Parents show love, honor and respect to your spouses and children.

 

Parents show love, honor and respect to your spouses and children, that they may prosper under thy guidance and protection and your children may grow and develop along spiritual lines in health and wellness under your care: Some people are under the impression that once a child is born to them, that child is their personal property to control and to do with pretty much the way they see fit and what they do with that child is of no one else’s concern; but the writings of God tell us differently:

BAHA’I FAITH: “There is no power nor strength but in God alone. We are God‘s, and to Him shall we return.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 252)

 ISLAM: 156. “To Allah (God) we belong, and to Him is our return.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   2)

 CHRISTIANITY: 1 Corinthians 6:19 “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God‘s.”

 HINDUISM: 7. “Whatever (are your) names, We own you.”

(Hindu, Vedas, Atharva Veda)

 BUDDHISM: 5. “I’ve got children’, ‘I’ve got wealth.’ This is the way a fool brings suffering on himself. He does not even own himself, so how can he have children or wealth?”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 1 (tr. J. Richards)) (See everything belongs to God for more information)

      We are the property of God and unto God, clearly, we are going to return. We do not own our children, they are not our personal property, we don’t even, in reality, own our own bodies. God created us and our children:  Babi Religion: “Everything belongeth unto Him (God) and is fashioned by Him. All besides Him are His creatures.” (Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 158)

Children are a gift to us from God, not some personal property we can do with as we see fit. God allows us to take care of His little ones with the understanding that we are to share in the blessings of their upraising and are responsible to help guide them along a spiritual path leading to life in the next world. Baha’i Faith: “Reflect upon this: What a bounty and what a favor it is” “Out of My loving-kindness, neath the shade of My mercy I nurtured thee, and guarded thee by the essence of My grace and favor.” “I charged all the atoms of dependence and the realities of creation with thy training, so that, before thou didst issue from the womb of thy mother, I ordained for thee two fountains of bright milk. I appointed eyes to guard thee, set thy love in all hearts, and with pure generosity I reared thee under the shadow of My Mercy, and protected thee with the essence of My Grace. The purpose of all this was to enable thee to arrive at Our Eternal Might and to deserve Our Invisible Favors,” “that thou mightiest attain My everlasting dominion and become worthy of My invisible bestowals.”

(Baha’u’llah, The Persian Hidden Words, Tablets of Abdu’l-Baha v2, p. 262 and Compilations, Baha’i Scriptures, p. 178)

BAHA’I FAITH: “As to thee, have for them an abundant love and exert thine utmost in training them, so that their being may grow through the milk of the love of God, for as much as it is the duty of parents to perfectly and thoroughly train their children.” Not to abuse and strangle their development in this world and the next. “It is not permissible to strike a child, or vilify him, for the child’s character will be totally perverted if he be subjected to blows or verbal abuse.” “If the broad structure of society is to remain intact, resolute efforts, including medical ones, as necessary, should be made to curb acts of aggression within families particularly their extreme forms of wife beating and child abuse by parents. This is a matter of fundamental importance.”

(Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 125 and Lights of Guidance, p. 221)

We are under no circumstances to abuse and mistreat His children, or each other for that matter. You may be asking yourself just who are God’s children we are talking about? The religions of God tell us that we are all the children of God:  Judaism: Malachi 2:10 “Have we not all one Father? hath not one God created us? Isaiah 9:6 “The mighty God, The everlasting Father.” Proverbs 3:12 “For whom The LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”  Christianity: Philippians 4:20 “Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” James 3:9 “Therewith bless we God, even the Father.”  Zoroastrianism: “Man was made in the image of God, the son in the likeness of the Father.” (Zoroaster, Hymns of Atharvan p. 411)  Buddhism: “We seek, but only with our Father’s parental blessings descending on us, to reach our true heart’s desire.” (Buddhism, The Surangama Sutra)  Sabeanism: “For my heart hath testified to (God) The First Life.” “Behold me, who have sought purification before Thee! Look on me, I am Thy servant and Thy child. Now I humble myself and my children to Thy name. Thou art the Father” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 75, 77 and 410) THE BAB and BAHA’U’LLAH:  Babi Religion: “You who are His, God’s, spiritual children must by your deeds exemplify His virtues, and witness to His glory.” The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 91) Baha’i Faith: “God is one, that He is the Father of us all, that we are all immersed in the ocean of His mercy and sheltered and protected by His loving care.” (Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 119) (See we are God’s children for more information)

