FOOD, FARMER, AND COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE AND THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE WORLD
COMPILED BY WINNONA MERRITT FOREWORD BY PAUL HANLEY
Bahá’í Publishing 401 Greenleaf Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091 Copyright © 2022 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States All rights reserved. Published 2022 Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper 25 24 23 22 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Control Number: 2021059072 ISBN 978-1-61851-211-6 Cover and book design by Patrick Falso
CONTENTS Foreword..................................................................................... vii Note to the Reader....................................................................... ix Part 1: Fundamental Principles of Reconstruction....................1 Agriculture First............................................................................ 3 Some Elements of Reconstruction................................................. 7 Protagonists............................................................................ 20 Individuals.......................................................................... 28 Women.......................................................................... 33 Youth............................................................................. 36 Community ....................................................................... 40 Institutions......................................................................... 44 Administration .............................................................. 49 Mashriqu’l–Adhkár........................................................ 57 Consultation........................................................................... 59 Discourse and Social Action.................................................... 68 Part 2: Knowledge.................................................................. 87 Knowledge.................................................................................. 89 Religion.................................................................................. 97
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CONT E NT S
Part 2: Knowledge (continued) Creator............................................................................. 101 Kingdoms of Creation...................................................... 105 Mineral........................................................................ 111 Vegetable..................................................................... 113 Animal......................................................................... 115 Human........................................................................ 119 Science.................................................................................. 127 Agriculture and the Common Good................................. 132 Food as Sustenance...................................................... 136 Food as Medicine......................................................... 137 Animals as Food........................................................... 144 Admonitions Regarding Health.................................... 147 Part 3: Developing the Divine Economy...............................153 Developing the Divine Economy.............................................. 155 Building a Spiritual Foundation............................................ 165 Stewardship.......................................................................... 179 Laying the Material Foundation............................................ 188 Þuqúq’u’lláh.................................................................... 201 Village Storehouse............................................................ 207 Recognizing Excesses............................................................ 216 Addendum: Divine Assistance for Trying Times...................231 Striving for Spiritual Sustenance............................................... 231 Tests..................................................................................... 232 Prayer................................................................................... 234 Meditation............................................................................ 237 Fasting.................................................................................. 239 The Promise.............................................................................. 240
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PART 1
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF RECONSTRUCTION The role of agriculture is fundamental to the success of seemingly unrelated processes as humankind advances toward a just and unified society. Individuals and institutions have responsibility to assist in the betterment of the world and the establishment of a world-embracing peace. As administrative practices and spiritual principles align, both public and private sectors recognize the unique station of the farmer.
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AGRICULTURE FIRST Whilst in the Prison of ‘Akká, We revealed in the Crimson Book that which is conducive to the advancement of mankind and to the reconstruction of the world. The utterances set forth therein by the Pen of the Lord of creation include the following which constitute the fundamental principles for the administration of the affairs of men: First: It is incumbent upon the ministers of the House of Justice to promote the Lesser Peace so that the people of the earth may be relieved from the burden of exorbitant expenditures. This matter is imperative and absolutely essential, inasmuch as hostilities and conflict lie at the root of affliction and calamity. Second: Languages must be reduced to one common language to be taught in all the schools of the world. Third: It behooveth man to adhere tenaciously unto that which will promote fellowship, kindliness and unity. Fourth: Everyone, whether man or woman, should hand over to a trusted person a portion of what he or she earneth through trade, agriculture or other occupation, for the training and education of children, to be spent for this purpose with the knowledge of the Trustees of the House of Justice. 3
F OOD, F AR M E R , AND COM M UN I T Y
Fifth: Special regard must be paid to agriculture. Although it hath been mentioned in the fifth place, unquestionably it precedeth the others. Agriculture is highly developed in foreign lands, however in Persia it hath so far been grievously neglected. It is hoped that His Majesty the Shah—may God assist him by His grace—will turn his attention to this vital and important matter. (Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 89–90) The question of economics must commence with the farmer and then be extended to the other classes inasmuch as the number of farmers is far greater than all other classes. Therefore, it is fitting to begin with the farmer in matters related to economics for the farmer is the first active agent in human society. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Pearls of Bounty, no. 2.21.1.) And if, as thou passest by fields and plantations, thou observest that the plants, flowers and sweet-smelling herbs are growing luxuriantly together, forming a pattern of unity, this is an evidence of the fact that that plantation and garden is flourishing under the care of a skilled gardener. But when thou seest it in a state of disorder and irregularity thou inferrest that it hath lacked the training of an efficient farmer and thus hath produced weeds and tares. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, no. 225.20) If the land is deprived of a cultivator, it becomes a thicket of thriving weeds, but if a farmer is found to cultivate it, the resulting harvest provides sustenance for living things. It is therefore evident that the land is in need of the farmer’s cultivation. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, no. 3.2.)
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PA RT 1: FU NDAM E NT AL P R INCIP LE S OF REC O N S T RUC T I O N
First and foremost is the principle that to all the members of the body politic shall be given the greatest achievements of the world of humanity. Each one shall have the utmost welfare and well-being. To solve this problem we must begin with the farmer . . . (‘Abdu’lBahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 437) For instance, the function of a gardener is to till the soil of the mineral kingdom and plant a tree which under his training and cultivation will attain perfection of growth. If it be wild and fruitless, it may be made fruitful and prolific by grafting. If small and unsightly, it will become lofty, beautiful and verdant under the gardener’s training, whereas a tree bereft of his cultivation retrogresses daily, its fruit grows acrid and bitter as the trees of the jungle, or it may become entirely barren and bereft of its fruitage. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 106) The farmer must be accorded his or her rightful place in the processes of development and civilization building: as the villages are reconstructed, the cities will follow. (Bahá’í International Community, “Eradicating Poverty: Moving Forward as One,” The Bahá’í International Community’s Statement on Poverty, 14 February 2008) Access to development programs and their benefits must be ensured for all. The economics of food production and distribution will have to be reoriented and the critical role of the farmer in food and economic security properly valued. (Bahá’í International Community, “Valuing Spirituality in Development: Initial Considerations Regarding the Creation of Spiritually Based Indicators for Development.” A concept paper written for the World Faiths and Development Dialogue, Lambeth Palace, London, 18–19 February 1998)
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