Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Orrol L. Harper, A Bird's-Eye View of the World in the Year 2000, bahai-library.com.
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A Bird's-Eye View of the World in the Year 2000

Orrol L. Harper

published in Star of the Westvol. 15, no. 7, pp. 189-96

1924-10

I AM GOING to ask you to put on with me the
wings
of imagination and fly over the world in about the year 2000. Let
us leave behind all our pet beliefs and prejudices, all our disagreements
and troubles, and soar into the atmosphere of the future.

About us on every side we see airships traveling
in regular courses--some carrying freight and some human passengers.

We look for dreadnaughts but none are to be
seen.
Instead an international police patrols the waters and preserves order
among the merchant-marine that ply the ocean from coast to coast.

On land the trees are the first to catch our
eye.
They look different from the shade trees we are accustomed to seeing, for
they are all heavily laden. None but fruit or nut-bearing trees are
to be found.

The fields are verdant and delightfully
productive.
Large areas of well-kept farms radiate from and surround numerous small
settlements.

Each settlement is marked by two outstanding
structures.
One of these buildings is plainly a wonderful public school, expressing
in complete detail the dreams of the early century educators. The
other structure, bearing the name "House of Justice," especially piques
our curiosity.

We are told that this "House of Justice" is in
reality
a central store-house, established for the benefit of every member of the
community.

There comes to our minds the memory of North
Dakota
farmers who long ago tried some sort of community plan. But this
"House of Justice" we are informed is a success as a community benefactor,
being supported by the community, which in turn supports it.

The store-house has seven definite revenues and
seven
definite expenditures:

Revenues

Income tax.

Inheritance tax.

Tax on animals.

All things discovered whose owners cannot be found.

One-third of all treasures found in the earth (such as oil wells, buried cities, etc.).

One-third of the output of all mines.

Voluntary contributions.

Expenditures

General running expenses of the institution; salaries, administration of public safety, including a hygiene department.

Taxes to the general government.

Taxes to the state government.

Support of orphans.

Support of cripples and incurables.

Support of educational institutions.

Supplying deficiencies in the incomes of the poor.

The mention of "income tax" causes us to groan in
memory; but the words "supplying deficiencies in the incomes of the poor"
makes us wonder if by chance we have strayed within the "pearly gates,"
and we look about for St. Peter. But no such royal judge is in
sight--only
people, men and women, busy, busy, busy--and most mysteriously happy.

We simply must know about this tax system.
It cannot be the one we have known or the people could not be so
joyful.
So we inquire from a venerable man who seems to take pleasure in being
of service to others.

"The plan for the income tax," we are told, "is
world
wide. It has been established and is regulated by an International
House of Justice, made up of representatives from the National House of
Justice of each nation on earth. Its aim is to prevent either
congestion
or lack of capital in any part of the body-politic. It supplies the
needs of the working man and at the same time protects the rights of the
wealthy man."

We look at each other and shake our heads.
"Impossible!" we think.

But the venerable gentleman goes on to
explain.
"The world is a great federation of peoples, each member of which realizes
that his happiness, his individual well-being depends entirely on the
happiness
and well-being of all other members of the human race."

How such a spirit of altruism, how such an
illumined
self-interest can be a universal reality is beyond our comprehension.
But we keep still and listen.

"This first revenue that is paid into the
community
fund," our informant goes on to say, "is based on a man's net income.
If a farmer's expenses equal his necessary expenditures he is not taxed
at all. If his income be $500.00 and his expenses $500.00 he is not
required to pay anything into the community fund. If, however, his
expenses be $500.00 and his income $1,000 he is taxed one-tenth of his
net income, or $50.00--leaving a net saving of $450.00.

"If his expenses be $1,000.00 and his income
$20,000.00
he will pay into the fund one-fourth of the net profit.

"Again, if his income be $100,000.00 and his
expenses
$5,000.00, he will pay one-third of his net profits as taxes into the common
fund. Say he pays $3,500.00 in addition to the expenditure of
$5,000.00
he still has left $60,000."

Again, if a man's expenses are $10,000.00 and his
income $200,000.00, his income tax will be an even one-half of his net
profits, which will still leave him $105,000.00, while his income tax will
amount to $95,000.00."

This is too much for our self-centered minds to
accept
in silence, and one of us exclaims impatiently, "But that is not fair.
That man had brains enough to earn $200,000.00. Why should he not
keep what he has fairly earned? Does intelligence count for nothing!"

