdA., 3,00 to 4,00 P.M. and 7,30-8,00 P.M.
          Confessions, Sotorday, doybefor. Holy days and First Fridays, I HOLY CROSS CH s st. Petersborg
          r'u 7851.54th Ave. Na.
          Saturday Mosses 5.00 P.M. (Dee. thro Apr. 5 & 7P.M.)
          St. lode Novena Prayer & Mass, Mondays a$ 6 . 3 0p.m. SUNDAY MASSES, 8,00,9,30. 1100A.M. & 12,30 P.M.
          ANGELUS AND MORNING PsAYERS FROM THE DI VINE OFFICE AND Inferprelar forth. Daof—9,30 Moss
          Weekday Mosses 800A.M. end 7,00 P.M.
          ROSARY WEEKDAYS AT 7.45 A.M. . Confeaslona Sot.4 505P.M. — 8,00 to 8.30 P.M.
          SCRIPTURAL ROSARY3U MINUTES BEFORE SUWDAYMASSES. Adorotton 5 f RIo,sod sooroo,oos_ ...pfr,t Pddayot Month,
          830A.M. & AS Day to Sooedialon 016,30 P.M.
          HOLY FAMILY CHURCH S5.Pa Mr.ta ,rg
          1800. 12th St. No.
          i St. Churc 11 S5.PCMUHU,g
          SM.rdny—$,On 6150 P.M. Pt,o,.e 226.57
          Smdatn—7,0 5.5, 50,9.3 5 l1 .OaA.M. a 1I2,SOPM.o ,t. I tt -M oy I I SATURDAY VIGIL MASS, 5,30 P.M.
          Co,,Iesdoo,, Sot. 4,00 to 4,456 i,Ss.5o lpj ,._ .
          ST JOSEPH CHURCH . 2I0I'flndAte. So., is. p.Soan 8 SUNDAY MASSES, 7,30,9,00, I0 30, 12NOON & 6,00 P.M.
          tot.Eoe.MaO_.&15p . M Oldotspatheys , SATURDAYCONFESSIONS
          Sen.Maanes,9,00 5 II,00A.M.
          Conletalo,n 140.5 P.M. Sneedays OnOyMo,ag ,50A.M . — 4,30505,30 P.M.
          ST. RAPHAEL'S CHURCH . DniyMa s , . t,6 ,3Q&8,l5A
          1376 Snol Itt. Bled. N.E., St. Petan ,do.rg SaturdayS Eve of Holy day 5 30P.A0.
          SATURDAY EVENING Maso —5,35 P.M.
          SUNDAYMASSRS — 8,80,9,00 & 1 1,80A.M.& 12,306 2,30 P.M . Sunday Mnsoat, 700,8,30, lO QO,
          I 1,30 AM.. 6 530P.M.
          ST. MARY OUR LADY OF GRACE . HeiyDayMos se s,630,8 ,3 0
          4th St. & 5th Ave. So. .. St. Petersburg Ph. 896-2191 1000A.M. & 520P.M.
          Mans Schedule, First Friday Moons, 6,30,8,15
          SondoyodHoiyDo).sd,7,89,3 1 Il l s— I2,l5ond4,30p. 6 5 3OP.M,
          Soturdoy&tn,ofH ,440 5,3OPeMo,, , F,e , , 63 OIN IfenAp,0 foTowedby NocltrnolAdsrotIo ,, until
          We tl ,doyMo ,s ,s . .& 3 0,7 ,00.7,30,8 ,ssAMa 12 10P.M. 630A.M. Sot.
          Sunday 2,30 P.M. PoOth Mo,a& Costas,Ion, In FoOd, Son. 2-2 30 P.M.
          Contnssi Os.. Sot dayst Eve ot H y Day a S00t I MP . M ‘ ( t, ç// Coole$,ion,,4 ,3Q.5.30& ? ‘30-850pM
          Sot. S Eve, of First FridayS Holy Day
          Otdofttr l , 0 0A.M.Mo,t
          Davotlot, Noon Monday 400 p.c.. Friday Holy Hose 3P.M., Mo,, 4 P.M. 82nd.4ve. A Blind Paso Rd., St. Petor,burg Boorh, Flu.
          a ssatorday 5s
          The Bahais believe in universal
          education, the full equality of men and
          women, the oneness of God, the
          validity of all the major religions and
          the equality of the races. All of these
          beliefs run counter to the teachings of
          Shiite Islam, a branch of the Moslem
          faith that is predominant in Iran.
