Socioeconomic development and the Bahá'í Faith

Students of School for Girls, Tehran, 13 August 1933. The school was closed by government decree in 1934. [1]

Since its inception the Bahá'í Faith has had involvement in socioeconomic development beginning by giving greater freedom to women,[2] promulgating the promotion of female education as a priority concern,[3] and that involvement was given practical expression by creating schools, agricultural coops, and clinics.[2] Current development activities are related to areas such as education, health, agriculture, arts and media, the local economy and the advancement of women. By 2017 there were an estimated 40,000 small scale projects, 1,400 sustained projects, and 135 Bahá'í inspired organizations.[4]

Historical development

The accelerated growth of the worldwide community in the 1960s-1980s expanded it with a large number of poor, illiterate villagers and tribal peoples in India, Africa and South America, which meant an enormous challenge for the social and economic development of communities. According to the Bahá'í teachings, development should increase people’s self-reliance, communal solidarity, giving access to knowledge, and, where possible, removing sources of injustice. Spiritual, moral and material development should be linked together.[5] These priorities are envisioned as crucial to the development of world peace.

The religion entered a new phase of activity when a message of the Universal House of Justice dated 20 October 1983 was released.[6][7] The Office of Social and Economic Development was established[8] and Bahá'ís were urged to seek out ways, compatible with the Bahá'í teachings, in which they could become involved in the social and economic development of the communities in which they lived. Worldwide in 1979 there were 129 officially recognized Bahá'í socioeconomic development projects. By 1987, the number of officially recognized development projects had increased to 1482.[6]

In time with the release of the Universal House of Justice's release of its statement The Promise of World Peace, it also sent a letter of all national assemblies to specify goals for the community for the International Year of Peace.[9] These goals included sponsoring activities about the theme of peace which is a priority of the religion: to engage the attention of people to relevant topics related to peace (often related matters of justice and development) and the unity of humanity.

Current situation

The Bahá'ís around the world are currently being encouraged to focus on capacity building through activities such as spiritual education of children, a youth empowerment program, study circles, and devotional gatherings.[10] For most of these activities, material developed by the Ruhi Institute is used.[11] Initiatives of social action include activities in areas like health, sanitation, education, gender equality, arts and media, agriculture, and the environment.[4] Educational projects include schools, which range from village tutorial schools to large secondary schools, and some universities.[5]

Statistics

In November 1986, the Baha'i department of statistics released the following summary of projects accomplished:[12]

ProgramsWorldAfricaAmericasAsiaAustralasiaEurope
Education (tutorial/academic/other)732169115427138
Health and social services7828142529
Radio stations505000
Agriculture and forestry7435132051
Community development3586026612713
Total12472924134842731

In April 2018, the Bahá'í Office of Social and Economic Development released the following conservative estimates, based on provided by national Bahá’í institutions.[4]

Bahá'í Development Activities Worldwide19962001200620112017
Activities of fixed duration>1,300>2,400>7,000>18,000>40,000
Sustained projects>250>500>650>1,100>1,400
Bahá'í inspired organizations396283118135

Some particular examples

  • The Bahá'í International Community, an international non-governmental organization, maintains a presence devoted to supporting and coordinating socioeconomic development activities at the United Nations as well as presenting papers and reports of activities of the religion to UN agencies on themes of development and peace.[13]
  • Bahá'ís and interested parties have participated in an annual conference since 1999 sponsored by the Rabbani Charitable Trust in Orlando Florida.[18] Mildred Mottahedeh gave nearly all her wealth away by establishing charities such as the Mottahedeh Development Services. The Bahá'í Chair for World Peace is located at the Center for International Development and Conflict Management under the auspices of the College of Behaviorial and Social Sciences at the University of Maryland.[19]

List of Bahá'í-inspired organizations

Some larger scale examples are:

