Reflection: Further Exploration of Divine Remedies for Our Age

by John McLaughlin

At our July meeting, IGR members responded to the following question: Which teachings (conceptual or practical) of your religion would you prescribe as remedies for the illnesses, whether spiritual, social or political, that are afflicting humanity?

Despite criticisms of religion, renowned historians Arnold Toynbee and Will and Ariel Durant identified religion as the most potent driving force of civilization, making this inquiry essential.

By the mid-1800s, rising colonialism, militarism, and racism reflected a deep spiritual sickness in humanity. Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, observed at that time that humanity was “encompassed with great, with incalculable afflictions”, and that the actions of arrogant leaders were causing further deterioration in the state of the world, producing since then human suffering and environmental disruption on an unimaginable scale.

The Founders of the religions we follow were like Divine Physicians; they observed the state of the world, diagnosed its social and spiritual illnesses, assessed humanity’s capacity for material and spiritual progress, and prescribed effective remedies. Possibly greater than any other time in history, humanity stands in need of divine remedies. Intersecting crises like injustice, corruption, war, and environmental degradation threaten civilization. Meanwhile, influential leaders push false fixes—like militarism, nationalism, racial or religious supremacy, and unrestrained growth—that only worsen the crisis.

With the state of the world in mind, Bahá’u’lláh also admonished us all to, “Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and centre your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.”

Members of IGR are naturally concerned with the needs of our age, and can initiate and contribute to public discourse on defining the needs of our age and identifying spiritual and practical solutions - the remedies, so to speak. With this in mind, participants in the July meeting contributed many and varied “remedies” derived from their Faith Traditions.

Bahá’u’lláh’s Diagnosis and Principal Remedy

Bahá’u’lláh diagnosed the underlying sickness afflicting humanity in our age as disunity, the inability or unwillingness to set aside conflicting self-interests in order to work together for the good of the whole of humanity. In our increasingly interdependent world, achieving unity in thought and action in addressing the pressing issues of our age is absolutely vital. In fact, Bahá’u’lláh stated, “The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.” 

There is no room in our world today for concepts of “otherness”, dividing the world into categories of “us” and “them”. The potent remedy that can overcome such division and foster unity is recognition of the oneness of humanity, our common humanity.  Going far beyond merely encouraging cooperation among people and nations, the principle of the oneness of humanity calls for a complete reconceptualization of the relationships that sustain society. 

Acceptance of the principle of the oneness of humanity -- a principle which science confirms -- will enable the world's diverse peoples to work toward a common future. Just as a single human body is composed of millions of diverse cells and organs that work cooperatively to sustain the whole, only when individuals see themselves as members of one human family, sharing one common homeland, will they be able to commit themselves to the far-reaching changes which an increasingly interdependent and rapidly changing world require.

Recognition of this truth is not a threat to diversity of culture or thought, nor does it imply abandonment of legitimate loyalties. “The diversity in the human family,” the Bahá’í writings emphasize, “should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.” The “watchword” of the Bahá’í perspective on oneness is “unity in diversity.” Oneness and diversity are complementary and inseparable and it is the inherent diversity in human perspectives that distinguish unity from homogeneity or uniformity.

As a guiding principle, the oneness of humanity provides both a unifying vision and the foundation for the emergence of new values. It has the power to inspire the transformation of individual attitudes and behaviour. It can, at the same time, help chart the structural changes necessary for the emergence of a sustainable pattern of development in a peaceful, harmonious, and prosperous global society.