          immediately after the faith was first proclaimed by a 25-
          year-old Iranian merchant, Mi Muhammad. Be announced
          ozt May 22, 1844, that he had been chosen as the herald of
          another prophet, or “world teacher,” to be Bent by God. Be
          assumed the title of The Bab (“The Gate”) and rapidly at-
          tracted thousands of followers among the Moslems who had
          been taught—as have been.Jewo and Christians — that a
          messiah would someday come to lead believers through a
          millenium of peace and prosperity,
          The Bab's teachings infuriated both civil and religious
          leaders who initiated cruel persecutions that culminated in
          the public execution of the Bab in 1850. But the Babis, as his
          followers were called, continued to assemble and to study his
          Writings. -
          A litany of
          persecution
          V Since the fall of 1978, 151 Bahais have bean
          killed, most through government execution of
          prominent Bahai leaders and their families.
          V Sixteen Bahal leaders have disappeared after
          arrest or abduction and most of them are presumed
          to be dead.
          V More than 250 Bahais have been imprisoned
          for indefinite terms.
          V Thousands of Bshsia have lost their jobs
          because of government edict or harassment.
          V Thousands have been driven from their homes
          which were demolished or burned.
          V Major Bahsl holy P!scea. including the House of
          the Bat,, have been demolished.
          V Baha) cemeteries have been desecrated or
          paved over as roadways.
          V Bahal children end young edulta have been
          dismissed from public schools and colleges, and
          Bahsi-run schools and hospitals have been closed or
          Confiscated by the government.
          V. Bahai bank accounts and assets have been
          frozen or confiscated. : .
          V Bahais trging to escape the country have been
          denied visas, and those with valid passports have
          been Owned back at the airports and borders.
          See FAITH. page 7
          
        

          
          i iurIiI digE5t
          1
          - res V erians ifl ra I
          want out of u.S group
          The Presbyterian Church of Brazil has asked to be
          released from its ties to the former Presbyterian
          Church-U.S. after a 114-year association, Now
          that the southern branch of Presbyterianism in
          C0r Ias 1VedV Brazilian church, many of whose
          founders were Confederetes who moved to Brazil
          after the Civil War In order to preserve their
          “southern lifestyle,” broke off relations with the
          northernchurchln 1972 efterapollcydispute.
          . .
          wuoonies move into urugua.y
          Rev. Sun Myung Moon. founder-lesder of the
          Unification Church, Is “prsctically buying the
          adds, “speculate that their country may become
          the world center for Moon's church.” The church
          currently maintains its headquarters In New York
          City end Tarrytown, N.Y.
          .
          Baptists allocate flood aid
          The Foreign Mission Board of the Southern
          Baptist Convention has allocated more than
          $634,000 to Its missionaries and medical teams
          Countries that have
          the United States has merged with the northern
          country of Uruguay.” according to a newsletter
          In seven South
          branch to become the Presbyterian
          Church. U.S.A., the Brazilian church “will keep
          the door open” for future talks, said Rev,
          Bosnerges Ribeiro, spokesman for the Brazilian
          church. But it wishes to determine that the new
          church is “older and more mature” before
          reaching a new working agreement. The
          published by the Florida Synod. Lutheran Church
          of America. The newsletter reports that Moon.
          whose followers are known as “Moonies” In the
          United States, recently purchased Uruguay's
          third largest bank, Its largest hotel, a daily
          newspaper and a high-rise office building In :
          downtown Montevideo, Uruguayan Journalists, It
          suffered widespread devastation ass result of
          floods and unusually heavy rains during the last
          six months. The board reports that the floods
          have killed 100 In Brazil and 1,000 in Peru and
          left about 700.000 homeless in Brazil end
          Argentina. Severe damage is also reported in
          Paraguay, Ecuador, Bolivii and Uruguay.
          • Faith frompage5
          In 1852,a small group of Babi fanatics precipitated
          more trouble by plotting to assassinate the shah in re.
          prisal for the death of their leader, Discovery of the
          plot by the authorities led to a major campaign to erase
          the sect from the country, even though the main body
          of believers had nothing to do with the assassination
          plot. In the bloody battles that followed, an estimated
          20,000 Babis were killed and hundreds were exiled.
