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..The major challenges which man faces are worldwide in scale and their solution requires action on a universal basis. Yet present institutions tend to strengthen factionalism and to stultify the generous and long-range concepts of society in favour of the superficial and selfish. Baha'is believe that these institutions are so fundamentally obsolete and destructive of man's potential that they will not be the vehicle for the establishment of a new civilization. (91:1) "Humanity, whether viewed in the light of man's individual conduct or in the existing relationships between organized communities and nations, has, alas, strayed too far and suffered too great a decline to be redeemed through the unaided efforts of the best among its recognized rulers and statesmen-- however disinterested their motives, however concerted their action, however unsparing in their zeal and devotion to its cause. No scheme which the most distinguished exponents of economic theory may hope to provide, in the last resort, adequate foundations upon which the future of a distracted world can be built." (Shoghi Effendi)
(91:2)
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