The mission of Bahá’u’lláh, the Glory of God, is to unite the hearts of humanity, to unite families, communities, and nations. He said:
“O ye children of men! The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men.” (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 215)
This unity is to be founded on justice and equality among all peoples, and will usher in a new, divinely inspired civilization which is none other than the Kingdom of God on earth. The proofs of this mission are beginning to appear, as the principles that Bahá’u’lláh established become manifest in the world. Among these principles are:
Universal education is necessary to develop the full potential of every man, woman, and child, so that each one of us can read the Word of God, and gain the skills we need to contribute to this ever-advancing civilization. Since the coming of Bahá’u’lláh, the understanding of the value of universal education has grown worldwide, as countries strive to educate their populations. Education is now seen as a vital element of social and economic development.
Elimination of prejudice of all kinds – race, sex, age, income, nationality, culture, and more – is essential if we are ever to unite the human race. Since the revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, we have witnessed the growth of national and international movements to address the issues of racism and prejudice, and so improve the well-being of humanity.
Economic justice, so often upheld by many Christian thinkers and movements, must now be considered at the national and international levels if we are ever to achieve unity. Although different governments and institutions do not all agree on how this is to be achieved, few argue that a growing gap between the rich and the poor is beneficial for society. Most people today agree that economic justice is a key element in world unity and peace.
Equality of women and men is also seen as necessary for the full development of the human race. Equity and justice in the family will contribute to the unity of humanity. The fundamental equality between men and women was never explicitly stated in Scripture until the revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, but the concept is now growing in popularity among Christians and others throughout the world.
A universal language is necessary to allow for better understanding between the people of the different nations. Currently English is being used in many countries in this role. We will see what the future brings. As trade and travel between nations increase, and communications between people and organizations worldwide continues to flourish, the need for a universal language is becoming more and more acknowledged.
The unity of religion is an essential key to a united humanity. Although it seems an impossible task, Bahá’u’lláh has laid a foundation for bringing together the hearts and minds of the people of the earth. This must be done in the deepest possible way, through our faith in God. He said:
“Religious fanaticism and hatred are a world-devouring fire, whose violence none can quench. The Hand of Divine power can, alone, deliver mankind from this desolating affliction.” (Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 14)
Many people see that some of the most intractible barriers to peace and unity have at their basis hatred and prejudices that come from differences in beliefs. They acknowledge a need for unity in this sphere. Some point out that the time for the union of all the peoples of the world has been prophesized by the Founders of all the major religions in the world, including Jesus:
“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:16)
Humanity is wrestling with many of the above issues, but awareness of their importance is clearly growing. With every passing day, people who align their actions with these principles, and institutions that seek to incorporate them into their functioning, grow stronger and more successful. Those that ignore them fall by the wayside. This growing influence of the principles revealed by Bahá’u’lláh to unite the peoples of the earth is one of the fruits of His Revelation.