World Peace
Bahá’u’lláh’s words in the mid-nineteenth century would indeed describe the present state of a strangely disordered world: “How long will humanity persist in its waywardness? How long will injustice continue? How long is chaos and confusion to reign amongst men? How long will discord agitate the face of society? The winds of despair are, alas, blowing from every direction, and the strife that divides and afflicts the human race is daily increasing. The signs of impending convulsions and chaos can now be discerned, inasmuch as the prevailing order appears to be lamentably defective.” – Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh
Further, in the early-twentieth century Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, wrote: “Never indeed have there been such widespread and basic upheavals, whether in the social, economic or political spheres of human activity as those now going on in different parts of the world. Never have there been so many and varied sources of danger as those that now threaten the structure of society”. – The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh
Bahá’ís believe that the key to the attainment of world peace and order is foundationally spiritual-based because it transforms individuals’ attitude and behaviour into “goodly character, pure deeds, and a seemly and praiseworthy conduct” to create a better world.
The Bahá’í exhortations to the world of about 7.7 billion people with nearly 2,100 cultures and ethnicities in over 100,000 localities, are focused on the inseparable linkages between the unity of mankind and world peace where traces of any type of prejudice, inequality and injustice are replaced with fundamental thoughts of peace, love and harmony. The Bahá’i Writings teach us that “the well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established” – Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Section CXXXI.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá in his remarkable talk at the Church of the Ascension in New York in 1912 stated that “Today the world of humanity is in need of international unity and conciliation. To establish these great fundamental principles a propelling power is needed. It is self-evident that the unity of the human world and the Most Great Peace cannot be accomplished through material means. They cannot be established through political power, for the political interests of nations are various and the policies of peoples are divergent and conflicting. They cannot be founded through racial or patriotic power, for these are human powers, selfish and weak. The very nature of racial differences and patriotic prejudices prevents the realization of this unity and agreement. Therefore, it is evidenced that the promotion of the oneness of the kingdom of humanity, which is the essence of the teachings of all the Manifestations of God, is impossible except through the divine power and breaths of the Holy Spirit. Other powers are too weak and are incapable of accomplishing this.” – Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 11-12
Further, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His address at the City Temple in USA in 1911 said “The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion. War shall cease between nations, and by the will of God the Most Great Peace shall come; the world will be seen as a new world, and all men will live as brothers.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá once encountered Hiram S. Maxim, the creator of the first portable fully automatic machine gun, the Maxim gun. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá told him that while his name had become famous in the science of war and human destruction, he should strive to become famous also in the science of peace, by inventing “guns of love which shall shake the foundations of humanity.” People would praise this inventor of guns as having also “invented means for increasing life and love of man; who has put an end to the strife of nations and uprooted the tree of war,” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said. “Then will your name be recorded in the pages of history with a pen of gold.”
On this thought ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote, “let’s try peace for a while? If we find war is better, it will not be difficult to fight again.”
Bahá’ís earnestly call humanity to actively engage in mainstream local and international collaboration towards realisation of world peace. The Universal House of Justice in its 1986 Statement titled The Promise of World Peace: A Bahá’í Statement on Peace to the generality of mankind, elucidated that war can be traced to prejudice, the oppression of women, inordinate extremes of wealth and poverty, excessive nationalism, religious strife, education that reinforces violence and negates the spiritual nature of humanity, and paralysis of will. In this Statement, also The The Universal House of Justice assures us that “World peace is not only possible but inevitable. It is the next stage in the evolution of this planet”.
Other major Bahá’í Principles which guide humanity for the establishment of world peace include: a universally agreed and adopted standard for human rights and responsibilities; economic justice and cooperation where the world resources and wealth are equitably distributed among the people; universally accessible education composed of human, material and spiritual dimensions; harmony between science and religion to spread spiritual realities free from rituals and prejudice; and the adoption of a universal auxiliary language and script taught in addition to mother tongue literacy (now nearly 7,111 living languages for the purposes of international communication).
