Jalál, 15 Qawl (Speech), 182 B.E.

Social Action: Selected Themes Pertaining to Social and Economic Development

Quotes for Reflection

One of the most significant developments that mark the unfoldment of the Divine Plan at this time has been the advancements at the level of culture that the Bahá’í community has experienced and to which the House of Justice has in several of its messages referred. These advancements deserve profound reflection. Every devoted believer will surely wish to guard and further foster them. Accordingly, the friends must pay heed to their manner of communication which can do so much to impact the community’s culture. They must aim to raise consciousness without awakening the insistent self, to disseminate insight without cultivating a sense of celebrity, to address issues profoundly but not court controversy, to remain clear in expression but not descend to crassness prevalent in common discourse, and to avoid deliberately or unintentionally setting the agenda for the community or, in seeking the approval of society, recasting the community’s endeavors in terms that can undermine those very endeavors. — Universal House of Justice ¹

Question for Consideration

What manner of communication by the friends protects and furthers advancements deserving profound reflection that mark the unfoldment of the Divine Plan at the level of culture within the community?

Perplexity Pro Response ²

The manner of communication that protects and furthers these cultural advancements is one that is consciously humble, elevating, and aligned with the community’s learning process and collective mission. [1]

Core qualities of such communication

• It seeks to “raise consciousness without awakening the insistent self,” meaning it focuses listeners’ or readers’ attention on principles, practice, and collective progress rather than on personalities, ego, or personal grievance. [1]
• It “disseminates insight without cultivating a sense of celebrity,” so even when sharing valuable experience or perspective, it avoids self-promotion, building followings around individuals, or presenting any believer as an authority above the institutions or the community’s shared understanding. [1]

Tone and style

• It “addresses issues profoundly but not [by] court[ing] controversy,” so it does not shy away from depth, complexity, or difficult questions, yet it avoids polarizing language, sensationalism, or modes of expression that mirror partisan or confrontational discourse. [1]
• It is “clear in expression but not [descending] to crassness prevalent in common discourse,” maintaining courtesy, purity of speech, and dignity even in informal settings or online spaces. [1]

Relation to the community’s direction

• It refrains from “deliberately or unintentionally setting the agenda for the community,” instead supporting the direction given by the institutions and the evolving conceptual framework of the Plan, helping others understand and walk that path rather than proposing alternative programs or personal platforms. [1]
• It avoids “recasting the community’s endeavours in terms that can undermine those very endeavours” in order to gain society’s approval, meaning it does not translate Bahá’í work into purely partisan, ideological, or fashionably secular categories that distort its spirit, aims, and methods. [1]

Overall effect

• Such communication reinforces a culture of learning-in-action—rooted in consultation, accompaniment, and service—by encouraging participation, unity of thought, and confidence in the divine origin and purposes of the Plan. [1]
• It thus “guards and further fosters” those cultural advancements that “deserve profound reflection,” helping the community unfold the Divine Plan in a way that is coherent, spiritually focused, and protected from the patterns of an old and divisive social order. [1]

Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity

A useful way to deepen understanding is to ask questions that examine inner attitudes, practical applications, and community implications of this guidance. [2] [3]​

About inner attitude

• What does “raising consciousness without awakening the insistent self” mean in my own experience of speaking, writing, or posting online? [2] [4]​​
• In what subtle ways might a desire for approval, influence, or visibility be shaping how I communicate about the Faith or about service?​ [4] [5]​

About practice and habits

• How can I share insights or experiences of service in a way that strengthens a culture of learning but does not create or reinforce a sense of celebrity? [2] [4]​​
• What concrete habits of speech (choice of words, tone, platforms, frequency) help me avoid courting controversy while still addressing issues with depth and candor? [3] [5]​​

About community life

• When does personal commentary risk “setting the agenda” for the community, and how can my communication instead support the guidance of the institutions and the plans under way? [2] [3]​​
• In efforts to speak to contemporary audiences, how might I be tempted to recast Bahá’í endeavors in terms that please prevailing ideologies but weaken their spiritual assumptions and aims? [4] [5]​​

About consultation and discourse

• How can the qualities of Bahá’í consultation—courtesy, detachment, truthfulness, and focus on the common good—shape the way I participate in public discourse, both within the community and in society at large? [5] [6]​​
• What safeguards can a group adopt (for example, in WhatsApp groups, social media, or community gatherings) so that its communication patterns reflect this guidance and foster an uplifting, unified culture? [5] [6]​​

