The Promise of World Peace, or the "peace statement", is a statement on world peace published by the Universal House of Justice.[1] It was the first official public statement made by the Universal House of Justice following its establishment in 1963. Released on October 24, 1985 in anticipation of the International Year of Peace in 1986, the statement addresses the major prerequisites of world peace and identifies the obstacles to its establishment. Within six months of its release, copies of the statement were distributed to 167 world leaders, including the leaders of 140 independent countries.[2] The document was translated into dozens of languages, and there was an extensive campaign to give copies to dignitaries, leaders of thought, and the wider public.[3]
The letter, addressed to "The Peoples of the World", is in several sections, although certain National Spiritual Assemblies chose to give it sub-headings throughout. The first major section is an introduction to the subject, with favourable signs for peace, some analysis of the state of the world, and a general outline of the way forward. The second major section deals with the role of religion as a force for good, and the fundamental unity of the religions of the world. In this section, the House of Justice then challenges the leaders of both the communist and capitalist worlds, asking, "Where is the 'new world' promised by these ideologies?" The point is made that every idea which is past its time will be, and should be, swept away. The third section deals with some of the causes of conflict, such as racism, severe inequalities, religious strife, etc., and offers a number of positive suggestions. The fourth section deals with how to build up a new world order, and writes at length about the universal assembly outlined by Bahá'u'lláh. The shortest paragraph in the document speaks about this gathering, saying, "The holding of this mighty convocation is long overdue." In the last section, the Baha'i community and its experience are offered as a possible model for study.[4]
References[edit]
- ↑ Smith, Peter (2000). "Promise of World Peace – The peace statement". A Concise Encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 277. ISBN 978-1-85168-184-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=pYfrAQAAQBAJ.
- ↑ Baha'i World, Vol. 19. pp. 139, 334–336.
- ↑ "The Promise of World Peace". Baháʼí News. No. 683. February 1988. pp. 2–11. ISSN 0195-9212.
- ↑ "The Promise of World Peace". Bahá'í International Community. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
