Abstract

The concepts of oneness and unity are central to understanding the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith. The chapter starts by reviewing the Bahá’í concept of the oneness of humanity by exploring the nature of human beings. Then it considers the implications of the oneness of humanity: equality of all races, equality of genders, the right to be able to investigate reality on one’s own, the essential need for education and literacy, the need to establish justice and a world coordinating system so all can develop, and the need for stewardship of the earth. Second, the chapter explores the Bahá’í concept of unity; the need to go beyond collaboration to achieve spiritual unity; the importance of the principles of consultation to establish unity; the rejection of partisanship within the Bahá’í community as contradictory to the process of unity and the nature of Bahá’í elections, which prevents partisanship; the role of the Covenant in maintaining unity; the avoidance of partisan politics; and promulgation of an ethic of social change based on constructive action.