Recently,
companies in the UK such as Marks and Spencer and the Co-op have been targeted
by hackers demanding a ransom, causing great upset to customers and great
financial loss to the companies themselves. The gross selfishness of these
hackers is just one example of the increasing lack of morality in the world. More
than a hundred years ago, Bahá’u’lláh’s son, Abdu’l-Bahá, foretold that, “In a
time to come, morals will degenerate to an extreme degree.” This process can now
be seen everywhere, with a rise in unprincipled selfishness, in a lack of
concern for others, in a decline in truthfulness, in financial dishonesty and in
an increasing lack of social responsibility.
Bahá'u'lláh said that truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues.
Unfortunately, telling deliberate lies seems to be becoming more common. Politicians
accuse political rivals by making statements that clearly have no basis in
fact, and also through malevolent innuendo, knowing that in the minds of many
people “mud sticks”. These same dishonest and untruthful leaders even deny what
they are doing or have done, when the evidence is obvious to everyone. Such
people seem to think that if they tell the same lie often enough, it will be
accepted as truth. Meanwhile, journalists and broadcasters who are working for
some politically-motivated organisations now think nothing of telling the
public total untruths. This is far removed from Bahá’u’lláh’s exhortation to
journalists, in which He wrote: “They should inquire into situations as much as
possible and ascertain the facts, then set them down in writing.” The same
principle naturally applies to all other forms of news-gathering and
news-sharing.
The lack of concern for others manifests itself in a myriad of ways. Companies
hosting social media seem prepared to allow people to suffer all kinds of harm,
in the name of the shibboleth of “free speech”. Individuals write hateful
things about people they don’t even know, and seem to think that this is
perfectly normal and acceptable. Companies take advantage of the trust of their
customers in various ways. Some of those who are manufacturing cars or producing
building materials, for example, shamelessly falsify the results of the safety
checks on their products. Meanwhile, criminal gangs treat the general
population with absolute disdain, with callous killing on a wide scale in some countries.
In many parts of the world, sexual abuse is used as a weapon of war. The idea
of the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” which appears
in the sacred Scriptures of every major religion, has been completely discarded
by those people who seek to take advantage of others.
This lack of concern for others is linked to the phenomenon of unprincipled
selfishness. This is clearly seen in sexual behaviour. From the biological
point of view, the procreative act is clearly intended as a means to form the
next generation of children, but it is now often regarded by self-centred
people not just as an end in itself, but for the gratification of one person
only. Sexual abuse of women, children and even men is routinely being revealed,
with the perpetrators often hiding behind the role of entertainer, sports
coach, or a religious appointment. Unprincipled selfishness also shows itself
in the diverse ways in which people try to obtain other people’s money and
property. Online, on the telephone, and in person, we can encounter scammers,
tricksters and conmen, who lie as to who they are and what their object is. At
the same time, employees commit fraud or engage in embezzlement from their
employer. More direct tactics are used by thieves who burgle people’s houses,
steal mobile phones or cars. Dishonesty and theft are both aspects of this
prevalent self-absorption. In complete contrast to this trend, Bahá’u’lláh
emphasised the necessity of trustworthiness in human life: “Trustworthiness is
the greatest portal leading unto the tranquillity and security of the people.
In truth the stability of every affair hath depended and doth depend upon it.” Indeed,
no progress in the world can be made without it.
The lack of concern for others is also manifested in a general lack of social
responsibility, often shown in corporate action. There are those in positions
of either corporate or political control who deliberately deny the human role
in the runaway climate change, for reasons of short-term financial gain. There
are companies who deliberately use unseaworthy vessels to carry cargo, even
such ecologically dangerous commodities as oil. Even more unscrupulous groups
of people organise the smuggling and sale of harmful drugs and illegal weapons.
The list is endless. But, despite all these problems, there are, of course,
still many honest and caring people in the world. However, they seem to be in
danger of becoming a minority.
The causes of this apparently rising tide of dishonesty, downright theft, lack
of compassion, selfishness and lack of responsibility are complex, but
according to the Bahá’í Writings, one underlying cause is the decline in
religious restraint. In societies where many people no longer believe in the
existence of a God, no longer believe that they have a future after death and
no longer recognise any authority outside their own impulses, there may well be
a much greater tendency to act as if the only person who matters is oneself,
and therefore to ignore the rights and feelings of others. Bahá'u'lláh wrote: “In
truth, religion is a radiant light and an impregnable stronghold for the
protection and welfare of the peoples of the world, for the fear of God
impelleth man to hold fast to that which is good, and shun all evil. Should
the lamp of religion be obscured, chaos and confusion will
ensue, and the lights of fairness and justice, of tranquillity and peace cease
to shine. Unto this will bear witness every man of true understanding.” Sadly,
we can already see this happening.
However, the Bahá’í message is not one of gloom. Bahá’u’lláh’s message was that
all the major religions of the world were from God, and that each one was given
to mankind in order to raise the level of behaviour and increase the level of
spirituality. Bahá’ís believe that Bahá’u’lláh was chosen by God to usher in an
age of unity for mankind. All His teachings set out to infuse a new spirit of
love for our fellow human beings. Armed with the conviction that God has a
purpose for us, that we as individuals each have a spiritual destiny, and that
we prepare ourselves for the next life through the way we behave in this one,
the followers of Bahá’u’lláh should be in the vanguard of those working for a
better life for those around them, and will most definitely not be taking
advantage of others. Bahá’ís endeavour to give children and young people a moral
outlook and a vision of a joyful life of service to others. Bahá’ís work to
improve the lives of all around them. As Bahá’u’lláh Himself wrote: “My object
is none other than the betterment of the world and the tranquillity
of its peoples.” A major element in this betterment of the world is the
promotion of a luminous moral code, re-establishing values of honesty,
truthfulness, trustworthiness, social responsibility and human solidarity. This
renewal of spiritual values is slowly being spread around the globe, as more
people join with the Bahá’ís in prayer and in action – to build a more caring
world for all of us.
So, in a time to come, morals will improve beyond all
recognition…
