God is one; the effulgence of God is one; and humanity constitutes the
servants of that one God. God is kind to all. He creates and provides for
all; and all are under His care and protection. The Sun of Truth, the Word
of God shines upon all mankind; the divine cloud pours down its precious
rain; the gentle zephyrs of His mercy blow and all humanity is submerged
in the ocean of His eternal justice and loving-kindness.
But we have acted contrary to the will and good-pleasure of God. We have
been the cause of enmity and disunion. We have separated from each other
and risen against each other in opposition and strife. How many have been
the wars between peoples and nations! What bloodshed! Numberless are the
cities and homes which have been laid waste. All of this has been contrary
to the good-pleasure of God for He hath willed love for humanity. He is
clement and merciful to all His creatures. He hath ordained amity and
fellowship amongst men.
Most regrettable of all is the state of difference and divergence we have
created between each other in the name of religion imagining that a
paramount duty in our religious belief is that of alienation and
estrangement, that we should shun each other and consider each other
contaminated with error and infidelity. In reality the foundations of the
divine religions are one and the same. The differences which have arisen
between us are due to blind imitations of dogmatic beliefs and adherence
to ancestral forms of worship. His Holiness Abraham was the founder of
reality. His Holiness Moses, His Holiness Christ, His Holiness Mohammed
were the manifestations of reality. His Holiness Baha'u'llah was the glory
of reality. This is not simply an assertion; it will be proved.
Let me ask your closest attention in considering this subject. The divine
religions embody two kinds of ordinances. First, those which constitute
essential or spiritual teachings of the Word of God. These are faith in
God, the acquirement of the virtues which characterize perfect manhood,
praiseworthy moralities, the acquisition of the bestowals and bounties
emanating from the divine effulgences; in brief, the ordinances which
concern the realm of morals and ethics. This is the fundamental aspect of
the religion of God and this is of the highest importance because
knowledge of God is the fundamental requirement of man. Man must
comprehend the oneness of divinity. He must come to know and acknowledge
the precepts of God and realize for a certainty that the ethical
development of humanity is dependent upon religion. He must get rid of all
defects and seek the attainment of heavenly virtues in order that he may
prove to be the image and likeness of God. It is recorded in the holy
bible that God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness."
It is self-evident that the image and likeness mentioned do not apply to
the form and semblance of a human being because the reality of divinity is
not limited to any form or figure. Nay, rather the attributes and
characteristics of God are intended. Even as God is pronounced to be just,
man must likewise be just. As God is loving and kind to all men, man must
likewise manifest loving-kindness to all humanity. As God is loyal and
truthful, man must show forth the same attributes in the human world. Even
as God exercises mercy toward all, man must prove himself to be the
manifestation of mercy. In a word, the "image and likeness of God"
constitute the virtues of God, and man is intended to become the recipient
of the effulgences of divine attributes. This is the essential foundation
of all the divine religions, the reality itself, common to all. His
Holiness Abraham promulgated this; His Holiness Moses proclaimed it. His
Holiness Christ and all the prophets upheld this standard and aspect of
divine religion.
Secondly: Laws and ordinances which are temporary and non-essential. These
concern human transactions and relations. They are accidental and subject
to change according to the exigencies of time and place. These ordinances
are neither permanent nor fundamental. For instance during the time of
Noah it was expedient that sea foods be considered as lawful; therefore
God commanded Noah to partake of all marine animal life. During the time
of Moses this was not in accordance with the exigencies of Israel's
existence, therefore a second command was revealed partly abrogating the
law concerning marine foods. During the time of Abraham--Upon him be
peace!--camel's milk was considered a lawful and acceptable food; likewise
the flesh of the camel; but during Jacob's time because of a certain vow
he made, this became unlawful. These are non-essential temporary laws. In
the holy bible there are certain commandments which according to those
bygone times constituted the very spirit of the age, the very light of
that period. For example according to the law of the torah if a man
committed theft of a certain amount they cut off his hand. Is it
practicable and reasonable in this present day to cut off a man's hand for
the theft of a dollar? In the torah there are ten ordinances concerning
murder. Could these be made effective today? Unquestionably no; times have
changed. According to the explicit text of the bible if a man should
change or break the law of the Sabbath or if he should touch fire on the
Sabbath he must be killed. Today such a law is abrogated. The torah
declares that if a man should speak a disrespectful word to his father he
should suffer the penalty of death. Is this possible of enforcement now?
