Abdu'l-Baha's tablet on religious law and the House of Justice

Sen McGlinn · 11-22-2010, 07:17 AM

I've just posted a translation of this tablet, with some notes.

The short link is here

Yeshua · 11-22-2010, 07:27 AM

Quote:

"Abdu’l-Baha replies that, in principle, the Baha’i Faith is similar to Christianity, whose scriptures also specify only a few laws."

You've gotta love that man

Quote:

" It is true that this divine dispensation is purely heavenly and spiritual, and concerned with matters of the soul. It has very little connection to the physical and temporal or to worldly concerns. Likewise, the dispensation of his Holiness Christ was purely spiritual, and the Gospel consisted entirely of spiritual laws and heavenly morals, except for the prohibition of divorce and the allusion to the abrogation of the Sabbath. As He has said,
“the Son of man came not to judge the world but to save the world.” (John 12:47)
And today, this most great cycle is also purely spiritual and confers eternal life. For the head cornerstone of the religion of God is to refine characters, regenerate personal qualities and reform manners. Its purpose is that those kept back by veils may attain the station of Seeing, and realities darkened by defects may become illumined. All other ordinances are offshoots of faith and certitude, of assurance and spiritual understanding."

I think that this is a fantastic description of the similarity between Christianity and the Baha'i Faith. Both of these religions lack the punitive laws and regulations which permeate both Judaism and Christianity. Indeed the reason I think that Christianity has been so successful down the years such as to become the world's biggest religion, is the relative liberty it grants to people. St Paul often spoke about how Jesus had freed us from the burden of the Jewish Law. In 1520 Martin Luther wrote a short work called ‘The Freedom of a Christian’. In it he celebrated the freedom all Christians possess: “A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none.” In faith, a Christian is freed from the demands of law, of external human requirements that override personal conscience or liberties. The Christian enjoys what St Paul called the ‘glorious liberty of the children of God.’ Yet this is only half of the picture of Christian freedom in Luther’s mind. The other half he summarizes in the statement: “The Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.” In other words, the Christian, having received her freedom from Christ then freely surrenders that very freedom to become the servant of others. St Paul, as usual, puts it succinctly: “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love, become slaves to one another.”
Christ was concerned with conversion of the heart and soul not rigid adherence to cultural laws and it is this which gives Christianity a universal appeal.
That is the reason why religions such as Islam, replete with punitive laws, ritual cleanliness and various other regulations have never greatly attracted Western people who have really enjoyed the full benefit of the spiritual freedom which Christ proclaimed to the world in his three year ministry. It is also the reason why Mystical Islam - or Sufism - has actually greatly attracted many Westerners since its emphasis is more on inner contrition of heart, spiritual yearning for the Beloved Lord rather than outward expressions of rigorous piety as with more Orthodox minded Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims.
If you asked me why I think after the Islamic Golden Age, the Muslim World collpased into a state of terrible decay and backwardness and why the Western World - which had actually lagged behind Islamic Civilisation - rose to such glorious heights, I would attribute it to Jesus Christ for the reasons presented above.
As Abdu-Baha said:

Quote:

The West has always received spiritual enlightenment from the East. The Song of the Kingdom is first heard in the East, but in the West the greater volume of sound bursts upon the listening ears.

The Lord Christ arose as a bright Star in the Eastern sky, but the light of His Teaching shone more perfectly in the West, where His influence has taken root more firmly and His Cause has spread to a greater degree than in the land of His birth.

The sound of the Song of Christ has echoed over all the lands of the Western World and entered the hearts of its people. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a talk given in Paris in 1912; Paris Talks, p. 33)

Again:

Quote:

… through the supreme efficacy and power of the Word of God He [Christ] united most of the nations of the East and the West. This was accomplished at a time when these nations were opposed to each other in hostility and strife. He led them beneath the overshadowing tent of the oneness of humanity. He educated them until they became united and agreed, and through His spirit of conciliation the Roman, Greek, Chaldean and Egyptian were blended in a composite civilization. This wonderful power and extraordinary efficacy of the Word prove conclusively the validity of Christ. Consider how His heavenly sovereignty is still permanent and lasting. Verily, this is conclusive proof and manifest evidence. (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 367)

