Chapter 3
Regarding the advice you requested from him concerning what studies you should specialize in with a view to teaching in the future: He would suggest either History, Economics or Sociology, as these are not only fields in which Baha'is take a great interest but also cover subjects which our teachings cast an entirely new light upon. Your knowledge would be of use to the Cause in teaching it in the future, and you could also perhaps introduce the Baha'i ideas into your lectures as an educator.
(13 March 1944 to an individual believer) [37]
From Letters Written by or on Behalf of the Universal House of Justice
38: "You are already a qualified practitioner in your field, and no doubt you..."
You are already a qualified practitioner in your field, and no doubt you give advice on the basis of what you have learned from study and experience--a whole fabric of concepts about the human mind, its growth, development and proper functioning, which you have learned and evolved without reference to the teachings of Baha'u'llah. Now, as a Baha'i, you know that what Baha'u'llah teaches about the purpose of human life, the nature of the human being and the proper conduct of human lives, is divinely revealed and therefore true. However, it will inevitably take time for you not only to study the Baha'i teachings so that you clearly understand them, but also to work out how they modify your professional concepts. This is, of course, not an unusual predicament for a scientist. How often in the course of research is a factor discovered which requires a revolution in thinking over a wide field of human endeavour. You must be guided in each case by your own professional knowledge and judgement as illuminated by your growing knowledge of the Baha'i teachings; undoubtedly you will find that your own understanding of the human problems dealt with in your work will change and develop and you will see new and improved ways of helping the people who come to you. Psychology is still a very young and inexact science, and as the years go by Baha'i psychologists, who know from the teachings of Baha'u'llah the true pattern of human life, will be able to make great strides in the development of this science, and will help profoundly in the alleviation of human suffering.
(6 February 1973, published in "Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1968-1973" (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1976), pp. 111-112) [38]
39: "As the Baha'i community grows it will acquire experts in numerous fields..."
As the Baha'i community grows it will acquire experts in numerous fields--both by Baha'is becoming experts and by experts becoming Baha'is. As these experts bring their knowledge and skill to the service of the community and, even more, as they transform their various disciplines by bringing to bear upon them the light of the Divine Teachings, problem after problem now disrupting society will be answered....
Paralleling this process, Baha'i institutional life will also be developing, and as it does so the Assemblies will draw increasingly upon scientific and expert knowledge--whether of Baha'is or of non-Baha'is--to assist in solving the problems of their communities.
In time great Baha'i institutions of learning, great international and national projects for the betterment of human life will be inaugurated and flourish.
(21 August 1977 on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer) [39]
40: "Indeed, let them [the Baha'i youth] welcome with confidence the challenges..."
Indeed, let them [the Baha'i youth] welcome with confidence the challenges awaiting them. Imbued with this excellence and a corresponding humility, with tenacity and a loving servitude, today's youth must move towards the front ranks of the professions, trades, arts and crafts which are necessary to the further progress of humankind--this to ensure that the spirit of the Cause will cast its illumination on all these important areas of human endeavour. Moreover, while aiming at mastering the unifying concepts and swiftly advancing technologies of this era of communications, they can, indeed they must, also guarantee the transmittal to the future of those skills which will preserve the marvelous, indispensable achievements of the past. The transformation which is to occur in the functioning of society will certainly depend to a great extent on the effectiveness of the preparations the youth make for the world they will inherit.
(8 May 1985 from the Universal House of Justice to the Baha'i Youth of the World) [40]
41: "The House of Justice recognizes that the questions you raise, concerning..."
The House of Justice recognizes that the questions you raise, concerning the offer of newly enrolled professionals to share their views with the Baha'i community, are of vital and timely importance, especially as the Faith emerges from obscurity and increasing numbers of professionals from all walks of life are attracted to its Teachings. The process of integrating these experts into Baha'i communities as well-grounded believers and tapping their potential as promoters and supporters of the Cause will require patient and loving guidance by Baha'i institutions. A great challenge will be to avoid undue disruption of this process of integration by abandoning such persons to the insensitive attitudes still present in communities not yet broadly diverse or accustomed to dealing with all ranks of society.
Scholars and professionals are well accustomed to encountering new facts in the course of their research which require them to adjust previous thinking on various aspects of their discipline. In the case of their deepening in the Teachings of the Faith it naturally takes time for them to study and absorb so many new concepts. They must be assisted to acquire, as quickly as possible, profound knowledge of the Teachings. Gradually this knowledge will shed new light on their previous views. At the same time, Baha'i communities will need to develop greater tolerance toward ideas that may not coincide with their current understanding, and remain open to new insights....