    We are God’s children, according to what we see in God’s writings, and we are charged with a duty; take care of one another and train God’s children, with loving hearts:  Judaism: Proverbs 4:1 “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.” Proverbs 4:2 “For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.” Proverbs 4:3 “For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.” Deuteronomy 6:6 “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.”  Christianity: 2 Corinthians 12:14 “Behold, the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.” Colossians 3:20 “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of The Lord.” Luke 1:17 “Turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just.”  Islam: 27. “Recite (and teach) what has been revealed to thee of the Book of thy Lord:” 55. “Teach (thy Message): for teaching benefits the Believers.” (The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surahs 18 and 51) 1 Zoroastrianism: 3. “When I teach thee, that thou mayest do the same to thy son, O Vishtaspa! receive thou well that teaching;” (Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta Fragments) Baha’i Faith: “Teach ye the Cause of God, O people of Baha, for God hath prescribed unto every one the duty of proclaiming His Message, and regardeth it as the most meritorious of all deeds.” “Teach your children the verses revealed from the heaven of majesty and power, so that, in most melodious tones, they may recite the Tablets of the All-Merciful in the alcoves within the Mashriqu’l-Adhkars (temples).” (Bahá’í Faith, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah and The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 74) (See to teach the word of God for more information)

At this point it should be becoming clear to the reader of this topic that we are the property of our Creator; that He wants us to train our children in His word and see to it that they receive a good education, and that we are absolutely not to abuse our children, or each other, in anyway what-so-ever. We are not to beat them, we are not to yell at them, we are not to vilify them and we are ABSOLUTELY NOT TO SADISTICALLY TORTURE AND TORMENT THEM!!! That is pure sickness on the part of the perpetrator and they are in need of psychiatric and medical help.

Now, at this point, we almost always seem to hear someone say but what about the passage found in the bible that tells us: to spare the rod and spoil the child? First off! That is not a quote found in the bible. You will not find that quote in any form of the bible that I have ever seen or heard of. “This phrase was first coined by Samuel Butler, in Hudibras, the satirical poem first published in 1662: Love is a Boy, by Poets styl’d, Then Spare the Rod, and spill the child.” (which also means spoil the Child.) You can, however, find that Solomon, in Proverbs, does, as a matter of fact, address this issue of discipline:  Judaism: Proverbs 13:24 “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” (In good season or time; before it is late, at times) This is also found in New International Version Bible, “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” “Is careful to discipline him!” Yes, we really are supposed to discipline our children, in this life, not beat them or torture them, but teach them right from wrong; if we can. It is called being responsible parents. In the United States alone more than 2000 children die from child abuse and neglect annually, and that is just what’s being reported, the true casualties are thought to be mush higher, and that’s not counting all the fractures, broken bones, contusions and hospital visits. We are to discipline our children not beat them remorselessly or kill them!  Judaism: Proverbs 5:22 “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.” This is what we are supposed to do, we are to instruct our children. Proverbs 23:13 “Withhold not correction (instruction) from the child, he shall not die.” We are to carefully instruct, correct and discipline our children not harm them or kill them: “he shall not die,” or he is not to die, whether accidentally or on purpose, in the process of being disciplined. Solomon is very clear on this, we are not meant to kill or endanger our children. We are to CAREFULLY!!! instruct and correct them; and if we go a step further his father, King David, tells us that we should actually find peace and comfort through the rod when it is actually treated the way God has intended it to be used; a rod of instruction and correction:  Judaism: Psalms 23:4 “Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” Truly spiritual seekers of God (and/or) truly loving, caring parents, and the such like, tend to try to, with the utmost of their ability, to try and find ways to use Proverbs 22:15 “the rod of correction,” in ways that are truly beneficial to the development of their children; and the use of the rod of correction, which is, in fact, another name for the rod of authority does not always mean physical, corporal correction and punishment, but it may also mean instruction, which can be as subtle as simple verbal instruction, restrictive control, giving the child chore’s, such as, do this or that will be the consequence of your actions, ether this or that, and what not.