And on the affinity between Christianity and the Baha'i Faith:

Quote:

The Cause of Bahá'u'lláh is the same as the Cause of Christ. It is the same Temple and the same Foundation. Both of these are spiritual springtimes and seasons of the soul-refreshing awakening and the cause of the renovation of the life of mankind. The spring of this year is the same as the spring of last year. The origins and ends are the same. The sun of today is the sun of yesterday. In the coming of Christ, the divine teachings were given in accordance with the infancy of the human race. The teachings of Bahá'u'lláh have the same basic principles, but are according to the stage of the maturity of the world and the requirements of this illumined age. ('Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith, p. 400)

I think this is an interesting one:

Quote:

Reason for the renewal of the Christian Message by Baha’u’llah
The Christian Teaching was illumined by the Divine Sun of Truth, therefore its followers were taught to love all men as brothers to fear nothing, not even death! To love their neighbours as themselves, and to forget their own selfish interests in striving for the greater good of humanity. The grand aim of the religion of Christ was to draw the hearts of all men nearer to God's effulgent Truth.
If the followers of the Lord Christ had continued to follow out these principles with steadfast faithfulness, there would have been no need for a renewal of the Christian Message, no necessity for a re-awakening of His people, for a great and glorious civilization would now be ruling the world and the Kingdom of Heaven would have come on earth (‘Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, pp. 32-33)

arthra · 11-22-2010, 08:02 AM

Sen,

Thanks for sharing your efforts!

Today this process of deduction is entrusted to the board of the House of Justice, and the personal deductions and inferences of scholars have no authority, unless they are endorsed by the House of Justice. The difference is this, that [the deductions and endorsements of the House of Justice, whose members are chosen and accepted by the entire religious community, will not give rise to conflict, whereas] the deductions drawn by individual divines and scholars immediately led to contention, and were the cause of schism, dispersion and factions. Unity of doctrine was destroyed, the unity of the Faith of God was undone, the edifice of the Law of God was shaken.

Good points..

bwb · 11-22-2010, 08:17 AM

Shoghi Effendi on the difference between the teachings of Jesus and Baha'u'llah:

"The Revelation associated with the Faith of Jesus Christ focused attention primarily on the redemption of the individual and the molding of his conduct, and stressed, as its central theme, the necessity of inculcating a high standard of morality and discipline into man, as the fundamental unit in human society. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find any reference to the unity of nations or the unification of mankind as a whole. When Jesus spoke to those around Him, He addressed them primarily as individuals rather than as component parts of one universal, indivisible entity. The whole surface of the earth was as yet unexplored, and the organization of all its peoples and nations as one unit could, consequently, not be envisaged, how much less proclaimed or established. What other interpretation can be given to these words, addressed specifically by Bahá'u'lláh to the followers of the Gospel, in which the fundamental distinction between the Mission of Jesus Christ, concerning primarily the individual, and His own Message, directed more particularly to mankind as a whole, has been definitely established: "Verily, He [Jesus] said: 'Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.' In this day, however, We say: 'Come ye after Me, that We may make you to become the quickeners of mankind.'""

(Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come, p. 119)

bwb · 11-22-2010, 08:20 AM

"728. Those matters of major importance which constitute the foundation of the Law of God are explicitly recorded in the Text, but subsidiary laws are left to the House of Justice. The wisdom of this is that the times never remain the same, for change is a necessary quality and an essential attribute of this world, and of time and place. Therefore the House of Justice will take action accordingly.

Let it not be imagined that the House of Justice will take any decision according to its own concepts and opinions. God forbid! The Supreme House of Justice will take decisions and establish laws through the inspiration and confirmation of the Holy Spirit, because it is in the safekeeping and under the shelter and protection of the Ancient Beauty, and obedience to its decisions is a bounden and essential duty and an absolute obligation, and there is no escape for anyone.

Say, O people: Verily the Supreme House of Justice is under the wings of your Lord, the Compassionate, the All- Merciful, that is, under His protection, His care, and His shelter; for He has commanded the firm believers to obey that blessed, sanctified and all-subduing body, whose sovereignty is divinely ordained and of the Kingdom of Heaven and whose laws are inspired and spiritual.