Newly enrolled professionals and other experts provide a great resource for the development of Baha'i scholarship. It is hoped that, as they attain a deeper grasp of the Teachings and their significance, they will be able to assist Baha'i communities in correlating the beliefs of the Faith with the current thoughts and problems of the world. In some instances Baha'is of a particular profession have come together in special conferences or organized themselves into an association for this purpose. This also allows them to support one another as Baha'is and to take advantage of their professional status to promote the interests of the Faith. Current examples of professional associations of this type are the Baha'i Justice Society and the Baha'i Medical Association, both in the United States. Special encouragement should therefore be given to believers of unusual capacity to consecrate their abilities to the service of the Cause through the unique contribution they can make to this rapidly developing field of Baha'i endeavour.
(18 April 1989 on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly) [41]
3. GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES
3.1 Spiritual Foundation
From the Writings of Baha'u'llah
42: "Therefore, hath it been said: "Knowledge is a light which God casteth into..."
Therefore, hath it been said: "Knowledge is a light which God casteth into the heart of whomsoever He willeth." It is this kind of knowledge which is and hath ever been praiseworthy, and not the limited knowledge that hath sprung forth from veiled and obscured minds. This limited knowledge they even stealthily borrow one from the other, and vainly pride themselves therein!
("The Kitab-i-Iqan", p. 46) [42]
43: "We have decreed, O people, that the highest and last end of all learning..."
We have decreed, O people, that the highest and last end of all learning be the recognition of Him Who is the Object of all knowledge; and yet, behold how ye have allowed your learning to shut you out, as by a veil, from Him Who is the Dayspring of this Light, through Whom every hidden thing hath been revealed.
(The Kitab-i-Aqdas, paragraph 102) [43]
From the Writings and Utterances of 'Abdu'l-Baha
44: "Although to acquire the sciences and arts is the greatest glory of..."
Although to acquire the sciences and arts is the greatest glory of mankind, this is so only on condition that man's river floweth into the mighty Sea, and draweth from God's ancient source His inspiration. When this cometh to pass, then every teacher is as a shoreless ocean, every pupil a prodigal fountain of knowledge. If, then, the pursuit of knowledge leadeth to the beauty of Him Who is the object of all knowledge, how excellent that goal; but if not, a mere drop will perhaps shut a man off from flooding grace, for with learning cometh arrogance and pride, and it bringeth on error and indifference to God.
The sciences of today are bridges to reality; if then they lead not to reality, naught remains but fruitless illusion. By the one true God! If learning be not a means of access to Him, the Most Manifest, it is nothing but evident loss.
("Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha", section 72) [44]
45: "And every branch of learning, conjoined with the love of God, is approved..."
And every branch of learning, conjoined with the love of God, is approved and worthy of praise; but bereft of His love, learning is barren--indeed, it bringeth on madness. Every kind of knowledge, every science, is as a tree: if the fruit of it be the love of God, then is it a blessed tree, but if not, that tree is but dried-up wood, and shall only feed the fire.
("Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha", section 154) [45]
46: "Scientific knowledge is the highest attainment upon the human plane,..."
Scientific knowledge is the highest attainment upon the human plane, for science is the discoverer of realities. It is of two kinds: material and spiritual. Material science is the investigation of natural phenomena; divine science is the discovery and realization of spiritual verities. The world of humanity must acquire both. A bird has two wings; it cannot fly with one. Material and spiritual science are the two wings of human uplift and attainment. Both are necessary--one the natural, the other supernatural; one material, the other divine. By the divine we mean the discovery of the mysteries of God, the comprehension of spiritual realities, the wisdom of God, inner significances of the heavenly religions and foundation of the law.
("The Promulgation of Universal Peace", p. 138) [46]
From a Letter Written on Behalf of Shoghi Effendi
47: "Between the truth which comes from God through His Prophets, and the..."
Between the truth which comes from God through His Prophets, and the glimmerings, often misunderstood and misinterpreted, of truth which come from the philosophers and thinkers, there is an immense difference. We must never, under any circumstances, confuse the two.
Baha'u'llah has said that learning can be the veil between the soul of man and the eternal truth; in other words, between man and the knowledge of God. We have seen that many people who become very advanced in the study of modern physical sciences are led to deny God, and to deny His Prophets. That does not mean that God and the Prophets have not existed and do not exist. It only means that knowledge has become a veil between their hearts and the light of God.
(22 April 1954 to an individual believer) [47]
From Letters Written on Behalf of the Universal House of Justice
48: "Just as there is a fundamental difference between divine Revelation itself..."
