In the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh, unity and justice are
closely linked. For example, he stated:
The purpose of justice is the
appearance of unity among men.
The building up of justice in human affairs is the greatest
instrument for achieving world unity and peace. Genuine unity is based on
justice. Through a commitment to justice, any group of people can reach
agreement on a course of collective action. On the other hand, forms of
apparent unity based on injustice, such as the domination of one group of
people over another, are naturally unstable and will sooner or later fall
apart.
A number of major injustices are currently destabilizing the
world severely. The best way to make the world a safer place before too long is
to address these grievous problems.
An outstanding example is racism, which is the cause of a
great deal of unrest, ranging from riots to outright warfare. The effect of
racism on its victims is to hold back their opportunities for achieving all forms
of success, and to damage their dignity. It also corrupts the perpetrators and
rebounds on their safety. The overall result is a blight on human progress. The
antidote to racism is to develop a full awareness of the oneness of humanity,
accompanied by laws aimed at preventing racist practices.
The excessive gap between rich and poor is another problem
which afflicts nearly every society. The solution calls for a combination of
spiritual, moral and practical measures. Science and technology offer valuable
tools, but by themselves cannot eradicate poverty. This is because a large part
of the cause of poverty lies in distorted value systems. For example,
materialistic assumptions about the nature of success underpin the way that
economic life generally operates today, encouraging individuals to think that
their happiness lies in acquiring things for themselves. By contrast, a wider
vision of the purpose of life generates a greater sense of responsibility for
the well-being of others. A higher value given to spirituality and world
citizenship would clearly create a better atmosphere for eradicating poverty.
Fanatical nationalism fuels many a conflict. It must give
way to a more reasonable form of patriotism, one which is compatible with a
wider loyalty to the whole planet. The concept of world citizenship needs to be
promoted as a rational alternative to nationalism, in an age when technology is
constantly shrinking the globe, and interdependence between countries is
ever-increasing.
Religious conflict is an especially grievous problem, as it
is a direct contradiction of religion's unifying purpose. It is therefore a
crucial challenge for the leaders and the grassroots membership of all
religions to work together in reversing the strife. Disagreements over theology
should not be allowed to obscure the basic responsibility that religions have
to promote human understanding and peace, regardless of their differences.
Achievement of full equality between women and men has a
greater bearing on peace than is often realized. The denial of justice to
women — half the human race — promotes in men harmful attitudes and habits that
are carried from the family to the workplace, to political life, and ultimately
to international relations. The emergence of women into full participation in
all fields of work and public life is essential for generating a moral climate
that will nurture the development of peace.
The cause of education for all has made great strides in
many parts of the world. However, a lack of education still keeps millions of
people in a state of ignorance. Ignorance weakens societies and allows
prejudices to flourish. Education therefore deserves all the support that
governments can give it. A feature that is well worthwhile to include in the
educational curriculum is the concept of world citizenship.
All of the above issues were raised by Bahá'u'lláh in His
writings, over a hundred years ago. They are set to remain for some time as
some of the greatest challenges that need to be faced by humanity as a whole.
The teachings of Bahá'u'lláh contain countless insights into the solution of
injustice and suffering. As He wrote:
My object is none other than the
betterment of the world and the tranquillity of its
peoples. The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable
unless and until its unity is firmly established.
Quotations in context
Click on the links below to search for quotations from
this page, in the Bahá'í reference library.
|
