Internet

"A mechanism of world inter-communication will be devised, embracing the whole planet, freed from national hindrances and restrictions, and functioning with marvellous swiftness and perfect regularity."

Shoghi Effendi, letter dated March 11, 1936 in World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 203)

"Such advances in science and technology were reciprocal in their effects. Grains of sand - the most humble and ostensibly worthless of materials - metamorphosed into silicon wafers and optically pure glass, making possible the creation of worldwide communications networks. This, together with the deployment of ever more sophisticated satellite systems, has begun providing access to the accumulated knowledge of the entire human race for people everywhere, without distinction. It is apparent that the decades immediately ahead will see the integration of telephone, television, and computer technologies into a single, unified system of communication and information, whose inexpensive appliances will be available on a mass scale. It would be difficult to exaggerate the psychological and social impact of the anticipated replacement of the jumble of existing monetary systems - for many, the ultimate fortress of nationalist pride - by a single world currency operating largely through electronic impulses."

(Bahá'í International Community, Who is Writing the Future, par. 22)

Opportunities brought by the Internet

Electronic communication technology provides for more speedy and thorough consultation among the friends (which is a highly significant opportunity)

"The opportunity which electronic communication technology provides for more speedy and thorough consultation among the friends is highly significant. Without doubt, it represents another manifestation of a development eagerly anticipated by the Guardian when he foresaw the creation of "a mechanism of world intercommunication ... embracing the whole planet, freed from national hindrances and restrictions, and functioning with marvellous swiftness and perfect regularity"."

(On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, http://www.bahai-library.com/uhj/internet.html )

Internet communication marvellously provides for greatly expanded opportunities for the discussion of Bahá'í concepts and ideals

"...the House of Justice will continue to encourage use of the greatly expanded opportunities for the discussion of Bahá'í concepts and ideals, which Internet communication so marvellously provides."

(On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, letter dated 20 July 1997, Issues Related to the Study of the Bahá'í Faith, sel. 9)

Electronic Communication Presents a Valuable Technology for the Development of the Faith Worldwide

"The House of Justice understands and appreciates that questions surrounding the use of computer-operated electronic systems such as bulletin boards, libraries, electronic forums, interactive networks, and the like, will no doubt increase as computer technology becomes widespread. The House of Justice has expressed the belief that electronic communication systems present a valuable technology for the development of the Faith worldwide. It will take wisdom on the part of the institutions of the Faith to utilize the positive aspects of the technology for the benefit of the Faith, while at the same time protecting the Faith from its ill-advised or malicious use."

(The International Teaching Centre, http://www.bahai-library.com/uhj/internet.advice.html )

The internet vastly enriches the intellectual life of anyone able to use it

"Just as the migration of money or corporations encounters little hindrance from national borders, neither can the latter any longer exercise effective control over the dissemination of knowledge. Internet communication, which has the ability to transmit in seconds the entire contents of libraries that took centuries of study to amass, vastly enriches the intellectual life of anyone able to use it, as well as providing sophisticated training in a broad range of professional fields. The system, so prophetically foreseen sixty years ago by Shoghi Effendi, builds a sense of shared community among its users that is impatient of either geographic or cultural distances.

"The benefits to many millions of persons are obvious and impressive. Cost effectiveness resulting from the coordination of formerly competing operations tends to bring goods and services within the reach of populations who could not previously have hoped to enjoy them. Enormous increases in the funds available for research and development expand the variety and quality of such benefits. Something of a levelling effect in the distribution of employment opportunities can be seen in the ease with which business operations can shift their base from one part of the world to another. The abandonment of barriers to transnational trade reduces still further the cost of goods to consumers. It is not difficult to appreciate, from a Bahá'í perspective, the potentiality of such transformations for laying the foundations of the global society envisioned in Bahá'u'lláh's Writings."

(Prepared on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, Century of Light, p. 133

Usefulness of Participation of Individual Bahá'ís

((Internet) Discussions can be helpful)

"It is natural that the friends would discuss such matters among themselves, as you and your correspondent have been doing on your Internet discussion group; how otherwise are they to deepen their understanding of the Teachings?"

(On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, http://www.bahai-library.com/uhj/challenge.uhj.html )

Many knowledgeable Bahá'ís are involved with discussion groups who provide accurate information and thoughtful ideas

"...there are many knowledgeable Bahá'ís involved with the discussion groups who help provide accurate information about the Faith as well as thoughtful ideas."

(The International Teaching Centre, http://www.bahai-library.com/uhj/internet.advice.html )

(Encouragement to someone serving the Faith through online means)

"We wish you every success with your endeavors to serve the Faith by using your skills in this area."

(On behalf of the [Universal House of Justice], http://www.bahai-library.com/uhj/personal.webpages.html )

Need for Self-discipline and reference to the Writings amidst consultation

The ease and relative impersonality of the electronic medium require in some ways an even higher level of self-discipline

"The ease and relative impersonality of the electronic medium require in some ways an even higher level of self-discipline than is the case in situations where a spirit of unity is reinforced by the opportunity for direct personal contact and social interaction. In the pursuit of such a spirit of unity, Baha'is will, without doubt, wish to assist the consultative processes by sharing and discussing relevant Baha'i texts. This will itself have the further effect of drawing attention back to the framework of Baha'i belief."

(On behalf of the [Universal House of Justice], http://www.bahai-library.com/uhj/internet.html )

While mastering the new technologies, skills to preserve achievements of the past must be transmitted

Master unifying concepts and technologies of communications era and transmit skills to the future in order to preserve the achievements of the past

"...while aiming at mastering the unifying concepts and swiftly advancing technologies of this era of communications, they {Bahá'í youth} can, indeed they must also guarantee the transmittal to the future of those skills which will preserve the marvelous, indispensable achievements of the past. The transformation which is to occur in the functioning of society will certainly depend to a great extent on the effectiveness of the preparations the youth make for the world they will inherit."

(Universal House of Justice, Message dated 8 May 1985)

Internet

From Bahai9

Contents

Courtesy on the internet

Opposition on the internet

Voting on newsgroups

Technical, publishing, and administrative issues concerning the Bahá'í use of the internet

Publishing pilgrim's notes on the internet

Scholarship and the internet

Permission for personal web pages promoting the Faith

Discussing through the internet

Predictions Concerning

Prediction partialling fulfilled by the internet (and previously by satellites, etc.)