Just as there is a fundamental difference between divine Revelation itself and the understanding that believers have of it, so also there is a basic distinction between scientific fact and reasoning on the one hand and the conclusions or theories of scientists on the other. There is, and can be, no conflict between true religion and true science: true religion is revealed by God, while it is through true science that the mind of man "discovers the realities of things and becomes cognizant of their peculiarities and effects, and of the qualities and properties of beings" and "comprehendeth the abstract by the aid of the concrete". However, whenever a statement is made through the lens of human understanding it is thereby limited, for human understanding is limited; and where there is limitation there is the possibility of error; and where there is error, conflicts can arise. For example, at the present time many people are convinced that it is unscientific to believe in God, but, as human enlightenment progresses, the scientists and philosophers of the future will not be, in the words of 'Abdu'l-Baha, "deniers of the Prophets, ignorant of spiritual susceptibilities, deprived of the heavenly bounties and without belief in the supernatural".
(26 December 1975 to an individual believer) [48]
49: "The combination of absolute loyalty to the Manifestation of God and..."
The combination of absolute loyalty to the Manifestation of God and His Teachings, with the searching and intelligent study of the Teachings and history of the Faith which those Teachings themselves enjoin, is a particular strength of this Dispensation. In past Dispensations the believers have tended to divide into two mutually antagonistic groups: those who held blindly to the letter of the Revelation, and those who questioned and doubted everything. Like all extremes, both these can lead into error. The beloved Guardian has written that "The Baha'i Faith ... enjoins upon its followers the primary duty of an unfettered search after truth...." Baha'is are called upon to follow the Faith with intelligence and understanding. Inevitably believers will commit errors as they strive to rise to this degree of maturity, and this calls for forbearance and humility on the part of all concerned, so that such matters do not cause disunity or discord among the friends.
(7 October 1980 to an individual believer) [49]
50: "The House of Justice suggests that the issues raised in your letter..."
The House of Justice suggests that the issues raised in your letter might best be considered in light of the statements in the Baha'i Writings which disclose the relationship between the Revelation of Baha'u'llah and the knowledge which is acquired as a result of scholarly endeavours. Baha'u'llah asserts that:
Unveiled and unconcealed, this Wronged One hath, at all times, proclaimed before the face of all the peoples of the world that which will serve as the key for unlocking the doors of sciences, of arts, of knowledge, of well-being, of prosperity and wealth....
It is evident that the Baha'i Writings illuminate all areas of human endeavour and all academic disciplines. Those who have been privileged to recognize the station of Baha'u'llah have the bounty of access to a Revelation which casts light upon all aspects of thought and inquiry, and are enjoined to use the understanding which they obtain from their immersion in the Holy Writings to advance the interests of the Faith.
Those believers with the capacity and opportunity to do so have repeatedly been encouraged in their pursuit of academic studies by which they are not only equipped to render much needed services to the Faith, but are also provided with the means to acquire a profound insight into the meaning and the implications of the Baha'i Teachings. They discover also that the perceptions gained from a deeper understanding of the Revelation of Baha'u'llah clarify the subjects of their academic inquiry.
It is useful to review a number of statements written by Shoghi Effendi on this subject. To a believer who had completed advanced academic studies in a subject related to the Teachings the Guardian stated, in a letter written on his behalf:
It is hoped that all the Baha'i students will follow the noble example you have set before them and will, henceforth, be led to investigate and analyse the principles of the Faith and to correlate them with the modern aspects of philosophy and science. Every intelligent and thoughtful young Baha'i should always approach the Cause in this way, for therein lies the very essence of the principle of independent investigation of truth.
When he was informed of the enrolment of a scientist in the Faith, the response set out in the letter written on his behalf was:
We need very much the sound, sane, element of thinking which a scientifically trained mind has to offer. When such intellectual powers are linked to deep faith a tremendous teaching potential is created....
His secretary wrote, on another occasion, that:
Shoghi Effendi has for years urged the Baha'is (who asked his advice, and in general also) to study history, economics, sociology, etc., in order to be au courant with all the progressive movements and thoughts being put forth today, and so that they could correlate these to the Baha'i teachings. What he wants the Baha'is to do is to study more, not to study less. The more general knowledge, scientific and otherwise, they possess, the better. Likewise he is constantly urging them to really study the Baha'i teachings more deeply.
In the simultaneous endeavour to pursue their studies and to delve deeply into the Baha'i Teachings, believers are enjoined to maintain a keen awareness that the Revelation of Baha'u'llah is the standard of truth against which all other views and conclusions are to be measured. They are urged to be modest about their accomplishments, and to bear in mind always the statement of Baha'u'llah that:
The heart must needs therefore be cleansed from the idle sayings of men, and sanctified from every earthly affection, so that it may discover the hidden meaning of divine inspiration, and become the treasury of the mysteries of divine knowledge.