These are just a few of the many actions we can think about when we are trying to properly bring up our children; but remember, the rule of authority, which can also be called the rod of correction, instruction and discipline, is to be used cautiously and with great care, least we cause great destruction and severe irreparable damage to the nature of the children we are trying to discipline; when, in reality, most of the parents are only trying to be of beneficial help to their children.  Christianity: Corinthians 15:24 “The Father… rule (all authority),” God, rule with rod of all authority. 10:8 “of our authority, which The Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction,” In-other-words, God gives us blessings and authority, to humbly render service to Him, in this universe of His, on the surface of this tiny planet, to rule carefully and joyously over His loved ones and to teach His little one’s good morals, respect for God and respect for parents, reading and writing, what to do and what not to do, and what not; but we are absolutely, in no uncertain terms, not given authority to hurt or harm God’s children or cause their downfall, destruction or death.

Now, I know that all of this seems like an easy statement to make, when the reality of the real world seems so much harder and more difficult to deal with, and I do sympathize having been through the process of child rearing and childhood development and discipline, with less than stellar results, but this is truly what God wants from us in this day and time. And according to the writings I have seen in the other religions of God, He has wanted child rearing tempered with compassion and a little common sense for a long, long time.  Christianity: 2 Timothy 3:16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Ephesians 4:31 “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:” 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 6:1 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” 6:2 “Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;” 6:3 “That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” 6:4 “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of The Lord.”1 Corinthians 12:25 “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” Colossians 3:20 “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.” “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” “Put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.” 2 Corinthians 12:14 “The children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.” 1 Corinthians 12:25 “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.  Judaism: Proverbs 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of The LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 3:12 For whom The LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. Psalms 94:12 “Blessed is the man whom Thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of Thy law; 94:13 That Thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. 94:14 For The LORD will not cast off his people, neither will He forsake His inheritance. 94:15 But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it. 94:17 Unless The LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. 94:18 When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.” 94:19 “In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.”  Judaism: Sirach “Hast thou children? instruct them, and bow down their neck from their youth. Hast thou daughters? have a care of their body, and shew not thyself cheerful toward them. Hast thou a wife after thy mind? forsake her not: but give not thyself over to a light woman. Honour thy father with thy whole heart, and forget not the sorrows of thy mother. Remember that thou wast begotten of them; and how canst thou recompense them the things that they have done for thee? Fear The Lord with all thy soul, and love Him that made thee with all thy strength.” (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha, Sirach) 4. Ezra 14. “Take heaven and earth to witness; for I have broken the evil in pieces, and created the good: for I live, saith The Lord. Mother, embrace thy children, and bring them up with gladness, make their feet as fast as a pillar: Fear not, thou mother of the children: for I have chosen thee, saith The Lord. I have sanctified and prepared for thee twelve trees laden with divers fruits, And as many fountains flowing with milk and honey, and seven mighty mountains, whereupon there grow roses and lilies, whereby I will fill thy children with joy. Do right to the widow, judge for the fatherless, give to the poor, defend the orphan, clothe the naked, Heal the broken and the weak, laugh not a lame man to scorn, defend the maimed, and let the blind man come into the sight of my clearness. (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha, Esdras 2 (Ezra 4)) 4. Ezra 30. “Be joyful, O thou mother, with thy children; for I will deliver thee, saith the Lord. Remember thy children that sleep, for I shall bring them out of the sides of the earth, and shew mercy unto them: for I am merciful, saith the Lord Almighty. Embrace thy children until I come and shew mercy unto them: for my wells run over, and my grace shall not fail.” (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha, Esdras 2 (Ezra 4)) 

 ISLAM: Letter 53. “As parents watch their children; treat them kindly and sympathetically. Do not grudge highest considerations to them and do not refuse small mercies. This kind of treatment will create reciprocal tendencies in them and they will trust you and will be faithful to you. Do not close your eyes to their minor requirements and needs because small favours often bear better fruit, though careful attention to major necessities is very important (and) may lead (to) a happy and contented life full confidence of the future.”

