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This explains why Baha'is do not engage in political activities and may not belong to any political party. For today every political activity must be carried out within a system and must use the methods of that system which is destined to fall. Moreover, the Baha'i Faith would lose its power to unite if its believers were to become involved in political disputes as a "party"-- that is, restricted in a separatist way-- or as members of the different existing parties. Shoghi Effendi has convincingly demonstrated that the Faith of God suffers when believers enter "the arena of party politics". "We Baha'is, his secretary wrote on his behalf, "are one the world over; we are seeking to build up a new World Order, divine in origin. How can we do this if every Baha'i is a member of a different political party... Where is our unity then?... The best way for a Baha'i to serve his country and the world is to work for the establishment of Baha'u'llah's World Order which will gradually unite all men and do away with divisive political systems and religious creeds."
(30:2)
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