The Baha'i faith promotes the belief that globalization and multiculturalism are a part of God's plan. At Tufts, Baha'i students integrate their education with practicing this aspect of their faith by thinking on a global scale.
The world's youngest independent religion, Baha'i was founded in the mid−19th century by the prophet Bahá'u'lláh, who preached a message of salvation and world peace. A key tenet of the faith is the idea of progressive revelation — that the human race is progressing spiritually as well as technologically and socially.
While the Tufts Baha'i community is still quite small — sophomore Baha'i practitioner Fiona Weeks said she was aware of only four currently practicing Tufts undergraduates — they all find a variety of connections between the international focus of their faith and Tufts' emphasis on global thinking and active citizenship.
"The students here are looking for solutions for the world, and Baha'is believe that the Baha'i faith will bring those," sophomore Navid Shahidinejad said. He explained that he was born and raised in the Baha'i faith, and that his decision to attend Tufts was shaped by the teachings he learned growing up.
"In the Baha'i faith we believe the central purpose in life is service, to serve humanity. So even your education fits into that scheme of serving humanity," he said.
Sophomore Alexander Kolodner echoed this sentiment, explaining that Baha'i tradition encourages its followers to take a year early in life to do service abroad, a tradition to which he gladly dedicated himself. Kolodner spent a year after graduating high school teaching at a secondary school in Iringa, Tanzania.
"The Baha'i faith, from my experience in my year of service, gave me the reason I needed to come to school because … how can you teach if you don't already know? My activities at Tufts try and mirror that mission," Kolodner said.
Kolodner, who was born into a practicing Baha'i family, formally declared his allegiance with the faith when he was 15 — although he says that the religion's high standards make it difficult to truly adhere to all of its tenets. In addition, according to Shahidinejad, a principle of Baha'i states that human beings can and should seek out what they believe to be true. This means, he explained, that Baha'is do not necessarily follow their parents into the faith — rather, they reach the decision themselves through studying the religion's traditional readings.
In line with Tufts' philosophy of active citizenship, the Baha'i community reaches throughout the world, working toward the ambitions that their faith dictates. A structured international organization allows Baha'i committees around the world to work on service and development projects as well as spiritual matters.
The small size of the Baha'i community at Tufts provides an intimate setting for the students to practice their faith. Prayer sessions are scheduled at the convenience of the group, and unlike other major religions, a spiritual leader does not stand at the head of the group. Although their worldwide community relies on democratically elected leadership to function, there is no clergy in the Baha'i faith.
"We have spiritual autonomy," Shahidinejad said.
Despite this autonomy, Shahidinejad added that for Baha'is, daily life consists of a spiritual "goal" of sorts.
"The main point of the Baha'is' daily life is to live according to [Bahá'u'lláh's] teachings," Shahidinejad said. On an individual level, a Baha'i follower's daily routine involves studying the writings of Bahá'u'lláh and choosing a daily prayer from among three to recite. In addition, Baha'i groups have feasts every 19 days to discuss spiritual and administrative matters, but also to socialize and connect with one another.
Although religion can often come into conflict with college social or academic life, there is very little friction between Baha'i doctrine and students' life at Tufts. Consuming alcohol is not allowed for those who practice the Baha'i faith, but the followers at Tufts don't find this restricting to their social lives.
"We go to social events where there is alcohol, but Baha'is don't drink," Shahidinejad said. Kolodner is an active member of Theta Chi, and says that he joined because he felt that he would be under no obligation to drink as a member of the fraternity.
The Baha'i students also pointed out that their faith is very progressive with respect to science — the writings of Bahá'u'lláh support the notion that humankind is still figuring out the universe.
"Religion and science should exist in harmony," Kolodner said. It's a belief that he said also reflects the teachings of the larger Baha'i community.
The Tufts Baha'is are eager to welcome others who are interested in the faith.
"We are a small community but very welcoming. We don't limit our activities on campus to Baha'is," Weeks said. Weeks has only been a Baha'i since last November — she says that so far, the experience has been a fulfilling one.
"The Baha'is have been very, very welcoming and warm and just some of the most sincere, loving people that I have ever met," Weeks said. She first became interested in Baha'i when she visited the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette, Ill.
New followers like Weeks are always welcome in the Tufts Baha'i community — like their larger global counterpart, the Tufts group hopes to grow.
"Right now, our numbers are in the 7 millions, but if you look at our rate of growth, it is far surpassing some of the other groups. I think that is because we bring a solution to society's modern−day problems," Kolodner said, explaining how he believes the global Baha'i community has the potential to expand beyond its current numbers.
In the future, Tufts Baha'is would also like to see more of the campus informed about their faith. They are considering a number of options, including casual fireside conversations about spiritual topics and possibly even an Experimental College course. Overall though, the Baha'is feel that their spiritual beliefs fit in well at Tufts, where cross−cultural solutions and understanding are important concepts no matter what degree a student is pursuing.
"We believe that Baha'is and everyone should be working toward human unity, and we believe that the way to do that is through God," Weeks said.
