‘Idál, 12 Qawl (Speech), 182 B.E.
Social Action: Selected Themes Pertaining to Social and Economic Development
Quotes for Reflection
The capacity of the institutions and agencies of the Faith to build unity of thought in their communities, to maintain focus among the friends, to channel their energies in service to the Cause, and to promote systematic action depends, to an extent, on the degree to which the systems and instruments they employ are responsive to reality, that is, to the needs and demands of the local communities they serve and the society in which they operate.
In this connection, we are instructed to provide a word of warning: The use of technology will, of course, be imperative to the development of effective systems and instruments …; yet it cannot be allowed to define needs and dictate action. — Universal House of Justice 1
Question for Consideration
How do institutions and agencies of the Faith use technology in the development and employment of systems and instruments that are “responsive to reality, that is, to the needs and demands of the local communities they serve and the society in which they operate”?
Perplexity Pro Response 2
Institutions and agencies of the Bahá’í Faith incorporate technology in ways that support systems and instruments responsive to the actual needs of the communities they serve, always guided by local context and a learning process rooted in both spiritual and practical realities. Technology is recognized as imperative for effective development, but great care is taken to ensure it serves rather than drives community priorities and decision-making. [1]
Principles Guiding Technology Use
- Technology is approached as a means to facilitate service, learning, and community empowerment, not merely as an end in itself.
- Initiatives and technological solutions are shaped by consultation and sensitivity to local realities, so that resources, including technology, do not override the community’s own initiative and capacity for growth. [1]
- The introduction of technology is gradual and organic, keeping pace with the capacity-building process within the community.
- Systems and instruments are designed in such a way that they can be adapted to serve the evolving spiritual and material needs emerging from within the community itself, not imposed from outside.
Examples of Application
- The Internet and digital tools are used to enable broad access to educational materials, facilitate communication and collaboration among diverse groups, and streamline administrative processes.
- Institutions remain vigilant to avoid approaches where “the initial allure of the promised technologies often proves ephemeral,” cautioning against solutions that are externally imposed or culturally inappropriate. [1]
- Technological platforms and digital systems are designed to support consultation, information sharing, and documentation, promoting unity of purpose and systematic action within communities.
Avoiding Pitfalls
- Bahá’í institutions are advised to resist allowing technology to dictate the nature of their actions; instead, technologies are adopted according to the genuine needs identified by the community. [1]
- Care is taken to avoid “technologies deceptively packaged” that may disrupt cultural integrity or undermine local ownership of development processes.
- The integrity and character of local social and spiritual life are safeguarded by ensuring technology supports—rather than replaces—relationships, capacities, and organic growth patterns.
Ongoing Process
- The approach is one of continual learning: institutions, agencies, and communities periodically reflect, consult, and adapt their use of technological systems to enhance responsiveness, effectiveness, and unity of thought and purpose.
- Decisions about technology always consider both material benefits and spiritual implications, striving for a balanced, just, and culturally sensitive advancement. [1]
In this way, technology becomes a valuable tool for promoting and sustaining unity, focused action, and systematic learning—always embedded in, and responsive to, the lived reality of communities and not merely following trends or external models. [1]
Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity
Questions that deepen understanding tend to probe principles, practical implications, and personal application. Here are some you might explore.
About principles
- What does “responsive to reality” mean in the context of a specific village, neighborhood, or city, and how is that reality accurately “read”? [1]
- How can institutions discern when technology is genuinely serving the needs of a population versus when it is subtly beginning to “define needs and dictate action”? [1]
- In what ways do Bahá’í concepts such as the harmony of science and religion, universal participation, and justice shape decisions about adopting particular technologies? [1]
About process and safeguards
- What patterns of consultation help a community decide which tools or platforms to use, and which to set aside, in its current stage of development? [1]
- How can institutions guard against “technologies deceptively packaged” that may erode cultural identity or generate dependency, while still welcoming genuine advances? [1]
- What indicators show that a technological system is strengthening grassroots capacity, rather than centralizing power or suffocating local initiative? [1]
About stages and capacity
- At what point in the development of a cluster or locality is it timely to introduce more complex technological systems (for administration, education, development projects), and what capacities should already exist? [1]
- How does the training institute process prepare individuals and communities to evaluate and use technology in a spiritually coherent way? [1]
- How can the community tell when external technologies, funding, or expertise are arriving too early and risk outstripping local capacity? [1]
About concrete practice
- How might a Local Spiritual Assembly or agency use simple tools (messaging apps, shared documents, basic data systems) to enhance unity of thought and systematic action without over-professionalizing the work? [1]
- What are some examples—real or hypothetical—where a community adjusted or abandoned a technological approach because it discovered, through experience, that it was not truly responsive to its reality? [1]
- How can youth, given their familiarity with new technologies, be helped to channel those skills into patterns of service that uplift their communities spiritually and materially? [1]
For personal reflection
- In one’s own service, what assumptions about “efficiency” or “scale” might be more influenced by prevailing technological culture than by the needs and capacities of the community? [1]
- When introducing a new tool in a Bahá’í setting, what questions could one routinely ask (about access, inclusivity, culture, capacity, long-term sustainability) before moving ahead [1]
Citations
- Social Action – A Compilation Prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice August 2020 – Bahá’í Reference Library
Footnotes
- Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/r/425846066 ↩︎
- Perplexity Pro. “Technology Use in “Responsive-to-Reality” Systems and Instruments.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. December 2, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/the-capacity-of-the-institutio-Ig6RjIETQeS_FCk1.67b7A#1 ↩︎
Frameworks for Understanding the World 