Jalál, 13 Qudrat (Power), 182 B.E.
Social Action: Selected Themes Pertaining to Social and Economic Development
Quotes for Reflection:
National rivalries, hatreds, and intrigues will cease, and racial animosity and prejudice will be replaced by racial amity, understanding and coöperation. The causes of religious strife will be permanently removed, economic barriers and restrictions will be completely abolished, and the inordinate distinction between classes will be obliterated. Destitution on the one hand, and gross accumulation of ownership on the other, will disappear. The enormous energy dissipated and wasted on war, whether economic or political, will be consecrated to such ends as will extend the range of human inventions and technical development, to the increase of the productivity of mankind, to the extermination of disease, to the extension of scientific research, to the raising of the standard of physical health, to the sharpening and refinement of the human brain, to the exploitation of the unused and unsuspected resources of the planet, to the prolongation of human life, and to the furtherance of any other agency that can stimulate the intellectual, the moral, and spiritual life of the entire human race. — Shoghi Effendi 1 2
Question for Consideration
How can humanity apply the energy currently dissipated and wasted on economic, political, and cultural barriers, restrictions, conflicts, and rivalries that keep racial amity, shared understanding, and mutual cooperation at bay to further any agency that can stimulate the intellectual, more and spiritual life of the entire human race?
Perplexity Pro Response 3
Humanity can apply the immense energy currently dissipated in social, economic, and cultural barriers toward the stimulation of the intellectual, moral, and spiritual life of all people by actively fostering the principles of unity, justice, and systematic collaboration across all sectors of society. [1]
Rechanneling Energies to Progress
When the divisive forces of prejudice, rivalry, and conflict are replaced by efforts rooted in collective maturity and a vision of an ever-advancing civilization, society can redirect its resources to address fundamental human needs—including health, education, and scientific advancement. This requires an integrated approach, combining spiritual insight with material means, so that both body and spirit advance together. Material advancement alone cannot guarantee human happiness and prosperity—it must be coherently united with spiritual progress to ensure that energy is invested in life-promoting rather than destructive ends. [1]
Fostering Racial Amity and Global Cooperation
Transforming barriers into bridges demands that the energies currently used in perpetuating discrimination—whether racial, economic, or religious—be channeled into efforts of mutual understanding, consultation, and the pursuit of justice. Organic community development, inclusive education, and the universal participation of all individuals, regardless of background, are vital to eliminating prejudice and building solidarity. Systematic learning and collective consultation ensure that solutions are shaped by diverse perspectives and that communities are empowered agents of their own development. [1]
Principles for Stimulating the Whole Human Race
To truly stimulate the intellectual, moral, and spiritual life of humanity, efforts must:
- Prioritize universal education and scientific inquiry, recognizing both as rights and responsibilities of all people. [1]
- Promote unity and justice in every initiative, ensuring actions do not perpetuate division or privilege. [1]
- Encourage organic grassroots empowerment—progress emerges from local capacities, grows with participation, and is sustained by democratic consultation. [1]
- Integrate spiritual and material aims, so that advances in technology and knowledge serve higher values and human well-being. [1]
Applied Methods for Social Transformation
Practical approaches include building new patterns of community life that combine spiritual education, youth empowerment, health, arts, and economic development. These efforts should be locally anchored, inclusive of all backgrounds, and focused on capacity building—so every individual can contribute to collective advancement. Partnerships with movements and organizations for social change should be pursued without contention, guided by means and ends that align with the principles of unity, dignity, and justice. [1]
Conclusion
By systematically redirecting the energy wasted on divisive barriers—through universal collaboration, education, consultative decision-making, and a dynamic coherence of the material and spiritual dimensions—humanity can cultivate the full range of human capacities, extend scientific and technical progress, and foster the conditions for true intellectual, moral, and spiritual flourishing for all peoples. [1]
Follow-Up Questions for Social Transformation Proposed by Perplexity
Bahá’ís seeking to advance social system transformation can benefit from pursuing questions that foster systematic learning, nurture collective maturity, and align both spiritual and material aims. These questions are designed to guide communities as they consult, act, reflect, and study together in the process of social change. [1]
- How can efforts in our community deepen the spirit of unity and justice, ensuring that actions serve all and overcome barriers of prejudice and division? [1]
- What are the real and pressing needs of our age, and how can we center our deliberation and service on the actual exigencies of our environment and time? [1]
- How do we bring together a diversity of backgrounds in a context where devotional character and consultative processes foster real participation and mutual understanding? [1]
- What steps can we take to ensure our approach to social action grows organically, rooted in the capacity and initiative of local populations, rather than being imposed from the outside? [1]
- How do we maintain coherence and balance between spiritual principles and material needs, so that neither is neglected in our social efforts? [1]
- In what ways are we building the capacity of children, youth, and adults to become protagonists of their own spiritual, social, and material progress? [1]
- How can consultation be used as a tool for collective investigation of reality—leveraging empirical information, encouraging detachment from personal views, and valuing a diversity of perspectives? [1]
- What strategies help to systematically reflect on outcomes, share lessons learned, adapt methods, and foster an ongoing process of action and reflection? [1]
- How can our social projects and actions be sustained by local ownership, participation, and gradually increasing capacity so as to avoid dependency on external aid? [1]
- What are the obstacles to universal participation, and how can we empower every member—regardless of gender, class, or background—to contribute meaningfully to social transformation? [1]
Building a Transformative Culture
Addressing questions like these enables Bahá’ís to consistently re-examine their vision, strategies, and methods, fostering a mode of learning-in-action that is open to change and continual improvement. This approach ensures that growth is orderly, coherent, and gradual, guided both by spiritual insight and scientific methods of social analysis. [1]
Citations
- Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/r/200088725. ↩
- Effendi, Shoghi. The World Order of Baháʾuʾlláh: Selected Letters. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed November 14, 2025.https://www.bahai.org/r/496944997. ↩
- Perplexity Pro. “To Stimulate the Intellectual, Moral and Spiritual Life of the Entire Human Race.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. November 14, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/national-rivalries-hatreds-and-MBSWQkpzQgqnv4JxbRXovw#0. ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 