Engagement with politics
GC-34112
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To all believers in the United Kingdom
Dearly loved Friends,
The National Spiritual Assembly is turning to you once again during this challenging period for the United Kingdom, to share some thoughts to assist you in navigating the conversations and concerns that are inevitably arising from the current political situation.
As we previously wrote on 4 December 2018 [GC-33254], great discipline is demanded of each one of us to avoid becoming involved in partisan and divisive discussions, both within and outside the Bahá’í community and on electronic media. To do otherwise would contribute towards the confusion and disarray that is becoming more and more widespread. The National Assembly particularly looks to the adult members of the community—especially those active on social media—to be a good example to the youth and children in avoiding, as Shoghi Effendi warned, “having any share in political controversies, entanglements and bickerings.”[1] The Universal House of Justice in its 2017 Riḍván message, reminds us of the Guardian’s expectation:
“Let them rise above all particularism and partisanship,” he urged on another occasion, “above the vain disputes, the petty calculations, the transient passions that agitate the face, and engage the attention, of a changing world.” These are the inevitable foam and spray cast up as wave after wave convulses a turbulent and divided society. Too much is at stake to be occupied with distractions of this kind.[2]
In a recent message, which you may wish to study further, the Supreme Body provided a penetrating analysis of the forces of integration and disintegration at play in the world and told us that:
Today, many of the dominant currents in societies everywhere are pushing people apart, not drawing them together… Thus do the forces of disintegration regroup and gain ground. So be it. [3]
We must not lose heart, become despondent or despair at what we see around us. Rather we should never hesitate or falter in fixing our gaze and our efforts on realising the mission of Bahá’u’lláh. The House of Justice writes:
The unification of humanity is unstoppable by any human force; the promises made by the prophets of old and by the Author of the Cause of God Himself testify to this truth. Yet the course humanity takes to achieve its destiny may very well be tortuous.[4]
Individually and collectively, our task as Bahá’ís is to strive “to set aside divergent theories and conflicting views and pursue a single purpose and common goal”[5] Consider the words of Bahá’u’lláh:
Address yourselves to the promotion of the well-being and tranquillity of the children of men. Bend your minds and wills to the education of the peoples and kindreds of the earth, that haply the dissensions that divide it may, through the power of the Most Great Name, be blotted out from its face, and all mankind become the upholders of one Order, and the inhabitants of one City.[6]
Shoghi Effendi refers to the Universal House of Justice as “the last refuge of a tottering civilisation”[7]. And so it is to their plans and guidance that we must turn and commit ourselves, for it is under the canopy of the Covenant that we will strengthen our unity and our resolve. In doing so we can thus be confident, the House of Justice assures us, that every contribution we make to the life of society will foster unity, and every community-building endeavour we promote will be to the same end. Thus:
For those tired of contention, the communities growing under the shadow of the Greatest Name offer a potent example of what unity can achieve.[8]
You may wish to reflect more deeply on some of these themes. The letters of the Universal House of Justice, dated 18 January 2019 to the Bahá’ís of the World (English/Persian) and 2 March 2013 to the Bahá’ís of Iran (English/Persian) will be particularly helpful in this respect.
The National Spiritual Assembly reiterates its confidence that the friends will be mindful of the high standard to which they are called, and will appreciate the imperative not to be drawn into contentious discussions which lie at the root of so much of the suffering that afflicts humanity. Indeed, during this period of special potency, in honour of the approaching bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb, could not every conversation be directed into assisting those to whom we speak to recognise the greatness of this Day, a Day in which both the forces of integration and disintegration are propelling humanity towards its glorious destiny?
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
Patrick O’Mara,
Secretary
References and links
1 Universal House of Justice, To the Bahá’ís of the World, Riḍván 2017
2 ibid.
3 Universal House of Justice, To the Bahá’ís of the World, 18 January 2019
4 ibid.
5 Universal House of Justice, To the Bahá’ís of the World, 26 November 2018
6 Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, CLVI
7 Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh
8 Universal House of Justice, To the Bahá’ís of the World, Riḍván 2017