Oneness of humanity

Oneness of humanity is the English rendering of a central Baha'i teaching about the unity of the human family across racial, national, religious, and class divisions[1]. The phrase appears extensively in the writings of Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha and shapes Baha'i social teaching and practice[2].

the phrase carries spiritual, social, and political implications within Baha’i thought.

Oneness of humanity is one of the most central Baha'i social teachings. Baha'u'llah taught that the human race is one, that all peoples derive from a single creation, that prejudice based on race, nation, class, or religion is contrary to the divine will, and that the work of the current age is the unification of humanity in a global civilization.

The teaching has practical implications for Baha'i life. Baha'i communities are emphatically multi-racial and international; the institution explicitly opposes racism and ethnic prejudice. The principle extends to gender equality (Baha'i teaching holds that men and women are equal and that the historical subordination of women must end), to economic justice (Baha'i teaching emphasizes the elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty), and to the abolition of religious prejudice.

The teaching shapes Baha'i institutional structure. The Universal House of Justice, the central institution of the Baha'i Faith, is elected from across the global community. Local and national Spiritual Assemblies in many countries reflect the international character of the community. Baha'i community life in many places is deliberately structured to bring together people across the divisions the teaching opposes.

In Baha'i historical theology, the current age is understood as the period in which humanity finally has the capacity and the obligation to actualize its essential unity. Previous religious teaching prepared the way; the current teaching makes the unity practical. The vision is of a future world commonwealth uniting humanity within a peaceful and just civilization.

The teaching has produced concrete Baha'i contributions to inter-religious dialogue, international development work, racial justice activism, and global civil society[3]. The Baha'i International Community has consultative status with the United Nations and has been active in human rights, women's empowerment, and inter-faith engagement.

Baha'i social teaching has been studied by religious studies scholars including Moojan Momen[2], Will van den Hoonaard, and others. Comparative work has engaged Baha'i universalism in dialogue with Christian ecumenism, Islamic ummah concept, and modern human rights frameworks.

• The Promise of World Peaceby The Universal House of Justice
  primary source
• The Baha'i Faith: A Beginner's Guideby Moojan Momen
  book