        (Islam, Ali b. Abi Taalib, Letters from Nahjul Balaagh)

Islam: 83. “Worship none but Allah (God); treat with kindness your parents (and children), and kindred, and orphans, and those in need; speak fair to the people; be steadfast in prayer; and practice regular charity.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   2)

Islam: 140. “Lost are those who slay their children, from folly, without knowledge, and forbid food which Allah hath provided for them, inventing (lies) against Allah. They have indeed gone astray and heeded no guidance.” 151. “Be good to your parents: kill not your children on a plea of want; — We provide sustenance for you and for them; — come not nigh to shameful deeds, whether open or secret.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   6)

Islam: “Allah’s Apostle kissed Al-Hasan bin Ali while Al-Aqra’ bin Habis At-Tamim was sitting beside him. Al-Aqra said, ‘I have ten children and I have never kissed anyone of them,’ Allah’s Apostle cast a look at him and said, ‘Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully .”’ “You should (love your children) not torture your children.”

(Islam, Hadith, Bukhari Vol 7 and 8, Book 73, # 26)

 ZOROASTRIANISM: “If a man come near unto a damsel and she conceives by him, so long shall he support her, until the child be born. If he shall not support her, so that the child comes to grief, for want of proper support, he shall pay for it the penalty for willful murder.”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Vendidad)

 Zoroastrianism: “O Maker of the material world, thou Holy one! Which is the second place where the Earth feels most happy? Ahura Mazda (God) answered: It is the place whereon one of the faithful erects a house with a priest within, with cattle, with a wife, with children, and good herds within; and wherein afterwards the cattle continue to thrive, virtue to thrive, fodder to thrive, the dog to thrive, the wife to thrive, the child to thrive, the fire to thrive, and every blessing of life to thrive.”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Vendidad)

 Zoroastrianism: 10. “O Mazda, will I put in Thy care within Thy House – the Good Thought and the souls of the Righteous, (men, women and children) their worship, their Piety and zeal, that Thou mayst guard it, O Thou mighty Dominion, with abiding power.” “O Spitama! he wishes to secure good care, and healthful care (as guarding, protection and  salvation), the care of the true (ones of God).”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasnas 49 and 62)

 Zoroastrianism: 13. “When I teach thee, that thou mayest do the same to thy son, O Vishtaspa! receive thou well that teaching; thus do we announce unto thee, Ahura Mazda… the Law of the worshippers of Mazda, with the whole of all her hymns, with the whole of all her deeds, with the whole of her performances; the Law of Mazda, who obtains her wishes, who makes the world grow, who listens to the songs and rejoices the faithful man at his wish; who protects the faithful man, who maintains the faithful man, woman and child; every youth of good thoughts, good words, good deeds, and good religion; every youth who speaks the right words; from whom come the knowledge of holiness and the increase in holiness of the world may they be fully protected in thee, O young king Vishtaspa!”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta Fragments)

 Zoroastrianism: “Through their brightness and glory the females conceive offspring; through their brightness and glory they bring forth in safety; it is through their brightness and glory when they become blessed with children.” “Sad is the abode, un-peopled with children,” (to nurture).

(The Zend-Avesta, Khorda Avesta – Book of Common Prayer pt. 1)

 HINDUISM: 56. “Where women are honoured, there the gods are pleased; but where they are not honoured, no sacred rite yields rewards. Where the female relations live in grief, the family soon wholly perishes; but that family where they are not unhappy ever prospers. The houses on which female relations, not being duly honoured, pronounce a curse, perish completely, as if destroyed by magic. Hence men who seek (their own) welfare, should always honour women on holidays and festivals with (gifts of) ornaments, clothes, and (dainty) food. In that family, where the husband is pleased with his wife and the wife with her husband, happiness will assuredly be lasting.”

(Hindu, Laws of Manu chapter 3)

 Hinduism: 10. “How did the Parents aid their children in their task!” “For this do parents rear children.”

(Hindu, Vedas, Rig Veda – Book  1 and Yajur Veda – Kanda VI)

 Hinduism: “With a father’s love and care, be unto them (those under your care) like the rain-drop nourishing the thirsty ground, be unto them a tree of shelter shading them from heat around, like the blue sky ever bending be unto them ever kind, free from pride and free from passion rule over them with a virtuous mind!”

(Hindu, Mababharata (R. Dutt,  abridged tr))

 Hinduism: “With a loving husband’s tender care relieves, charity with loving sweetness spreads her smile over all!”

