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The Baha'i Faith has passed through the first century and a half of its existence and emerged in what most would say is a highly unlikely condition: its unity firmly intact. It has not split into sects, and it has not succumbed to the forces of jealously, of alienation, or of struggles for power which have beset human organizations and religions since the beginning of time. It has not buckled under a horrific persecution, nor has it been influenced by the winds of the changing ideologies it has seen come and go. It has not been polarized by the various regimes under which its members, living in each of the divers countries on the planet, have labored, nor has it been drawn into the following of personalities. Unlike any religion that the world has yet seen, past or present, the Baha'i Faith has maintained its integrity and flexibility and remained a single body of believers with a singular purpose: the spiritualization of the entire human race (124:2) No force, whether from within or from without, has succeeded in damaging the unity of the worldwide Baha'i community. Its vision of a united humanity surpasses every obstacle (124:3) The people of the Baha'i community come from diverse social, economic, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. They live in widely scattered geographical locations, and constitute a veritable cross section of human life on this planet, yet they have preserved their organic unity as a community. It is a living miracle that they are working together, through the process of consultation, for the betterment of all mankind. They strive together daily not to contend, or to compete, or to compromise their differences, but rather to appreciate their differences and work in unity. On most occasions and under most circumstances, they achieve unity in their deliberations and actions. This demonstrates that they have been raised as individuals and as a community above the narrow interests of egotism through their Faith, and been given a vision of humanity as one family. This does not signify the abolition or cessation of human egotism on this worldly plane of existence - and I certainly do not want to imply that Baha'is are not without faults or shortcomings - but it does signify the growth and ascension of humanity's spiritual powers and qualities to the degree that spiritual concerns and guidance will finally, as promised in all the Holy Books, take precedence in the direction of human affairs over the age-long dominance and control of baser human desires as primary motivations for mankind. At the least, this greater maturity of spiritual awareness and cooperation in the world-wide Baha'i community should arouse the earnest curiosity of anyone concerned with the welfare of the human race, especially when they consider that the members of the Baha'i community include, as stated earlier, people of every race, religion, nationality, and ethnic background
(124:4)
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