Requiem for a Garden: Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb or Revisiting Alain Locke's "Impressions of Haifa" 1923 (Palestine) in 2023 (Israel).

This article explores the relationship between Alain Locke, an African American philosopher, and the Bahá'í faith. It discusses Locke's visit to Haifa in 1923, where he met with Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Faith. The article examines whether Locke was a devout believer in the Bahá'í faith or if his philosophical views were incompatible with it. The author argues that Locke's commitment to Bahá'í principles and his spiritual sensibility make him a Bahá'í, even if he did not hold doctrinaire beliefs. The article also reflects on the author's visit to the Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb in Haifa, Israel, and discusses the ongoing conflict and segregation in the region. The author concludes by expressing their own perspective as an atheist and realist, appreciating the spiritual value of the garden while acknowledging the tragic nature of the world. [Extracted from the article]