No; human conditions have undergone changes. Likewise during the time of
Christ certain minor ordinances conformable to that period were enforced.
It has been shown conclusively therefore that the foundation of the
religion of God remains permanent and unchanging. It is that fixed
foundation which insures the progress and stability of the body politic
and the illumination of humanity. It has ever been the cause of love and
justice amongst men. It works for the true fellowship and unification of
all mankind for it never changes and is not subject to supersedure. The
accidental or non-essential laws which regulate the transactions of the
social body and everyday affairs of life are changeable and subject to
abrogation.
Let me ask what is the purpose of prophethood? Why has God sent the
prophets? It is self-evident that the prophets are the educators of men
and the teachers of the human race. They come to bestow universal
education upon humanity, to give humanity training, to uplift the human
race from the abyss of despair and desolation and enable man to attain the
apogee of advancement and glory. The people are in darkness; the prophets
bring them into the realm of light. They are in a state of utter
imperfection; the prophets imbue them with perfections. The purpose of the
prophetic mission is no other than the education and guidance of the
people. Therefore we must regard and be on the lookout for the man who is
thus qualified; that is to say any soul who proves to be the educator of
mankind and the teacher of the human race is undoubtedly the prophet of
his age.
For example let us review the events connected with the history of His
Holiness Moses--Upon him be peace! His Holiness dwelt in Midian at a time
when the children of Israel were in captivity and bondage in the land of
Egypt, subjected to every tyranny and severe oppression. They were
illiterate and ignorant, undergoing cruel ordeals and experiences. They
were in such a state of helplessness and impotence that it was proverbial
to state that one Egyptian could overcome ten Israelites. At such a time
as this and under such forbidding conditions His Holiness Moses appeared
and shone forth with a heavenly radiance. He saved Israel from the bondage
of Pharaoh and released them from captivity. He led them out of the land
of Egypt and into the Holy Land. They had been scattered and broken; he
unified and disciplined them; conferred upon them the blessing of wisdom
and knowledge. They had been slaves; he made them princes. They were
ignorant; he made them learned; they were imperfect; he enabled them to
attain perfection. In a word--he led them out of their condition of
hopelessness and brought them to efficiency in the plane of confidence and
valor. They became renowned throughout the ancient world until finally in
the zenith and splendor of their new civilization the glory of the
sovereignty of Solomon was attained. Through the guidance and training of
His Holiness Moses these slaves and captives became the dominating people
amongst the nations. Not only in physical and military superiority were
they renowned but in all the degrees of arts, letters and refinement their
fame was widespread. Even the celebrated philosophers of Greece journeyed
to Jerusalem in order to study with the Israelitish sages and many were
the lessons of philosophy and wisdom they received. Among these
philosophers was the famous Socrates. He visited the Holy Land and studied
with the prophets of Israel, acquiring principles of their philosophical
teaching and a knowledge of their advanced arts and sciences. After his
return to Greece he founded the system known as the unity of God. The
Greek people rose against him and at last he was poisoned in the presence
of the king. Hippocrates and many other Greek philosophers sat at the feet
of the learned Israelitish doctors and absorbed their expositions of
wisdom and the inner truth.
Inasmuch as His Holiness Moses through the influence of his great mission
was instrumental in releasing the Israelites from a low state of
debasement and humiliation, establishing them in a station of prestige and
glorification, disciplining and educating them, it is necessary for us to
reach a fair and just judgment in regard to such a marvelous teacher. For
in this great accomplishment he stood single and alone. Could he have made
such a change and brought about such a condition among these people
without the sanction and assistance of a heavenly power? Could he have
transformed a people from humiliation to glory without a holy and divine
support?
No other than a divine power could have done this. Therein lies the proof
of prophethood because the mission of a prophet is education of the human
race such as this personage accomplished, proving him to be a mighty
prophet among the prophets, and his book the very Book of God. This is a
rational, direct and perfect proof.
