I will speak to you concerning the special teachings of Baha'u'llah. All
the divine principles announced by the tongue of the prophets of the past
are to be found in the words of Baha'u'llah; but in addition to these, He
has revealed certain new teachings which are not found in any of the
sacred books of former times. I shall mention some of them; the others
which are many in number may be found in the books, tablets and epistles
written by Baha'u'llah, such as the Hidden Words, the Glad-Tidings, the
Words of Paradise, Tajalliyat, Tarazat and others. Likewise in the Book of
Aqdas there are new teachings which cannot be found in any of the past
books or epistles of the prophets.
A fundamental teaching of Baha'u'llah is the oneness of the world of
humanity. Addressing mankind, He says: "Ye are all leaves of one tree and
the fruits of one branch." By this it is meant that the world of humanity
is like a tree, the nations or peoples are the different limbs or branches
of that tree and the individual human creatures are as the fruits and
blossoms thereof. In this way His Holiness Baha'u'llah expressed the
oneness of humankind whereas in all religious teachings of the past, the
human world has been represented as divided into two parts, one known as
the people of the Book of God or the pure tree and the other the people of
infidelity and error or the evil tree. The former were considered as
belonging to the faithful and the others to the hosts of the irreligious
and infidel; one part of humanity the recipients of divine mercy and the
other the object of the wrath of their Creator. His Holiness Baha'u'llah
removed this by proclaiming the oneness of the world of humanity and this
principle is specialized in His teachings for He has submerged all mankind
in the sea of divine generosity. Some are asleep; they need to be
awakened. Some are ailing; they need to be healed. Some are immature as
children; they need to be trained. But all are recipients of the bounty
and bestowals of God.
Another new principle revealed by His Holiness Baha'u'llah is the
injunction to investigate truth; that is to say, no man should blindly
follow his ancestors and forefathers. Nay, each must see with his own
eyes, hear with his own ears and investigate the truth himself in order
that he may follow the truth instead of blind acquiescence and imitation
of ancestral beliefs.
His Holiness Baha'u'llah has announced that the foundation of all the
religions of God is one; that oneness is truth and truth is oneness which
does not admit of plurality. This teaching is new and specialized to this
Manifestation.
He sets forth a new principle for this day in the announcement that
religion must be the cause of unity, harmony and agreement among mankind.
If it be the cause of discord and hostility, if it leads to separation and
creates conflict, the absence of religion would be preferable in the
world.
Furthermore He proclaims that religion must be in harmony with science and
reason. If it does not conform to science and reconcile with reason it is
superstition. Down to the present day it has been customary for man to
accept a religious teaching even though it were not in accord with human
reason and judgment. The harmony of religious belief with reason is a new
vista which Baha'u'llah has opened for the soul of man.
He establishes the equality of man and woman. This is peculiar to the
teachings of Baha'u'llah, for all other religions have placed man above
woman.
A new religious principle is that prejudice and fanaticism whether
sectarian, denominational, patriotic or political are destructive to the
foundation of human solidarity; therefore man should release himself from
such bonds in order that the oneness of the world of humanity may become
manifest.
Universal Peace is assured by Baha'u'llah as a fundamental accomplishment
of the religion of God; that peace shall prevail among nations,
governments and peoples, among religions, races and all conditions of
mankind. This is one of the special characteristics of the Word of God
revealed in this Manifestation.
Baha'u'llah declares that all mankind should attain knowledge and acquire
an education. This is a necessary principle of religious belief and
observance characteristically new in this dispensation.
He has set forth the solution and provided the remedy for the economic
question. No religious books of the past Prophets speak of this important
human problem.
He has ordained and established the House of Justice which is endowed with
a political as well as a religious function, the consummate union and
blending of church and state. This institution is under the protecting
power of Baha'u'llah Himself. A universal or international House of
Justice shall also be organized. Its rulings shall be in accordance with
the commands and teachings of Baha'u'llah, and that which the universal
House of Justice ordains shall be obeyed by all mankind. This
international House of Justice shall be appointed and organized from the
Houses of Justice of the whole world, and all the world shall come under
its administration.
As to the most great characteristic of the revelation of Baha'u'llah--a
specific teaching not given by any of the Prophets of the past--it is the
ordination and appointment of the Center of the Covenant. By this
appointment and provision He has safeguarded and protected the religion of
God against differences and schisms, making it impossible for any one to
create a new sect or faction of belief. To insure unity and agreement He
has entered into a Covenant with all the people of the world including the
Interpreter and Explainer of His teachings so that no one may interpret or
explain the religion of God according to his own view or opinion and thus
create a sect founded upon his individual understanding of the divine
words. The Book of the Covenant or Testament of Baha'u'llah is the means
of preventing such a possibility, for whosoever shall speak from the
authority of himself alone shall be degraded. Be ye informed and cognizant
of this.