An expression of wonder looks out at us from the
eyes of the wise old man, as he gently replies, "Yes, intelligence counts
for everything in the year 2000. It is the intelligent men who are
supporting, controlling, educating and illuminating the world of
today.
They are the pillars upon which this universal civilization stands.

"The intelligent man of today finds his greatest
happiness in serving the world of humanity. He realizes the oneness
and interdependence of mankind. He looks on all races--the red, the
black, the white, the brown, the yellow--as so many flowers in the garden
of creation. It is joy to that intelligent man to have a hand in
developing the beauty and perfection latent within each human flower; for
he realizes that just as a dwarfed, withered, or stunted flower will detract
from the beauty of a flower garden, so will an uneducated , untrained,
repressed, or sick man be a blight on the garden of human
intelligence.
Therefore the thinking men of the day are trying in every possible way
to increase human intelligence.

"The intelligent man of today sees the nations of
the world as the members of one large family--the human family. And
that family is a happy group, united in love and co-operation, in
educational
system and language, in economic adjustment and religion."

The last is too much for us. Suddenly our
suppressed
emotions break all bonds, and a veritable uproar of questions and
exclamations
burst forth. "Religion! Did you say? United in religion?"
an incredulous voice exclaims.

And as the wise man gravely nods his head, our
Catholic
friends smile complacently--for of course the whole world has become
Catholic.

The Protestant friends look a little less
certain,
for there is a possibility that some other Protestant denomination
than the right one may be the one in control.

A follower of Buddha smiles sweetly--for, of
course,
it must be the gentle spirit of Buddha that has united the people in love.

The followers of Moses have not the slightest
doubt
that the "faith of our fathers" has at last covered the earth.

While a Mohammedan brother claps his hands in
glee
at the prospect of a life-time of picnics in the open without the danger
of having his food polluted by finding the shadow of a Christian falling
across his lunch. Of course the whole world has become Mohammedan.

But when the various creeds and cults mention
their
names as contestants for the honor of this united religion, the aged man
shakes his head and patiently explains, "No religion that still imparts
spiritual life and inspiration to any part of the human race will ever
be destroyed.

"All religions teach the law of love and
co-operation.
The followers of all religions believe in One Supreme Creator who radiates
His Love and Bounty to all the creational world.

"All religionists believe in an intermediary
between
that Unknown and Unknowable Essence of the Creator and His creation.
They believe in a wonderful being, a super-man, who has attracted by His
Perfections the Supreme Rays of Intelligence and reflected them to all
contingent beings.

"In times past some called that perfect mirror
Moses,
some Jesus, some Buddha, some Mohammed, etc. In the early part of
the century each religionist believed his particular religion to be the
only true pathway to God; and arose in contention and strife over the
difference
in names of their founders.

"But in this, the year 2000, no such inharmony
exists.
Religion is recognized as a source of inspiration and uplift; religion
is the cause of unity. The different religions that have existed
in the past and those that will exist in the future are seen as so many
days or periods on which the Supreme Sun has shone; while the Founders
of each religion are the Points on the horizon where the Sun has risen
each morning.

"The Rising Point of the Sun for one Day is
called
Moses; the Rising Point of the Sun for another day is called Jesus, another
Point, Buddha, another Zoroaster, another Mohammed.

"The names of each day are different, the name of
each rising place is different, but it is ever the same Sun that illumines
the world, whether it be the Sun of Monday or Tuesday, whether it rises
from a northern or southern point on the horizon. It is ever the
same sun."

Here we must interrupt again saying, "But after
all
this explanation, we still cannot reconcile the teachings of Moses and
Mohammed, for instance, with the teachings of Jesus. Moses made a
law that if a man committed a theft his hand would be cut off, while Jesus
prayed for the thief that hung beside him on the cross. Jesus never
married, while Mohammed allowed his followers to have four wives.
Do you call this agreement, harmony, unity between the founders of
religion?"

The wise old man only smiles and replies calmly,
"Oh, but you do not understand. Each religion is divided into two
parts: First, the true, fundamental, spiritual part that teaches love,
love for God and love for God's creation, that teaches the fatherhood of
God and the brotherhood of man; while the second part of each religion
has to do with the material laws that were necessary for the time in which
the Prophet lived.