In brief, His Holiness Moses--Upon whom be peace!--founded the law of God,
purified the morals of the people of Israel and gave them an impetus
toward nobler and higher attainments. But after the departure of His
Holiness Moses, following the decline of the glory of Solomon's era and
during the reign of Jeroboam there came a great change in this nation. The
high ethical standards and spiritual perfections ceased to exist.
Conditions and morals became corrupt, religion was debased and the perfect
principles of the Mosaic law were obscured in superstition and polytheism.
War and strife arose among the tribes and their unity was destroyed. The
followers of Jeroboam declared themselves rightful and valid in kingly
succession, and the supporters of Rehoboam made the same claim. Finally
the tribes were torn asunder by hostility and hatred, the glory of Israel
was eclipsed and so complete was the degradation, that a golden calf was
set up as an object of worship in the city of Tyre. Thereupon God sent
Elijah the prophet who redeemed the people, renewed the law of God and
established an era of new life for Israel. History shows a still later
change and transformation when this oneness and solidarity were followed
by another dispersion of the tribes. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,
invaded the Holy Land and carried away captive seventy thousand Israelites
to Chaldea where the greatest reverses, trials and suffering afflicted
these unfortunate people. Then the prophets of God again reformed and
re-established the law of God and the people in their humiliation again
followed it. This resulted in their liberation, and under the edict of
Cyrus, king of Persia, there was a return to the holy city. Jerusalem and
the temple of Solomon were rebuilt and the glory of Israel was restored.
This lasted but a short time; the morality of the people declined and
conditions reached an extreme degree until the Roman general Titus took
Jerusalem and razed it to its foundations. Pillage and conquest completed
the desolation; Palestine became a waste and wilderness and the Jews fled
from the Holy Land of their ancestors. The cause of this disintegration
and dispersion was the departure of Israel from the foundation of the law
of God revealed by Moses, namely the acquisition of divine virtues,
morality, love, the development of arts and sciences and the spirit of the
oneness of humanity.
I now wish you(9) to examine certain facts and statements which are worthy
of consideration. My purpose and intention is to remove from the hearts of
men the religious enmity and hatred which have fettered them and to bring
all religions into agreement and unity. Inasmuch as this hatred and
enmity, this bigotry and intolerance are outcomes of misunderstandings,
the reality of religious unity will appear when these misunderstandings
are dispelled. For the foundation of the divine religions is one
foundation. This is the oneness of revelation or teaching; but alas! we
have turned away from that foundation, holding tenaciously to various
dogmatic forms and blind imitation of ancestral beliefs. This is the real
cause of enmity, hatred and bloodshed in the world; the reason of
alienation and estrangement among mankind. Therefore I wish you to be very
just and fair in your judgment of the following statements.
During the time that the people of Israel were being tossed and afflicted
by the conditions I have named, His Holiness Jesus Christ appeared among
them. Jesus of Nazareth was a Jew. He was single and unaided, alone and
unique. He had no assistant. The Jews at once pronounced him to be an
enemy of Moses. They declared that he was the destroyer of the Mosaic laws
and ordinances. Let us examine the facts as they are, investigate the
truth and reality in order to arrive at a true opinion and conclusion. For
a completely fair opinion upon this question we must lay aside all we have
and investigate independently. This personage Jesus Christ declared His
Holiness Moses to have been the prophet of God and pronounced all the
prophets of Israel as sent from God. He proclaimed the torah the very Book
of God, summoned all to conform to its precepts and follow its teachings.
It is a historical fact that during a period of fifteen hundred years the
kings of Israel were unable to promulgate broadcast the religion of
Judaism. In fact during that period the name and history of Moses were
confined to the boundaries of Palestine and the torah was a book well
known only in that country. But through His Holiness Christ, through the
blessing of the New Testament of Jesus Christ, the Old Testament, the
torah, was translated into six hundred different tongues and spread
throughout the world. It was through Christianity that the torah reached
Persia. Before that time there was no knowledge in that country of such a
book, but His Holiness Christ caused its spread and acceptance. Through
him the name of Moses was elevated and revered. He was instrumental in
publishing the name and greatness of the Israelitish prophets and he
proved to the world that the Israelites constituted the people of God.
