Our material civilization has progressed greatly with the perfection of the crafts and the forward steps of material science, but our spiritual civilization, that which is based on divine morals, has declined and become degraded. We should strive to make our material civilization the purest possible medium, the most unclouded glass, through which the light of our spiritual civilization must shine.
One of the things that supports a spiritual civilization is Peace and the most pressing need of politics is universal peace. But the oneness of humanity—human solidarity—which has been the message of all the Prophets, will be achieved only through spiritual power, for neither racial distinctions nor patriotism can further it. The oneness of humanity will come with the supremacy of spiritual civilization, and not while, as now, we are submerged in a sea of materialism.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha; compilation: ‘Abdu’l-Baha in America’, by DR. Zia Baghdadi; Star of the West, vol. 19, no.2, May 1928)