See also

References

  1. ↑ History of Bahá'í Educational Efforts in Iran.
  2. 1 2 Momen, Moojan. "History of the Baha'i Faith in Iran". draft "A Short Encyclopedia of the Baha'i Faith". Bahai-library.com. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
  3. ↑ Kingdon, Geeta Gandhi (1997). "Education of women and socioeconomic development". Baha'i Studies Review. 7 (1).
  4. 1 2 3 Bahá’í Office of Social and Economic Development (2018). For the Betterment of the World: The Worldwide Bahá'í Community's Approach to Social and Economic Development.
  5. 1 2 Momen, Moojan (2007). "The Bahá'í Faith". New Lion Handbook: The World's Religions. Oxford: Lion Hudson Plc. p. 464. ISBN 978-0-7459-5266-6.
  6. 1 2 Momen, Moojan; Smith, Peter (1989). "The Baha'i Faith 1957–1988: A Survey of Contemporary Developments". Religion. 19: 63–91. doi:10.1016/0048-721X(89)90077-8.
  7. ↑ Universal House of Justice (20 October 1983). To the Bahá’ís of the World.
  8. ↑ Smith, Peter (2008). An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-86251-6.
  9. ↑ "Make plans now for 'Peace Year 1986'". Bahá'í News. No. 648. March 1985. p. 1. ISSN 0195-9212.
  10. ↑ Gervais, Marie (2008). "Baha'i Faith and Peace Education" (PDF). Encyclopedia of Peace Education. New York: Teachers College, Columbia University. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  11. ↑ Rosemary Blosson; Sylvia B Kaye (March 14, 2012). "Learning by Doing: Preparation of Baha'i Nonformal Tutors". New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education. 2012 (133): 45–57. doi:10.1002/ace.20006.
  12. ↑ "Baha'i Social and Economic Development Programs". Bahá'í News. No. 668. November 1986. p. 13. ISSN 0195-9212.
  13. ↑
    • Preparation for Life in Peace: The Contribution of Women, by the Bahá'í International Community, as the written version of an oral statement to the European Regional Seminar for the International Year of Peace, 6 May 1985, Vienna, Austria
    • Peace and Development, by the Bahá'í International Community, as a Statement to the United Nations International Year of Peace Seminar for the Asia and Pacific and Western Asia Regions, 20 May 1985, Bangkok, Thailand
    • Preparation for Life in Peace: The Role of Youth, by the Bahá'í International Community as a Statement to the International Year of Peace Seminar for the Asia, Pacific and Western Asia Regions, 20 May 1985
    • Statement on the Year of Peace, by the Bahá'í International Community, as a Statement to the Fifth session of the South Pacific Commission (SPC) Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CARGA), Noumea, New Caledonia, 26–30 May 1986
  14. ↑ "Germany proclaims message of peace". Bahá'í News. No. 662. May 1986. p. 12. ISSN 0195-9212.
  15. ↑ "India hosts 'World Peace Conference'". Bahá'í News. No. 662. July 1986. p. 12. ISSN 0195-9212.
  16. ↑ "Around the World; Pakistan". Bahá'í News. No. 662. October 1986. p. 14. ISSN 0195-9212.
  17. ↑ "Association's 11th annual Conference". Bahá'í News. No. 662. December 1986. p. 8. ISSN 0195-9212.
  18. ↑ "Social and Economic Development Conference History". Rabbani Charitable Trust. Retrieved 2012-11-04.
  19. ↑ "The Baha'i Chair for World Peace". The Baha'i Chair for World Peace. 2015. Retrieved 2015-06-01.

Further reading

  • Arbab, Farzam (2000). "Promoting a Discourse on Science, Religion, and Development". In Harper, Sharon. The Lab, the Temple, and the Market. Ottawa, ON, Canada: International Development Research Centre. ISBN 0889369208.
  • Bahá’í Office of Social and Economic Development (2018). For the Betterment of the World: The Worldwide Bahá'í Community's Approach to Social and Economic Development.
  • Related documents on Bahá'í Library Online
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