The question of how the Bahá’í Faith is responding to what it would mean to be living on one planet strikes at a core promise and challenge of this new world religion.
The promise is that in the future, all the peoples of the world living together in unity, peace and prosperity, in harmony with the natural environment is clearly revealed in the Bahá’í Sacred Writings. World peace and prosperity is not only possible, it is inevitable. It is a goal to which Bahá’ís throughout the world are dedicated to achieving.
The challenge is how and when the peoples of the world will make this happen.
The serious issues facing our world – climate change, pollution, ecological degradation, poverty, etc. are global in nature and require a global response.
The root cause of these crises is materialism – humanities insatiable quest to satisfy material wants and needs and to experience the transitory sensual pleasures of life. Our world is currently dominated by fatally flawed adversarial economic and political systems based upon the underlying premise that humanity is inherently contentious and conflict is unavoidable; that peace can be best maintained by being prepared for war; that human behaviour is driven primarily by self-interest, and prosperity must therefore be based on the competitive pursuit of personal advantage. Our dominant competitive capitalist system has led to the inordinate accumulation of wealth by a few, the life-threatening poverty of billions and the incredible environmental degradation of our planet. It is clearly not working.
What is needed is a fundamental change of consciousness from self-interest at all levels of society to an abiding sense of responsibility for the welfare of the entire human family and the planet we share. This change of consciousness is an expression of a central social principle of the Bahá’í Faith, “the Oneness of Humanity”, that we are all interdependent members of one human family sharing one common homeland, the planet earth.
I propose that religion is the means to creating the necessary unity of thought and action to replace materialism with a higher purpose based upon our spiritual reality.
Certainly the term “religion” has differing meanings and connotations to people, often very negative due to the many historical and current conflicts and persecutions done in the name of religion as well as the multitude of conflicting interpretations of the Sacred Writings of these religions.
What I mean by religion is based upon one of the three central, “oneness” principles of the Bahá’í Faith – “the Oneness of Religion” – that all religions – the Abrahamic religions and the Eastern religions, all proclaim the same universal spiritual and moral teachings. The golden rule, “do unto others as you would have others to do unto you” found in all religions is one example of this principle. These teachings are also revealed in the many indigenous Faith traditions throughout the world. The differences among religions is due to the religious practices and the social laws addressing humanity’s needs at the particular time in history in which these religions were revealed.
The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men. Suffer it not to become a source of dissension and discord, of hate and enmity.
– Bahá’u’lláh
Of the several Bahá’í responses to contributing to living in peace and prosperity on one planet, has been the widespread involvement of the Bahá’í community in social and economic development at the grassroots level of neighbourhoods, villages and communities in the 160 countries where the Bahá’í Faith is allowed to function.
The purpose of Bahá’í inspired development is to promote the social and material wellbeing of the widest possible numbers of peoples of civil society whatever their beliefs or backgrounds.
Following is my understanding of three highlights of the learning we have had to date:
First, development is a complex process involving both the spiritual and material progress of humanity requiring the practical implementation of principles, facts and experience from two complementary knowledge systems: Science and Religion. The principle of “the harmony of science and religion”, another of the basic tenants of the Bahá’í Faith, teaches that religion without science degenerates into superstition and fanaticism and science without religion becomes merely the instrument of crude materialism.
Religion provides purpose, meaning and motive to development as well as the moral virtues, cooperation and self-sacrifice necessary to make lasting social and economic change. The application of scientific knowledge, methods and technology provides the essential material means for successful development. Both are required.
Second, the Bahá’í approach to development involves the practical application of the universal moral and spiritual teachings found in all religions and social principles revealed by the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, Bahá’u’lláh. The social principles include the equality of women and men, the elimination of prejudice of all kinds, the oneness of religion, universal education, and the elimination of the extremes of wealth and poverty. These principles are both moral and logical, and scientifically sound.