(19 October 1993 to an individual believer) [50]
3.2 "Useful" Sciences
From the Writings of Baha'u'llah
51: "It is permissible to study sciences and arts, but such sciences as are..."
It is permissible to study sciences and arts, but such sciences as are useful and would redound to the progress and advancement of the people. Thus hath it been decreed by Him Who is the Ordainer, the All-Wise.
("Tablets of Baha'u'llah Revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas", p. 26) [51]
From the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha
52: "The individual should, prior to engaging in the study of any subject, ask..."
The individual should, prior to engaging in the study of any subject, ask himself what its uses are and what fruit and result will derive from it. If it is a useful branch of knowledge, that is, if society will gain important benefits from it, then he should certainly pursue it with all his heart. If not, if it consists in empty, profitless debates and in a vain concatenation of imaginings that lead to no result except acrimony, why devote one's life to such useless hairsplittings and disputes.
("The Secret of Divine Civilization", p. 106) [52]
From Letters Written on Behalf of Shoghi Effendi
53: "The choice you have made for your course of study is surely most..."
The choice you have made for your course of study is surely most interesting and will be of inestimable service in your work for the Cause. Even though every branch of study will have some interest for a Baha'i who is looking how the spirit of the Cause and of the the new age is awakening the minds, yet a study of the condition of society will better show us the needs of the world, hence the part that the Teachings can play in satisfying them.
(5 January 1930 to an individual believer) [53]
54: "Philosophy, as you will study it and later teach it, is certainly not..."
Philosophy, as you will study it and later teach it, is certainly not one of the sciences that begins and ends in words. Fruitless excursions into metaphysical hair-splittings is meant, not a sound branch of learning like philosophy....
As regards your own studies: he would advise you not to devote too much of your time to the abstract side of philosophy, but rather to approach it from a more historical angle. As to correlating philosophy with the Baha'i teachings: this is a tremendous work which scholars in the future can undertake. We must remember that not only are all the teachings not yet translated into English, but they are not even all collected yet. Many important Tablets may still come to light which are at present owned privately.
(15 February 1947 to an individual believer) [54]
From a Letter Written on Behalf of the Universal House of Justice
55: "In response to your letter of ... in which you seek guidance on the..."
In response to your letter of ... in which you seek guidance on the question of chosen professions vis-a-vis the statement of Baha'u'llah concerning sciences which begin in words and end in mere words and the pursuit of study in pure mathematics and the classics, the Universal House of Justice has instructed us to share with you an excerpt from a letter to an individual believer written in 1947 on behalf of the beloved Guardian: Philosophy, as you will study it and later teach it, is certainly not one of the sciences that begins and ends in words. Fruitless excursions into metaphysical hair-splittings is meant, not a sound branch of learning like philosophy.
In these words the Guardian has enunciated the general principle. Turning to the specific instance of the science of pure mathematics, the reference in the Eleventh Glad Tidings (Baha'i World Faith, p. 195) regarding such sciences as are profitable, which lead and conduce to the elevation of mankind,(2) must be placed in the context of the meaning of sciences as employed by the Manifestation. Baha'u'llah's comment about sciences which begin and end in mere words does not apply to the systematic study of natural phenomena in order to discover the laws of order in the physical universe, an order which mathematics seeks to explore. Pure mathematics frequently has application in practical matters, such as, for example, group theory or the study of fundamental particles.
As for classical studies, we are to share with you the following excerpt from a letter dated 30 November 1932 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual who had asked a question about the skills of story writing and whether such occupation would be classed as those sciences that begin and end in words".
What Baha'u'llah meant primarily with "sciences that begin and end in words" are those theological treatises and commentaries that encumber the human mind rather than help it to attain the truth. The students would devote their life to their study but still attain no where.
Baha'u'llah surely never meant to include story-writing under such a category; and shorthand and typewriting are both most useful talents, very necessary in our present social and economic life.
What you could do, and should do, is to use your stories to become a source of inspiration and guidance for those who read them. With such a means at your disposal you can spread the spirit and teachings of the Cause; you can show the evils that exist in society, as well as the way they can be remedied. If you possess a real talent in writing you should consider it as given by God and exert your efforts to use it for the betterment of society.
The House of Justice hopes that you will be able to satisfy your friends on these matters and encourage them to prepare for their Baha'i service and be able to contribute to the welfare of humanity.
(24 May 1988 to an individual believer) [55]
3.3 Attitudes of the Scholar
From the Writings of Baha'u'llah
56: "Amongst the people is he whose learning hath made him proud, and who hath..."