The Bahá’í International Community is an NGO in consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
with active development initiatives in issue areas such as: grassroots participation in sustainable development, the status of women, education, racism, and human rights education.
Peter Adriance, a representative of the Bahá’í International Community interviewed by the Berkley Fellows, spoke of the centrality of religion and faith in the lives of most people, including those giving and receiving aid. Mr. Adriance said, “The generality of human-kind recognizes a spiritual dimension to life. Traditional development approaches have ignored that to their peril. Increasingly, people are recognizing this dimension needs to be considered to move forward.” This recognition makes the work of faith-based organizations especially relevant.
Faith-based organizations in general have multiplied over the past few decades, yet they overwhelmingly represent the Christian tradition. Our interview with Mr. Adriance was particularly notable for the interesting insight he provided into a different tradition’s philosophy toward development.
Peter Adriance, a representative of the Bahá’í International Community interviewed by the Berkley Fellows, spoke of the centrality of religion and faith in the lives of most people, including those giving and receiving aid. Mr. Adriance said, “The generality of human-kind recognizes a spiritual dimension to life. Traditional development approaches have ignored that to their peril. Increasingly, people are recognizing this dimension needs to be considered to move forward.” This recognition makes the work of faith-based organizations especially relevant.
Faith-based organizations in general have multiplied over the past few decades, yet they overwhelmingly represent the Christian tradition. Our interview with Mr. Adriance was particularly notable for the interesting insight he provided into a different tradition’s philosophy toward development.
The Bahá’í Faith believes that all faiths worship the same “God” through different means; given this theological orientation, the Bahá’í International Community tries to act as a “unity-builder” among faith-based and secular organizations-building love, understanding, and “unity in diversity” through encouraging group interaction and participatory, non-confrontational decision-making practices.
Mr. Adriance also recognized that religion has often unfortunately been abused, giving rise to public skepticism about religious affiliation in general. “Sometimes religion can be an impediment, because so much is wrong with the way religion has been exploited and misused. While religious fanaticism has reaped extraordinarily bad outcomes, this does not negate the critical role that faith communities can play in development.”
Abuse of religion by some should not bar the benefits that can be gained today from understanding and utilizing the religious dynamic. Not only are religious groups able to present themselves as effective development partners, but religion itself is also a way to establish links between members both within developing communities and across national boundaries. “Religion can be a potent force for positive transformation on both a personal and collective level.” With emphasis placed on the positive potential of faith-based organizations, it is likely that collaboration will continue to increase.
Mr. Adriance also recognized that religion has often unfortunately been abused, giving rise to public skepticism about religious affiliation in general. “Sometimes religion can be an impediment, because so much is wrong with the way religion has been exploited and misused. While religious fanaticism has reaped extraordinarily bad outcomes, this does not negate the critical role that faith communities can play in development.”
Abuse of religion by some should not bar the benefits that can be gained today from understanding and utilizing the religious dynamic. Not only are religious groups able to present themselves as effective development partners, but religion itself is also a way to establish links between members both within developing communities and across national boundaries. “Religion can be a potent force for positive transformation on both a personal and collective level.” With emphasis placed on the positive potential of faith-based organizations, it is likely that collaboration will continue to increase.
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