"For example--at the time of Moses the law of an
eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth was necessary--for the lawless
peoples
whom Moses taught had to be ruled by fear. Again, Mohammed limited
his followers to four wives. That seems terrible to your early century
minds to think that someone, who is claimed by millions of people to be
a prophet of God, should countenance polygamy. But I realize," the
venerable teacher continues, "that it is because you do not know the
condition
of the people to whom Mohammed gave his teachings. They were the
savage tribes of the Arabian peninsula--so wild and unrestrained that each
man was accustomed to taking as many wives as he wished. All a man
had to do to call a woman his wife was to go out into the street and throw
a cloak over her shoulders. To such an untrained and irresponsible
people as this Mohammed gave first his teachings of love for the one God
and His creation; and second his material laws. One of the material
laws limited those wild and savage tribes to four wives, provided, Mohammed
added, that they could be treated equally, an edict which he probably
intended
as a subtle step toward monogamy and a tremendous advance over the condition
that had existed before.

"And so you see that it was lack of
differentiation
between the unchangeable, spiritual teachings and the ever-changing material
laws of these founders of religion that caused so much dissension in the
early part of the century.

"In this the year 2000 people understand the
fundamental
harmony underlying all religions, all creation in fact.--Here I see a man
who is disgusted with all this talk about religion." And our
instructor
turned with a smile to our friend the scientist.

"I perceive that you have not yet discovered,
what
we of the twenty-first century know, that true religion and true science
are not antagonistic. Our definition of religion is man's love for
God as expressed in his attitude toward mankind; while we know that science
makes rational and systematic our search for truth.

"The scientific man of today sees all phenomena
involved
in all phenomena. He sees the atom as a miniature universe, governed
by the same universal laws that control the largest bodies in creation.

"The scientist of this year 2000 is not
antagonistic
to the religion of the day, because religion has cast off its man-made
creeds and dogmas that in times past kept its followers bound by tradition
and bigotry. The religionist of today sees as many roads to perfection
as there are human beings--for science has proved that no two phenomena
are exactly alike.

"All men, scientists and religionists alike,
search
independently for truth, and accept nothing that does not appeal to their
reason."

A PAUSE ensues. The venerable gentleman
seems
lost in thought. I personally feel overwhelmed by such an ideal
concept.
I have nothing to say. But it is not so with our friend Mr.
Educator.
The idea of a universal education appeals to him. He asks for an
explanation, and our venerable friend seems especially pleased to comply
with the request.

The International court of Justice has
established
an education system that is universal throughout the world. It has
also formed laws that make it compulsory for every boy and girl to not
only have the same fundamental education but to be trained in some trade,
art, or profession. That is why you see all these people so happy
in their work. Each one is trained in the work he or she is most
fitted to succeed at. In this age one of the highest forms of worship
is work done in the spirit of love and service. In the year 2000
we witness the glorification of labor.

"The educational system also includes instruction
in an international language. Long ago the International Court of
Justice empowered a committee of linguists, highly versed in all known
languages, to form a synthetic language that could be taught in all the
schools of the world, so that the child along with his home tongue could
learn this international language. There were attempts made to form
an international language in your day. Esperanto was perhaps the
most notable example. During your travels you will notice that a
child from Italy can converse freely with a child from Germany, France,
America, China--in fact with children of all nations. Since the use
of this language has become universal, misunderstanding between races and
nations due to difference in language has been entirely wiped out.

At this point I interrupted, "One of the
expenditures
of your community fund is itemized as 'supplying deficiencies in the incomes
of the poor.' I want to hear about that."

"Oh yes," our kind friend acquiesces, "we did not
get to that. Suppose an emergency were to arise. A farmer's
income due to failure of crop or some unforseen circumstance is $500, while
his expenses are $1,000. The farmer lacks $500 to have enough to
pay his debts. In such a case the local House of Justice will pay
to him the sum of $500 from the common fund, so he will not be in need.

"The poor, who have not sufficient earning
capacity
to properly clothe, house, and feed themselves, have their necessary
expenses
defrayed by the general fund.

"Orphans without means, who are being educated by
the community, have all their expenses paid by the House of Justice.

"And other members of the community, who for
valid
reasons are incapacitated, the blind, the old, the deaf, their comfort
will be looked after. In the village no one remains in want."

"But what about the cities, state, nation?" is
asked.

"In the cities the same plan is carried out only
on a larger scale."

"Let us go and see the cities for ourselves,"
someone
exclaims.

"But I am not ready to leave our generous
informant
yet," I object. "I may want to ask more questions."

"I will go with you, then you can see and listen
at the same time," replies the gracious gentleman. Of course this
is delightful, so we again begin our travels.