​Citations

1. Social Action – A Compilation Prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice August 2020 – Bahá’í Reference Library
2. 28 December 2010 – To the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors – Bahá’í Reference Library
3. Framework for Action: Selected Messages of the Universal House of Justice and Supplementary Material 2006–2016 – Bahá’í Reference Library
4. Technology, Values, and the Shaping of Social Reality – The Bahá’í World
5. Community Conversations: Introduction for Baha’i-inspired public discourse and social action – International Environment Forum
6. The Meaning of Community – a Baha’i Perspective – Uplifting Words

Footnotes

1. Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/r/277860317 ↩︎
2. Perplexity Pro. “Communication by the Friends That Protects and Furthers Advancements.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. December 5, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/one-of-the-most-significant-de-3c9CQDglSMKG2jDec6bjgg#0. ↩︎

Istiqlál, 14 Qawl (Speech), 182 B.E.

Social Action: Selected Themes Pertaining to Social and Economic Development

Quotes for Reflection

As you know, technological advancement is integral to the emergence of a global civilization. Indeed, the Internet is a manifestation of a development anticipated by the Guardian when, in describing the characteristics of a unified humanity, he foresaw that a “mechanism of world inter-communication will be devised, embracing the whole planet, freed from national hindrances and restrictions, and functioning with marvellous swiftness and perfect regularity.” Yet, learning to utilize the Internet in a manner conducive to material and spiritual progress is an immense challenge.

… However, given that the Internet allows for the instantaneous dissemination of content among growing multitudes, wisdom and self-discipline are required lest the significance or dignity of the Teachings become compromised by an unbecoming, inaccurate, or trivialized presentation…..

… For example, while it may be beneficial to reflect on the nature and form of the core activities, especially in the context of the experience of a cluster or region, certain problems arise in attempting to create a site that aims to speak to Bahá’ís worldwide about the subject. Such an approach could lead to the cultural norms and values of a particular population being promoted to a universal audience—a pattern all too prevalent in the world today. There is also the danger of exerting an unintended influence on the process of learning unfolding at the grassroots, where individuals, communities, and institutions are acting as protagonists of their own growth and development. The perspectives offered in the following extract from the message dated 12 December 2011 from the House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies—although in the specific context of artistic endeavours and supplementary educational materials—are especially relevant to aspects of culture mentioned above:

“Propelled by forces generated both within and outside the Bahá’í community, the peoples of the earth can be seen to be moving from divergent directions, closer and closer to one another, towards what will be a world civilization so stupendous in character that it would be futile for us to attempt to imagine it today. As this centripetal movement of populations accelerates across the globe, some elements in every culture, not in accord with the teachings of the Faith, will gradually fall away, while others will be reinforced. By the same token, new elements of culture will evolve over time as people hailing from every human group, inspired by the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, give expression to patterns of thought and action engendered by His teachings, in part through artistic and literary works…. We long to see, for instance, the emergence of captivating songs from every part of the world, in every language, that will impress upon the consciousness of the young the profound concepts enshrined in the Bahá’í teachings. Yet such an efflorescence of creative thought will fail to materialize, should the friends fall, however inadvertently, into patterns prevalent in the world that give licence to those with financial resources to impose their cultural perspective on others, inundating them with materials and products aggressively promoted.” ¹ — Universal House of Justice ^{2 3}

Question for Consideration

As forces generated within and outside the Bahá’í community move the peoples of the earth ever closer to one another, what characteristics of a resulting “world civilization so stupendous in character that it would be futile for us to attempt to imagine it today” begin to emerge?

Perplexity Pro Response ⁴

A number of features of that “world civilization so stupendous in character” can already be discerned, even if its full reality lies far beyond present imagination. These features appear both as spiritual principles becoming more widely recognized and as concrete patterns of life slowly taking shape in humanity’s collective experience. [1]

Growing sense of oneness

Humanity’s essential oneness is increasingly acknowledged in ideas like world citizenship, global human rights, and shared planetary responsibility. This emerging consciousness is a first step towards a social order that “subordinates…every particularistic interest…to the paramount interests of humanity.” [1]

Justice as organizing principle

There is rising awareness that the prosperity of any segment of humanity depends on the well-being of the whole, reflected in concern over extremes of wealth and poverty, systemic oppression, and inequitable structures. In the future civilization, justice is described as the “light” and “host” that will reorganize human affairs and transform the face of the earth. [1]

Unity with diversity

The envisioned order protects both the organic unity of the human race and the autonomy and distinctiveness of its “federated units.” Diversity of peoples and cultures will be cherished as a source of richness, while harmful elements in every culture gradually fall away and new cultural expressions, inspired by spiritual teachings, appear. [1]