          Among the exiles was Husayn-Ali, the son of a
          Persian nobleman, who went to Baghdad and, after 11
          years of contemplation and study, announced that he
          was the long-awaited prophet. He claimed the same
          divine authority as the prophets who had preceded
          him — Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus and
          Muhammad. He adopted the name Bahsullah (“The
          • Glory of God”), and his followers became known as
          Bahais.
          Bahaullah spent most of the rest of his life in
          prison. He was banished from Baghdad to Con-
          stantinople to Adrianople and, finally, to the Pales-
          tinian prison city of Akica, where he was confined for
          24 years. His long imprisonment, however, gave him
          the opportunity to formulate and refine the concepts
          and laws of the Bshai Faith. lIe wrote more than 100
          volumes that have become the “bibles” of the Bahais.
          His writings, believed by the Balcais as “God-
          inspired” as the Koran or the ,iudeo.Christian Bible,
          proclaim that all the prophet have been man-
          ifestations of a continuing and progressive dialogue
          between God and humanity.
          THIS CONCEPT is illustrated in one of the few
          religious symbols used in the Bahai Faith. Called the
          Emblem of the Greatest Name, or the Ringstone, its
          three horizontal lines depict the three planes of exist.
          ence: The World of God the Creator; The World of His
          Manifestations (The Prophets); and The World of
          Mankind. The connecting, vertical line, Intersecting
          the three, represents the Holy Spirit, which links the
          three planes. Two five-pointed stars represent the twin
          “Messengers of God for This Age” — The Dab and
          Baha'u'llah.
          Bahaullah taught that each of the prophets has
          offered guidance for a particular time in history, but
          that none of the faiths founded by those prophets
          holds a monopoly on eternal truth, The ultimate truth,
          he said, is being revealed gradually to humankind, Yet,
          the message is always basically the same: That all
          humanity is linked together and, therefore, human
          beings should love one another and devise ways to live
          in peace with each other and in communion with the
          one true God.
          The Bahai Faith prescribes a rigid code of moral
          conduct. Parental consent is required before marriage,
          and all marriages are monogamous. lfxtra.niarital sex
          is condemned. The use of alcoholic beverages and “all
          other drugs that affect the mind” is forbidden. Scru-
          pulous honesty is demanded — a factor that'explains
          • why the Bahsis in Iran continue to identify themselves
          as believers despite enormous pressure to lie about
          their religious convictions..
          YETTHE BAHAIS do not force their beliefs
          on others and are cautioned not to engage in prose.
          lytization. The faith, they are taught, las “gift” from
          God that should be shared but not imposed upon
          unwilling listeners.
          Bahaullah also taught his followers to work for the
          According to the Bahai Faith,
          all humanity is linked together
          and, therefore, human beings
          should love one another and
          devise ways to live in peace with
          each other and in communion
          with the one true God.
          establishment of a world government in which ex.
          tremes of wealth and poverty would be abolished. But
          he advised against participation in partisan politics,
          and he urged his followers to be loyal subjects of the
          government wherever they lived.
          Finally, Bahaullah proclaimed that true religion
          baa no quarrel with science or technology and that his
          followers should take advantage of all progress in these
          areas in order to build a better world.
          Miss Raoufi believes that this last tenet has caused
          many of the problems for the Bahais in Iran. The
          mullahs, she said, have consistently resisted progress
          and have indoctrinated most of their followers with the
          belief that modern education and technical advances
          are against God's will.
          “But you cannot make the clock stop or go back-
          ward,” said Miss ftaoufi. “The world is progressing
          both technologically and spiritually. Yet the mullahs
          are trying to block new ideas from coming into the
          country and turn it back into what it was during the
          days of Muhammad. Many of the people have gone
          along with the mullahs because the shah (Reza Pah-
          levi) tried to change things too quickly. A revolution of
          some sort was inevitable.” -
          She continued, “I believe cultural change and cul-
          tural adaptability go hand in hand. They have to be in
          balance if new values and new behaviors are to be ac-
          cepted. During the shah's regime, modernization came
          too fast and only a few of the people—those at the top
          — benefited. The poor people — those who could not
          read or write and still used donkeys to pull their carts
          — couldn't understand it. They couldn't understand
          why the shah forced women to take off the chador
          (long gowns and veils).”
          Hence, she explained, when the mullahs began to
          foment rebellion, they found willing allies among the
          poor who felt they had nothing to gain from the mod-
          ernization of the country and had become hostile to
          the rich and their new way of life.
