How spiritual values can shape our future in 2026

We enter a new year full of hope and with new aspirations. The future we long for in 2026, however, will depend not merely on material changes, but from a profound renewal of our values and attitudes.

It is the Bahá’í view that spiritual transformation is the basis for lasting improvements in our lives, and lies at the heart of any meaningful approach to social change. This is not to dismiss the value of material means. Human beings are neither meant to live solely for material gain, nor to withdraw into poverty thinking of spiritual aspects only. True and lasting joy, peace, and prosperity arise when material achievements are reinforced by spiritual perfections.  

The Bahá'í Writings state: “… until material achievements, physical accomplishments and human virtues are reinforced by spiritual perfections, luminous qualities and characteristics of mercy, no fruit or result shall issue therefrom, nor will the happiness of the world of humanity, which is the ultimate aim, be attained”.  

Cultivating our moral and spiritual aspects has many benefits: we as individuals develop those qualities that lie at the foundation of human happiness and social progress – qualities such as love, faith, courage, compassion, trustworthiness and humility. As these qualities become increasingly manifest in individuals, society also advances. 

According to the Bahá'í Writings, “… the world of spirit needs new life, the world of mind necessitates new animus and development, the world of souls a new bounty, the world of morality a reformation, the world of divine effulgence ever new bestowals. … thoughts must be lofty and ideals uplifted in order that the world of humanity may become assisted in new conditions of reform”.

We need a new set of moral standards that lead to the unification of humanity – unity in diversity and not uniformity – and focus on the emergence of a world civilization. These standards have to take into account that our well-being, peace, and security will depend on our unity as humanity.  As Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í faith, says: “The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established”. 

Discrimination, on the basis of our different backgrounds, can only be eliminated when the peoples of the world are convinced of the oneness of humankind and proceed to reconstruct their lives and their societies on that basis.  

The Universal House of Justice, the international governing council of the Bahá’í Faith states: “the principle of the oneness of humankind, as proclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh, is inconsistent with any attempt to impose uniformity. Its watchword is unity in diversity. To  accept it is to embrace the rich diversity that characterizes the human race. To promote it implies helping every soul to develop and express his or her God-given talents and capacities in service to humanity”. 

As we enter the new year, let us strive to build a social order in which every member of the human family is enabled to advance – not only materially, culturally, and intellectually – but also morally and spiritually.

For feedback please contact:  tshwane@bahai.org.za; or call (011) 801 3100. 

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