Briefly, this is the wisdom of referring the laws of society to the House of Justice. In the religion of Islam, similarly, not every ordinance was explicitly revealed; nay not a tenth part of a tenth part was included in the Text; although all matters of major importance were specifically referred to, there were undoubtedly thousands of laws which were unspecified. These were devised by the divines of a later age according to the laws of Islamic jurisprudence, and individual divines made conflicting deductions from the original revealed ordinances. All these were enforced. Today this process of deduction is the right of the body of the House of Justice, and the deductions and conclusions of individual learned men have no authority, unless they are endorsed by the House of Justice. The difference is precisely this, that from the conclusions and endorsements of the body of the House of Justice whose members are elected by and known to the worldwide Bahá'í community, no differences will arise; whereas the conclusions of individual divines and scholars would definitely lead to differences, and result in schism, division, and dispersion. The oneness of the Word would be destroyed, the unity of the Faith would disappear, and the edifice of the Faith of God would be shaken."

("Rahiq-i- Makhtum" vol. I, pp. 302-4; "Bahá'í News" 426 (September 1966), p. 2; cited in "Wellspring of Guidance" pp. 84-6)
(Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol. I, p. 323)

bwb · 11-22-2010, 08:25 AM

Shoghi Effendi explains that the Universal House of Justice can abrogate and change its own laws:

"Not only has the House of Justice been invested by Bahá'u'lláh with the authority to legislate whatsoever has not been explicitly and outwardly recorded in His holy Writ, upon it has also been conferred by the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá the right and power to abrogate, according to the changes and requirements of the time, whatever has been already enacted and enforced by a preceding House of Justice. In this connection, He revealed the following in His Will: "And inasmuch as the House of Justice hath power to enact laws that are not expressly recorded in the Book and bear upon daily transactions, so also it hath power to repeal the same. Thus for example, the House of Justice enacteth today a certain law and enforceth it, and a hundred years hence, circumstances having profoundly changed and the conditions having altered, another House of Justice will then have power, according to the exigencies of the time, to alter that law. This it can do because that law formeth no part of the divine explicit text. The House of Justice is both the initiator and the abrogator of its own laws." Such is the immutability of His revealed Word. Such is the elasticity which characterizes the functions of His appointed ministers. The first preserves the identity of His Faith, and guards the integrity of His law. The second enables it, even as a living organism, to expand and adapt itself to the needs and requirements of an ever-changing society."

(Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 22)

Yeshua · 11-22-2010, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwb

Shoghi Effendi explains that the Universal House of Justice can abrogate and change its own laws:

"Not only has the House of Justice been invested by Bahá'u'lláh with the authority to legislate whatsoever has not been explicitly and outwardly recorded in His holy Writ, upon it has also been conferred by the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá the right and power to abrogate, according to the changes and requirements of the time, whatever has been already enacted and enforced by a preceding House of Justice. In this connection, He revealed the following in His Will: "And inasmuch as the House of Justice hath power to enact laws that are not expressly recorded in the Book and bear upon daily transactions, so also it hath power to repeal the same. Thus for example, the House of Justice enacteth today a certain law and enforceth it, and a hundred years hence, circumstances having profoundly changed and the conditions having altered, another House of Justice will then have power, according to the exigencies of the time, to alter that law. This it can do because that law formeth no part of the divine explicit text. The House of Justice is both the initiator and the abrogator of its own laws." Such is the immutability of His revealed Word. Such is the elasticity which characterizes the functions of His appointed ministers. The first preserves the identity of His Faith, and guards the integrity of His law. The second enables it, even as a living organism, to expand and adapt itself to the needs and requirements of an ever-changing society."

(Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 22)

Reminds me of how the Catholic Church once taught that Limbo was a real place but after Vatican II abrogated and annulled this view. It also (thankfully) lifted the anathemas (excommunications) placed upon the Protestant Churches. As with the above, the Church realized that it had to "expand and adapt itself to the needs and requirements of an ever-changing society" or face extinction as a fossil with social mores no longer relevant to 20th century society, whilst retaining the fundamentals and sustantials of the faith.

