|
WORLD PEACE There can be few people who would not like to see an end to wars between nations, but is such a thing possible? Over 100 years ago, Bahá'u'lláh promised that world peace was not only possible, but inevitable. These fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the "Most Great Peace" shall come . (1) Activity-Make a list of 'hopeful signs' for world peace. Start with events of recent years, then think back through some of the things that have happened during the 20th century. Comment-Your list will have depended very much on your own point of view. The following are events that Bahá'ís would definitely see as significant: 1. The establishment of the League of Nations after the First World War. This was so badly flawed that it was always bound to fail, but it was significant because for the very first time an organisation was set up whose purpose was the prevention of wars between nations. 2. The creation of the United Nations after the Second World War. This has proved to be a much more effective organisation than the League. Bahá'ís have supported it as a major step towards world peace while pointing out its weaknesses. 3. The creation of the European Economic Community (now the European Union) amongst countries which had been at war for centuries, including two devastating World Wars. None of these countries would now contemplate going to war with each other in order to resolve their differences. The EU clearly represents what is possible when the will for peace exists. Bahá'ís believe there is no reason why similar developments cannot take place among all the nations of the world. 4. The Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty between the US and the USSR Often known in this country as the treaty that got rid of cruise missiles it also, for the first time, established the principle of on-site inspection by each side of the other side's weapons. If world peace is to be possible, the security of every country must be guaranteed. This will only be possible if every country's armaments can be properly inspected. This list could grow very long but, hopefully, the above examples have given you an idea of how Bahá'ís view world events. You might, of course, respond to all this optimism by pointing out the lack of peace in the world at the moment. Bahá'ís would agree with you, but they would also point out that the world is gradually adopting precisely those ideas which Bahá'u'lláh said are essential for its peace and security. We believe that peace is inevitable, but we haven't got there yet. COLLECTIVE SECURITY The phrase 'collective security' is widely used today in the media and by politicians to mean an arrangement where a group of countries agree to defend each other against outside aggression. Question - Can you think of an organisation which was established to provide collective security for its members? Answer-The most obvious example is NATO. The remarkable thing is that over 100 years ago Bahá'u'lláh wrote to the kings and rulers of the world urging them to establish a global system of collective security! The time must come when the imperative necessity for the holding of a vast, an all-embracing assemblage of men will be universally realised. The rulers and kings of the earth must needs attend it, and, participating in its deliberations, must consider such ways and means as will lay the foundations of the world's Great Peace amongst men. (2) O Rulers of the earth! Be reconciled among yourselves, that ye may need no more armaments save in a measure to safeguard your territories and dominions. Beware lest ye disregard the counsel of the All-Knowing, the Faithful. Be united O Kings of the earth, for thereby will the tempest of discord be stilled amongst you, and your people find rest, if ye be of them that comprehend. Should anyone among you take up arms against another, rise ye all against him, for this is nought but manifest justice. (3) In these messages Bahá'u'lláh also makes it quite clear that all He says is from God and He warns the kings and rulers of the catastrophic consequences should they ignore Him. Interestingly, it was to the German Kaiser that Bahá'u'lláh issued His clearest and most dire warnings. Most of the rulers who received these messages utterly rejected them. Our own Queen Victoria politely remarked that if it was from God it would prosper, and if not it could do no harm. No one, however, arose to try to bring about an international peace treaty. Thus humanity's fate was sealed and the first world war and all the other wars that have torn the world apart in the 20th century became, more or less, inevitable. Question-From what has been said, do you think that a Bahá'í could be called a pacifist? Do you think that Bahá'ís would support the idea of a country unilaterally disarming? Comment-To be effective, an international system of collective security would require some sort of international police force or standing army supplied by the countries of the world, but under the control of an organisation like the United Nations or whatever succeeds it. Bahá'ís would support this and are therefore not pacifists. Nor are we unilateralists; we believe that all countries should disarm simultaneously. You may find the idea of an international police force worrying but there will never be general and complete disarmament unless the security of individual countries can be guaranteed. THE UNITY OF MANKIND Probably the most