A
COMMON
ENDEAVOR
This message from the Bahá’ís of the United States is an invitation to thoughtful conversation. In this time of challenge, we need spaces where we can pause, reflect, and listen to others with openness and goodwill. We hope this message can inspire such conversations—in homes and neighborhoods, in faith communities and civic settings—so that we can move forward together.
SECTION I
To all who hold the promise of America in their hearts...
To all who hold the promise of America in their hearts...
The founding of our country was based on ideals, like freedom, equality, and justice, that reflect deep, shared human aspirations. Generations have labored to realize those ideals and to build a more perfect union where all can flourish. In this common endeavor, we have experienced progress and accomplishments, but also setbacks and crises.
People across the country are reflecting on this history during a critical juncture in the life of our society. Many Americans, exhausted and disillusioned by polarization and conflict, are feeling anger, despair, or apathy. Discourse in the public sphere largely feeds this anxiety, and such narratives often obscure a widespread desire to transcend division. Driven by such desire, individuals of all backgrounds are arising in the service of common aims. Among them are members of the Baháʼí Faith and their collaborators, who are engaged in thousands of grassroots, community-building efforts. Such experiences inspire the hope that, whatever the turbulence of the current moment, we can together realize our highest convictions. Bahá’ís are eager to contribute, alongside others, to the stirrings of spiritual renewal in the life of this nation.
The Baháʼí sacred scriptures envision a destiny for America that fulfills, and even exceeds, the principles of its founding. These scriptures also recognize the gravity of America’s challenges, and they offer the insight that there is a moral and spiritual dimension to the task of shedding the ills that blight our society. In this view, we can move forward toward America’s high destiny only to the extent that we work together to overcome key spiritual and social maladies, such as excessive materialism, corruption, racism, and the mistreatment and exploitation of vulnerable groups.
Freedom, equality, and justice are, in essence, moral or spiritual principles. They stand alongside other important values like moral courage, trustworthiness, generosity, integrity and, not least, love. We flourish to the extent that we embody such qualities in our individual and collective lives. These principles and values have always been a part of humanity’s spiritual heritage, and they need to find fresh expression in our time.
The founding of our country was based on ideals, like freedom, equality, and justice, that reflect deep, shared human aspirations. Generations have labored to realize those ideals and to build a more perfect union where all can flourish. In this common endeavor, we have experienced progress and accomplishments, but also setbacks and crises.
People across the country are reflecting on this history during a critical juncture in the life of our society. Many Americans, exhausted and disillusioned by polarization and conflict, are feeling anger, despair, or apathy. Discourse in the public sphere largely feeds this anxiety, and such narratives often obscure a widespread desire to transcend division. Driven by such desire, individuals of all backgrounds are arising in the service of common aims. Among them are members of the Baháʼí Faith and their collaborators, who are engaged in thousands of grassroots, community-building efforts. Such experiences inspire the hope that, whatever the turbulence of the current moment, we can together realize our highest convictions. Bahá’ís are eager to contribute, alongside others, to the stirrings of spiritual renewal in the life of this nation.
The Baháʼí sacred scriptures envision a destiny for America that fulfills, and even exceeds, the principles of its founding. These scriptures also recognize the gravity of America’s challenges, and they offer the insight that there is a moral and spiritual dimension to the task of shedding the ills that blight our society. In this view, we can move forward toward America’s high destiny only to the extent that we work together to overcome key spiritual and social maladies, such as excessive materialism, corruption, racism, and the mistreatment and exploitation of vulnerable groups.
Freedom, equality, and justice are, in essence, moral or spiritual principles. They stand alongside other important values like moral courage, trustworthiness, generosity, integrity and, not least, love. We flourish to the extent that we embody such qualities in our individual and collective lives. These principles and values have always been a part of humanity’s spiritual heritage, and they need to find fresh expression in our time.
