This seminar paper deals with links and relations between language and religion.
Exemplarily, it takes a closer look at the connections of language and the Baha’i Faith in general and, in particular, in Germany. Therefore, the paper focuses on the historical development of this world religion, beginning in 19th-century Iran, its evolution towards a global faith, and its establishment in Germany in the early years of the 20th century. This paper is also going to deal with religious teachings that influence the ethnic, racial, social and linguistic structure of this young world faith. Furthermore, an insight into statistics on the ethnical, racial, and cultural backgrounds of the global and the German Baha’i community respectively as well as conclusions about their linguistic composition will be provided. In the end, details about a survey conducted from February 06th 2013 to March 17th 2013 will be presented and elaborated on.
Only little research has been conducted in the field of language and the Baha’i Religion – at least from a sociolinguistic perspective. Therefore, this paper serves as a good opportunity to deal with this challenge.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. The Baha'i Faith and some of its Central Teachings
2. The Socio-Ethnic Structure of the Baha'i Religion
3. A Survey Concerning the Ethnical and Linguistic Structure of the German Baha'i Community
3.1 Introduction to the Survey & Assumptions for the Creation of the Questions
3.2 The Statistic Outcome of the Survey
3.3 An Evaluation of the Survey
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper investigates the intersection of language and religion by focusing on the Baha'i Faith, analyzing its historical development, its teachings regarding language, and the socio-ethnical composition of its community, with a specific empirical focus on the German Baha'i community.
- The role of language in Baha'i religious doctrine and unity.
- Historical evolution of the Baha'i Faith from 19th-century Iran to a global religion.
- Sociolinguistic analysis of ethnic and linguistic diversity within the Baha'i community.
- Empirical evaluation of the German Baha'i community via a dedicated survey.
- Perspectives on the concept of a "universal auxiliary language."
Excerpt from the Book
1. The Baha'i Faith and some of its Central Teachings
The youngest of the world’s religions, the Baha'i Faith, is often called ‘the religion of unity’. That is because its three central spiritual teachings are namely the unity of the Divine, the unity of religions, and the unity of humankind (cp. Hutter 2008; p. 108). Especially the two latter spiritual teachings are important for a sociological look at the Baha'i Faith. Baha'u'llah, the prophet founder of the Baha'i Religion, taught “The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.” (Baha'u'llah 2012, p.215; translation: N.H.) This quote represents the Baha'is’ general openness towards all peoples, ethnical tribes and linguistic groups. The actual ethnic, national, and linguistic makeup of the Faith will be looked at later.
Not only is the addressed doctrine of the unity of mankind a basic moral teaching, but also a spiritual and social aim the Baha'i Faith and its members pursue. Baha'u'llah wrote: “My object is none other than the betterment of the world and the tranquillity of its peoples. The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.” (Äl 131:2; translation: N.H.)
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter outlines the scope of the paper, focusing on the connection between language and religion, specifically within the context of the Baha'i Faith in Germany.
1. The Baha'i Faith and some of its Central Teachings: This section details the fundamental spiritual pillars of the faith, such as the unity of humankind, and explores the Baha'i perspective on the establishment of a universal auxiliary language.
2. The Socio-Ethnic Structure of the Baha'i Religion: This chapter examines the global spread of the Baha'i community, highlighting its ethnic and linguistic diversity and the challenges of maintaining unity amidst this complexity.
3. A Survey Concerning the Ethnical and Linguistic Structure of the German Baha'i Community: This chapter presents the methodology, statistical data, and final evaluation of a survey conducted among German Baha'is regarding their linguistic habits and views on an auxiliary language.
Keywords
Baha'i Faith, Sociolinguistics, Religion, Language, Unity, Universal Auxiliary Language, Esperanto, Multilingualism, German Baha'i Community, Ethnic Diversity, Integration, Religious Teachings, Survey, Global Faith, Linguistic Composition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The paper examines the intersection of language and religion, specifically exploring how the Baha'i Faith approaches the concept of language within its doctrine and its global community structure.
What are the central thematic areas?
The core themes include the Baha'i principle of unity, the historical development of the faith, the search for a universal auxiliary language, and the sociolinguistic makeup of the German Baha'i community.
What is the main research question?
The paper explores how the spiritual doctrine of "unity in diversity" influences the linguistic structure and practices of the Baha'i community, both globally and specifically in Germany.
Which scientific method is applied?
The author combines a literature review of Baha'i theology and sociolinguistic theory with an empirical survey conducted among members of the German Baha'i community.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers the central teachings of the faith, statistical overviews of the global community's ethnic and national diversity, and an empirical analysis of a survey conducted in 2013 regarding linguistic habits.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms like Baha'i Faith, Sociolinguistics, Universal Auxiliary Language, and Ethnic Diversity.
Why is the concept of a "universal auxiliary language" important to Baha'is?
It is considered a tool for establishing world peace and fostering unity, intended to complement native languages rather than replace them, as a reflection of the principle of unity in diversity.
What did the survey reveal about the German Baha'i community?
The survey indicated that the German community is linguistically diverse, often multilingual, and that while German serves as the primary lingua franca, there is a strong support for English as a future global auxiliary language.
- Quote paper
- Nino Haustein (Author), 2013, Language and Religion , Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/230824