(Hindu, Mababharata (R. Dutt,  abridged tr))

 Hinduism: “In his father’s sacred mandate still his noblest Duty saw, in the weal of subject nations recognized his foremost Law! And he pleased his happy mother with a fond and filial care, and his elders and his kinsmen with devotion soft and fair and merry children… with a loving care, woman’s skill and woman’s fancy made the city passing fair, so that good and kindly people in the town and hamlet blessed him with their loyal love!”

(Hindu, Ramayana (R. Dutt,  abridged tr))

 Hinduism: “With a father’s care, to my fathers’ footsteps treading I have sought the ancient path, nursed my people as my children, free from passion, pride and wrath, underneath this white umbrella I have toiled to win their welfare.” “As a father to his children he came, blessed our homes and maids and matrons till our infants lisped his name, for our humble woes and troubles (to care).”

(Hindu, Ramayana (R. Dutt,  abridged tr))

 BUDDHISM: “Whoever settles a matter by violence is not just. The wise calmly considers what is right and what is wrong. Whoever guides others by a procedure that is nonviolent and fair is said to be a guardian of truth, wise and just. A person is not wise simply because one talks much.   Whoever is patient, free from hate and fear, is said to be wise. A person is not a supporter of justice simply because one talks much. Even if a person has learned little, whoever discerns justice with the body and does not neglect justice is a supporter of justice. A person is not an elder simply because one’s head is gray. Age can be ripe, but one may be called old in vain. The one in whom there is truth, virtue, nonviolence, restraint, moderation, whoever is free from impurity and is wise, may be called an elder. Mere talk or beauty of complexion does not make an envious, greedy, dishonest person become respectable. The one in whom all these are destroyed, torn out by the very root, who is free from hate and is wise, is called respectable. Not by a shaven head does one who is undisciplined and speaks falsely become an ascetic. Can a person be an ascetic who is still enslaved by desire and greed? Whoever always quiets wrong tendencies, small or large, is called an ascetic, because of having quieted all wrong. A person is not a mendicant simply because one begs from others. Whoever adopts the whole truth is a mendicant, not the one who adopts only a part. Whoever is above good and bad and is chaste, who carefully passes through the world in meditation, is truly called a mendicant. A person does not become a sage by silence, if one is foolish and ignorant; but the wise one, who, holding a scale, takes what is good and avoids what is bad, is a sage for that reason. Whoever in this world weighs both sides is called a sage because of that. A person is not a noble, because one injures living beings. One is called noble, because one does not injure living beings (men, women, children and animals). Not only by discipline and vows, not only by much learning, nor by deep concentration nor by sleeping alone do I reach the joy of release which the worldly cannot know. Mendicant, do not be confident until you have reached the extinction of impurities.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 2 (tr. J. Richards))

 Buddhism: “He abused me, he beat me, He defeated me, he robbed me,’ In those who harbor such thoughts Hatred never ceases.” “Whoever by causing pain to others wishes to obtain pleasure for oneself, being entangled in the bonds of hate, is not free. By neglecting what should be done and doing what should not be done, the desires of the unrestrained and careless increase (bringing hardship in its path). But those being with the wise, like meeting with family, is joyful. Therefore, one should follow the wise, the intelligent, the learned, the patient, the dutiful, the noble; one should follow the good and wise, (and) one’s good actions receive the good person as family receive a friend who is returning.” “Whoever does not inflict pain on others who also want happiness, does not speak anything harsh (or do anything blamable) will find happiness.” As those people around him (family friends) will find happiness in his actions.

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 2 and 3 (tr. J. Richards))

 SABEANISM: “Men formed of flesh and blood. Hold them (wives, children, those in need) in Thy grasp, strengthen them, Stand by them, take care of them, Give them strength and fortitude,” “display kindness, (mercy and show compassion).”  “The Good One (taketh care of His sons and daughters), He clotheth His children, He covereth them and raiseth and showeth them That there is great enlargement of Life (these things you should also do with your families). And your souls shall rejoice with (spouses?) of light.” “In the presence of The Great Life (God, Haiyi) Ye will be great, And ye will say ‘The Living stand In the dwelling of The Life’ And Life is victorious over all works.”

(Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 74, 113 and 118)

BAHA’I FAITH: “Bahá’u’lláh made the utmost efforts to educate [His people] and incite [them] to morality, the acquisition of the sciences and arts of all countries, kindly dealing with all the nations of the earth, desire for the welfare of all peoples, sociability, concord, obedience, submissiveness, instruction of [their] children, production of what is needful for the human race, and inauguration of true happiness for mankind;”

(Abdu’l-Baha, A Traveller’s Narrative, p. 41)

Baha’i Faith: “When-so-ever a mother seeth that her child hath done well, let her praise and applaud him and cheer his heart; and if the slightest undesirable trait should manifest itself, let her counsel the child and punish him, and use means based on reason, even a slight verbal chastisement should this be necessary. It is not, however, permissible to strike a child, or vilify him, for the child’s character will be totally perverted if he be subjected to blows or verbal abuse.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 125)

Baha’i Faith: “The believers must become the cause of life; deliver the people from heedlessness, call the souls to the perfection of humanity, beckon nations to unity and agreement, destroy the foundations of foreignness, make everyone as friends and associates, treat the negligent souls as their own children, and train and educate them with the utmost love — so that the ignorant become wise, the blind become endowed with light, and the deaf be given hearing.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu’l-Baha v2, p. 430)

Baha’i Faith: “We must not molest any one because he is an infant or child; we must not be inimical to any one because he is still ignorant, we must not reject any one because he is sick; but we must treat the sick, educate the children until they reach the age of maturity; and help those who are ignorant in order that they may reach knowledge. Therefore the essentials of the foundations of the religions of God are love and amity among all humanity.”

(Compilations, Baha’i Scriptures, p. 317)

Baha’i Faith: “Let the mothers consider that whatever concerneth the education of children is of the first importance. Let them put forth every effort in this regard, for when the bough is green and tender it will grow in whatever way ye train it. Therefore is it incumbent upon the mothers to rear their little ones even as a gardener tendeth his young plants. Let them strive by day and by night to establish within their children faith and certitude, the fear of God, the love of the Beloved of the worlds, and all good qualities and traits. Whensoever a mother seeth that her child hath done well, let her praise and applaud him and cheer his heart; and if the slightest undesirable trait should manifest itself, let her counsel the child and punish him, and use means based on reason, even a slight verbal chastisement should this be necessary. It is not, however, permissible to strike a child, or vilify him, for the child’s character will be totally perverted if he be subjected to blows or verbal abuse.”

(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 152)

Baha’i Faith: “This loving God desires peace for all His creatures — why, then, do they spend their time in war? He loves and protects all His children — why do they forget Him? He bestows His Fatherly care on us all — why do we neglect our brothers? Surely, when we realize how God loves and cares for us, we should so order our lives that we may become more like Him. God has created us, one and all — why do we act in opposition to His wishes, when we are all His children, and love the same Father?”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 120)

 BABI RELIGION: “Every time they rushed to attack the fort, Hujjat would order a few of his companions, who were three thousand in number, to emerge from their retreat and scatter their forces. He never failed, every time he gave them such orders, to caution his fellow-disciples against shedding unnecessarily the blood of their assailants. He constantly reminded them that their action was of a purely defensive character, and that their sole purpose was to preserve inviolate the security of their women and children.”

The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 546)

 Babi Religion: “Broadly regarded, Bábísm may be defined as a creed of charity, and almost of common humanity. Brotherly love, kindness to children, courtesy combined with dignity, sociability, hospitality, freedom from bigotry, friendliness even to Christians, are included in its tenets.”

The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 600)

 Babi Religion: “Whenever the children of the two households came together to play, usually Siyyid ‘Ali-Muhammad (the Bab) chose not to join in their games, although He occasionally did, and was always kind and considerate.”

(H. M. Balyuzi, Kadijih Bagum – The Wife of the Bab, p. 1)

BAHA’I FAITH: “The separation of a child from its natural parents is a tragedy that society must do its best to prevent or mitigate. It is also clear that in certain cases the actual separation may be better for the child than to continue living with a parent whose conduct and character make him unworthy of this sacred function, for the Guardian has explicitly stated that the severing of family ties and renunciation of responsibilities between parents and the children is, in certain cases, permissible under the Law of God.”

(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 141)