Yeshua · 11-22-2010, 08:33 AM

I like this:

Quote:

Our belief in Christ, as Bahá'ís, is so firm, so unshakable and so exalted in nature that very few Christians are to be found now-a-days who love Him and reverence Him and have the faith in Him that we have. It is only from the dogmas and creeds of the churches that we dissociate ourselves; not from the spirit of Christianity. (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Bahá'ís of Vienna, June 24, 1947; Lights of Guidance, p. 159)

Yeshua · 11-22-2010, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwb

Shoghi Effendi on the difference between the teachings of Jesus and Baha'u'llah:

"The Revelation associated with the Faith of Jesus Christ focused attention primarily on the redemption of the individual and the molding of his conduct, and stressed, as its central theme, the necessity of inculcating a high standard of morality and discipline into man, as the fundamental unit in human society. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find any reference to the unity of nations or the unification of mankind as a whole. When Jesus spoke to those around Him, He addressed them primarily as individuals rather than as component parts of one universal, indivisible entity. The whole surface of the earth was as yet unexplored, and the organization of all its peoples and nations as one unit could, consequently, not be envisaged, how much less proclaimed or established. What other interpretation can be given to these words, addressed specifically by Bahá'u'lláh to the followers of the Gospel, in which the fundamental distinction between the Mission of Jesus Christ, concerning primarily the individual, and His own Message, directed more particularly to mankind as a whole, has been definitely established: "Verily, He [Jesus] said: 'Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.' In this day, however, We say: 'Come ye after Me, that We may make you to become the quickeners of mankind.'""

(Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come, p. 119)

That would appear to contradict...

Quote:

Christ appeared in this world nineteen hundred years ago to establish ties of unity and bonds of love between the various nations and different communities. He cemented together the sciences of Rome and the splendors of the civilization of Greece. He also accomplished affiliation between the Assyrian kingdom and the power of Egypt. The blending of these nations in unity, love and agreement had been impossible, but Christ through divine power established this condition among the children of men.
A much greater difficulty confronts us today when we endeavor to establish unity between the Orient and the Occident. Bahá'u'lláh through the power of heaven has brought the East and the West together. Erelong we shall know that they have been cemented by the power of God.
(Abdu’l-Baha, the promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 18)

I'm probably reading it wrong though but how are the two reconciled? Does "Christ...established ties of unity and bonds of love between the various nations and different communities" not sit a little uneasily with "Nowhere in the Gospels do we find any reference to the unity of nations"?

Also it would seem to contradict his statement here as well:

Quote:

His [Christ's] essential teaching was the unity of mankind and the attainment of supreme human virtues through love. He came to establish the Kingdom of peace and everlasting life. Can you find in His words any justification for discord and enmity? The purpose of His life and the glory of His death were to set mankind free from the sins of strife, war and bloodshed. ('Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p.5)

Does "Nowhere in the Gospels do we find any reference to...the unification of mankind as a whole" not conflict with "His [Christ's] essential teaching was the unity of mankind"?

I'm confused, sorry.

bwb · 11-22-2010, 08:38 AM

"Abdu’l-Baha replies that, in principle, the Baha’i Faith is similar to Christianity, whose scriptures also specify only a few laws."

The Baha'i Faith has much, much greater detail in its spiritual laws than you will find in the gospel and also has a detailed set of guiding principles for its administrative institutions as well, as well as various teachings which are directed at the world's political leaders. Unlike Moses and Muhammad, Baha'u'llah was not a political leader. Baha'u'llah has chosen purely non-political and non-violent means to promote his religion and has forbidden religious war, which is similar to the methods of Christ and His apostles.

Yeshua · 11-22-2010, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwb

"Abdu’l-Baha replies that, in principle, the Baha’i Faith is similar to Christianity, whose scriptures also specify only a few laws."

The Baha'i Faith has much, much greater detail in its spiritual laws than you will find in the gospel and also has a detailed set of guiding principles for its administrative institutions as well, as well as various teachings which are directed at the world's political leaders. Unlike Moses and Muhammad, Baha'u'llah was not a political leader. Baha'u'llah has chosen purely non-political and non-violent means to promote his religion and has forbidden religious war, which is similar to the methods of Christ and His apostles.

bwb · 11-22-2010, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeshua

That would appear to contradict...I'm probably reading it wrong though but how are the two reconciled? Does "Christ...established ties of unity and bonds of love between the various nations and different communities" not sit a little uneasily with "Nowhere in the Gospels do we find any reference to the unity of nations"?
I'm confused, sorry.