Coherence of material and spiritual life

Emerging is an understanding that civilization must harmonize material progress with spiritual purpose, rather than allowing technology, markets, or power to define human goals. The future order is described as one in which religion and science function as “two inseparable, reciprocal systems of knowledge” impelling an ever-advancing civilization. [1]​

Knowledge, consultation, and participation

The civilization to come will be driven by the generation and application of knowledge at all levels of society, through patterns of action, reflection, consultation, and study. Increasing participation, especially of previously marginalized populations, in shaping their own spiritual, social, and economic development is one of the clearest present signs of this trajectory. [1]

From fragmentation to an ordered world polity

Shoghi Effendi describes an emerging world commonwealth in which political machinery, economic relationships, and communications are organized on a global basis, while personal freedom and local initiative are safeguarded. Technological advances, including global communication systems like the Internet, are seen as instruments for administering the complex life of a united world, provided they are governed by spiritual principles and not by domination or cultural imposition. [1]

Comparison of key emerging characteristics

Dimension	Present signs in the world	Anticipated mature form of civilization
Human identity	Growing sense of world citizenship and rejection of some prejudices. [1]	Consciousness of one human family guiding all relationships and institutions. [1]
Justice	Heightened concern about inequity and oppression. [1]	Justice as the primary organizing principle of global life. [1]
Culture	Mixing of cultures, but also cultural imposition and homogenization. [1]	Diverse cultures purified, enriched, and mutually reinforcing in the light of spiritual teachings. [1]
Governance	Weak international mechanisms amid strong state sovereignty. [1]	A world commonwealth with institutions able to secure peace and order while preserving autonomy. [1]
Knowledge	Expanding scientific and technological power, often detached from ethics. [1]	Unified advancement of science and religion, with knowledge explicitly harnessed for the common good. [1]

From the Bahá’í perspective, these characteristics are only the earliest “glimmerings” of a far greater civilization yet to unfold, one whose full splendor cannot be comprehended in advance but toward which current integrative processes are steadily moving humanity. [1]

Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity

Questions that deepen understanding of this theme tend to probe vision, process, and personal responsibility. Below are clusters of questions you might reflect on or use in study and consultation. [1]

About the vision of world civilization

• How does the image of humanity’s “collective maturity” change the way one understands history and current world events? [1]
• In what ways does the analogy of the world as a single body clarify what a just and unified civilization would look like? [1]
• What are the implications of the statement that all people are “created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization” for how one sees every human being? [1]

About culture and diversity

• How can harmful elements of any culture “fall away” while its distinctive strengths are reinforced and preserved? [1]
• What practical safeguards can prevent the imposition of one group’s cultural norms on others, especially through media, finance, or technology? [1]
• How might new elements of culture inspired by spiritual teachings emerge in music, literature, and art without becoming commercialized or superficial? [1]

About knowledge, technology, and the Internet

• What criteria distinguish “knowledge which is of use” to humanity from knowledge that “begins with words and ends with words”? [1]
• How can the Internet be used as an instrument of integration rather than disintegration, especially in relation to dignity, unity, and truthfulness? [1]
• What habits of personal discipline are needed so that participation online contributes to an ever-advancing civilization? [1]

About social transformation and power

• What does it mean in practice to seek social change without entering the arena of partisan political struggle? [1]
• How can efforts at social action avoid patterns where those with wealth, education, or institutional position dominate the agenda? [1]
• In what ways can consultation become a real “power of decision” in communities, rather than a formality? [1]

About personal and collective practice

• How does one balance concern for the “needs of the age” with the limitations of one’s own circumstances and capacities? [1]
• What does it mean for an individual to be a “source of social good” in the context of this long-term civilization-building process? [1]
• How can participation in core activities, social action, and public discourse help a community learn about the characteristics of the coming world civilization over time? [1]

​Citations

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

Footnotes

1. Universal House of Justice. “12 December 2011 – To all National Spiritual Assemblies.” Bahá’í Reference Library, Accessed December 4, 2025. https://www.bahai.org/r/030751541 ↩︎
2. Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/r/425846062 ↩︎
3. Universal House of Justice. “9 October 2015 – [To a National Spiritual Assembly].” Bahá’í Reference Library, Accessed December 4, 2025. https://www.bahai.org/r/751666380 ↩︎
4. Perplexity Pro. “Characteristics of a World Civilization Stupendous in Character.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. December 4, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/as-you-know-technological-adva-tFQu2FIPRaW5oW.raVXr8A#0. ↩︎

‘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

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

Footnotes

1. Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/r/425846066 ↩︎
2. 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 ↩︎

Fidál, 11 Qawl (Speech), 182 B.E.

