# A Bird's-Eye View of the World in the Year 2000

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-20 — 1 clipping.*

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> 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.
> ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
> 
> 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."
> 
> METADATA
> 
> Views13001 views since posted 1997; last edit 2024-10-14 04:49 UTC;
> 
> previous at archive.org.../harper_world_year_2000;
> URLs changed in 2010, see archive.org.../bahai-library.org
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> Typed 1997 by Ralph Wagner.
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> — *A Bird's-Eye View of the World in the Year 2000 (Used by permission of the curator)*