UNIT SIX: 13 – 19 October

UNIT SIX: 13 – 19 October

Century of Light: Pages 58–70. Paragraphs 5.35–6.14.

Discussion suggestion: One or more of the following:

Theme Question: 1. a, b, 2.; 3. b, c; 4.; 5.

1. What are the unprecedented profound changes that the world underwent during the past century?

Suggestion: When responding to this question, you may wish to consider gradually gleaning from Century of Light:

a. the political and socio-economic conditions and attitudes, including spiritual orientation, prevailing in the Western World and the rest of the human family, at the beginning of the century,

Change: The world, the most influential country or area changed from Europe to the United States.

Change: People began to realize the necessity of morals and spirituality in life and in solving modern problems.

Change: The barriers to unity were being ‘swept away’ (i.e. absolutist systems from before the WWI, communications improvements, etc)

Beginning of Century conditions and attitudes:

Imperialism was under way, ‘westernizing’ the rest of the world.

Nations assumed that war would be short and won by their side; they also assumed that their entangling system of alliances would prevent large wars and settle area disputes quickly.

People believed that war was unlikely (peace movement) as the ruling Monarchs, controlling countries and colonies were all related and on good terms with each other.

Europe felt it was continuing the ‘good times’ of the 19^th century. But, people not living in the western world did not have many of the European benefits from the ‘golden age of the 19^th century’ (i.e. colonies, China, India, Mexico, the Russian Serfs…). – The western powers had different agendas for capitalizing on/exploiting their colonies, many of which were justified with religious reasons, for material ends.

Great progress was made in industry, unfortunately having bad consequences environmentally (i.e. metallurgy, textiles, chemicals… ).

Western society had fewer and fewer geographical boundaries with the use of the telephone, telegraph, railway, and steam ship.

Scientific advances were made, changing the way the world was viewed; it became more complex.

Constitutional governments were growing in their influence and use, encouraged by the philosophical culture that prized the rule of law, justice, etc. Advances had made in furthering democracies.

Spiritually:

Superstition was rampant. Stemming from unquestioned beliefs and causing ignorance as to human potentialities, the physical universe, and attachment to theologies that had no real connection to the reality of things.

The orthodoxy of secularism meant that the spiritual nature of mankind and the authority of moral values were called into doubt, even where superstition was cleared up.

Religious prejudices ran deep and seemed to worsen as secularism in the upper levels of society grew with religious obscurantism among the general population.

b. the events that caused these conditions and attitudes to change throughout the century,

The emergence of the Bahá’í Faith

World War I – Europe feel from the peak of civilization.

Technological and economic change; Scientific advancement – people began to question previous beliefs. Accepted religious doctrines and moral standards were questioned.

The Treaty of Versailles, it’s harshness ultimatly lead to World War II – causing further suffering and demoralization.

The League of Nations; Woodrow Willson’s 14 Points for Peace – an attempt for peace after the horrors of WWI. Stimulated only because of the war.

North America rising to it’s rightful role as described by Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá describe as binding the broken hearts with the hand of justice, and crushing the oppressor with the rod of the commandments of the Lord.

WWI – new nation states created in Versailles Treaty allowed peoples to form a collective identity, old religious dogmas were being questioned, the creation for the League of Nations –inspired by the horrors of the war.

Revolution in China, lead by Sun-Yat-sen, meant the China could break away from imperialism and choose it’s own future.

Revolutions and popular movements in Latin America.

Gandhi in India, showed the world the what spiritual force can achieve and changed India.

The ‘failure’ of the League of Nations, largely because the Faith had been suppressed in the East and ignored in the West.

The deepening despair in the West between the two World Wars; leading to the three ‘evils’ of Nationalism, Racism and Communism. – The only way to reveal the latent potentials in man is through God, humanity tried other ways (‘3 evils’) and ‘failed’.

The teaching work being done in Persian by the muballighín, the promotion of the Faith in the West by Lua Getsinger, May Maxwell and Martha Root and many other important Women.

2. What were the factors that led to the emergence of the Bahá’í Faith from obscurity?

Suggestion: As you go through the units of the course you may wish to note down the unfolding events within and without the Cause that resulted in the following:

At the beginning of last century, the Bahá’í Faith was, for all practical purposes, unknown in the international arena. By the end of a mere hundred years, in addition to numerous worldwide achievements, the Cause played an astoundingly high-profile role in the international gatherings called for at the end of the millennium by the United Nations, particularly during the Millennium Summit.

What led to this meteoric rise?

‘Abdu’l-Bahá helped to create a culture and society where the spiritual energies could be expressed in normal, every day life. Bahá’í schools were established, due to the emphasis on teaching (Tarbíyat).

Social-economic development projects were started with the help of European and American Bahá’ís. Esperanto classes, were established, based on the emphasis for a universal auxiliary language.

A moral transformation among the believers had taken place, this caused the various changes (social, organizational, practical) – the Bahá’ís became distinguished as people who could be trusted. Even in countries where the Faith was oppressed.

Many Persian believers pioneered, inspired by the Master, to help spread the Faith. Travel-teaching was also common among the Persian believers (i.e. Bahá’í community in Turkestan).

Due to the advancement of the Bahá’í Cause in the Holy Land, largely influenced by the Master, opportunities began to open in the West.

