Memorandum
(Research Department of the Universal House of Justice)
27 April 1995
Extracts from letters written by and on behalf of the Universal House of Justice
You have also asked whether the institutions of the Faith will in the future only concern themselves with the spiritual affairs of the community or whether they will also be engaged in matters of state and be identical with the civil government. We have been asked to state that a careful reading of the words of the beloved Guardian will reveal that what you describe are two future stages in the development of the Faith. Thus, he wrote: "Not only will the present-day Spiritual Assemblies be styled differently in future, but they will be enabled also to add to their present functions those powers, duties, and prerogatives necessitated by the recognition of the Faith of Baha’u’llah, not merely as one of the recognized religious systems of the world, but as the State Religion of an independent and Sovereign Power." ("The World Order of Baha’u’llah", pp. 6-7)
The statement quoted above envisages the development of the institutions of the Faith purely as agencies conducting the affairs of the community of the followers of Baha’u’llah. In "The Advent of Divine Justice" (p. 12), however, Shoghi Effendi goes beyond the stage when the Faith becomes the "State Religion". This stage, he explains, "... must give way to its assumption of the rights and prerogatives associated with the Bahá’i state, functioning in the plenitude of its powers, a stage which must ultimately culminate in the emergence of the worldwide Bahá’i Commonwealth, animated wholly by the spirit, and operating solely in direct conformity with the laws and principles of Baha’u’llah", This last stage is described in slightly different terms in the following words of Shoghi Effendi: "And as the Bahá’i Faith permeates the masses of the peoples of East and West, and its truth is embraced by the majority of the peoples of a number of the Sovereign States of the world, will the Universal House of Justice attain the plenitude of its power, and exercise, as the supreme organ of the Bahá’i Commonwealth, all the rights, the duties, and responsibilities incumbent upon the worlds future superstate." (Cf. "The World Order of Baha’u’llah", p. 7) It is obvious that in these last stages the religious and secular aspects are clearly merged into one set of institutions, i.e., the institutions of the World Order of Baha’u’llah. This concept is further confirmed by Shoghi Effendi when he clearly states that the "Administrative Order" will in the future "assert its claim and demonstrate its capacity to be regarded not only as the nucleus but the very pattern of the New World Order destined to embrace in the fullness of time the whole of mankind". ("The World Order of Baha’u’llah", p. 144) (9 March 1977 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer) [1]
[I] This extract appears on p.15 of the 1984 edition of “The Advent of Divine Justice".
In answer to your question on future governmental functions of Houses of Justice, ... we have been directed to quote the following from two letters written on behalf of the Guardian to individual believers:
“The Bahá’is will be called upon to assume the reins of government when they will come to constitute the majority of the population in a given country, and even then their participation in political affairs is bound to be limited in scope unless they obtain a similar majority in some other countries as well.”
“You asked regarding the status of the different governments when the House of Justice will be established: this is not fully explained in the teachings, and what is not definitely provided for, it is for the House of Justice to legislate upon once that body is formed.”
The Universal House of Justice points out that as the World Order of Baha’u’llah unfolds, these points will become clearer to the believers, and at this time it does not wish to go beyond what Shoghi Effendi has already expounded in his letters. (8 January 1979 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)
Your last question concerns the relationship of the evolving World Order of Baha’u’llah to the institutions of a slowly awakening world. The following three extracts from letters written on behalf of the Guardian to individual believers should prove helpful to your study of this subject.
“As regards the International Executive referred to by the Guardian in his "Goal of a New World Order", it should be noted that this statement refers by no means to the Bahá’i Commonwealth of the future, but simply to that world government which will herald the advent and lead to the final establishment of the World Order of Baha’u’llah. The formation of this International Executive, which corresponds to the executive head or board in present-day national governments, is but a step leading to the Bahá’í world government of the future, and hence should not be identified with either the institution of the Guardianship or that of the International House of Justice.” (March 17, 1934)
“The Universal Court of Arbitration and the International Tribunal are the same. When the Bahá’i State will be established they will be merged in the Universal House of Justice.” (17 June 1933)
“You asked regarding the status of the different governments when the House of Justice will be established: this is not fully explained in the teachings, and what is not definitely provided for, it is for the House of Justice to legislate upon once that body is formed.” (12 January 1933) (5 July 1982 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)
.. the five questions which arose concerning the world legislature, the world executive, and the world tribunal during your study of the letters of the beloved Guardian collected and published under the title of “The World Order of Baha’u’llah" have been conveyed to us.
Regarding the five questions you have asked, it is clear from the text on pages 203-204 of “The World Order of Baha’u’llah" that the system the Guardian is describing is the Bahá’i system under which "the causes of religious strife will be permanently removed", and "whose life is sustained by its universal recognition of one God and by its allegiance to one common Revelation." In support of his theme, Shoghi Effendi quotes 'Abdul-Baha's statement "that all nations and kindreds will be gathered together under the Shadow of this Divine Banner ...
