This thread is for anyone who is familiar with the Baha’i Faith or with the trend within religions generally to provide commentary on the conditions of the world today and meaningfully contribute to the betterment of the world through discourse and socioeconomic development. Please note the special rules that apply to the Interfaith discussion forum. This is a discussion thread, not debate. If you wish to debate any of the issues raised here you can start a thread in the religious debates section. If you want to quote anyone here in that thread be sure to ask their permission first.
On 18th January 2019 the governing body of the Baha’i community wrote to the Baha’i community positively reflecting on the twentieth century and observing a rise in forces that were now dividing people. In that letter the Universal House of Justice states:
“Today, many of the dominant currents in societies everywhere are pushing people apart, not drawing them together. “
At the end of this paragraph they note:
“And the will to engage in international collective action, which twenty years ago represented a powerful strain of thinking among world leaders, has been cowed, assailed by resurgent forces of racism, nationalism, and factionalism.”
18 January 2019 – To the Bahá’ís of the World | Bahá’í Reference Library
The letter isn’t too long and reasonably easy to read.
Points I would like to discuss:
1/ Are the observations in light of world affairs today, reasonable?
2/ What are specific areas that we as individuals and our communities could focus on to counter these negative strands?
3/ What other leaders of faith communities have made similar observations?
4/ Is there diminishing will for collective action and cooperation amongst diverse peoples to rise above it all and promote the betterment of the world?
5/ With the current trends how great is the risk of deepening crisis and chaos?
Thanks in advance for your positive contribution to this discussion between peoples of good will across faiths and diverse world views.
On 18th January 2019 the governing body of the Baha’i community wrote to the Baha’i community positively reflecting on the twentieth century and observing a rise in forces that were now dividing people. In that letter the Universal House of Justice states:
“Today, many of the dominant currents in societies everywhere are pushing people apart, not drawing them together. “
At the end of this paragraph they note:
“And the will to engage in international collective action, which twenty years ago represented a powerful strain of thinking among world leaders, has been cowed, assailed by resurgent forces of racism, nationalism, and factionalism.”
18 January 2019 – To the Bahá’ís of the World | Bahá’í Reference Library
The letter isn’t too long and reasonably easy to read.
Points I would like to discuss:
1/ Are the observations in light of world affairs today, reasonable?
2/ What are specific areas that we as individuals and our communities could focus on to counter these negative strands?
3/ What other leaders of faith communities have made similar observations?
4/ Is there diminishing will for collective action and cooperation amongst diverse peoples to rise above it all and promote the betterment of the world?
5/ With the current trends how great is the risk of deepening crisis and chaos?
Thanks in advance for your positive contribution to this discussion between peoples of good will across faiths and diverse world views.