SECTION II
At the heart of the change required for true prosperity—and a reflection of the nation’s founding principles—is the recognition that all people belong to one human family. Only in unity can we thrive. Yet the principle of oneness is not based on uniformity. Instead, it embraces and nurtures the diverse expression of our common humanity as intended in the phrase e pluribus unum: out of many, one. Oneness has profound practical implications. According to this principle, prejudices of any kind are a distortion of the human spirit, not its essential nature, and must be overcome. Furthermore, we all deserve to be treated with dignity and the opportunity to develop the talents we possess—for our own benefit and the benefit of others. So essential is the principle of oneness that we could tell the story of this land as the struggle to apply it fully to social life.
The history of our country is one of great enterprise, including innovations in technology, industry, and commerce. These material achievements have changed our lives but have not yielded shared prosperity. Unless aligned with spiritual and moral principles, material attainments can be as great a source of harm as of good. Our challenge now is to focus innovation, creativity, and effort on the spiritual dimensions of change.
Insights drawn from religion have shown the potential to help us reconcile the moral, spiritual, and material aspects of life. While historical wrongs committed by religious individuals and institutions must be acknowledged, religious faith as a civilizing force has inspired and sustained movements for the common good throughout human history. At its best, religion brings people together with meaning and purpose, illumines the sacredness of every soul, and teaches us to realize our own potential through service to others. It helps us clearly see challenging forces at work around us while strengthening faith in a vision of what we can build. Such understandings can enrich a broad conversation about revitalizing the spirit of our nation among those with secular, spiritual, and religious worldviews.
At the heart of the change required for true prosperity—and a reflection of the nation’s founding principles—is the recognition that all people belong to one human family. Only in unity can we thrive. Yet the principle of oneness is not based on uniformity. Instead, it embraces and nurtures the diverse expression of our common humanity as intended in the phrase e pluribus unum: out of many, one. Oneness has profound practical implications. According to this principle, prejudices of any kind are a distortion of the human spirit, not its essential nature, and must be overcome. Furthermore, we all deserve to be treated with dignity and the opportunity to develop the talents we possess—for our own benefit and the benefit of others. So essential is the principle of oneness that we could tell the story of this land as the struggle to apply it fully to social life.
The history of our country is one of great enterprise, including innovations in technology, industry, and commerce. These material achievements have changed our lives but have not yielded shared prosperity. Unless aligned with spiritual and moral principles, material attainments can be as great a source of harm as of good. Our challenge now is to focus innovation, creativity, and effort on the spiritual dimensions of change.
Insights drawn from religion have shown the potential to help us reconcile the moral, spiritual, and material aspects of life. While historical wrongs committed by religious individuals and institutions must be acknowledged, religious faith as a civilizing force has inspired and sustained movements for the common good throughout human history. At its best, religion brings people together with meaning and purpose, illumines the sacredness of every soul, and teaches us to realize our own potential through service to others. It helps us clearly see challenging forces at work around us while strengthening faith in a vision of what we can build. Such understandings can enrich a broad conversation about revitalizing the spirit of our nation among those with secular, spiritual, and religious worldviews.
Across the United States, individuals and communities are engaging in efforts that contribute to a common endeavor.
Scroll to explore a few examples or press "skip map" to continue with the message.
Seattle, Washington: Salishan | Havens of Hope Youth Conferences
Dallas, Texas: Through the Children's Class, They Have Built Bonds of Friendship and Unity
SECTION III
We all have a part to play in fulfilling the hope of this country. Whatever our background—whether our ancestors were the first inhabitants of this land, or were brought here in forced servitude, or came in search of freedom and opportunity—whatever our age or gender, whatever our circumstances, and wherever we are, we each have a sphere in which we can act. We can arise in service, expand our circle of concern, seek the harmonization of our interests with the interests of others, and work for mutual benefit. We can learn with others how to put higher truths to practical use in specific contexts.
