REVIEW

Valuing Spirituality in Development - Baha'i International Community

Available from the Baha'i Publishing Trust, (UK Pounds Stirling) 2.95
Reviewed by Dr Iain S Palin

In February 1998 the World Faiths and Development Dialogue took place at Lambeth Palace, London. The Archbishop of Canterbury had invited to his official residence the representatives of a range of world faiths who would discuss development issues at an event co-hosted by the World Bank and the Church of England.

The event drew some media attention, with the occasional comment about the meeting of God and Mammon, and it was certainly a remarkable venture. Despite the cynicism expressed in some quarters it was important as bringing together religious leaders and a powerful organisation not normally seen as respecting spiritual matters but with a vital part to play in world development.

Among those taking part were representatives of the Baha'i International Community, who gave two presentations. One was on The Prosperity of Humankind, the other Valuing Spirituality in Development. It is this latter which is now available in print. Its basic theme is given in its subtitle -, "Initial Considerations Regarding the Creation of Spiritually Based Indicators for Development".

We live in a world of measurement. If something can be counted, or weighed, or calculated then it has validity. If it cannot then it is seen as less important, perhaps even as an irrelevant distraction. This holds as true in the international sphere as anywhere else, and those concerned with development issues have to be able to show what progress they are making through measurable results. The outcome is not always for the best as "hard facts" can take precedence over what people actually want or need. This danger was recognised in the original Agenda 21 document, which placed great emphasis on the social and cultural aspects of development and on involving the people and listening to them. Sadly even here the measurable has predominated so that Agenda 21 is widely seen as a quantifiable, therefore largely environmental, process.

If anyone has the role in reminding people of the importance of the intangibles, of the social, the cultural and the spiritual things that make people what they are, it is the Baha'is. Valuing Spirituality in Development is an important step in this direction. Discussing the issues involved it sets out five foundational principles which are essential to reaching a just, united and sustainable global civilisation: unity in diversity, equity and justice, equality of the sexes, trustworthiness and moral leadership, and the independent investigation of truth. It also sets out priority areas for spiritually based indicators: economic development, education, environmental stewardship, the meeting of basic needs for food, nutrition, health, and shelter, and governance and participation.

The principles and the areas of their application are discussed in a forthright manner, based on the Writings of the Baha'i Faith but couched also in terms which other readers involved in this field will understand and accept. The marrying of the two is no mean feat.

The paper repeats calls by Baha'is for co-operation between the World Bank, the world's religions, and international agencies in making sure that spiritual principles are placed at the heart of development. It makes a useful, indeed challenging, contribution to the discussions about international aid and development. In fact if we stand back we can see that what it says applies in principle to our developed countries as much as to the developing world.

Valuing Spirituality in Development is not just an important study for anyone who is interested in the subject, it sets before us an example of how the Baha'i teachings can be applied to the needs of the age. No one could seriously maintain after reading it that spiritual matters are irrelevant to the meeting of human needs even in the most "practical" of areas in social development. It is the sort of resource that should be shared widely with those interested in the field whether at national or local levels, both for their own education and to show them that in this area, as in so many others, the Baha'i Faith has something both challenging and relevant to say.

Interesting PS: Baha'i International Community paper published in UK magazine

Valuing Spirituality in Development, as reviewed above is being published in full in "World Faiths Encounter", the magazine of the World Congress of Faiths. The first half of the paper appeared in the November 1998 issue, the concluding part is to appear in the following one. The World Congress of Faiths, based in England, is one of the world's longest established and most respected inter-faith bodies.