Forces of integration and disintegration

A new spirit of enormous power is stirring in the world, leading us to a more just and peaceful way of life.

This may appear to be a counter-intuitive statement, given what we can see with the naked eye. For thousands of years the history of humanity has been an unfolding drama of horrible and great suffering for the majority of the people who inhabit the earth—and the turmoil continues.

A few hours of watching the news or reading about the current state of international affairs is enough to create deep concern, sadness, and even hopelessness. To anyone who has not yet become desensitized to the bloody scenes of violence perpetrated by terrorists, or numbed by the deadly corruption of divided governments, the trajectory of our world appears to bend toward growing destruction and disintegration.

These processes of destruction and disintegration are quite real—there is no doubt about that.

But another equally profound and real process is unfolding alongside the destructive process; one of constructive integration. Although less visible to the casual everyday glance, it is a reality moving forward in the world, parallel to the destructive process, and it can be seen quite clearly when examined from a historical perspective:

… the requirements and conditions of former periods have changed and merged into exigencies which distinctly characterize the present age of the world of mankind. That which was applicable to human needs during the early history of the race could neither meet nor satisfy the demands of this day and period of newness and consummation. Humanity has emerged from its former degrees of limitation and preliminary training. Man must now become imbued with new virtues and powers, new moralities, new capacities. New bounties, bestowals and perfections are awaiting and already descending upon him. The gifts and graces of the period of youth, although timely and sufficient during the adolescence of the world of mankind, are now incapable of meeting the requirements of its maturity. The playthings of childhood and infancy no longer satisfy or interest the adult mind. – Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 438-439.