Baha'i teachings give a detailed plan for uniting mankind, both spiritually and politically, leading to a permanent and universal peace.

Yeshua · 11-22-2010, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwb

Baha'i teachings give a detailed plan for uniting mankind, both spiritually and politically, leading to a permanent and universal peace.

But I feel that Abdul-Baha is saying that the inherent core of their message was exactly the same, just that Baha'u'llah fleshed it out a bit more to meet the needs of the modern world?

In principle though there is no difference.

bwb · 11-22-2010, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeshua

In principle though there is no difference.

There is no contradiction between them. Baha'i teachings are far more complete, though, with hundreds of volumes of authenticated writings having been authored by Baha'u'llah and the Central Figures of the Baha'i Faith. Baha'i history has been recorded in far greater detail as well. Also there are Baha'i teachings directed towards the problems and conditions of the modern age, which did not exist at the time of Christ.

whine of astonsihment · 11-22-2010, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeshua

Reminds me of how the Catholic Church once taught that Limbo was a real place but after Vatican II abrogated and annulled this view.

REALLY? That's not the impression I get from this statement.

Roman Catholic Blog: Pope Benedict XVI's New Statement On Limbo

Yeshua · 11-22-2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whine of astonsihment

REALLY? That's not the impression I get from this statement.

Roman Catholic Blog: Pope Benedict XVI's New Statement On Limbo

Hi whine

What I meant is that the Church basically stopped 'teaching' Limbo after Vatican II when it realized that it was not rational to believe that unbaptised babies wouldn't go to heaven but would go to some intermediate state called 'Limbo'. Limbo is not an official doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church or any other and never has been, so no 'official' policy has changed because limbo never made it to 'official' status but stayed in the realms of (to me irrational) medeival speculation. Benedict XVI firmly believes that God is reason. He realizes that there is a logical inconsistency with God's loving, merciful nature and a belief that unbaptised babies (inluding unborn humans) do not go to Heaven.

I think that the Church just doesn't want to admit that it got it wrong. Well to be fair it never supported the view but it allowed it to be taught when it really shouldn't have (because its mince). Benedict is a very honest man however, so he has the guts to - subtly - say so.

Hope that clears it up for you lol

BruceDLimber · 11-23-2010, 04:42 AM

Yeshua, hi! :-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeshua

That would appear to contradict...

You may want to bear in mind that while Shoghi Effendi's statements are official, only certain of 'Abdu'l-Baha's works are considered Baha'i scripture!

Some Answered Questions and Memorials of the Faithful, for example, are clearly scripture, but The Promulgation of Universal Peace and Paris Talks, for example, are not. Instead, the latter fall into the category of what we call "pilgrims' notes" because they weren't written by 'Abdu'l-Baha or verified by him. While they may be interesting (even helpful) reading, they simply aren't reliable enough accounts to be considered scripture.

So while you may read various statements in works like--say--Promulgation, you should bear in mind that these are actually somebody else's opinion (not necessarily 'Abdu'l-Baha's) and therefore not a reliable basis for constructing Baha'i doctrine!

Regards, :-)

Bruce

Lunitik · 11-23-2010, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeshua

Both of these religions lack the punitive laws and regulations which permeate both Judaism and Christianity.

Do you mean Islam here?

Certainly Baha'i doesn't lack laws, there are many. Islam has created an entire book JUST on the laws it confers from the Quran though, with no instruction from Muhammad - just what they believe things to mean.

In Baha'i, it is made quite clear that laws are to be applied with reason. Abdu'l Baha has even spoken out in this very tablet about some extreme punishments of Islam, but there is also a lot of text about wanting to HELP people rather than simply punish.

It is truly awesome if you delve into this aspect, but many are already starting FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) about Baha'i being the NWO religion. They always miss the fact that Baha'i scriptures teach a change of thinking amongst the peoples of the world that permits such things because it won't be taken advantage of.

