Is Your Digital Footprint an Extension of Your Beliefs?
Baha'i Youth Embrace Coherence for Spiritual and Social Transformation
The Baha'i teachings emphasize the importance of living a life of coherence, a concept that encompasses aligning one's beliefs, language, and actions to achieve spiritual excellence. This principle was the focus of a series of conferences held for youth from around the world in 2013.
The conferences, organized to celebrate the efforts of young people in bettering society, highlighted the need for coherence in daily life, both in the physical world and in the digital realm. Tens of thousands of youth attended these events, ready to learn and be agents of spiritual and social transformation.
Living a life of coherence means that our beliefs manifest in every aspect of our lives, particularly through acts of service to others. For young people navigating today’s cultural challenges, this means cultivating inner spiritual growth and outward community contribution to meet the pressures and influences of modern culture with clarity and unity.
The Baha'i teachings suggest that changing the negative aspects of both the virtual and real worlds will require a massive effort from all, organized around new spiritual values and characteristics that honor humanity. To achieve this, young people are encouraged to develop moral and spiritual clarity, engage actively in community-building and capacity strengthening, apply principles of justice and equality, and balance spiritual and practical life.
In 2013, these conferences provided a space for young people to continue their service to humanity, nurturing and encouraging dialogue. The conferences emphasized that failure to approach life as a coherent whole often leads to anxiety and confusion. To avoid this, it is essential to conduct oneself in a manner that stands out as a beacon of light, reflecting the attributes of Baha'is in words, tone, actions, and online presence.
Despite the negative influences young people face from various sources, many continue to be beacons of hope, maintaining their beliefs and acting upon them. A group of friends collectively believes that it is harder for young people to grow up today compared to 20 years ago. However, these conferences serve as a testament to the resilience and determination of the youth, who strive to create a better world based on the teachings of the Baha'i Faith.
Through service, young people can learn to foster a life in which its various aspects complement each other, maintaining coherence. This approach aligns with guidance recommending that young people ground themselves in spiritual disciplines, embrace service and social action organically arising from their communities, and consciously reflect the transformative principles of the Bahá'í Faith in everyday life.
- Embracing coherence in their lives, these Baha'i youth are dedicated to using their education-and-self-development for personal-growth, ensuring that their service to humanity is an extension of their beliefs.
- To better the world, young people are encouraged to balance their spiritual growth with their lifestyle, striving for a coherent whole that embodies the principles of service to humanity, community-building, and the pursuit of justice and equality.
