Reshaping the economic system for human prosperity
In the midst of the global pandemic, economic disparities between the rich and the poor have been brought into sharp focus. A small percentage of people are adding billions to their already colossal wealth, while thousands of people around the world are pulled into a life of economic challenges with no hope of change. This widening gap is causing concern, not just among the general public, but also among those who follow the Bahá'í faith.
The Bahá'í teachings guide the transformation of the current economic system. Central figures of the Bahá'í Faith, Baha'u'llah and `Abdu'l-Bahá, emphasize the need to amend economic structures to reduce extremes of wealth and poverty. They see this as essential not only on ethical grounds but also to safeguard political stability, democracy, and human rights globally.
Baha'u'llah, referred to as the "Father of the Poor," wrote that the poor are the depository of his glory and should be protected and cared for. Abdu'l-Baha, his son, stated that economic conditions have divine foundations associated with the heart and spirit. Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Baha'i faith, explained Abdu'l-Baha's view on the economic solution being of divine nature in 1935.
The speaker believes that the gap between the rich and the poor is widening and no solution is in sight. They are disheartened by humanity's insensitivity towards the sufferings of the poor and disadvantaged. The speaker views this as a fundamental human right and advocates for a "human economy" to address economic inequalities.
In this human economy, each individual is responsible for trying to alleviate poverty from fellow human beings and ensure every person has the economic means for a comfortable life. The speaker believes that if we desire a more humane economic system and strive to achieve it, we can transform the current system into a tool for humanity's prosperity.
The Bahá'í teachings propose economic justice be attained by regulating wealth accumulation, ensuring access to resources for all, and embedding spirituality and morality into economic life. This approach seeks to create a more equitable distribution of resources, preventing both degrading poverty and the concentration of wealth far beyond what is necessary, thus fostering both social stability and justice.
Shoghi Effendi stated that only religion can bring about a fundamental change in human nature to alter economic relations. Abdu'l-Baha prayed for the souls to be endowed with the spirit of justice to promote the well-being of all. The speaker prefers the term "human economy" to describe the solution to economic inequalities, believing that it encapsulates the compassionate and cooperative spirit of the Bahá'í teachings.
References: [1] Bahá'í International Community. (n.d.). Economic Justice. Retrieved from https://www.bic.org/topics/economic-justice
- The speaker advocates for a "human economy" as proposed by the Bahá'í teachings, which aims to attain economic justice by regulating wealth accumulation, ensuring access to resources for all, and embedding spirituality and morality into economic life.
- Adhering to the Bahá'í Faith, the speaker believes that Baha'u'llah, known as the "Father of the Poor," advocates for the protection and care of the poor, while Abdu'l-Baha emphasizes the divine foundations of economic conditions.
- The speaker recognizes the urgency to address economic inequalities and promote personal growth by encouraging each individual to contribute towards alleviating poverty and ensuring the economic means for a comfortable life for everyone, as inspired by the principles of education and self-development within the Bahá'í teachings.
