In 1985 the world governing council of the Baha'i Faith, the Universal House of Justice, in a statement shared with the world leaders of the day, offered the experience of the Baha'i community as an example it hoped would encourage optimism for the prospect of world peace.

This was the spirit that motivated the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States to document the work and learning of American Baha'is in their efforts to foster the well-being of the communities in which they live. Baha'is are often asked for examples that show the ideals of the Baha'i Faith in practice; the National Assembly knew there were many such stories in the realms of social action and development, and wished to collect and share them. The series of booklets published under the heading “In Service to the Common Good” is one product of this process.

2006 Aligning Development with the Forces of Progress

In Service to the Common Good
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This third installment in the National Spiritual Assembly’s annual “In Service” series looks at the lessons Baha'is have been learning in their efforts to bring about constructive social and economic change in a variety of contexts, and attempts to relate those lessons to the broader social forces at work in the world today. The review of development literature, Baha'i writings and the experience of Baha'is and others in the field reinforces a key concept that is slowly gaining headway in the development world -- namely, that the spiritual dimension of individual and community life has been too long neglected, and that a systematic effort to cultivate spirituality in development may well be the way forward in this vitally important arena of service.

Specifically, this year’s study discusses how the work of the Baha'is seeks to build on the social forces impelling mankind toward the realization of its inherent oneness, and suggests that efforts that are so aligned may have an impact far greater than their apparent size or resources. Individual Baha'is who are actively involved in development programs also were interviewed; their comments provide a good sense of how these dedicated people think of their service, contrast it with trends they have observed in like-minded organizations and make choices about how they invest their scarce personal time in service to others and to their faith.

2005 study focuses on Baha'i youth

In 2005, the study of Baha'is’ commitment to action continued, this time focusing on youth. The study found that young Baha'is are deeply committed to a better future for all.

The study included a survey administered to Baha'i youth via telephone and the Internet. When given a list of future or life goals, some 90 percent of respondents said they plan to “do service” and are optimistic about their own capacity to make a difference in their community and in the world.

In Service to the Common Good
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Download Low Res PDF 370K Baha'i youth also feel a strong commitment to social change and social justice, as evidenced by a high incidence (46 percent) of involvement in charity and service projects and by an expressed tendency to take action on issues of social justice that concern them most.

The survey, which was co-sponsored by the National Teaching Committee and the Office of Development at the Baha'i National Center in Evanston, Ill., also revealed that Baha'i youth feel supported by their local Baha'i community and Baha'i administrative institutions and have what they need to be active participants in community life.

The survey’s initial findings are published in a booklet entitled In Service to the Common Good: Baha'i Youth in Their Own Words. Other key findings include:

• Baha'i youth say they pray regularly and decide on career choices and goals in accordance with their religious beliefs.
• When asked “How would you say adults in general see Baha'i teens today?”, respondents said “positively.” This is in contrast to the response of non-Baha'i teens, who answered “negatively,” when polled in 2001 as part of an in-depth survey of American youth conducted by the Barna Organization, a well-regarded Christian research group.

At a recent conference, where the study was released, Baha'i teens explained that their “positive” response was a result of the encouragement they receive from the adults around them, as well as the high value that the Baha'i Faith places on the dedication and capacity of youth.

These qualities are evidenced in action, as well, through which young Baha'is channel their energies into programs they have created, or that have been created for them by Baha'i institutions, to meet an array of social concerns. Although small in scale, the programs profiled in the 2005 publication may rightly be considered as experiments through which Baha'i youth are developing their understanding of the world, the realities of service and the dynamics of social change.

The American Baha'i Community's Commitment to Social Change

In Service to the Common Good
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Order Printed Edition Baha'is are challenged to apply the principles and teachings of their faith to the practical problems of society. In America, their task is to demonstrate by their deeds that this newest expression of the “changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future” provides fresh and effective answers to the many questions that agitate the life of the nation in these early days of the 21st century.

The commitment of Baha'is goes well beyond theory. Starting in 2004, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States began collecting and studying examples of collective action by Baha'is to see how they were working to serve society’s needs.

In December of that year, In Service to the Common Good: The American Baha'i Community’s Commitment to Social Change was published, culling from more than 400 examples a small sample of initiatives in such fields as healthcare, race unity, advocacy of the rights of women, education and community development.

The sample suggested that not only are Baha'is active on many fronts, but also, significantly, they are not alone: Each profile included in the 2004 publication showed a community actively working with like-minded people to improve the lives of every sector of society, particularly those who labor under burdens of racism, prejudice, economic deprivation or physical disadvantage. Through consultation and participatory learning, Baha'is and their partners in action are making modest but real progress.