A World Without War: 'Abdu'l-Baha and the Discourse for Global Peace

"June 2020 marks one hundred years since the two historic Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahâa were delivered to the Central Organization for a Durable Peace at The Hague. The Tablets, combined with His public talks that were presented during His travels in the West between 1911 and 1913, offer comprehensive insights about Bahâa'u'llâah's panoramic vision for the attainment of universal peace. World peace is a primary objective of Bahâa'u'llâah's Revelation. 'Abdu'l-Bahâa's Tablets to The Hague and His public talks serve as a model for participation in the public discourses of society. They also provide an example of His profound involvement in the life of society and His acute understanding of social reality. Furthermore, in His Tablets and talks, He outlines the process involved in developing the climate conducive to the construction of a new social order and the emergence of the institutions associated with Bahâa'u'llâah's World Order. In this volume, the historical circumstances that shaped nineteenth-century peace movements and the catastrophic impact of the First World War are examined. During the time these significant events were unfolding, 'Abdu'l-Bahâa was actively engaged in promoting a clear understanding of the Bahâa'âi perspective on peace. Far more than simply focusing His discourse on the means to end wars, 'Abdu'l-Bahâa offered the holistic, all-inclusive vision for global peace-the oneness of humanity-outlined in the writings of Bahâa'u'llâah. The historical context is important to having a thorough appreciation of the contribution 'Abdu'l-Bahâa made to the discourses for global peace that were taking place before and immediately after World War I. This book illustrates 'Abdu'l-Bahâa's strategic language and energetic approach toward communicating His Father's vision. It highlights the priority He accorded the current issues of His day and the manner in which He correlated them with the Bahâa'âi teachings. His engagement with intellectuals and leaders of thought on the subject of the implementation of peace provided an outstanding model for humanity during the early years of the twentieth century, and His example has continuing relevance for the state of the world and the discourse on peace in the twenty-first century"--