Study of the Bahá’í Writings on Economics (Last Part)

At the outset, it has to be mentioned that, for the sake of simplicity, we are studying these Bahá’i Writings on economics briefly without going too deeply into their importance and implications. Volumes can be written on each of these Writings, and each could be the subject of extensive research. As time goes by, we will realize their importance and how they can and will bring us towards a totally different economic system.  Future economists will write books on how these Sacred Writings changed our spiritual, social, and economic lives.  So please bear in mind that the simplicity of the language and my feeble attempts to share my understanding of them does not do them justice. Many Writings could be mentioned here, but I chose these on purpose because they cover many areas related to economics.

 

WORLD CURRENCY

“… a uniform and universal system of currency, of weights and measures, will simplify and facilitate intercourse and understanding among the nations and races of mankind …” – Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, p.203

In order to achieve the oneness of mankind, a uniform and universal currency and means of weights and measures is necessary. Those who have travelled understand the difficulty of going from one country to another and having to exchange currencies and figure out different weights and measures.  Once this uniformity is achieved, travelling to different countries will be like travelling from one city to another in one’s own country. So much time and energy will be saved in a world with one currency and one method of weights and measures. In Europe, some of the countries adopted one currency (Euro) and although it has had its problems, it definitely is a step in the right direction.

 

WORLD COMMONWEALTH

“From every standpoint the world of humanity is undergoing a reformation … scientific ideas and theories are developing and advancing to meet a new range of phenomena; invention and discovery are penetrating hitherto unknown fields, revealing new wonders and hidden secrets of the material universe; industries have vastly wider scope and production; everywhere the world of mankind is in the throes of evolutionary activity indicating the passing of the old conditions and advent of the new age of reformation.” – Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p.439

“The world’s equilibrium hath been upset through the vibrating influence of this most great, this new World Order.  Mankind’s ordered life hath been revolutionized through the agency of this unique, this wondrous System – the like of which mortal eyes have never witnessed.”  – Bahá’u’lláh, The Kitáb-i-Aqdás, p. 85

 “It is the superstructure of that self-same Order, attaining its full stature through the emergence of the Baha’i World Commonwealth – the Kingdom of God on earth – which the Golden Age of that same Dispensation must, in the fullness of time, ultimately witness.” – Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 26

“ … the precautionary and defensive measures to be devised, coordinated, and carried out to counteract the full force of the inescapable attacks which the organized efforts of ecclesiastical organizations of various denominations will progressively launch and relentlessly pursue; and, last but not least, the multitudinous issues that must be faced, the obstacles that must be overcome, and the responsibilities that must be assumed, to enable a sore-tried Faith to pass through the successive stages of unmitigated obscurity, of active repression, and of complete emancipation, leading in turn to its being acknowledged as an independent Faith, enjoying the status of full equality with its sister religions, to be followed by its establishment and recognition as a State religion, which in turn must give way to its assumption of the rights and prerogatives associated with the Baha’i state, functioning in the plenitude of its powers, a stage which must ultimately culminate in the emergence of the world-wide Baha’i Commonwealth, animated wholly by the spirit, and operating solely in direct conformity with the laws and principles of Baha’u’llah.” – Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 14-15

“This commonwealth must, as far as we can visualize it, consist of a world legislature, whose members will, as the trustees of the whole of mankind, ultimately control the entire resources of all the component nations, and will enact such laws as shall be required to regulate the life, satisfy the needs and adjust the relationships of all races and peoples.  A world executive, backed by an international Force, will carry out the decisions arrived at, and apply the laws enacted by, this world legislature, and will safeguard the organic unity of the whole commonwealth.  A world tribunal will adjudicate and deliver its compulsory and final verdict in all and any disputes that may arise between the various elements constituting this universal system.  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.  A world metropolis will act as the nerve center of a world civilization, the focus towards which the unifying forces of life will converge and from which its energizing influences will radiate.” – Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 203

World unity is the highest aspiration of mankind and a world commonwealth is a goal for humanity. Once it is established, for the first time in human history, the whole world will be one country. We cannot comprehend it but perhaps the future world can be compared to one country and the provinces or states of that country will be like the present countries of the world.  Every country will keep its own language and culture, and, at the same time, be part of the world commonwealth. The world commonwealth will be a government for the whole world and there will be a universal language for the whole world, one currency, one political system, one education system, and one economic system.