Back to Contents
The Prosperity Of Humankind
A Statement Prepared by the
Bahá'í International Community's
Office of Public Information
Part VII
The task of creating a global development strategy that will
accelerate humanity's coming-of-age constitutes a challenge to reshape
fundamentally all the institutions of society. The protagonists to
whom the challenge addresses itself are all of the inhabitants of the
planet: the generality of humankind, members of governing institutions
at all levels, persons serving in agencies of international
co-ordination, scientists and social thinkers, all those endowed with
artistic talents or with access to the media of communication, and
leaders of non-governmental organisations. The response called for
must base itself on an unconditioned recognition of the oneness of
humankind, a commitment to the establishment of justice as the
organising principle of society, and a determination to exploit to
their utmost the possibilities that a systematic dialogue between the
scientific and religious genius of the race can bring to the building
of human capacity. The enterprise requires a radical rethinking of
most of the concepts and assumptions currently governing social and
economic life. It must be wedded, as well, to a conviction that,
however long the process and whatever setbacks may be encountered, the
governance of human affairs can be conducted along lines that serve
humanity's real needs.
Only if humanity's collective childhood has indeed come to an end and
the age of its adulthood is dawning does such a prospect represent
more than another utopian mirage. To imagine that an effort of the
magnitude envisioned here can be summoned up by despondent and
mutually antagonistic peoples and nations runs counter to the whole of
received wisdom. Only if, as Bahá'u'lláh asserts to be
the case, the course of social evolution has arrived at one of those
decisive turning points through which all of the phenomena of
existence are impelled suddenly forward into new stages of their
development, can such a possibility be conceived. A profound
conviction that just so great a transformation in human consciousness
is under way has inspired the views set forth in this statement. To
all who recognise in it familiar promptings from within their own
hearts, Bahá'u'lláh's words bring assurance that God
has, in this matchless day, endowed humanity with spiritual resources
fully equal to the challenge:
O ye that inhabit the heavens and the earth! There hath appeared what
hath never previously appeared.
This is the Day in which God's most excellent favours have been poured
out upon men, the Day in which His most mighty grace hath been infused
into all created things.
The turmoil now convulsing human affairs is unprecedented, and many of
its consequences enormously destructive. Dangers unimagined in all
history gather around a distracted humanity. The greatest error that
the world's leadership could make at this juncture, however, would be
to allow the crisis to cast doubt on the ultimate outcome of the
process that is occurring. A world is passing away and a new one is
struggling to be born.
The habits, attitudes, and institutions that have accumulated over the
centuries are being subjected to tests that are as necessary to human
development as they are inescapable. What is required of the peoples
of the world is a measure of faith and resolve to match the enormous
energies with which the Creator of all things has endowed this
spiritual springtime of the race. "Be united in counsel", is
Bahá'u'lláh's appeal, "be one in thought. May each morn
be better than its eve and each morrow richer than its yesterday.
Man's merit lieth in service and virtue and not in the pageantry of
wealth and riches. Take heed that your words be purged from idle
fancies and worldly desires and your deeds be cleansed from craftiness
and suspicion.
Dissipate not the wealth of your precious lives in the pursuit of evil
and corrupt affection, nor let your endeavours be spent in promoting
your personal interest. Be generous in your days of plenty, and be
patient in the hour of loss. Adversity is followed by success and
rejoicings follow woe. Guard against idleness and sloth, and cling
unto that which profiteth mankind, whether young or old, whether high
or low. Beware lest ye sow tares of dissension among men or plant
thorns of doubt in pure and radiant hearts."
The Bahá'í International Community's
Office of Public Information
Back to Contents