Social Action: Selected Themes Pertaining to Social and Economic Development

Quotes for Reflection

It is useful to bear in mind that the Internet is a reflection of the world around us, and we find in its infinitude of pages the same competing forces of integration and disintegration that characterize the tumult in which humanity is caught up. — Universal House of Justice ¹

Question for Consideration

From a Bahá’í perspective, how can we effectively utilize the Internet for the benefit of humanity and not get caught up in its reflection of the competing forces of integration and disintegration that characterize the world around us?

Perplexity Pro Response ²

From a Bahá’í perspective, the Internet should be used deliberately to advance unity and the betterment of humanity, consciously avoiding its negative aspects that reflect the world’s current turmoil. The Universal House of Justice encourages Bahá’ís to stand aloof from the negative forces operating online and instead utilize the Internet as a tool to promote the Word of God, inspire, and uplift others, intentionally ignoring negativity or opposition encountered during these efforts. ​​[1] [2]

Principles for Internet Use

• Uphold spiritual qualities such as moderation, courtesy, dignity, accuracy, and wisdom in online interactions. ​​[3]
• Focus on creating spaces that foster unity, mutual understanding, and hope, turning conversations toward constructive discourse regardless of the social reality mirrored online.​​ [1] ​[3]
• Refrain from engaging in arguments or confrontational behavior and avoid participating in slander, contention, or activities that cause sadness or disunity. [4]​ [5]

Practical Guidelines

• View the Internet as an unprecedented opportunity to share positive ideas and to build bridges between people from all backgrounds.​​ ​[6]​
• Promote rational, courteous, and well-reasoned explanations of Bahá’í teachings when misunderstandings arise, rather than matching hostility with hostility. ​​[1] [4]​​
• Use self-regulation, discipline, and forbearance, especially in the face of criticism or negative responses online.​​ [4]​

Advancing Integration over Disintegration

• Harness the integrative potential of the Internet by participating in discourse that seeks to unify, elevate, and build up rather than divide.​​ [1] ​[6]​
• Ignore destructive behavior or negativity, focusing energies instead on the daily opportunities to promote truths that lead to unity.​​ [1] [4]​
• Approach all online engagement with a spirit of genuine concern for others and a commitment to the oneness and wholeness of humankind.​​ [3]

The Bahá’í approach is to use the Internet as an instrument for spiritual and social progress by cultivating environments founded on Bahá’í principles, even when the content and interactions elsewhere may trend toward division or discord. ​​[1] [2] ​[3]

​Citations

1. Internet – Bahai9
2. Baha’is should use the internet wisely and positively – The Largest Bahá’í Facebook Group Ever
3. Internet – Bahá’í Quotes
4. Internet – Opposition – Bahá’í Quotes
5. Guidelines For Internet Communications (PDF) – Bahá’í Library Online
6. For you page: Centering spiritual purpose in the digital world – Bahá’ís of the United States
7. How to use Internet by Baha’is – The Largest Bahá’í Facebook Group Ever
8. Responding to Criticism and Opposition on the Internet – Bahá’í Library Online
9. 9 October 2015 – [To a National Spiritual Assembly] | Bahá’í Reference Library
10. The Parallel Processes of Integration and Disintegration – BahaiTeachings.org
11. Concealing the Sins of Others – BahaiTeachings.org
12. 2 March 2013 To the Bahá’ís of Iran – Bahá’í Reference Library
13. Social Action-A Compilation Prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice August 2020 – Bahá’í Reference Library
14. Is it a common practice to excuse poor behavior and avoid personal growth in Baha’i? – Reddit, r/bahai
15. Advancing Civilization: A Personal Reflection | Baha’i Blog
16. Bahá’í World/Volume 21/Messages from the Universal House of Justice – Bahai.works
17. Internet, the World Wide Web, and Electronic Discussion Lists – Bahá’í Library Online
18. Guidance on Social Media – The Bahá’í Faith – Facebook
19. Audiobook: The Baha’i Response to the Crisis of Our Time – Bahá’ís of the United States

Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity

• How can Bahá’í principles guide online consultation and dialogue?
• What practical steps promote unity on social media platforms?
• How to design digital projects that foster moral and spiritual growth?
• Which online behaviors should communities discourage to avoid disintegration?
• How can local Bahá’í communities train members in constructive internet use?

Footnotes

1. Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “Social Action.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 2020. https://www.bahai.org/r/425846067 ↩︎
2. Perplexity Pro. “Utilize the Internet for the Benefit of Humanity.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. December 1, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/it-is-useful-to-bear-in-mind-t-G8TAyY1_SEKNrrhxHLS3SQ#0. ↩︎