As to the relationships of these three bodies, on page 7 of "The World Order of Baha’u’llah" the Guardian has referred to the Universal House of Justice as "the supreme organ of the Bahá’i Commonwealth".
We have so far also noted in Shoghi Effendi’s writings two other elucidations which we share with you.
“Touching the point raised in the Secretary’s letter regarding the nature and scope of the Universal Court of Arbitration, this and other similar matters will have to be explained and elucidated by the Universal House of Justice, to which, according to the Master’s explicit Instructions, all important and fundamental questions must be referred.” (‘Bahá’i Administration'’, p. 47).
“The Universal Court of Arbitration and the International Tribunal are the same.
When the Bahá’i State will be established they will be
merged in the Universal House of Justice.” (Letter to an individual believer,
dated June 17, 1933, written on the Guardian’s behalf by his secretary).
The Universal House of Justice at this time does not wish to go beyond the general guidelines found in the Writings. When the time is ripe, however, it will have to provide further necessary elucidations. (23 June 1971 from the Universal House of Justice to a Local Spiritual Assembly) [4]
As you are no doubt aware, the Guardian indicated that the development of mankind from its present chaotic condition to the stage of the Bahá’i World Commonwealth would be a long and gradual one. The coming into existence of a World Authority and the initiation of the Lesser Peace constitute one major transformation in this process, and will be followed by other stages of the development of the Faith as outlined by Shoghi Effendi in his writings. Undoubtedly. as these developments are taking place, the counsel the institutions of the Faith can give to governments, the pattern of world administration offered by the Bahá’i community and the great humanitarian projects which will be launched under the aegis of the Universal House of Justice will exercise a great influence on the course of progress. (19 January 1983 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)
The Universal House of Justice has received your letter of 13 December 1984 inquiring about the Lesser Peace and the Supreme Tribunal referred to in the writings of the Faith. We are asked to convey the following comments.
Baha’u’llah’s principal mission in appearing at this time in human history is the realization of the oneness of mankind and the establishment of peace among the nations; therefore, all the forces which are focused on accomplishing these ends are influenced by His Revelation. We know, however, that peace will come in stages. First, there will come the Lesser Peace, when the unity of nations will be achieved, then gradually the Most Great Peace the spiritual as well as social and political unity of mankind, when the Bahá’i World Commonwealth, operating in strict accordance with the laws and ordinances of the Most Holy Book of the Bahá’i Revelation, will have been established through the efforts of the Bahá’is.
As to the Lesser Peace, Shoghi Effendi has explained that this will initially be a political unity arrived at by decision of the governments of various nations; it will not be established by direct action of the Bahá’i community. This does not mean, however, that the Bahá’ls are standing aside and waiting for the Lesser Peace to come before they do something about the peace of mankind. Indeed, by promoting the principles of the Faith, which are indispensable to the maintenance of peace, and by fashioning the instruments of the Bahá’í Administrative Order, which we are told by the beloved Guardian is the pattern for future society, the Bahá’is are constantly engaged in laying the groundwork for a permanent peace, the Most Great Peace being their ultimate goal.
The Lesser Peace itself will pass through stages; at the initial stage the governments will act entirely on their own without the conscious involvement of the Faith; later on, in God’s good time, the Faith will have a direct influence on it in ways indicated by Shoghi Effendi in his "The Goal of a New World Order". In connection with the steps that will lead to this latter stage, the Universal House of Justice will certainly determine what has to be done, in accordance with the guidance in the Writings, such as the passage you quoted from "Tablets of Baha’u’llah", page 89. In the meantime, the Bahá’is will undoubtedly continue to do all in their power to promote the establishment of peace. (31 January 1985 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)
The process leading to the ultimate achievement in all its aspects of “the world-wide sovereignty of Baha’u’llah", the establishment in its fullness of His New World Order, will necessarily be a long one, and the world during that time will pass through many stages. The details of that process cannot now be discerned. Only through the passage of time and the enactments of the Universal House of Justice can such details be gradually unfolded before the eyes of the friends and of the world.