After the ‘Young Turk Revolution’, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was able to undertake “the proclamation of the Cause of God in the great population centers of the Western World”.

1910 the Master arrived in Egypt. He had to unexpectedly extend his stay and the effect was the spread of the Faith on the African continent.

The first public proclamation of the Faith happened in Egypt. Cairo and Alexandria were very cosmopolitan and liberal in atmosphere, which allowed for the frank, searching discussions between the Master and prominent figures. This helped dispel the myths and rumors about the Faith that had been spread from Persia and Constantinople.

By the time ‘Abdu’l-Bahá left for the West, his fame had preceded him, as Western diplomats and officials had been able to observe the successful interactions that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had with leading Middle Eastern officials.

The Guardians insistence that the Spiritual Assemblies that were being formed be recognized as legal bodies. Thus giving the Faith such benefits as to legally hold property.

Shoghi Effendi’s use of every opportunity to establish the Faith as in independent religion. (i.e. when marriages between Bahá’ís and Muslims were forbidden in Egypt.)

The Guardians translation of the Holy Texts to make them available in English to the Western believers.

The teaching work being done in Persian by the muballighín, the promotion of the Faith in the West by Lua Getsinger, May Maxwell and Martha Root and many other important Women.

Queen Marie of Romania’s public acceptance of the Bahá’í Faith and the letters she wrote to papers in Europe.

The establishment of the Administrative Order (LSAs, NSAs) meant that the efforts put out by individuals could be consolidated, that the community could be more inter-connected and informed and that literature could be more easily published and made available.

3. What indicates that during the last century “a fundamental shift in consciousness was under way throughout the world” which effectively is leading to a “crumbling” of “barriers” standing in the way of the oneness of humankind?

Suggestion: A response to this question calls for, among other matters, identifying in broad terms the following:

b. To what extent was the mindset of humanity in agreement with these features at the beginning of last century?

The mindset of humanity was in agreement with these features (see question) in that:

There was a peace movement; people largely like the idea of peace and at first wanted to avoid all-out war.

Scientific exchange had increased, helping scientific development across boarders.

Although not necessarily with the best interests, European countries were claiming to be helping/civilizing/democratizing their colonies.

The mindset of humanity was in agreement with these features (see question) in that:

Colonies were treated very poorly and racism was common, even between Europeans.

Europeans thought themselves at the peak of civilization and, living in the decadency, moral standards and spirituality were being questioned and abandoned.

Many leaders soon began to embrace the idea of war, believing that it would be short and won by their side.

c. What events led to the “shift in consciousness” throughout the world towards some of the features you determined in question (a) above?

The emergence of the Bahá’í Faith.

World War I – unquestioning loyalty to the war give way, soldiers began to see the war as meaningless, on both sides, as the losses and sufferings were catastrophic..

Technological and economic change; Scientific advancement – people began to question previous beliefs. Accepted religious doctrines and moral standards were questioned.

The Treaty of Versailles, it’s harshness ultimatly lead to World War II – causing further suffering and demoralization.

The League of Nations; Woodrow Willson’s 14 Points for Peace – an attempt for peace after the horrors of WWI. Stimulated only because of the war.

Revolution in China, lead by Sun-Yat-sen, meant the China could break away from imperialism and choose it’s own future.

Revolutions and popular movements in Latin America.

Gandhi in India, showed the world the what spiritual force can achieve and changed India.

The ‘failure’ of the League of Nations, largely because the Faith had been suppressed in the East and ignored in the West.

4. How did the Bahá’í Cause demonstrate on a global scale its unifying power?

Suggestion: Taking into consideration the background of the manifold historical divisive traditions and belief systems separating people before they embrace the Faith, and keeping in mind the importance of maintaining the beauty of the diversity in the human family, what are some of the unique features distinguishing the unity of Bahá’í communities worldwide.

In addition to what is in Century of Light you may add other information you can substantiate.

The Covenant. This helps to prevent factionalism, schisms, etc.

That the believers strive for unity, avoiding factionalism and those who are after personal gain.

Even with the difficulties facing them, believers all over the world ‘kept the Faith alive’. In the East, the faced harassment and suppression; in the West the faced deepening economic difficulties; etc. Both faced inadequate literature regarding the Faith.

The very fact that the Bahá’í Faith shone through these difficult situations (wars, depression, suppression, deepening immorality, covenant breakers even in the Holy Family) during the century, all over the world, shows just how unified the Faith is.

The fundamental principle of the Oneness of Mankind, was emphasized many times by the Master and Shoghi Effendi.

The fact that Assemblies, both National and Local, were being formed by the believers all over the world showed how united the Faith was in it’s actions.

5. What do you find to be spiritually enriching in Century of Light?

Suggestion: This question is best left to the discretion of each student. However, while you respond, consider, among other matters, the acknowledgement that the Supreme Body made in Century of Light concerning the positive contribution of many individuals who are not Bahá’ís. How did this affect you?

Lots. First of all, the fact that all the horrors of this century had a purpose and weren’t just senseless sufferings. Second, the fact that non- Bahá’ís made a significant contribution to the progress of humanity; to me this mean that it is the Will of God that society progresses and that to Lesser Peace will soon be established. It also shows how the Will of God can influence everything, even people who are unaware of it.