The writer explores how the Bahá'í Faith inspires individuals to contribute to an ever-advancing civilisation, fostering peace and unity among humanity.
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We often wonder whether it is possible for humanity to progress continually, without regressing. And whether we can each play a role in building progressive and peaceful societies.
Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, says that all people “have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization”.
In an ever-advancing civilisation, we all work towards building a peaceful and prosperous world, rather than building for many years and destroying – through wars and conflicts – in what seems no time at all.
In an ever-advancing civilisation, there would be a high regard for the rights and dignity of every individual and group. The well-being and welfare of everyone would be considered a priority. In such a society, we can trust everyone.
The Bahá'í International Community, in its statement entitled ‘The Prosperity of Humankind’, says: “Everywhere the signs multiply that the earth's peoples yearn for an end to conflict and to the suffering and ruin from which no land is any longer immune. These rising impulses for change must be seized upon and channelled into overcoming the remaining barriers that block realization of the age-old dream of global peace. The effort of will required for such a task … must be galvanized by a vision of human prosperity in the fullest sense of the term – an awakening to the possibilities of the spiritual and material well-being now brought within grasp. Its beneficiaries must be all of the planet's inhabitants, without distinction...”.
In such a civilisation, the differences in the human family are considered to be beautifying factors and not used to pit groups against one another – especially since it is the differences in the human family that make our world a beautiful and colourful place in which to live.
Civilisation, Bahá'u'lláh says, has evolved to the point where the unity of humanity has become of paramount necessity. To lay the groundwork for a united world, there is a need for laws and institutions that are universal in both character and authority.
Humanity has passed through various stages of development, and is now at the threshold of its collective maturity. What was relevant and applicable in the previous stages of the development of humanity would not necessarily meet its current requirements.
As the Bahá'í Writings state: “Man must now become imbued with new virtues and powers, new moral standards, new capacities…The gifts and blessings of the period of youth, although timely and sufficient during the adolescence of mankind, are now incapable of meeting the requirements of its maturity”.
The hallmark of humanity approaching its maturity is the unification of the human family. Bahá’u’lláh says ‘The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established” and that “So powerful is the light of unity, that it can illuminate the whole earth”.
The statement of Bahá'u'lláh's, that all people “have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization”, implies that we all have the right and the responsibility to contribute to this important endeavour, whose goal is the unity, peace, and prosperity of humanity.
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