The further emergence of the Faith from obscurity is
reflected in distinctive ways. In learned circles, in reference works and in
the media, the Faith is increasingly being referred to as a
"principal" or "major" world religion … The exposure of
influential segments of the public to Bahá'í ideas in such areas as peace, the
environment, status of women, education and literacy, has induced a response
which increasingly calls upon the Bahá'ís to participate with others in a range
of projects associated with governments or with non-governmental organizations.
Moreover, such exposure is creating in the public mind the
realization that the Faith has answers to current problems and thus the
expectation that the Bahá'í community should take a more active part in public
affairs ….(The Universal House of Justice, from Ridván 1992 Message; The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. III, Scholarship)
