Since its establishment in 1950 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, World Religion Day — which is tomorrow — has aimed to encourage recognition of the oneness of all religions. The observance seeks to highlight the harmonious spiritual principles that underpin the world’s diverse faiths and emphasise that the ultimate purpose of religion is to foster unity. This message remains essential despite the unfortunate history of religion being used by humanity as a tool for division and oppression.

At the heart of the Bahá’í Faith is the belief in the oneness of all religions. The Bahá’í teachings assert that all world religions are divinely inspired and exist to promote unity, justice, and peace. A key concept in the Bahá’í Faith is Progressive Revelation, which suggests that all religions originate from the same divine source. Over millennia, the Creator has communicated with humanity, sending divine messengers whose teachings reflect both the spiritual unity and progressive development of humankind.

While religions may differ culturally and socially, the Bahá’í Faith teaches that they are spiritually compatible and complementary. Each faith builds upon the teachings of previous religions, adapting to the evolving understanding and capacities of humankind. As humanity matures intellectually and spiritually, the messages from each successive religious founder become more complex, guiding people to greater unity and wisdom.

Bahá'u'lláh, the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, expressed this vision of unity in a letter to Queen Victoria in 1868, stating: “That which the Lord hath ordained as the sovereign remedy and the mightiest instrument for the healing of all the world is the union of all its peoples in one universal Cause, one common Faith.”

Bahá’u’lláh also emphasised that the barriers to unity are human-made. In letters to rulers and leaders, He pointed out that religious, racial, political, economic, and patriotic prejudices are the primary causes of conflict and division. While humans create divisions, Bahá’u’lláh taught that God’s will is to unite all people. To achieve peace, humankind must abandon these prejudices and learn to see themselves as global citizens.

The Bahá’í Faith in Bermuda traces its origins to the aftermath of the Second World War. Inspired by the American Bahá’í community, the Bahá’ís of Bermuda began observing World Religion Day in the 1950s. These early gatherings took place at various locations, including Bahá’í Centres on Court Street and Burnaby Street, the Chamber of Commerce’s Boardroom above the Ferry Terminal, and eventually, at the Bahá’í community’s current home at 8 Brunswick Street in Hamilton.

Bermuda’s religious landscape is diverse, with Christianity as the largest faith, represented by numerous denominations and non-denominational groups. Other religions practised on the island include Islam, Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, Hinduism, the Bahá’í Faith, Judaism, Rastafarianism, and Buddhism, among others. Bermuda’s small size makes it a unique microcosm of the world’s religious diversity. The island stands as a shining example of harmony, where people of different faiths live and work together with mutual respect, often collaborating to improve the community, or coming together in prayer in the face of adversity.

In this sense, Bermuda serves as a nascent model for the world. In an era marked by unprecedented global challenges, the island’s example of interfaith co-operation and peaceful coexistence provides a beacon of hope for other nations striving to achieve unity across religious lines.

In July 2020, in response to the tragic and unlawful killing of George Floyd in the United States, the Universal House of Justice, the world governing body of the Bahá’í Faith, wrote to the Bahá’ís of the United States, stating in part:

“Ultimately, the power to transform the world is effected by love, love originating from the relationship with the divine, love ablaze among members of a community, love extended without restriction to every human being. This divine love, ignited by the Word of God, is disseminated by enkindled souls through intimate conversations that create new susceptibilities in the human hearts, open minds to moral persuasion, and loosen the hold of biased norms and social systems so that they can gradually take on a new form in keeping with the requirements of humanity’s age of maturity. That, we all are channels for this divine love, let it flow through you to all who cross your path. Infuse it into every neighbourhood and social space in which you move to build capacity to canalise the society-building power of Baháʼu’lláh’s revelation. There can be no rest until the destined outcome is achieved.

“Every soul who serveth this oneness will undoubtedly be assisted and confirmed.”