There are in the Sacred Texts and in the writings of Shoghi Effendi passages replete with guidance for the changing conditions under which the followers of Baha’u’llah will be labouring during the passing centuries, but it is not possible to see in advance the details of how they will be applied. The eternal verities, the laws and guiding principles of the Faith are, however, clearly revealed for all to see, and it will be in accordance with these, and through the power of the Covenant, which ‘Abdul-Baha called "the axis of the oneness of the world of humanity", that the Cause will advance. (26 November 1979 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)
Extract from a letter regarding global governance
Any activity on the part of Bahá’is to influence the
processes toward the Lesser Peace, such as the convocation of world leaders,
should be undertaken with the understanding that the achievement of the Lesser
Peace is dependent on the initiatives of non-Bahá’i leaders and not on the
basis of any Bahá’i scheme. In this regard, the following reply was written on
behalf of the beloved Guardian in a letter dated 14 March 1939 to an individual
believer:
“Your view that the Lesser Peace will come about through the political efforts of the states and nations of the world, and independently of any direct Bahá’i plan or effort, and the Most Great Peace be established through the instrumentality of the believers, and by the direct operation of the laws and principles revealed by Baha’u’llah and the functioning of the Universal House of Justice as the supreme organ of the Bahá’i superstate - your view on this subject is quite correct and in full accord with the pronouncements of the Guardian as embodied in ‘The Unfoldment of World Civilization’.” (See The World Order of Bahaullah. Selected Letters (Wilmette: Bahá’i Publishing Trust, 1991), pp.161-206)
It is clear, then, that the friends must respect the prerogatives of political leaders in this matter and allow them the latitude to exercise the initiative that only they can effectively take towards the establishment of the Lesser Peace. It should be borne in mind in this regard that because of the political gravity of the decisions involved in the establishment of the Lesser Peace, and the differing political attitudes which it evokes, certain actions on the part of the Bahá’i community would embroil the friends in partisan politics. There is quite a difference between identifying the need for a convocation of world leaders, as does the Peace Statement, and initiating the political processes towards its realization. Even though the establishment of the Lesser Peace, of which the conference of leaders will be a related event, will come about independently of any Bahá’i plan or action, Bahá’ls should not be inert. Indeed, they may promote the concept of world peace with all that it implies without allowing their activities to assume a character that could be identified with the political processes which its realization will require.
It is not the wish of the House of Justice to dampen anyone’s enthusiasm for assisting in developments towards peace, but it is critical that the friends understand the proprieties to be observed by the Bahá’i community in a matter of such vital importance. If, for example, the Bahá’is attempt to take a leading role in organizing events associated with the anticipated convocation of world leaders, their motives could be misunderstood. The risk is that Bahá’is might act in a manner which would put non-Bahá’is in the awkward position of appearing to endorse a specifically Bahá’i vision or make them feel that they are seeking to impose the requirements of our religion upon others. One needs to be aware that we Bahá’is can, in our zeal, easily overwhelm others and even, owing to the wariness that we might inadvertently engender, cause them to lose sight of the practical importance of establishing world peace. (From a letter dated 14 January 1996 written to an individual on behalf of the Universal House of Justice)
Peace among the Nations
World Peace, a hallmark of the emerging global civilization,
will be realized as a tangible expression of the principle of the oneness of
humankind. This assurance is given in the teachings of Baha’u’llah,
Such a peace will result from the culmination of two distinct but simultaneous and mutually reinforcing processes: one leading to the spiritual unity of the human race, referred to as the “Most Great Peace"; the other to the political unity of nations and known as the "Lesser Peace". The former is a distant goal, requiring a monumental change in human conduct that only religious faith can ensure; the other is more immediate and can already be detected on the political horizon. The one is directly related to the efforts of the Bahá’i community in promoting the pivotal principle of their Faith; the other is dependent on the actions of world political leaders and not on any Bahá’i plan or action.
The political unity of nations implies the achievement of a relationship among them that will enable them to resolve questions of international import through consultation rather than war and that will lead to the establishment of a world government. The attainment of peace in the political realm is discernible through the workings of a process that can be seen as having been definitely established in the twentieth century amid the terror and turmoil that have characterized so much of this period. It is noteworthy that the majority of the nations have come into being during this century and that they have opted for peaceful relations with one another by joining in the membership of the United Nations and through participation in regional organizations that facilitate their working together. Moreover, the process of political unification is gaining acceleration through the awakening of a consciousness of peace among the world’s peoples that validates the work of the United Nations, and through advances in science and technology, which have already contracted and transformed the world into a single complex organism.
The horrific experiences of two world wars which gave birth at first to the League of Nations and then to the United Nations; the frequency with which world leaders, particularly in the decade of the nineties, have met and agreed on the resolution of global issues; the call for a global order that issued from the participation of these leaders in the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations; the multiplication of organizations of civil society that focus attention on a variety of international concerns through the operation of an ever-expanding network of activities; the widespread debates on the need for global governance and numerous organized efforts towards world peace; the emergence of international tribunals; the rapid developments in communications technology that have made the planet borderless - these are among the voluminous evidences of a momentum toward peaceful international relations that has clearly become irreversible.
The Bahá’i writings indicate that peace among the nations will be established in the twentieth century; they do say, however, that a universal fermentation and horrendous social upheavals would mark the transition from a warlike world to a peaceful one, but they do not point to the occurrence of any specific cataclysmic event at the end of the century. Inevitably, the movement leading to world unity must encounter opposing tendencies rooted in stubborn habits of chauvinism and partisanship that refuse to yield to the expectations of a new age. The torturous suffering imposed by such conditions as poverty, war, violence, fanaticism, disease, and degradation of the environment, to which masses of people are subjected, is a consequence of this opposition. Hence, before the peace of nations matures into a comprehensive reality, it must pass through difficult stages, not unlike those experienced by individual nations until their internal consolidation was achieved. But that the process toward peace is far advanced can hardly be denied.
(Online Journal of Bahá’í Studies, Volume 1, 2007; Baha’i Library Online)