Compilation on Peace Part 9

65: Though it is premature to try and endeavour to foresee on what basis...

Though it is premature to try and endeavour to foresee on what basis various nations would be represented on any international council, or in any international form of government, it is clear that from the Baha'i standpoint it could only be carried out on a basis of true justice; and justice does not imply one race having a preponderating vote over some other race's representatives, and thus being in a position to dominate them.

(12 April 1942 to an individual believer) [65]

66: What 'Abdu'l-Baha meant about the women arising for peace is that this is a...

What 'Abdu'l-Baha meant about the women arising for peace is that this is a matter which vitally affects women, and when they form a conscious and overwhelming ma.s.s of public opinion against war there can be no war. The Baha'i women are already organized through being members of the Faith and the Administrative Order. No further organization is needed. But they should, through teaching and through the active moral support they give to every movement directed towards peace, seek to exert a strong influence on other women's minds in regard to this essential matter.

(24 March 1945 to two believers) [66]

67: The Seven Lights of Unity will not necessarily appear in the order given....

The Seven Lights of Unity will not necessarily appear in the order given.

A product of the second may well be universal culture.

(19 November 1945 to an individual believer) [67]

68: The teachings of Baha'u'llah will establish a new way of life for...

The teachings of Baha'u'llah will establish a new way of life for humanity. Those who are Baha'is must endeavour to establish this way of life just as rapidly as possible. Now that the hour has arrived when the Baha'i Faith is gaining prominence, and is being reviewed by so many peoples, it is necessary that the adherents of the Faith should live up to the high ideals of the Faith in every way. In this way they can demonstrate that the Baha'i Faith does create a new way of life, which brings to the individual a complete a.s.sociation with the Will of G.o.d, and thus the establishment of a peaceful and universal society. Divisional attachments are of men, while universal service is of G.o.d.

The Guardian is now anxious that all the friends achieve a universal consciousness and universal way of life.

(20 November 1955 to an individual believer) [68]

69: World government will come, but we do not know the date....

World government will come, but we do not know the date.

(15 August 1957 to an individual believer) [69]

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

70: When Baha'u'llah proclaimed His Message to the world in the nineteenth...

When Baha'u'llah proclaimed His Message to the world in the nineteenth century He made it abundantly clear that the first step essential for the peace and progress of mankind was its unification. As He says, "The well-being of mankind, its peace and security are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established." ("The World Order of Baha'u'llah", p. 203) To this day, however, you will find most people take the opposite point of view: they look upon unity as an ultimate, almost unattainable goal and concentrate first on remedying all the other ills of mankind. If they did but know it, these other ills are but various symptoms and side effects of the basic disease-disunity. Baha'u'llah has, furthermore, stated that the revivification of mankind and the curing of all its ills can be achieved only through the instrumentality of His Faith....

We are told by Shoghi Effendi that two great processes are at work in the world: the great Plan of G.o.d, tumultuous in its progress, working through mankind as a whole, tearing down barriers to world unity and forging humankind into a unified body in the fires of suffering and experience.

This process will produce, in G.o.d's due time, the Lesser Peace, the political unification of the world. Mankind at that time can be likened to a body that is unified but without life. The second process, the task of breathing life into this unified body-of creating true unity and spirituality culminating in the Most Great Peace-is that of the Baha'is, who are labouring consciously, with detailed instructions and continuing Divine guidance, to erect the fabric of the Kingdom of G.o.d on earth, into which they call their fellow men, thus conferring upon them eternal life.

(8 December 1967, published in "Wellspring of Guidance: Messages 19631968", 1st rev. ed. (Wilmette: Baha'i Publis.h.i.+ng Trust, 1976), pp.

13134) [70]

71: It is true that 'Abdu'l-Baha made statements linking the establishment of...

It is true that 'Abdu'l-Baha made statements linking the establishment of the unity of nations to the twentieth century. For example: "The fifth candle is the unity of nations-a unity which, in this century, will be securely established, causing all the peoples of the world to regard themselves as citizens of one common fatherland." And, in The "Promised Day Is Come", following a similar statement quoted from "Some Answered Questions", Shoghi Effendi makes this comment: "This is the stage which the world is now approaching, the stage of world unity, which, as 'Abdu'l-Baha a.s.sures us, will, in this century, be securely established."

There is also this statement from a letter written in 1946 to an individual believer on behalf of the beloved Guardian by his secretary:

All we know is that the Lesser and the Most Great Peace will come-their exact dates we do not know. The same is true as regards the possibility of a future war; we cannot state dogmatically it will or will not take place-all we know is that mankind must suffer and be punished sufficiently to make it turn to G.o.d.

(29 July 1974) [71]

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

72: ...the Baha'i Faith aims to eliminate all war, including nuclear. The fundamental...