While I was in high school in a small town in northwest Washington state, I was not satisfied with answers given by some Christian ministers to questions about why we have wars and how can we prevent for all times a dictator from controlling the whole planet with oppression and genocidal rule. Where could I find solutions to the world's problems, especially the problems of violence? This was during World War II, certainly a time of turmoil to adults and youth alike. Not receiving a coherent picture from the clergy, my interest in attending church became essentially nonexistent. Besides this, my chosen career was in the field of science, which I saw as most effective in producing beneficial results in a narrowly defined area of knowledge. If you put enough scientists together, you are likely to come up with a solution. Applying the scientific approach to our understanding of religion was a logical extension for me. I would concentrate on science; the clergy and highly trained theologians would concentrate on religious questions giving the religion's very best answers to the spiritual direction of humankind and in particular, for myself. As time progressed I was married and we soon had a family to raise. I realized that I would have to consider seriously how to fill the void in the public school system for moral and ethical education. My attention was then directed to religious or spiritual education. Upon hearing a talk on the Bahai Faith, my wife immediately recognized spiritual truths she had always believed. This was perhaps more a discovery of a religion that was in complete agreement with her inner feelings, rather than a change in basic beliefs. I found that I also agreed. After studying the Bahai writings in considerable depth for over a year (two years in my case), we declared as Bahais in 1966 and 1968, respectively. At that time, we recognized Baha'u'llah as the bearer of God's guidance for humankind today. (The name Baha'u'llah means "The Glory of God.") I knew that one of the central Bahai principles was the independent investigation of truth. According to these teachings, I as an individual am responsible for the development of my own soul and cannot relegate this responsibility to others, no matter how learned. In joining the Bahai Faith, I felt not a loss of former religions, but a much strengthened respect and understanding for all of the divine messengers of God (including Abraham, Krishna, Moses, Christ, Muhammad, Baha'u'llah). I accept that they have brought God's guidance for humankind, incorporating a renewal of social laws appropriate for the stage of development of a maturing society while reinforcing the basic truths given over the ages for the oneness of all peoples, a unity in diversity. I believe that I now have a more complete and coherent view of life on this planet. The vision of Baha'u'llah, manifesting the unifying guidance from God for this day, is a vision I readily accept, including the structure of a future world society meeting material and spiritual needs with justice. My responsibility is to share this guidance with others to bring true happiness and alleviate suffering as much as possible. I believe the world situation has resulted from our bad choices, including a turning away from responsibilities for our fellow world citizens. I hope to be able to continue assisting others not only in Utah but globally to discover these harmonious teachings, their meaning for today, their solution to the problem of violence, and their implementation on a very interdependent planet Earth. Such harmony is the only way humanity can avoid the problems of war.

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Glenn L. Booman, a specialist in nuclear material safeguards, has been a member of the Bahai Faith since 1968 in Idaho, Utah, New York, Austria and Switzerland.