WEST WINDSOR: Local Baha’i group elects a Spritual Assembly

By Allison Musante, Staff Writer
   WEST WINDSOR – When Bryn Mulligan turned to the Baha’i faith 20 years ago, she said it felt much like her Christian upbringing — “just newer, updated.”
   She explains the Baha’i fundamental belief of the “oneness of humankind” that the world’s major religions are all equal parts of a progressive process through which God reveals himself to humanity. The Baha’is recognize all of the divine messengers — Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Christ and Muhammad — in a central message about becoming a single and unified global society.
   ”We wish to see the world progressing toward one family in a most great peace,” she said. “We see the truth of all religions as created by one God, and the differences between them are superficial. Spiritual laws are the same.”
   Ms. Mulligan, a 10-year West Windsor resident, is a newly elected member to the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’i — the first in West Windsor’s history. They join the 11,000 local assemblies worldwide, elected annually among the adult believers in localities where at least nine Baha’i adults, age 21 or older, reside.
   ”This has been a long time coming,” said Ali Nemeti-Rad. “In my 11 years in West Windsor, we’ve never had nine people. We’ve always been one or two people shy.”
   At the election on Wednesday night, the 11 present adults voted for 9 of the 13 Baha’i candidates. Two absentee ballots were received. In a rather unconventional election, all adults are eligible and campaigning is not practiced. Voters choose candidates based on their qualities, such as loyalty, selflessness, moral integrity and wisdom — or, as some believers explained it, those most likely chosen are the ones who appear least desirous.
   The adults had cast secret ballots in silence and upon hearing the results, reacted with solemn, muted joy and gracious smiles. Out of respect, the attendees did not announce how many votes each candidate received.
   The assembly is tasked with overseeing the affairs of the local Baha’i believers, planning Holy Day observances, serving as a network of support and nurturing the spiritual education of children and neighbors. Local assemblies serve as the basic unit of the Baha’i administration and connect its people to the National Assembly and the international governing body of the Universal House of Justice, based in Israel.
   ”This is the democratization of religion,” said Rambod Hashemi. “Rather than one person in control, like we see with priesthoods, we have nine people offering their guidance.”
   The faith was founded in 1844 in Iran by Baha’u’llah, whom the Baha’i’s recognize as the most recent messenger of God and whose teachings they follow. It is widely considered the youngest of the world’s independent monotheistic religions and the second most-widespread religion in the world because it is organized in 230 countries and attracts people from nearly every nationality, ethnicity and religious background.
   Its believers include those who were raised Baha’i by their parents and those who found the path later in life. The group of Baha’is has already formed two spiritual youth groups, which include children of several different faiths and ethnicities. Though the groups read prayers and learn teachings, its focus is also on team-building and community outreach.
   ”We teach the spiritual principals, but it’s more to get teens to discover ways of healthy expression,” Ms. Mulligan said.
   The holy book for the Baha’i faith is the Kitab-i-Aqdas, the book of laws written by Baha’u’llah, but many Baha’is also recognize the Bible, the Qur’an and other sacred texts.
   Another core belief is the independent investigation of truth, referring to Baha’u’llah’s emphasis on the obligation of individuals to learn with their “own eyes and not through the eyes of others.” The Baha’is believe that blindly following religious traditions or opinions without understanding the ideology leads to intolerance — and a major source of modern conflict.
   ”What I like is that there’s no judgment, no discrimination,” said 16-year-old Aram Nemeti-Rad, who was raised in the faith. “We’re unified — it’s not like someone is this kind of Baha’i or that kind of Baha’i. We’re all the same.”
   Ms. Mulligan was introduced to the faith when she was 25. While many followers investigate the faith for years, to her it was a sudden realization of truth.
   ”At the time I was going through something of a personal crisis,” she said. “I had a sudden born-again spiritual awakening, where I felt that denying it would be dishonest with myself.”
   Her husband, Tim, converted last September. He belonged to a local spiritual assembly in Hamilton and said he was surprised at how welcoming the members were.
   ”It’s really a supportive group,” he said. “If you’re having trouble in your marriage or any difficulty, you can speak to the assembly.”
   The meeting was rife with hospitality and warmth. Held in Mr. Nemeti-Rad’s home, members recited prayers of their choice, sang spiritual songs — even kicked off their shoes and enjoyed fruit and coffee.
   ”The spirit of this election was great, it was historic,” said Stephen Vaccaro. “We look forward to doing a great many things that will please God.”
   The following individuals will serve on the assembly: Azin Hashemi, Bryn Mulligan, Tim Mulligan, Ali Nemeti-Rad, Firouzeh Nur-Vaccaro, Tanja Sargent, Stephen Vaccaro, Stephanie Vaccaro and Elahe Vargha-Schmeil.