Participation in political discussions
22 November 2019
19 Qudrat 176 B.E.
GC-34399
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Contents:
- Participation in political discussion
- 2020 Viking Youth Conference, Norway – correction
To all believers in the United Kingdom
Dearly loved Friends,
At a time when peoples everywhere are facing the convulsions and chaos associated with the acceleration of the forces of disintegration, the National Spiritual Assembly wishes to remind the friends of the necessity of avoiding becoming entangled in political disputes.
As written previously on 4 December 2018 [GC-33254] and 20 August 2019 [GC-34112], great discipline is demanded of us to refrain from becoming involved in partisan discussions in every interaction. To do so only contributes towards the spreading of division, confusion and disarray.
Indeed, it is important to note that a Bahá’í in one country expressing support for a particular political position, however, subtle, in another country can pose a serious threat to the safety of the Bahá’ís in that country. This includes posting political messages on social media or reposting another person’s message, even if no comment is added.
Following the recent celebrations of the bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb, the Universal House of Justice wrote:
In this continuing period of special potency, at an hour when the world seems powerless in the face of overwhelming peril and souls have succumbed to dismay and despair, Bahá’u’lláh has shown us another glimpse of what the community that bears His name can accomplish through courage—even heroism—in the discharge of its God-given mission.
To the Bahá’ís of the World, 8 November 2019
Now is the time to be assured that every contribution we make to the life of society, and every community-building endeavour we promote, will “offer a potent example of what unity can achieve.”[1] This is what we, as Bahá’ís, must focus on and not be distracted from. With loving Bahá’í greetings,
Patrick O’Mara,
Secretary
References
1. To the Bahá’ís of the World, Riḍván 2017
Click here for a Persian-language version of the above message
2020 Viking Youth Conference, Norway – correction
The National Spiritual Assembly wishes to clarify that the previous announcement about the 2020 Viking Youth Conference was addressed by the National Spiritual Assembly of Norway to the youth of Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Sweden and the Faroe Islands only. We apologise for any confusion this may have caused.
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