THE EARTH IS BUT ONE COUNTRY
JOHN HUDDLESTON
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom
1976/1988
PART IX
Chapter 6: A Just System of Government (Cont)
C – Functions and Authority
Today the Administrative Order is the backbone of the world Bahá’í community. In the future Bahá’ís envisage that it will be the basis for government in society as a whole. At that time local and national bodies now called Spiritual Assemblies would become known as Houses of Justice to denote their wider function.
Some comment on the role of Bahá’í administration in the wider context will be made in the next chapter on “World Civilization”. Here comment will be mostly confined to its present role within the Bahá’í community. Even this role is of significance to all mankind. The very existence of a working and world-wide Bahá’í administration means that there is in embryo an alternative system of government to the chaos of conventional institutions, a system which is ready to serve the whole of society when there is a major breakdown of those institutions. Further, it means that when eventually such a system is accepted by mankind there will be a great body of practical experience in how it should function.
Bahá’ís today have two overriding but closely related objectives. They have to spread as widely as possible knowledge of Bahá’u’lláh and of His teachings for the creation of a new civilization. They also have to increase their own understanding of these teachings and put them into practice in their own lives. This applies not only to their personal lives but, just as important, in the way the community grows in its practice of unity, justice and brotherhood. These are the obligations of a community looking not to itself as such, but to the welfare of all humanity.
- The approach to teaching must be dignified and respectful of the intelligence and feelings of the listener: there must be no misleading sales pitch, nor must the cause be thrust upon those who do not wish to listen.
- The approach should be as if “offering a gift to a king” with love and genuine concern for those addressed.
- When people hear of what the Bahá’í Faith stands for, many want to become a part of it and help build a new civilization.
- One important responsibility which follows from the teaching effort is to make sure that there is a continuous follow up in the deepening of all members of the community in the knowledge of what the Cause fully signifies.
- The Local Spiritual Assembly is directly responsible for the upbringing of any orphans in the community. Classes should be provided for all children of Bahá’ís in the area. Children of those who are not Bahá’ís are, of course, welcome to attend.
- In a disintegrating society there are many parents who, though not willing to commit themselves to the Faith, send their children to Bahá’í schools because they know they will be taught the highest standards of morality and an enlightened and progressive view of the human race and its environment.
- The Local Spiritual Assembly should see to it that the sick, old and handicapped are properly cared for by the community and that they are given all the love and attention which might be expected of a good close-knit family.
- The poor should be helped in every way to overcome their difficulties so that they are more able to help themselves.
- The responsibility of the National Spiritual Assembly lies not only inward to the Bahá’í community. It is also responsible for presenting the Faith to the national government and to the national, as distinct from local, news media.
- Directing, coordinating, and safeguarding the Bahá’í world community is the Universal House of Justice. This body has executive, judicial and legislative functions.
- As an executive body it draws up the long range plans for the growth and development of the Faith and it allocates goals in these plans to the various National Spiritual Assemblies.
- As a judicial body the Universal House of Justice is the final Court of appeal in the Faith. It lays down boundaries for the jurisdiction of National Assemblies and has sole authority to recognize new National Assemblies.
- The Bahá’í Writings provide guidelines for a world society over a long period of time and in consequence they are stated as broad principles rather than as detailed laws to meet every conceivable situation.
- In addition to the National Spiritual Assemblies and various committees the Universal House of Justice has the assistance of groups of men and women chosen for their dedication and distinguished service to the Bahá’í cause.
- Those who were appointed by Shoghi Effendi during the period of his guardianship of the Faith (1921-1957) are known as Hands of the Cause of God and they are held in particular high esteem by the Bahá’í community because of their personal qualities and the services which they have rendered individually, and also because of the critical part they played collectively in the evolution of the Administrative Order following the death of Shoghi Effendi (see Chapter 8).
- The others are Counsellors appointed by the Universal House of Justice and grouped into five Continental Boards, each with responsibility for a region of the world.
D – The Old World Order
Bahá’ís draw an analogy which shows the present political and social system to be like an old tumble-down house standing on rotten foundations. The political reformer is one who runs from room to room, painting a little here, doing a small repair there. The Bahá’í is the one who goes outside the old house and starts to build a new strong one on the soundest foundations – that is the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.
- Though Bahá’ís keep out of politics they have not withdrawn from the present world to work on some future Utopia.
- They are deeply concerned to do all they can to ameliorate present conditions, consistent with the building of the new world society, which they believe is the ultimate answer.
- Bahá’ís in their private lives tend to gravitate to those professions, trades and occupations which most directly are of real service to humanity: for instance medicine, agriculture, teaching, the protection of the environment, and the social services.
- Though careful to avoid political entanglements Bahá’ís will take up many issues which are the particular concern of progressive movements such as minority rights, women’s rights, justice for the poor as well as rich, improved education, a world government.
While the present political system exists Bahá’ís must practise a positive neutrality by demonstrating total loyalty to all established governments.
“In every country or government where any of this community reside, they must behave toward that government with faithfulness, trustfulness and truthfulness.”
The principle of loyalty to government has very important long-run significance. Bahá’ís believe obedience to be the very foundation of the institutions of a new World Order. Unless this principle is deeply imbedded in the consciousness of all world-citizens, the creation of a new civilization is out of the question. So important is this point that Bahá’ís have to be seen practicing it at all times, even if it means accepting a government whose actions are causing great harm to the people it rules. Bahá’ís who wish to bring about universal law and order, cannot now be identified with the division and disorder which would follow from opposition to government. They must be seen to be completely trustworthy on both an individual and a social level.
- The Bahá’í community has had to undergo many, many trials in pursuing its great enterprise including many unjust persecutions from state and church.
- In those countries where it is legal, Bahá’ís who are drafted should apply for “conscientious objector” status.
- Picking quarrels with governments is not going to bring a new civilization any nearer; quite the contrary.
- Obedience to government means submitting to all its laws and regulations (except any demand to deny the Faith).
- Loyalty to government does not imply approval nor does it mean obsequiosness. Bahá’ís may petition with the maximum vigour allowed by the law against those acts which are considered illegal or unjust.
- Many young Bahá’ís are first affected by the principle of loyalty to government when they are faced with compulsory military service. “Beware lest ye shed the blood of any one.”
- In those countries where there is no legal choice, then Bahá’ís are obliged to go through with their military service even in combatant units.
- As will be seen in the next chapter, one of the arms envisaged for a future world government is a peace-keeping international police force.