Sen McGlinn · 11-23-2010, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeshua

Quote:

Christ appeared in this world nineteen hundred years ago to establish ties of unity and bonds of love between the various nations and different communities. He cemented together the sciences of Rome and the splendors of the civilization of Greece. He also accomplished affiliation between the Assyrian kingdom and the power of Egypt. The blending of these nations in unity, love and agreement had been impossible, but Christ through divine power established this condition among the children of men.
(Abdu’l-Baha, the promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 18)

The text is not reliable, but there are Persian notes from this talk that are checked and corrected by Abdu'l-Baha (at least, that was his usual practice). According to these notes, in 'Khatabat" (talks) volume 2, Abdu'l-Baha said,

Quote:

When His Holiness Christ appeared, he created fellowship between diverse peoples and sects. He brought harmony between Romans and Greeks, Assyrians and Egyptians. The differences and prejudice between these peoples were so severe, that fellowship and harmony could not be achieved, but His Holiness Christ brought them all to unity and agreement, through the power of God.

What Shoghi Effendi says, in The Promised Day is Come, p. 119, is that in addition to this type of unity (between the hearts), Baha'u'llah also initiated a system to unite the nations "as one unit" -- in a world commonwealth of nations.

This (PUP p18) is not the only place where the English term "nations" leads to difficulties. In the course of the 20th century this increasingly came to mean "nation-state", whereas Shoghi Effendi and other Bahai translators often use it in the sense of "peoples" - defined by culture not by citizenship.

Lunitik · 11-23-2010, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeshua

But I feel that Abdul-Baha is saying that the inherent core of their message was exactly the same, just that Baha'u'llah fleshed it out a bit more to meet the needs of the modern world?

In principle though there is no difference.

It is explained that the core of each of Gods religions never waiver, only the social laws change as man evolves.

I think the alleviates any implied contradiction?

11-22-2010, 07:17 AM	#1
Sen McGlinn Senior Member Joined: Aug 2010 From: Leiden, the Netherlands Posts: 248	Abdu'l-Baha's tablet on religious law and the House of Justice I've just posted a translation of this tablet, with some notes. The short link is here

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11-22-2010, 08:02 AM	#3
arthra Senior Member Joined: Jun 2006 From: California Posts: 3,062	Sen, Thanks for sharing your efforts! Today this process of deduction is entrusted to the board of the House of Justice, and the personal deductions and inferences of scholars have no authority, unless they are endorsed by the House of Justice. The difference is this, that [the deductions and endorsements of the House of Justice, whose members are chosen and accepted by the entire religious community, will not give rise to conflict, whereas] the deductions drawn by individual divines and scholars immediately led to contention, and were the cause of schism, dispersion and factions. Unity of doctrine was destroyed, the unity of the Faith of God was undone, the edifice of the Law of God was shaken. Good points..

11-22-2010, 08:17 AM	#4
bwb Senior Member Joined: Aug 2010 From: earth Posts: 700	Shoghi Effendi on the difference between the teachings of Jesus and Baha'u'llah: "The Revelation associated with the Faith of Jesus Christ focused attention primarily on the redemption of the individual and the molding of his conduct, and stressed, as its central theme, the necessity of inculcating a high standard of morality and discipline into man, as the fundamental unit in human society. Nowhere in the Gospels do we find any reference to the unity of nations or the unification of mankind as a whole. When Jesus spoke to those around Him, He addressed them primarily as individuals rather than as component parts of one universal, indivisible entity. The whole surface of the earth was as yet unexplored, and the organization of all its peoples and nations as one unit could, consequently, not be envisaged, how much less proclaimed or established. What other interpretation can be given to these words, addressed specifically by Bahá'u'lláh to the followers of the Gospel, in which the fundamental distinction between the Mission of Jesus Christ, concerning primarily the individual, and His own Message, directed more particularly to mankind as a whole, has been definitely established: "Verily, He [Jesus] said: 'Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.' In this day, however, We say: 'Come ye after Me, that We may make you to become the quickeners of mankind.'"" (Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come, p. 119)

