This year, on Oct. 21 and 22, the Baha’i world celebrated Baha’u’llah’s 200th birthday.

Like the birthdays of Moses and Christ, like Buddha’s and Krishna’s, like Muhammad’s and Zoroaster’s, like the Bab’s and all the birthdays of all the other Prophets of God lost to history — which are many — Baha’u’llah’s birthday symbolizes renewal and regeneration in all created things. Baha’u’llah’s birthday, in some ways, is nothing unique. Baha’u’llah said He was essentially no different than all the other Prophets: that no Prophet, and by extension no religion, is inherently superior to another Prophet or religion. So by celebrating Baha’u’llah’s birthday the world is, in reality, celebrating the birthdays of all the Prophets of God.

When I became a Baha’i in 1982, I had been investigating more deeply Christianity and Islam. I met an African-American man “on the road” who I had met in a dream before meeting him in this physical world, and he had had a dream that told him he would meet me and we would find the return of Christ together. And we did in that when a new Prophet comes that Messenger of God is the return of all the other Prophets, even as when Spring comes back each year, it is the return of all the other Springs gone before.

In a world where racism, prejudice and religious fanaticism is literally tearing this world apart, Baha’u’llah’s teachings provided me a safe haven and refuge from such prejudices and fanaticism. And so I invite you all to celebrate on October 21st Baha’u’llah’s 200th birthday. In the future Baha’u’llah says countless new Messengers of God will come, for, just as there is no end to scientific truth, there is also no end to religious and spiritual truth. Like the two wings of a bird, science and religion can and do complement and supplement each other.

My best wishes to everyone this special year.

Tim Wilson,

Harpswell