For Leaf: How Dark Fears Were Dispelled for Me

Dear Leaf,

I am convinced that a strong spiritual foundation of knowledge -- knowledge that

can stand up straight beside science, is needed in our increasingly desperate

world.

If you have time you might read the root articles I sent tonight about Health and Education, and about Positive Psychology. In the second is a list of human strengths that are scientifically considered the most likely buffers against mental illness. They are courage, optimism, interpersonal skills, work ethic, hope, honesty and perseverance. These are spoken of as virtues.

I have gained whatever I have attained so far of these qualities through the new

revealed religion, The Baha'i Faith. I urge you, if you read of it or you meet

a Baha'i, to look into these wonderful world-healing teachings. There is nothing that doesn't make sense to science and reason.

Dark stories, books and movies that are becoming more frequent now are all part

of humanity's descent into despair because they see so many difficulties, and no

way to solve them. Many are becoming hopeless, and it manifests itself as loss

of mental, spiritual and physical strength. To me, this alone proves the necessity of religion to the spirit of man. However, the religion needed is not one

of superstitions, and additions added through the ages to an original core of truth. It is one that encourages personal search and that rewards one with strength, courage and health through anything that may arise in life. I hope you will

be able to find out more about it one of these day. I will tell you a little about it because it has been so meaningful in my life.

It is a revealed religion. Clergy is not allowed. It has many teachings that are up-to-date for today's needs and tomorrow's needs. It doesn't claim to be the

last revealed religion, but we don't expect another great Teacher for about a thousand years. It doesn't claim to be the only valid religion. There are about nine revealed religions from various times, alive in the world today, and this is

the latest.

The affairs of the Baha'i Faith are administered by people who are elected from

among all the Baha'is in each community, by secret ballot. Electioneering isn't

allowed. A fundamental teaching is that its members must abide by the law of the government in the country where they live. You may have noticed that I don't

discuss politics, which is not allowed. Nobody who isn't a Baha'i may contribute to Baha'i funds.

Through this I have found my confidence that the world will go on as it should,

and become better. Even though things look dark and distressing, all indications are that humankind is maturing to a time when the extremes of poverty and wealth will have been eliminated, and a more blissful existence can be enjoyed by all the people, everywhere.

Warmly, Mary