These teachings belong to humanity, not just to Bahá’ís. Every person and every group of individuals, whether or not they are Bahá’ís can take inspiration from His teachings, and benefit from whatever gems of wisdom and knowledge that will aid them in addressing the particular challenges they face.
What has evolved is a process of spiritual and moral capacity building through Bahá’ís and their friends reflecting on the Bahá’í teachings in many thousands of study circles, children’s classes and junior youth empowerment programs throughout the world cultivating moral and spiritual qualities along with acts of service.
This is the key motivating force for individual and societal transformation, to utilize our moral, spiritual and intellectual talents and capacities to work for the betterment of the world.
Third, building upon this foundation every population has the right and responsibility to determine its own path of progress rather than be passive recipients of aid from outside sources. Development therefore, is focused on empowerment of individuals, communities and institutions to be protagonists in their own development.
Over the years Bahá’í inspired social and economic development has evolved throughout the planet including grassroots projects of a simple, fixed duration to projects of a more sustained nature. By 2017 there were some 40,000 short-term projects being accomplished annually, including such activities as cleaning up garbage cluttering neighbourhoods, parks and rivers; tree planting, and conducting seminars related to health, the environment, social principles and governance using a consensus building consultative process rather than adversarial debate from irreconcilable ideological perspectives.
By 2017 there were 1400 projects of a more sustained nature including schools, radio stations health services, cooperative banks and community gardens. A key learning about these projects is that although funds from outside sources were needed to initially sustain them, these projects ultimately needed to be self-sustaining operating within the capacity of the local communities to support them without the need of outside assistance.
The leaders at the forefront of these changes have been teenagers, young adults and junior youth ages 12 to 15 years. This has led significant changes in the lives of these youth and in the culture of the communities they serve.
Turning to the greater Victoria area, in my view there are 3 major challenges and opportunities:
First, there is a vibrant community of about 670 Bahá’ís living throughout the 13 communities in greater Victoria conducting study circles, devotional meetings, junior youth programs and children’s classes involving approximately an equal number of friends of Bahá’ís. The challenge is that these activities and the resulting service projects they undertake in the communities need to be significantly increased to significantly contribute to the social, economic and underlying consciousness changes required to transform our region.
Second, in our competitive materialistic society of winners and losers, how can we apply the learning we have had to empower individuals and groups to become protagonists in their own development? Our current welfare system is demeaning and well-meaning charity unintentionally reinforces dependencies and a loser mentality. For example, how do we address homelessness using these concepts?
Third, and to me, the most challenging: The focus and leadership in effecting change has been youth and junior youth. In my view, there is an incredible untapped resource of our ‘elder’ generation. People from all walks of life in their 50s, 60s and beyond, can make a significant contribution working together to move our society from competition to collaboration, cooperation and justice by genuinely applying shared spiritual and moral values. Perhaps we need learning processes and service opportunities directly related to our mature generation. Is it possible that we can gather people of our generation from diverse backgrounds to come together to explore this opportunity?
In closing, let us not underestimate the magnitude of the material, moral and spiritual transformation necessary to bring about sustainable peace and prosperity in our region and in our world. This will not be attained through the efforts of the Bahá’í community alone, we are but one contributor in this global transformation. Bahá’ís view humanity evolving towards maturity with two simultaneous processes occurring in the world – one the disintegration of morally bankrupt institutions and ideologies and the other, of material, moral and spiritual integration at all levels of society through the efforts of individuals and organizations both secular and religious contributing to living in peace and prosperity on one planet.
In my view, currently the forces of disintegration are accelerating. We need to catch up. My hope is that our consideration of this subject does not end with this presentation. I especially ask that, building on lessons learned, we find ways and means to work together to more effectively contribute to the material and spiritual betterment of our region and our world.
My object is none other than the betterment of the world and the tranquility of its peoples. The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established. This unity can never be achieved so long as the counsels which the Pen of the Most High hath revealed are suffered to pass unheeded.
– Bahá’u’lláh