Young people have a unique contribution to make within this broad, multi-generational effort. When inspired by a sense of possibility and purpose, youth have a remarkable capacity to forge meaningful relationships and contribute to change. In the process, they learn to protect themselves from the harmful forces they face. How, then, can this shared sense of possibility be fostered among them as well as all members of society?
A recognition of the moral and spiritual foundations of collective well-being and progress is now growing. To strengthen that recognition, we need conversations at all levels of society, from the neighborhood to the halls of government, about the shared values that strengthen America’s social fabric. Conversation is an easily underestimated but vital form of action. The simple act of visiting friends and neighbors, building ties of friendship, and exploring hopes and concerns together can help remedy the isolation and loss of purpose that are increasingly prevalent. Conversations—when carried out with goodwill, fair-mindedness, a desire to learn and, most importantly, with love—can help build community, catalyze action, and facilitate progress. As the Baháʼí writings observe,
“the power to transform the world is effected by love, love originating from the relationship with the divine, love ablaze among members of a community, love extended without restriction to every human being. This divine love... is disseminated by enkindled souls through intimate conversations that create new susceptibilities in human hearts, open minds to moral persuasion, and loosen the hold of biased norms and social systems so that they can gradually take on a new form.”
“the power to transform the world is effected by love, love originating from the relationship with the divine, love ablaze among members of a community, love extended without restriction to every human being. This divine love... is disseminated by enkindled souls through intimate conversations that create new susceptibilities in human hearts, open minds to moral persuasion, and loosen the hold of biased norms and social systems so that they can gradually
take on a new form.”
SECTION IV
Many groups and organizations are striving for justice and human dignity, for solidarity that can overcome division, and for the empowerment of the downtrodden. Some efforts seek to build upon accomplishments that are worthy of preservation, while others focus on new ways of doing things. The complex endeavor of social evolution requires a range of approaches.
Meaningful change can advance in unassuming settings at the grassroots. Where people are explicitly putting into practice the principle of the oneness of humanity, we have seen that contributors from different religious, racial, ethnic, political, cultural, and economic backgrounds can pursue shared goals. Under such conditions, they consult to bridge differences, reconcile perspectives, and make collective decisions. They are able to take action and learn their way forward. They do not have all the answers, but they are working on questions that are crucial to our common endeavor, such as:
Contributors at the grassroots do not have all the answers, but are working on questions that are crucial to our common endeavor.
Scroll and explore each question.
How do we foster faith in the capacity of all so that everyone’s contributions are sincerely welcomed and encouraged?
How do we build genuine bonds of concern, mutual responsibility and collaboration that allow people to transcend whatever differences arise as they work together?
How can educational programs nurture a new kind of social actor, one who can see their own well-being in the prosperity of the whole society?
How do we strengthen the fundamental institutions of our society, such as families, schools, and other civic entities, to serve our collective hopes?
How can a shared devotional spirit help those of different belief systems experience all humanity and all life as an interdependent whole to which we all have moral obligations? How can that spirit reshape our relationships and our stewardship of the land’s resources?
SECTION V
Whatever the adversities that lie ahead, the Bahá’í writings offer a hopeful vision for our country: that our varied communities and peoples can live in peace and justice. The United States is in many ways a microcosm of the world. Our differences are both an inherent challenge and a great strength. While such differences can be conceived as a source of tension and conflict, they can also be a potent source of creativity and resilience. The work of our nation to harness the power of unity in diversity is a search for new ways of living that can help establish peace and prosperity, both here and across the globe. This is the promise of America.
Let us not falter now. This trying time can be an inflection point when we see constructive efforts begin to intensify. Let us redeem the incalculable price that generations have paid by pressing forward toward true prosperity for all. With God’s help, let us arise in service and even sacrifice when called. Let us see through our differences and recognize the sincere, fair-minded souls all around us who long to contribute. Let us join in common endeavor. Let us draw on the power of love, of justice, of creativity and enterprise. Together, let us bring about the spiritual renewal that will lead us to the realization of our highest aspirations.
THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES
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