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INTRODUCTION
S ince 1925 , the Bahá’í community has published an international record of its activities and achievements, entitled T he Bahá’í World. After appearing periodically for 67 years, the publication was revamped in 1992 to become an annual work Which, While continuing to provide a record of the Bahá’í community’s undertakings, also offers readers general information about the Bahá’í Faith, its objectives, and its teachings. The 1994~95 volume is the third in this new series.
The year 1994—95 is a significant one in the Bahá’í Faith. It marks the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of the Báb, the Manifestation (or Prophet) of God Who announced, in 1844, the advent of the “Day of God” prophesied in all earlier religions and Who sacrificed His life to prepare the world for that Day. In recognition of this anniversary, The Bahá’í World presents a compilation of excerpte from the Bahá’í sacred writings on the theme of the Manifestations of God and Their role in civilizing humanity and an article entitled “The Mission of the Báb: Retrospective 1844—1994,” Which treats the significance of, and the world’s response to, the Báb’s life and teachings. The Vitality of
THE Bahá’í WORLD
thought brought to our age by the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh is further reflected in a statement issued by the Bahá’í International Community Office of Public Information. T he Prosperity Of Humankind, first distributed at the United Nations World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen, challenges accepted suppositions underlying development and offers not only a new definition of prosperity but also a Vision of how it can best be achieved. And this year’s “World Watch” article points to the signs of increasing globalization both envisioned in and made possible by the Revelations of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh.
Other features in the volume include a report on the formation of seven new National Spiritual Assemblies in April 1994; statements and activities of the Bahá’í International Community, including its participation in the World Summit for Social Development in March 1995; a survey of Bahá’í contributions to the commemoration of the United Nations International Year of the Family; an article on the development of the arts in the Bahá’í community; and a profile of the award—Winning global newsletter One Country. Updates on the situation of Iran’s beleaguered Bahá’í community and on the progress made during 1994—95 on the Mount Carmel construction projects at the Bahá’í World Centre, as well as survey articles covering activities in various fields of endeavor around the world, media treatment of the Bahá’í Faith, and achievements of youth, round out the regular features of the series. The volume’s final section includes resources and information useful for those readers interested in doing further research into the Bahá’í Faith and the Bahá’í International Community.
A glance through The Bahá’í World 1994—95 will assure any reader of the Vitality of this worldwide community, its increasing interaction with organizations of civil society in efforts to address the crucial social issues confronting humanity, and its basic 0ptimism. “Let your Vision be world embracing,” said Bahá’u’lláh—a message that Bahá’ís. around the world are striving to advance in the world at large and to incarnate in their own lives.