basic of all teachings is the unity of humanity. This is repeated in many different ways throughout His writings: O ye children of men! The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men. (4) O well-beloved ones! The tabernacle of unity has been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch. (5) The establishment of a lasting international peace will only be possible when we all come to understand that all human beings on the planet are our human brothers and sisters, all created by the same God. The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established. (6) For unity to be achieved all people have to be treated equally and fairly. Discussion - What, in your opinion are the main areas of inequality in our modern world? Comment - There are many examples of inequality which you may have brought up. The following are 3 areas of inequality which the Bahá'í writings identify as being critical:
Let us consider each of these in turn and see how they are connected with world peace. 1. Equality of Opportunity for Men and Women. The Bahá'í Faith is the first world religion in the history of humanity to clearly state this principle in its teachings (see Unit 3). Men and women are compared to the two wings of the bird of humanity and both must be strong if the bird is to fly. In His travels to the USA and Europe, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'u'lláh's eldest son and appointed successor (see Unit 1), repeatedly emphasised that women had a vital role to play in bringing about world peace. 2. The Elimination of Prejudice Prejudice can take many forms: prejudice of race, religion or class. They all destroy any real possibility of unity. Bahá'u'lláh says: Know ye not why We have created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. . . (7) Bahá'u'lláh laid down at least two important ways of overcoming such prejudices. One was universal education and another was the adoption by all the nations of the world of an international auxiliary language: . . . the day is approaching when all the peoples of the world will have adopted one universal language and one common script. When this is achieved, to whatsoever city a man may journey, it shall be as if he were entering his own home. (8) 3. The Elimination of Extremes of Wealth and Poverty. The television has made us all aware of the enormous difference between the general standard of living in our own country and that in many others. The pictures of the starving and destitute peoples around the world are extremely harrowing. And, of course, even within the rich countries there are unacceptable levels of poverty. A report in the 1980s on world conditions said: 'We too often forget that even today the depth of human suffering is immense. Every two seconds of this year a child will die of hunger or disease. And no statistic can express what it is to see even one child die... to see the uncomprehending panic in eyes which are still the clear and lucid eyes of a child.' (9) So long as such inequalities exist we will never have a world which is at peace with itself. The Bahá'í writings make it quite clear that we will all have to change: The time will come in the near future when humanity will become so much more sensitive than at present, that the man of great wealth will not enjoy his luxury, in comparison with the deplorable poverty about him. He will be forced, for his own happiness, to expend his wealth to procure better conditions for the community in which he lives. (10) And, of course, huge sums are being spent on weaponry, even a fraction of which could make a huge difference to the world's desperately poor: 'For the price of one jet fighter one could set up 40,000 village pharmacies.' (11) THE MOST GREAT PEACE Bahá'ís believe that in the near future the nations of the world will come together to establish a system of collective security for this planet because it is the Will of God. In fact Bahá'ís view the remarkable pace and astonishing nature of current world events as clear evidence that humanity is being thrust ever more rapidly towards this goal. But the vision of the Bahá'í writings extends beyond this. Question-What do other religions teach about world peace? Comment-Their sacred scriptures do not say much about how to achieve peace but many of them do have prophecies of a future golden age of peace and this is often associated with the coming of a Messenger of God. Bahá'ís believe that the coming of Bahá'u'lláh marked the beginning of the time in which these prophecies will be fulfilled. Over the next few centuries the influence of the Bahá'í teachings will increase, the unity of humanity will become firmly established, the spiritual life of humanity will be completely renewed and a world civilisation will be established. Bahá'u'lláh referred to this as the time of 'The Most Great Peace', the time when everyone will recognise that: The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens. (12) FURTHER READING Now that you have completed this unit you might find it very interesting to read The Promise of World Peace, a statement by the Supreme Institution of the Bahá'í Faith, the Universal House of Justice. This statement discusses the points above and several more besides. You will certainly have a number of questions about the issues raised in this unit and may like to discuss these further with a Bahá'í. REFERENCES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
|