Bahá’í Involvement in Developing World Peace
Long-term initiatives (External Affairs)
These are central to Bahá’í principles and are frequently undertaken in collaboration with sympathetic wider community agencies and institutions. These fall under the general headings of: the advancement of women , the environment, sustainable development , global prosperity,and human rights.
Interfaith initiatives and collaborations
Bahá’ís contribute to peace through involvement in interfaith activities and dialogue to encourage religious tolerance, freedom of belief and elimination of religious prejudice. Examples of this initiative are; inclusions of the Holy Writings from the world’s various Faiths at each weekly Service held at the Sydney Bahá’í House of Worship, as well as dedicating a special service for World Religion Day, illustrating the importance of interfaith relationships to reach common goals, and working closely with other religious groups.
Integrated Ongoing Community Development Programs
Referred to as the Core Activities of the Bahá’í community, which is composed of four processes of community development for peace. The Core Activity initiative began in Colombia in the 1970s and since then has spread across the world.
Bahá’i Education for Peace
The Yerrinbool Bahá’í Centre of Learning runs various courses on peace for children (Kids for Peace) and for youth. Also, a Peace Pack is developed for children as educational materials for a peaceful world. Additionally, the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity (ISGP) offers suitable courses for undergraduate and graduate students and groups to develop capacity for contributing to prevalent discourses concerned with the betterment of society and peace.
Responses to both Bahá’í Guidance and Community Needs
Individual, scholarly, professional and community responses to both Bahá’í guidance and community needs, external affairs goals or innovative applications of the Core Activities assists with the aim of contributing to world peace. The news of these activities at local and international levels are distributed by The Australian Bahá’í Community, The Bahá’í World News and One Country online Bahá’í newsletters in different languages.
Collective Security
World unity also extends to the unity of thoughts and action among rulers of the world to collectively establish world peace and maintain its sustainable operation. Bahá’u’lláh’s exhortation for an enduring world peace is this: “The Great Being, wishing to reveal the prerequisites of the peace and tranquillity of the world and the advancement of its peoples, hath written: The time must come when the imperative necessity for the holding of a vast, an all-embracing assemblage of men will be universally realized. The rulers and kings of the earth must needs attend it, and, participating in its deliberations, must consider such ways and means as will lay the foundations of the world’s Great Peace amongst men. Such a peace demandeth that the Great Powers should resolve, for the sake of the tranquillity of the peoples of the earth, to be fully reconciled among themselves. Should any king take up arms against another, all should unitedly arise and prevent him. If this be done, the nations of the world will no longer require any armaments, except for the purpose of preserving the security of their realms and of maintaining internal order within their territories. This will ensure the peace and composure of every people, government and nation. We fain would hope that the kings and rulers of the earth, the mirrors of the gracious and almighty name of God, may attain unto this station, and shield mankind from the onslaught of tyranny.… The day is approaching when all the peoples of the world will have adopted one universal language and one common script. When this is achieved, to whatsoever city a man may journey, it shall be as if he were entering his own home. These things are obligatory and absolutely essential. It is incumbent upon every man of insight and understanding to strive to translate that which hath been written into reality and action.… That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race. The Great Being saith: Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth. In another passage He hath proclaimed: It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.” – Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Section CXVII
Humanity at Notice
Bahá’ís believe that through its Teachings humanity can prevent its fall into “waywardness and unbelief” as described by the prophetic words flowed from Bahá’u’lláh’s Pen: “The world is in travail and its agitation waxeth day by day. Its face is turned towards waywardness and unbelief. Such shall be its plight that to disclose it now would not be meet and seemly. Its perversity will long continue. And when the appointed hour is come, there shall suddenly appear that which shall cause the limbs of mankind to quake. Then and only then will the Divine Standard be unfurled and the Nightingale of Paradise warble its melody.” – Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Section LXI
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Universal Peace
Collective Security