Web links to Official Baha'i documents and position statements:  ( versions at bottom)

The following documents and position statements have come from the Baha'i World Center at the behest of the international governing body -- the Universal House of Justice: or from the U.S. Baha'i National Center. (See www.us.bahai.org/how/ )  Note: This page is not an official site of the Baha'i Community, though it does provide links to official sites.

The links point to various documents at the following two web sites primarily, simply so you don't have to search for them:

http://www.bic-un.bahai.org/  statement library

http://www.bahai.org/article-1-9-0-1.html  << A select few of these statements addressing questions on the reconstruction and advancement of society or matters of public concern.  Also, from Great Britain here >> http://www.bahai.org.uk/dp/  (Stance and Discussion Papers)

 

  1. www.avalon.net/~lael/bahaullah.htm and http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/bic/SB/ (1992 UHJ Statement on Baha'u'llah)
  2. www.bahai.org/article-1-7-3-1.html (Who is Writing the Future? / full text)
  3. http://bahai-library.com/asia-pacific/whoswritingthefuture.htm (Who is Writing the Future?/ Outline)
  4. www.bahai.org/article-1-7-2-1.html (Peace Statement -- "To the Peoples of the World")
  5. www.bahai.org/article-1-7-4-1.html ("The Prosperity of Humankind" -- provides a new vision of the role of science in society. It describes the two basic knowledge systems, science and religion, which have been most effective when, each in its own sphere, they have been able to work in concert.  Also found at http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/bic/PRH/ )
  6. www.bahai.org/article-1-7-0-6.html (Advancing the status of Women)  This position, taken from a statement on peace written by the Universal House of Justice in 1985, reiterates the teaching of Bahá'u'lláh that society must reorganize its life to give practical expression to the principle of equality between women and men.
  7. www.bahai.org/article-1-9-1-9.html ("Two Wings of a Bird: The Equality of Women and Men")
  1. www.us.bahai.org/ourvision/vision.htm  ("The Vision Of Race Unity" -- America's Most Challenging Issue)
  2. www.bic-un.bahai.org/01-0831.htm ("One Same Substance: Consciously Creating a Global Culture of Unity" --Written statement submitted by the Baha'i International Community to the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance; circulated as an official UN document )  This document exists in a wonderful printed format that contains a comprehensive view of the work by Baha'is in Social and Economic Development (SED).  The unabridged compilation version does not seem to be available online.
  3. www.ibiblio.org/Bahai/Texts/English/Turning-Point-For-All-Nations.html (“Turning Point” -- a UN “reform” document)  also found at: www.bahai.org/article-1-7-0-5.html
  4. http://www.onecountry.org/e141/e14101as_UHJ_Letter.htm  (Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the Religious Leaders of the World)  "This is the message. This is the moment," said Professor Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of Great Britain and the Commonwealth. "We are facing the greatest challenge that God has ever given us and this is the message we need."
  5. www.bahai.org/article-1-7-0-1.html (A New Vision of Humanity’s Future)
  6. www.bahai.org/article-1-9-2-12.html (Human settlements)
  7. www.bcca.org/ief/conf3prg.htm (Conference papers on the global environment)
  8. http://www.bic-un.bahai.org/93-0614.htm ("World citizenship: A Global Ethic for Sustainable Development")

 

More "position statements" on the environment, race unity, advancement of women (equality), economics, etc., can be found here:  http://www.bic-un.bahai.org/  and http://www.bahai.org/article-1-9-0-1.html

 

Extras:

The Bahá’í Faith is recognized at the United Nations and around the world as one of the leading NGOs in the work for social and economic development for all peoples.  In this connection, the principal representative of the Bahá'í International Community to the United Nations served as Co-Chair of the NGO Millennium Summit (2000).  In his capacity as Co-Chair of the Millennium Forum, Mr. Ahderom was the only Summit speaker who represented civil society at large. The Summit drew more than 150 world leaders, making it the largest gathering of heads of state and government ever held.  His talk can be read at the following web URL:  http://www.onecountry.org/e121/BWNS_AddresstoMillenniumSummit.htm

There is no clergy in the Bahá'í Faith.  Decision-making assemblies are elected to represent the communities.  Hence, no single individuals have any authority unless delegated by these bodies.

 

Downloadable PDF versions (that I have refomatted) from many of the above, so that you can read them on your own computer at any time:  (simply click on the title)

<< click here
 

  1. 1992 UHJ Statement on Baha'u'llah 
  2. "Who is Writing the Future?" (Full text)
  3. "Who is Writing the Future?" (Outline)
  4. "To the Peoples of the World" (Peace Statement)
  5. "The Prosperity of Humankind"
  6. "Two Wings of a Bird: The Equality of Women and Men"
  7. "The Vision Of Race Unity" -- America's Most Challenging Issue
  8. “Turning Point”  -- a UN “reform” document from the BIC
  9. Letter from the Universal House of Justice to the Religious Leaders of the World
  10. "World citizenship: A Global Ethic for Sustainable Development" and here.

 

ALSO:  "The Baha'i Faith" -- a one page statement (flyer) about the Faith, created as a synthesis of the statement on the front of Baha'i Magazine, two statements of Shoghi Effendi (the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith) and three quotes of Baha'u'llah.  The second page (which could be on the back of a one-page flyer) is a list of URL links like those at the top of this page (plus links to the www.Bahai.org etc.)

 

(This page was created by Greg Kagira-Watson if you have questions about the page contents or if you wish to report any errors, such as links that are not working. This page is linked from http://GW.homestead.com )