          THE REVOLUTION also heightened the Mus-
          lim animosity toward the Bahais, who had easily
          adapted to the changes because of the teachings of
          Bahaullah.
          “Most Iranians,” she said, “do not know that Bahal
          is now a worldwide faith. They do not know of the
          worldwide objections to their treatment of Bahais.”
          She quoted from a recent issue of the London
          Sunday Times: “The Bahais In Iran are even more
          alone (now) than the Jews (were) in Nazi Germany.”
          “But the misery in Iran is not isolated,” she said,
          “It is affecting us in the United States directly. The
          rest of the world looks to the western democracies to
          respond to this sort of political lunacy. If Americans
          only knew how precious their freedom is and how
          easily freedom can be lost, perhaps they would do more
          to help the Bahais in Iran. The Bshaie are a vital part
          of the intsrnational community.”
          Lt
          ST. PAUL'S REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH
          4 545.10th An.. N., St. P. .,.b,,rg 321-loss
          “N.h. of ,h. EngII,h R.feremtlon”
          W m .hlp — 10,45 AM A 6,00 PM 3 .,... 7,30 PM
          rNORTHEAST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
          153. 53,dAve.No., ST. FCTERSNJRO Fred 5. S,hre b.r,MInf,tsr
          S.S. 9,30 A.M. Wor., 10,30 AM. & 6P.M. 521.1278
          FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF SEMINOLE
          13272 Park Blvd. N. Dovid Meyer. M lnI,ter
          S.S. 9,30 AM., Worthip 5,15 & 10,30 A.M. & 6 00 P.M.
          FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF LARGO
          1645 SemInole Blvd., North of 688
          8,45 & 11 A.M. Moreing Worship 4
          10,00 A.M. Bible Scheol
          6,00 P.M. Eveelng service
          Ministers, 5. C. Shonnen,
          D. Stsecher, R, E. Comblin, R. Doles
          CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH
          OF ST. PETERSBURG
          49th ST. S. at 2nd AVE.
          9,45 AM. SUNDAY SCHOOL
          4 .“ 8,306 1100A.M. WORSHIP
          -. 6,00 P.M. EVENING WORSHIP
          C Cord, Heu Wed. 7,00
          M lnhter Mid-Week School of the Bible
          
          ist nSci e
          FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST
          253-5th AVE. N., ST. PETERSBURG
          SUNDAY SERVICE— 10,30A.M.
          SUNDAY SCHOOL— i0,30A.M.
          WEDNESDAY TESTIMONY MEETING —800 P.M.
          READING ROOM —322 First Ave. No.
          SECOND CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST
          6099 CENTRALAVE., ST.PETERSBURG
          SUNDAY SERVICE — 10,00 A.M.
          SUNDAY SCHOOL— 10 00A.M.
          WEDNESDAY TESTIMONY MEETING —- 8,00 P.M.
          READiNG ROOM—6001 Central Ave.
          THIRD CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST
          6333. 1st ST. N.E., ST. PETERSBURG
          SUNDAY SERVICE—i 1,00 A.M.
          SUNDAY SCHOOL — 11,00 A,M.
          WEDNESDAY TESTIMONY MEETING —7,00 P.M.
          READING ROOM —2603 9th St. N.
          FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST
          6245 SEMiNOLE BLVD. (ALT. 19) SEMINOLE
          SUNDAY SERVICE—i 0.30 A.M.
          SUNDAY SCHOOL — 10,30 A.M.
          WEDNESDAY TESTIMONY MEETING —7,30 P.M.
          READING ROOM —6245 Seminole Blvd.
          10,00 AM. to 2P.M. Mendey thru Frkhsylexo.pt holidoyt)
          Evened Is welcome at our churches aid reading
          rooms. Child cars provided for all ssrvlces.-
          Es. Petersburg TIm s Eaturdey. September 10. 1883 7
          •.•
          we problems,
          I it overall I'd
          I be willing to
          inded, and asked
          .ese. -. norms.”
          a chorus of criti-
          saw this as the tip
          gence toward de-
          li ten in the church.
          L's an indicator of
          1 rrisome to some
          I ngto others.,” said
          ational Catholic
          ekly published in
          cray, Bernardin's
          tone and hewent
          titer girls” flap in
          to address as a
          I women included,
          ainstresm of the
          ntehd to address
          I the framework of
          : teaching.”
          conflicts between
          increasingly con'
          it Bernardin with
          n years to come.
          •,
          II AP
          tI Bernardin