Baha’i Faith offers a vision of America’s spiritual destiny

July 1, 2012
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The American nation, Baha’is believe, will evolve through tests and trials to become a land of spiritual distinction and leadership, a champion of justice and unity among all peoples and nations, and a powerful servant of the cause of everlasting peace, the peace promised by God in the sacred texts of the world’s religions.

To achieve this destiny, however, our nation must overcome several persistent spiritual challenges—removing every trace of racism from our hearts, embracing the equality of women and men, eliminating the inordinate disparity between rich and poor, transforming a limited nationalism to the love of humanity as a whole, and in humility before God, submerge religious prejudices in a great spirit of mutual forbearance that will enable us to work together for the advancement of human understanding and peace. These are among the preeminent goals of the U.S. Baha’i community.

In 1912, ‘Abdu’l-Baha, son of the Founder of the Baha’i Faith, visited the United States and Canada and wrote a special prayer for America:

“O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to Thee. These hearts are radiant with Thy love. These minds and spirits are exhilarated by the message of Thy glad-tidings. O God! Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees, and render this just government victorious. Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity, to promulgate the Most Great Peace, to become thereby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the nations of the world. O God! This American nation is worthy of Thy favors and is deserving of Thy mercy. Make it precious and near to Thee through Thy bounty and bestowal.”
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha

Brian Taraz, a life-long member of the Baha’i Faith, has been composing and performing songs based on the prayers and writings of the Faith for many years. In 2009, Taraz put the words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s prayer to music and recorded it with some talented friends.

“It’s genuine rank and file out of Tucson, Arizona,” says Taraz. “A rock’n'roll version of the Prayer for America.”

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8 Responses

  1. Christopher Buck

    As I see it, this was not a “patriotic” prayer for America in the nationalistic sense, but a call for America to play a leadership role in what might be called “world patriotism.” Calling on America as a nation to actively engage in promoting ideal international relations is really a call to all nations to do so, as their respective resources and commitments permit. America just has a greater capability, given its unique role as the world’s superpower, and should therefore do its part in helping usher in an era where America will no longer even need to play a leadership role, because the infrastructure of world self-government, through a federation of nations, would (or should) be tasked with the primary responsibility of overseeing conflict resolution, of eradicating of extremes of wealth and poverty, of safeguarding political, economic, religious and cultural rights, and of promoting harmonious relations within and between nations, races, religions and genders, etc. As Baha’i philosopher, Alain Locke, said: “No more progressive step can be made in our present civilization than the breaking down of the barriers which separate races, sexes and nations” (1930).

    On July 3, 2011 at 2:28 pm • Reply
  2. N. Neely Kazerouni

    Indeed, this is magnificent.

    On July 1, 2012 at 2:47 pm • Reply
  3. Kristopher

    Very good. Rock on, rock on, rock on!

    On July 1, 2012 at 4:19 pm • Reply
  4. Marta

    I like this song. Hopefully, it becomes most popular and as a result many people will be attracted to the Baha’i Faith.

    On July 12, 2009 at 4:53 pm • Reply
  5. Bob Grannis

    Taraz & associates rock the Baha’i world! Wonderful!

    On July 6, 2009 at 2:39 am • Reply
  6. Anonymous

    If the Baha’i Faith is supposed to be universal, why did Abdu’l-Baha write a ‘patriotic’ prayer for America. Or was he writing ‘tongue in cheek’? Was he hoping America would become as ‘glorious in spiritual degrees’ as it was materialistically?

    On January 3, 2010 at 3:34 pm • Reply
  7. Rebecca Salgado

    This is a wonderful song…I can see how MANY people would be attracted to the Baha’i Faith if this song became popular. Thank you for putting it to music! P.S. Love that tatoo on your left arm! (Smiles).

    Rebecca Salgado
    Sun City, California

    On July 4, 2009 at 2:35 am • Reply
  8. Bj_lee

    Pretty Great!
    Fourth of July is when I first Declared.
    Yah!
    Nice job!
    Love it!
    Huge!
    Thank you.

    On July 2, 2009 at 1:59 pm • Reply