Jamál, 19 Mulk (Dominion), 180 B.E.
Arising to Serve
Quote for Reflection:
Clearly, then, individual moral development needs to be addressed in concert with efforts to enhance the capacities of the community and its institutions…. The environment sought is, at the most fundamental level, one of love and support, in which the believers, all endeavouring to achieve the Bahá’í standard in their personal conduct, show patience and respect to each other and, when needed, receive wise counsel and ready assistance. Gossip and backbiting have no place in the Bahá’í community; nor do judgemental attitudes and self-righteousness. — Universal House of Justice 1
Question for Consideration:
What is the difference between gossiping, backbiting, and criticizing others? 2
Google Gemini Response:
While all three actions involve talking about others, they have distinct nuances and implications for community unity:
Gossiping:
- Focus: Sharing information about someone, often personal or private, often without their knowledge or consent.
- Intent: It can be harmless or malicious, depending on the nature of the information and the intent behind sharing it.
- Impact: It can damage someone’s reputation, create mistrust, and distract from productive conversation.
Backbiting:
- Focus: Spreading negative information about someone, focusing on their faults or mistakes, often with malicious intent.
- Intent: Always harmful, aiming to undermine someone’s reputation, create conflict, or damage relationships.
- Impact: Creates negativity, destroys trust, and divides the community.
Criticizing others:
- Focus: Offering negative feedback about someone’s actions, behavior, or choices.
- Intent: It can be constructive (offering feedback for improvement) or destructive (judging or putting someone down).
- Impact: It can be helpful if done respectfully and with a focus on improvement, but it can also be hurtful and damaging if done harshly or without offering solutions.
Key distinctions:
- Motivation: Gossiping can be driven by curiosity or a desire to share information, while backbiting is always driven by negativity and a desire to harm someone.
- Impact: Gossiping can be harmful, but backbiting is always destructive to the community.
- Constructiveness: Criticizing can be constructive if done respectfully and focused on improvement, but gossiping and backbiting are never constructive.
The Bahá’í perspective:
- All three actions are discouraged, as they hinder the development of a loving and supportive community.
- Emphasis is placed on advancing individual moral development and creating an environment where respectful communication, patience, and understanding are practiced.
- Constructive feedback is encouraged, but it should be offered directly and respectfully to the person concerned, not spread through gossip or backbiting.
It’s important to remember that words have power, and our communication choices impact ourselves and others. Communicating respectfully and constructively can build a more positive and united community.
Microsoft Copilot Response:
Certainly! Let’s explore the distinctions between gossiping, backbiting, and criticizing:
Gossiping:
Definition: Gossiping refers to a casual conversation about other people’s personal affairs, often without their consent.
Characteristics:
- It involves sharing information about someone else’s life or actions.
- It doesn’t necessarily involve harmful information.
- Motivations can vary, such as a desire to connect with others or feel important by being the bearer of news.
Impact: While seemingly harmless, gossiping can still have severe consequences and should be avoided whenever possible.
Backbiting:
Definition: Backbiting is speaking negatively about someone behind their back, often without their knowledge or consent.
Characteristics:
- It specifically involves speaking ill of someone who is not present.
- Motivations may include jealousy, resentment, or a desire to elevate oneself at the expense of others.
- Forms of backbiting include spreading rumors or making snide comments.
Impact: Backbiting harms both the person being spoken about and the person doing the speaking. It damages relationships and creates a negative atmosphere.
Criticizing:
Definition: Criticizing involves evaluating or analyzing someone’s actions, behavior, or work.
Characteristics:
- It can be constructive or destructive, depending on the intent and manner.
- Constructive criticism aims to provide helpful feedback for improvement.
- Destructive criticism is harsh, judgmental, and unhelpful.
Impact: Constructive criticism can lead to growth and positive change, while destructive criticism can damage self-esteem and relationships.
In summary, gossiping involves sharing personal information, backbiting targets someone negatively behind their back, and criticizing can be either constructive or harmful. In building a supportive community, avoiding gossip, backbiting, and judgmental attitudes is essential. 🌟
Source: Conversation with Bing, 2/24/2024
- Backbiting vs Gossiping: How Are These Words Connected? | The Content Authority
- Ideals and Values/Gossiping, Backbiting | Hindupedia
- The Worst Human Trait: Gossip and Backbiting | BahaiTeachings.Org
- Why Do People Gossip? Here’s What Science Says | TIME
- Research Department and of the Universal House of Justice. “The National Spiritual Assembly.” Bahá’í Reference Library, October 2023. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/compilations/national-spiritual-assembly/1#419079542. ↩
- Ruhi Institute. Arising to Serve. 2.1.1.PE September 2020. Vol. Book 2. 6 vols. Embarking on a Path of Service. Cali, Columbia: Ruhi Foundation, 2020, 54. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#AS. ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 