Dignity: A Spiritual Perspective…

Dr. Donna Hicks, in her book "Dignity: Its Essential Role in Resolving Conflicts", defines dignity as the inherent value and worth of every individual. She emphasizes that dignity is not something that needs to be earned; it is a birthright—something we all possess simply by being human. This is not the same as respect, which is often tied to status, achievements, or behavior.

Dignity is deeper. It is unconditional.
This view reflects the Bahá’í teaching that every person is created noble and full of potential. Bahá’u’lláh teaches: “Noble have created thee, yet thou hast abased thyself. Rise then unto that for which thou wast created.” The Bahá’í Faith adds another dimension to our understanding of dignity by emphasizing that we are responsible for recognizing and upholding it. This means seeing and honoring the worth in ourselves and in everyone around us.

In today’s culture, harsh words, family tensions, online shaming, corporate politics, and social injustice are all too common. Could this be a result of people failing to treat one another with dignity? Are we conscious of how our words and actions affectsomeone’s sense of worth?
Do we speak in ways that make people around us feel uplifted—or do we, without realizing it, diminish others through criticism, sarcasm, orsilence?
As the Bahá’í Writings beautifully advise: “A kindly tongue is the lodestone of the hearts of men. It is the bread of the spirit, it clotheth the words with meaning, it is the fountain of the light of wisdom and understanding.”

In a world so often starved of gentleness, kind words may be one of the simplest—and most powerful—ways to honor human dignity. Here, in this space, where we seek to foster an environment of unity built upondiversity, each person and every voice — regardless of age, race, gender, nationality, and culture — will be valued and respected.

We’d love to see you in person. If that is not possible, and you still would like to attend, here is a zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88158217522?pwd=cGxNeDR2eCthN0k2d2tlSk1sMnViQT09