The Fuji Declaration: Taking a Universal View of Religion

The Fuji Declaration – an international alliance committed to living and collaborating toward the advancement of a more harmonious and flourishing world – began in 2015. 

The Declaration calls upon everyone to ignite the infinite potential and divine spark that dwells within each human being, and reminds us that we are part of a living universe that exhibits boundless diversity, and yet embraces oneness. It calls on us to co-evolve with one another and with nature in a constructive and coherent relationship.

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Over 60 partner organizations and 200 founding signatories have joined this relatively new initiative, including heads-of-state, Nobel laureates, scientists, artists, authors, educators and peace advocates. The following prophetic words open the Fuji Declaration: 

A new phase in the evolution of human civilization is on the horizon. With deepening states of crisis bringing unrest to all parts of the world, there is a growing need for change in our ways of thinking and acting. We now have the choice of either spiraling into deepening peril, or breaking through to a world of dignity and well-being for all.

Let’s consider, then, making a very radical “change in our ways of thinking and acting.” 

What if all the world’s major religions came from the same Source? What if the conflicts between belief systems and cultures were entirely unnecessary? This one principle could unite the world.

Baha’is believe there is only one Creator, simply called different names throughout history: Brahma, Ahura Mazda, Adonai, Creator, Father, Allah, Great Spirit, God.  

If this concept is true, then logically one Creator can have only one religion. He is not in competition with Himself. 

The Baha’i teachings say that the Creator, out of infinite love for humanity, has revealed one single religion – not once, but sequentially, many times throughout history. God’s messengers have founded the world’s great Faiths: among them Abraham, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Christ, and Muhammad. 

This means, from a Baha’i perspective, that the major world religions are each divine in origin, one in essence, equally true, equally important, equally valid, and all part of one progressive, divine educational process for humanity. 

This core Baha’i principle – progressive revelation – proclaims that the universal loving Creator does not play favorites by elevating one religion above all the others, but rather has always revealed His will throughout history out of infinite love for humanity.  

God, through His messengers, has adapted that singular, continuing, and progressively-revealed religion to meet the needs of each era in human history. The major world religions, then, are like equal chapters in one continuous book. If a chapter were missing, the book would be incomplete.  

This universal view contravenes the current disjointed view of religion, answering a supremely important question: How are the followers of the major world religions ever going to come together in lasting peace, true unity, and genuine love if they harbor in their hearts the belief that their religion is true and all others are false, that they are right and everyone else is wrong, that they are saved and everyone else is going to hell? 

For thousands of years this narrow view of religion has failed to bring people together. On the contrary, it has created destructive barriers resulting in disunity, self-righteousness, hatred, prejudice, fear, fanaticism, and wars fought in the name of religion. 

A universal view of religion provides the answer to a profound question: Why does one God have so many religions?

When so many religions and denominations claim to be God’s one true religion, an illogical contradiction arises. Also, because usually a person’s religion is determined by the country where they are born and how they are raised by their parents, many come to believe that their religion is true and all others are false.  

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When we take a more universal view of religion, though, seeing it as one, we can put aside the idea of multiple deities and religions – and begin to put aside their conflicts and contention, as well. 

This universal view of all religion comes from the teachings of Baha’u’llah, the prophet and founder of the youngest of the major world religions, the Baha’i Faith. Referring to the founders of the world’s great Faiths, Baha’u’llah wrote:

These sanctified Mirrors, these Day Springs of ancient glory, are, one and all, the Exponents on earth of Him Who is the central Orb of the universe, its Essence and ultimate purpose. From Him proceed their knowledge and power;  from Him is derived their sovereignty. The beauty of their countenance is but a reflection of His image, and their revelation a sign of His deathless glory. They are the Treasuries of Divine knowledge, and the Repositories of celestial wisdom. Through them is transmitted a grace that is infinite, and by them is revealed the Light that can never fade …