11-22-2010, 08:20 AM	#5
bwb Senior Member Joined: Aug 2010 From: earth Posts: 700	"728. Those matters of major importance which constitute the foundation of the Law of God are explicitly recorded in the Text, but subsidiary laws are left to the House of Justice. The wisdom of this is that the times never remain the same, for change is a necessary quality and an essential attribute of this world, and of time and place. Therefore the House of Justice will take action accordingly. Let it not be imagined that the House of Justice will take any decision according to its own concepts and opinions. God forbid! The Supreme House of Justice will take decisions and establish laws through the inspiration and confirmation of the Holy Spirit, because it is in the safekeeping and under the shelter and protection of the Ancient Beauty, and obedience to its decisions is a bounden and essential duty and an absolute obligation, and there is no escape for anyone. Say, O people: Verily the Supreme House of Justice is under the wings of your Lord, the Compassionate, the All- Merciful, that is, under His protection, His care, and His shelter; for He has commanded the firm believers to obey that blessed, sanctified and all-subduing body, whose sovereignty is divinely ordained and of the Kingdom of Heaven and whose laws are inspired and spiritual. Briefly, this is the wisdom of referring the laws of society to the House of Justice. In the religion of Islam, similarly, not every ordinance was explicitly revealed; nay not a tenth part of a tenth part was included in the Text; although all matters of major importance were specifically referred to, there were undoubtedly thousands of laws which were unspecified. These were devised by the divines of a later age according to the laws of Islamic jurisprudence, and individual divines made conflicting deductions from the original revealed ordinances. All these were enforced. Today this process of deduction is the right of the body of the House of Justice, and the deductions and conclusions of individual learned men have no authority, unless they are endorsed by the House of Justice. The difference is precisely this, that from the conclusions and endorsements of the body of the House of Justice whose members are elected by and known to the worldwide Bahá'í community, no differences will arise; whereas the conclusions of individual divines and scholars would definitely lead to differences, and result in schism, division, and dispersion. The oneness of the Word would be destroyed, the unity of the Faith would disappear, and the edifice of the Faith of God would be shaken." ("Rahiq-i- Makhtum" vol. I, pp. 302-4; "Bahá'í News" 426 (September 1966), p. 2; cited in "Wellspring of Guidance" pp. 84-6) (Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol. I, p. 323)

11-22-2010, 08:25 AM	#6
bwb Senior Member Joined: Aug 2010 From: earth Posts: 700	Shoghi Effendi explains that the Universal House of Justice can abrogate and change its own laws: "Not only has the House of Justice been invested by Bahá'u'lláh with the authority to legislate whatsoever has not been explicitly and outwardly recorded in His holy Writ, upon it has also been conferred by the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá the right and power to abrogate, according to the changes and requirements of the time, whatever has been already enacted and enforced by a preceding House of Justice. In this connection, He revealed the following in His Will: "And inasmuch as the House of Justice hath power to enact laws that are not expressly recorded in the Book and bear upon daily transactions, so also it hath power to repeal the same. Thus for example, the House of Justice enacteth today a certain law and enforceth it, and a hundred years hence, circumstances having profoundly changed and the conditions having altered, another House of Justice will then have power, according to the exigencies of the time, to alter that law. This it can do because that law formeth no part of the divine explicit text. The House of Justice is both the initiator and the abrogator of its own laws." Such is the immutability of His revealed Word. Such is the elasticity which characterizes the functions of His appointed ministers. The first preserves the identity of His Faith, and guards the integrity of His law. The second enables it, even as a living organism, to expand and adapt itself to the needs and requirements of an ever-changing society." (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 22)

11-22-2010, 08:38 AM	#10
bwb Senior Member Joined: Aug 2010 From: earth Posts: 700	"Abdu’l-Baha replies that, in principle, the Baha’i Faith is similar to Christianity, whose scriptures also specify only a few laws." The Baha'i Faith has much, much greater detail in its spiritual laws than you will find in the gospel and also has a detailed set of guiding principles for its administrative institutions as well, as well as various teachings which are directed at the world's political leaders. Unlike Moses and Muhammad, Baha'u'llah was not a political leader. Baha'u'llah has chosen purely non-political and non-violent means to promote his religion and has forbidden religious war, which is similar to the methods of Christ and His apostles.