Photo by Jorge Fernández Salas on Unsplash
by Christine Muller
Last month, in part 1, we presented the reasons for hope shared by Jane Goodall in her book, The Book of Hope. In this part 2, we will discuss reasons for hope from a Bahá’í perspective.
Just to recap, Jane Goodall’s reasons for hope are:
- The Amazing Human Intellect
- The Resilience of Nature
- The Power of Young People
- The Indomitable Human Spirit
I find all these reasons valid, and they certainly contribute to my hope as well. However, looking at the scope of the destruction of the natural world, at the alarming scientific projections for the future about climate change and the loss of wild plants and animals, at the mounting toxic pollution, at the slow pace of human action, at the distraction, paralysis, and disunity of humanity, and at the numerous social problems that are exacerbating the threats, these reasons are not sufficient to give me hope.
We need a fundamental transformation of society and of our conception of our human purpose. Bahá’u’lláh brought spiritual teachings that provide us with guidance in today’s existential crisis, and a vision for a spiritual civilization that is peaceful, just, and in harmony with nature. These words of Bahá’u’lláh give me all the hope I need:
“Each one of the ordinances We have revealed is a mighty stronghold for the preservation of the world of being.” (Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh / 6. Kalimát-i-Firdawsíyyih (Words of Paradise))
The following Bahá’í teachings may be among the most important ones for preserving “the world of being” or, in other words, rescuing the natural world which, of course, also includes humans:
- the oneness of humankind
- a world federal system
- objective investigation of the truth and using science
- consultation
- spiritual development
- moderation and leading a simple life
- justice
- equal value of all humans regardless of the color of their skin or their cultural background
- gender equality
- interconnectedness of everything in creation
- importance of education
- using spiritual principles (religion) to guide all our decisions on all levels of governance and in our individual and community lives
There is no space here to discuss how we can apply these and other Bahá’í teachings to the environmental crisis, and how we can use them in public discourse and in our personal and community actions. Therefore, let’s just briefly reflect about one core Bahá’í teaching.
Bahá’u’lláh wrote:
Let your vision be world-embracing, rather than confined to your own self. (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh XLIII)
This is the age-old spiritual path we humans have been called upon to take by the Prophets of the past: to overcome the ego and to dedicate our lives to serve the common good. What is new is that Bahá’u’lláh expanded the common good to the planetary level: All humanity is our family. These words motivate us to be mindful of our actions and consider their impacts on the environment. They guide us to think about the impacts of our daily life on the climate, on plants and animals, and on human beings around the world. We will care about the well-being of all and not just our own personal desires; therefore we will literally be more careful with the use of energy and transportation, with our food choices, with all our purchasing decisions, and with handling our waste.
Moreover, not only each individual, but governments are specifically called to consider the well-being of all of humankind:
O ye the elected representatives of the people in every land! Take ye counsel together, and let your concern be only for that which profiteth mankind and bettereth the condition thereof. (The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 90/93)
Most environmental problems are global in scope. For example, the carbon pollution from each country has an impact on the global climate. Imagine if the governments of the world created binding laws and regulations that would put the well-being of all people and the planet before national interests and profit!
You can read about other Bahá’í teachings and their application to environmental issues in the freely available study course Scientific and Spiritual Dimensions of Climate Change. Perhaps you can have conversations about these topics in your community. The IEF website also offers a compilation of Bahá’í quotations on environmental sustainability.
Here is another reason for hope. Bahá’u’lláh wrote about the transformative power of the word of God:
“Every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God is endowed with such potency as can instill new life into every human frame.” (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh LXXIV)
All the religions of the past raised humanity’s consciousness and infused the world with new spirit that enabled humankind to progress in its development. It is comforting to know that a fresh measure of the divine spirit is available to humankind in the revelation of Bahá’u’lláh. We need this powerful spirit to overcome indifference, selfish interests, and paralysis of will. This spirit can also imbue us with the courage and the desire to work for a better world.
I end our conversation about hope with a quote from Shoghi Effendi:
“As material affairs go from bad to worse in the world, the confidence, optimism, love, and hope of the believers will, by force of contrast, shine out as an ever brighter beacon, leading the people to the Path of Truth, the way laid down by God, which alone can guide them to the promise of the future.” (Shoghi Effendi, Principles of Bahá’í Administration, p. 22-23)