As we visit one city after another, I am
impressed
with the fact that there are no congested districts of foreigners such
as I have been accustomed to see.

Our guide informs us that in this the year 2000
there
are no foreigners. "There are immigrants to be sure; but the
International
Court of Arbitration has worked out a system that takes care of the
immigrant
in all countries, and makes him an asset to the community.

"Any person entering a country is examined for
his
innate capabilities and is placed in a location and a work that he is fitted
to succeed at.

"Every man that has agricultural tendencies is
encouraged
in farming. It is a recognized fact that well regulated and productive
farms act as a fundamental basis for a nation's prosperity."

We visit the penitentiaries and find them more
like
schools and hospitals than places for severe correction or harsh
retaliation.
"Criminals have been discovered to be either ignorant, sick, or mentally
deficient," we are informed. "Their number has been reduced to a
minimum since education and the healing art have advanced so marvelously."

"The factories, mines and all large
establishments,
where numerous employees are needed, are wonderful places to visit.
Each employee acts as if this business were his own business. His
interest and joy in work are phenomenal.

As I express my thoughts aloud our guide
responds,
"You are right. Each employee has a personal interest in the business.
Besides his salary he owns a certain number of shares, that pay him
dividends
monthly or annually on the net profits of the concern.

"History shows that as far back as 1915 certain
employers
began sharing the profits of their business with their employees.
Today the system is an established thing. It has entirely wiped out
strikes for wages, that were so troublesome years ago."

Here Mr. Educator interrupts and changes the
subject,
"Ever since we visited those wonderful schools, I have wanted a question
answered. I am amazed at the large number of instructors that your
educational system supports--all stamped as men and women of superior
intelligence.
It has been my experience that where a man or woman remained faithful in
the field of teaching he or she was more or less a martyr to the cause
of education. All the instructors I have known have been underpaid."

"Yes, that condition existed for many years," our
informant replies. But ever since the International House of Justice
established the inheritance tax as a regular revenue for each local
storehouse,
teachers have received adequate compensation.

"All inheritance estates are divided into seven
divisions:
Children, husband and wife, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters,
teachers.
If anyone dies without heirs the House of Justice is given the inheritance
to use for the good of the community. In case there are heirs,
one-third
of the estate is paid into the community fund and the other two-thirds
is divided among the heirs.

"You will notice that teachers constitute
one of the heirs. And so it is possible, by means of this continuous
support from all inheritance estates, to get the most efficient and best
qualified men and women in the world to devote their time and intelligence
to the service of educating the people of the earth.

"The schools themselves, you will remember, are
built
and supported by the community fund.

"Thus you see how interwoven are the educational
and economic systems of this the year 2000. The acquirement of
desirable
educators and ideal schools depends on economic prosperity; while economic
prosperity in turn depends on the activity of educators and their vehicles
the schools in training the mind of man and thus developing his
intelligence.

"So we can truly say that intelligence is the
axis
around which this universal civilization revolves.

"It is intelligence that makes man realize his
oneness
with the other members of the human race.

"It is intelligence that makes him see the
essential
harmony that exists between true science and true religion.

"It is intelligence that enables man to recognize
the gift of work.

"It is intelligence that teaches man the
necessity
of normalizing rather than equalizing or monopolizing the distribution
of capital.

"It is intelligence that makes compulsory a
universal
system of education and training for both boys and girls.

"It is intelligence that has united the world in
a federation of nations.

"It is intelligence that has caused the
International
House of Justice to limit the boundaries of all nations; to change the
dreadnaughts and warships into a great merchant marine; and to form an
international policy to protect the rights of all countries; to limit the
standing armies of nations to a few battalions for preserving internal
order.

"It was intelligence that caused the
International
Court to establish this twenty-first century economic system, that connects
local community with state, state with nation, and that binds the nations
together in a great federation of nations.

"It was intelligence that causes these wheels
within
wheels to revolve safely and continuously.

"This year 2000 has become distinguished for its
spirit of cooperation and brotherly love--through the agency of
intelligence.
Intelligence is the secret of all progress; and all intelligence comes
from One Supreme Source. It is the Supreme Creative Intelligence
that supplies each ray of individual intelligence.

"It was the Supreme Intelligence animating
the temple of man that caused that Great Sacrifice,
Bahá'u'lláh,
in the middle of the nineteenth century to sow the seeds that have developed
into this 'heaven on earth' that we call a universal civilization."

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