Military service
Military service, or service to the military of the country of which they are citizens, is permitted to Bahá’ís, as long as such service does not require them to abandon their fundamental religious or spiritual convictions, specifically with regards to being "subject to orders to engage in the taking of human life".[2][3]
Bahá’u’lláh commanded His followers to obey the laws of the government under which they live,[4] and authoritative interpretations confirm that this command includes military service in nations where it is required, whether during war or national emergency, or as a normal obligation of citizenship.[3] Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, confirmed that military service is a "duty" for Bahá’ís "as loyal and devoted citizens".[5] At the same time, He stated that Bahá’ís should "exert every effort" to appeal to their government for official exemption from "active military service in a combatant capacity", especially citing "specifically aggressive or directly military" activities.[5] The Universal House of Justice further explained that it is permissible for Bahá’ís to enlist in or to seek or continue a career in the armed forces of a country, as long as by doing so they do not make themselves liable for combatant service; failing this, voluntary enlistment is not permitted.[2]
Rationale[edit]
The Bahá’í stance on military service is a nuanced one, shaped on the one hand by the requirement to show obedience and loyalty to governments, and on the other by the deprecation of violence and the consciousness of the sanctity of human life. Through their loyalty to government, Bahá’ís observe the legal requirements of their nation and enter into service of its military when necessary. However, due to their religious and spiritual convictions, they refrain from taking part in any activities involving direct violence or aggression.
Loyalty to government[edit]
Bahá’ís are called upon to show loyalty to the government of the land in which they live, to abide by its laws, and to be well-wishers of its leaders and representatives. Bahá’u’lláh commanded His followers to show "faithfulness, trustfulness, and truthfulness" to the government of every country in which they may reside,[4] and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá equated disloyalty to one's rulers as "disloyalty to God".[6]
The requirement for Bahá’ís to obey their government includes military service when such service is necessary for all citizens in their country. Bahá’ís are thus not pacifists in the sense of refusing to cooperate with and obey the laws of an established government; indeed, the right of a national government to raise armies and conscript citizens for military service is confirmed and accepted.[3] Further, the Bahá’í teachings make a distinction between the individual's duty to forgive and to eschew violent reprisal, on the one hand, and society's duty to uphold justice and protect their people.[7] As individual members of their society, Bahá’ís seek neither to abandon the obligations of citizenship in times of war or national emergency, nor to avoid the dangers and hardships which are inevitable in such times.[3][5]
Deprecation of violence[edit]
Violence and the use of force are categorically condemned in the Bahá’í Writings, as they are seen as incompatible with the main purpose of humanity's creation, which is to carry forward an ever-advancing spiritual civilization.[8]
| “ | The Bahá’í Teachings, indeed, condemn, emphatically and unequivocally, any form of physical violence, and warfare in the battlefield is obviously a form, and perhaps the worst form, which such violence can assume. | ” |
| — Shoghi Effendi (on behalf of)[9] | ||
Although the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh do confirm the legitimacy of the use of force in the name of collective security, the world-embracing institutions in the form ordained by Bahá’u’lláh for the purpose of collective security do not yet exist, and thus Bahá'ís do not attempt to act upon such provisions.[10]
| “ | In the present condition of the world Bahá’ís try to keep themselves out of the internecine conflicts that are raging among their fellow men and to avoid shedding blood in such struggles... | ” |
| — The Universal House of Justice[7] | ||
Sanctity of human life[edit]
Bahá’ís are required to apply for noncombatant service whenever the opportunity to do so is legally provided by their government on the basis of religious training and belief.[3] Shoghi Effendi stated that Bahá’ís should "exert every effort" to appeal to their government for official exemption from "active military service in a combatant capacity", especially citing "specifically aggressive or directly military" activities.[5] The Universal House of Justice further explained that it is not permissible for Bahá’ís to enlist voluntarily in any form of military service that would make them "subject to orders to engage in the taking of human life".[2]
Acceptable forms of service[edit]
Immediately before World War II, Shoghi Effendi instructed the Bahá’ís that, in time of necessity, they should seek "to offer their services to their country in any field of national service which is not specifically aggressive or directly military", citing "air raid precaution service, ambulance corps, and other humanitarian work or activity of a non-combatant nature" as examples of "the most suitable types of service" for which "they should gladly volunteer for".[5]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ Baha'i News (1968). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 450, Pg(s) 14. View as PDF.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Fiji Islands, August 2, 1971. Published in Lights of Guidance, No. 1351. (link)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1978). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 16 (1973-1976), Pg(s) 497-498. View as PDF.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p.22
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1986). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 18 (1979-1983), Pg(s) 596-597. View as PDF.
- ↑ "‘Abdu’l-Baha stresses that disloyalty to one’s rulers is disloyalty to God. Even 'wishing evil to the government,' He says, is 'a transgression of the Cause of God.'" Compilation on Bahá’í Laws, ch. 9.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, February 9, 1967. Published in Lights of Guidance.
- ↑ "All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization." Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, No. 109, p.215.
- ↑ From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles, June 4, 1939. Published in Lights of Guidance.
- ↑ "As there is neither an International Police Force nor any immediate prospect of one coming into being, the Bahá'ís should continue to apply, under all circumstances, for exemption from any military duty that necessitates the taking of life. There is no justification for any change of attitude on our part at the present time." The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1986). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 18 (1979-1983), Pg(s) 597. View as PDF.
