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The Promise of World Peace.

This is a Statement by the House of Justice addressed to the 'peoples of the world' and published in the Autumn of 1985 to coincide with the start of the U.N. International Year of Peace. It analyses attitudes that have prevailed throughout history amongst all peoples, preventing the establishment of a lasting peace and generating continuing fear, suspicion and conflict among nations and institutions. It outlines the steps toward peace as envisioned by Bahá'u'lláh, with an appeal to the world's leaders to hold a world convocation to deliberate on ways and means of establishing world order. It has been presented to Heads of State and other government officials and leaders throughout the world on all levels, and continues to be given by communities to their local officials, prominent members of the town, friends and acquaintances.

Bahá’u’lláh. This statement was prepared at the centenary of the passing of Bahá’u’lláh, 29 May 1992, at the request of the Universal House of Justice. It offers a perspective on the feeling with which Bahá’ís the world over contemplate the future of our planet and our race. Included are sections on His exile, declaration, and arrival in the Holy Land, together with comments on His Writings about "The Changeless Faith of God", "An Ever-Advancing Civilisation", and to the Kings, and about the Covenant of God with humankind.

 

Promoting Entry by Troops. Sent out by the Universal House of Justice on 9th Nov 93. Includes characteristics of growth, factors contributing to growth, and how to promote entry by troops, which starts with strengthening of LSAs and continues with sections on efficiency, plans, and relating the Faith to contemporary social and humanitarian issues.

Regional Bahá’í Councils.  Letters from the Universal House of Justice 30th May 97 to NSAs about this new element of Bahá’í Administration, which will help to deal with the complex situations with which we are confronted in a number of countries, and thus carry forward, with increased vigour, the propogation of the Cause of God.

"WHO IS WRITING THE FUTURE? -

Reflections on the Twentieth Century"

A Statement by the Bahá’í International Community's Office of Public Information

Historians have pointed out that as the developed world came to the end of the Nineteenth Century of the Christian Era there was a mood of optimism. People took it for granted that progress was being made and would continue without interruption. Science was overcoming barriers to communication and bringing prosperity for all, a prosperity that would sweep away social tensions and international conflicts. An influential book even "proved" how the countries of Europe were now so thoroughly linked together by economic factors that a major war between them was impossible.

      How different from the public mood at the end of the Twentieth Century. The promise of its start seems to have been a false dawn. The century has seen two of the three bloodiest wars in human history as well as countless smaller ones, what was probably the worst pandemic since the Black Death and many other clear indications that sickness and disease are not things that will easily be confined to the past, a rise of virulent nationalism and religious fundamentalism that would have shocked our Victorian ancestors, a social decline which shows itself in a multitude of ways and is placing tremendous strains on the fabric of society, and a degradation of the environment that seems to threaten humanity itself.

"Who is Writing the Future?" acknowledges what has happened and analyses it, showing how each new advance in understanding, in science and in other fields, has had the potential for both good and evil use, the two sides of the same coin. It does not seek to minimise the evils of the past century, but (unlike many other commentaries) it also does not minimise the progress that has been made and the promise inherent in so many developments. Above all, it makes it clear that with a coherent vision, such as that offered by Bahá'u'lláh, people can see the prospect of a better future and even that in times to come this past century will be seen as one of struggle but ultimately of new birth.

QUIZ: 

1.Who ordained the Universal House of justice, and in what book?

2.'Abdu'l-Bahá said that the House is the "source of all good and freed _____________"

3.How often is the Universal House of Justice elected, where and by whom?

4.What matters may be referred to the House for them to legislate upon?

5.What document did Shoghi Effendi say would become 'The Most Great Law of the Faith and what does it contain?

6. The messages from the House to the Bahá’í World for the first ten years of its existence are contained in two books. What are their names and what are the years they cover?

7. Two of the matters the House has had to legislate upon are the future of the Institution of the Guardianship and the arrangements to he made for the work of the Hands of the Cause to continue. Where will you find the definitive statements by the House on these matters?

8. In what year was the Peace Message given to the world?

9. Why was this particular year chosen?

10.In what year was the statement on Bahá’u’lláh produced?

11. Why was this particular year chosen?

12. Why are the letters from the House so vitally important?

For you to do:

From the list of compilations, choose one that particularly interests you. Obtain the booklet and read a couple of extracts as part of your daily readings.

At the next Feast, find out if your community has all the compilations and, if not, suggest that they buy them for their own use as part of their reference library.