On a letter
from the Bahá'í leadership
to the world's religious leaders.

I have prepared an HTML version of the original for greater convenience. I think the text is the same as the original. The links from the topics in the list take you to the corresponding text of the letter.

I've also decorated my copy of the letter with some annotations which might be of interest.

Summary

- or an attempt at a summary.

• Introduction.
  • Attitudes in the twentieth century have changed greatly towards a more unified view of the human race, with many prejudices becoming much weaker.
  • Organised religion hasn't always been as helpful as we might like.
  • Secular attitudes have commonly been more enlightened. Sexual equality is an example.
  • Nationalism is slowly dying out.
  • Race discrimination is now condemned.
  • It's slow, but it's moving.
• The importance of religion.
  • Individual religions seemed to be fragile at the beginning of the 20th century. "Interfaith movements" looked promising.
  • Unification of religious traditions threatened to break out.
  • But it died for want of "intellectual coherence and spiritual commitment" - and in the face of sectarian opposition.
  • Religion alone, of human endeavours, cannot face compromise and change.
  • The consequences of religious fanaticism are dreadful.
  • Intellectual analysis of the world's problems has been sadly neglected by established religions.
  • But religions are able to inspire their adherents to great heights of love and courage.
  • Religions alone can support benign development of the human race.
• Implications.
  • Call to action, from Bahá'u'lláh.
  • Basic faith is not challenged; exclusivity is.
  • Growing intuition of unifying truth in all religions.
  • Evolution of religion is normal; cultural expressions, intended to enrich religion, can prove to be hindrances.
  • Unity of religions might encourage conversions from one to another; why would it matter ?
  • Spiritual and secular come together as barriers between people fall.
  • Religion and science are not in conflict, but mutually interdependent.
  • Power corrupts; religious leadership should take note.
• Conclusion.
  • Religion is the ultimate source of meaning in life.
  • It is urgent that we should all recognise the essential unity of all religions.
  • The alternative is growing, and increasingly destructive, religious prejudice.

Alan Creak,
2002 August.