Daily Frameworks for 20 July 2025

Jamál, 09 Kalimát (Words), 182 B.E.

Social Action: The Nature of Bahá’í Social and Economic Development

Quotes for Reflection:

A wider horizon is opening before us, illumined by a growing and universal manifestation of the inherent potentialities of the Cause for ordering human affairs. In this light can be discerned not only our immediate tasks but, more dimly, new pursuits and undertakings upon which we must shortly become engaged….
… The powers released by Bahá’u’lláh match the needs of the times. We may therefore be utterly confident that the new throb of energy now vibrating throughout the Cause will empower it to meet the oncoming challenges of assisting, as maturity and resources allow, the development of the social and economic life of peoples, of collaborating with the forces leading towards the establishment of order in the world, of influencing the exploitation and constructive uses of modern technology, and in all these ways enhancing the prestige and progress of the Faith and uplifting the conditions of the generality of mankind. — Universal House of Justice ¹

Question for Consideration

How do the powers released by Bahá’u’lláh match the needs of the times and instill confidence that the new throb of energy now vibrating throughout the Cause will empower it to meet oncoming challenges?

Perplexity Pro Response ²

The Bahá’í teachings affirm that the powers released by Bahá’u’lláh provide both the spiritual and practical means necessary to confront the unprecedented challenges of the modern era. This unique capacity instills deep confidence that the Cause can meet—and is indeed meeting—oncoming global challenges.

Meeting the Needs of the Age

Bahá’u’lláh asserts that each era has its own pressing issues and corresponding remedies. The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh is described as the “sovereign remedy for every disease” afflicting humanity in its time, offering guidance and transformative power suited to today’s unprecedented social, technological, and moral complexities. Followers are encouraged to be “anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and centre your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements,” ensuring a dynamic alignment between spiritual principles and contemporary issues [1].

Empowering Social and Economic Development

The teachings promote an organic, community-driven approach to social and economic advancement. The inherent potential within individuals and communities is nurtured through spiritual principles such as justice, oneness, and service. These powers translate into:

• Capacity building through education, consultation, and the integration of spiritual values with practical actions,
• Collaborative projects that arise from within communities themselves, emphasizing empowerment over dependency,
• Dynamic coherence between material and spiritual dimensions, enabling individuals and institutions to address complex challenges holistically [1].
  

Catalyzing New Patterns of Community Life

Bahá’u’lláh’s powers manifest as an energetic renewal within the community—what the Universal House of Justice calls a “new throb of energy.” This is seen in:

• The emergence of vibrant community life structured around collective worship, service, and education,
• The capacity of Local Spiritual Assemblies and community members to respond creatively to societal needs,
• A “universal manifestation of the inherent potentialities of the Cause for ordering human affairs,” which expands horizons for service and innovation [1].
  

Collaboration and Constructive Use of Modern Technology

The Bahá’í teachings provide spiritual principles for guiding the use of modern technology and the development of knowledge. They encourage:

• Harnessing scientific and technological advances for the benefit of all, not merely for profit or power,
• A careful balance between material progress and spiritual development,
• Openness to learning, consultation, and participation from all segments of society, ensuring the benefits of technology are widely shared [1].
  

Enhancing Confidence for Future Challenges

Confidence is instilled by the assurance that the forces released by Bahá’u’lláh are precisely fitted to the scale and character of present-day challenges:

• The message and laws of Bahá’u’lláh serve as the foundation for a just and unified world civilization, one that aligns with humanity’s “coming of age.”
• The Cause actively collaborates with other forces leading toward order in the world, fostering unity and progress.
• Bahá’ís are encouraged to exert the “utmost endeavour” for social good and to refine their own character, ensuring the Faith’s continued constructive influence on world affairs [1].
  

Conclusion

The powers released by Bahá’u’lláh enable a transformation both within individuals and society at large, precisely matching the evolving challenges of our times. This dynamic assurance—rooted in revealed guidance, community-building processes, and active engagement with the world—fuels the confidence that the Bahá’í community is empowered to address the needs of humanity, inspire global collaboration, and advance towards an ever-more unified, just, and prosperous civilization [1].

Citations

[1] Social Action-A Compilation Prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice August 2020 – Bahá’í Reference Library

Follow-Up Approaches Proposed by Perplexity

• Explore examples of social and economic development inspired by Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings.
• Analyze how the Cause collaborates with global forces for world order.
• Investigate the role of modern technology in advancing the Faith’s goals.
• Examine ways the Faith uplifts conditions of diverse populations worldwide.
• Identify challenges faced by the Cause in its current phase of growth.

1. Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/r/226621658. ↩
2. Perplexity Pro. “How the Powers Released by Bahá’u’lláh Match the Needs of the Times.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. July 19, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/a-wider-horizon-is-opening-bef-SHwkKEp1SrekWzvqNeGXvg. ↩