The Bahá’í Sense of Human Unity

This paper for a conference on Faith, Feelings and Identity at Roehampton University in 2003 is an investigation conducted with members of the Bahá’í Faith community in the UK. The contributor is not a Bahá’í but has researched Bahá’í literature and practice over the past decade and has close links with Bahá’í groups.

It explores social, political and global issues as seen through Bahá’í eyes. The Bahá’í Faith is small but worldwide and internationalist in theology, with central beliefs about nurturing global peace and prosperity through the concept of human unity. The theology of the unity of spiritual revelation gives multi-faith dialogue a high profile in Bahá’í activities.

The research instrument is a qualitative structured interview schedule. The data in this paper are based on the responses of Bahá’ís to this. Overall their responses build a picture of the Bahá’í sense of international and civic responsibility.