Which of the kings of Israel could have accomplished this? Were it not for
Jesus Christ would the bible, the torah, have reached this land of
America? Would the name of Moses be spread throughout the world? Refer to
history. Everyone knows that when Christianity was spread, there was a
simultaneous spread of the knowledge of Judaism and the torah. Throughout
the length and breadth of Persia there was not a single volume of the Old
Testament until the religion of Jesus Christ caused it to appear
everywhere, so that today the holy bible is a household book in that
country. It is evident then that Christ was a friend of Moses, that he
loved and believed in His Holiness Moses, otherwise he would not have
commemorated his name and prophethood. This is self-evident. Therefore
Christians and Jews should have the greatest love for each other because
the founders of these two great religions have been in perfect agreement
in book and teaching. Their followers should be likewise.
We have already stated the valid proofs of prophethood. We find the very
evidences of the validity of His Holiness Moses were witnessed and
duplicated in His Holiness Christ. His Holiness Christ was also a unique
and single personage born of the lineage of Israel. By the power of his
Word he was able to unite people of the Roman, Greek, Chaldean, Egyptian
and Assyrian nations. Whereas they had been cruel, bloodthirsty and
hostile, killing, pillaging and taking each other captive, he cemented
them together in a perfect bond of unity and love. He caused them to agree
and become reconciled. Such mighty effects were the results of the
manifestation of one single soul. This proves conclusively that His
Holiness Christ was assisted by God. Today all Christians admit and
believe that His Holiness Moses was a prophet of God. They declare that
his book was the Book of God, that the prophets of Israel were true and
valid and that the people of Israel constituted the people of God. What
harm has come from this? What harm could come from a statement by the Jews
that Jesus was also a manifestation of the Word of God? Have the
Christians suffered for their belief in Moses? Have they experienced any
loss of religious enthusiasm or witnessed any defeat in their religious
belief by declaring that His Holiness Moses was a prophet of God, that the
torah was a Book of God and that all the prophets of Israel were prophets
of God? It is evident that no loss comes from this. And now it is time for
the Jews to declare that Christ was the Word of God and then this enmity
between two great religions will pass away. For two thousand years this
enmity and religious prejudice have continued. Blood has been shed,
ordeals have been suffered. These few words will remedy the difficulty and
unite two great religions. What harm could follow this,--that just as the
Christians glorify and praise the name of Moses, likewise the Jews should
commemorate the name of Christ, declare him to be the Word of God and
consider him as one of the chosen messengers of God?
A few words concerning the koran and the Mohammedans: When His Holiness
Mohammed appeared he spoke of Moses as the great man of God. In the koran
he refers to the sayings of Moses in seven different places, proclaims him
a prophet and the possessor of a Book, the founder of the law, and the
spirit of God. He said, "Whosoever believes in him is acceptable in the
estimation of God and whosoever shuns him or any of the prophets is
rejected of God." Even in conclusion he calls upon his own relatives,
saying, "Why have ye shunned and not believed in Moses? Why have ye not
acknowledged the torah? Why have ye not believed in the Jewish prophets?"
In a certain surat of the koran he mentions the names of twenty-eight of
the prophets of Israel, praising each and all of them. To this great
extent he has ratified and commended the prophets and religion of Israel.
The purport is this,--that Mohammed praised and glorified His Holiness
Moses and confirmed Judaism. He declared that whosoever denies Moses is
contaminated and even if he repents, his repentance will not be accepted.
He pronounced his own relatives infidels and impure because they had
denied the prophets. He said, "Because you have not believed in Christ,
because you have not believed in Moses, because you have not believed in
the gospels you are infidels and contaminated." In this way Mohammed has
praised the torah, Moses, Christ and the prophets of the past. He appeared
amongst the Arabs who were a people nomadic and illiterate, barbarous in
nature and blood-thirsty. He guided and trained them until they attained a
high degree of development. Through his education and discipline they rose
from the lowest levels of ignorance to the heights of knowledge, becoming
masters of erudition and philosophy. We see therefore that the proofs
applicable to one prophet are equally applicable to another.
In conclusion; since the prophets themselves, the founders, have loved,
praised and testified of each other, why should we disagree and be
alienated? God is one. He is the shepherd of all. We are his sheep and
therefore should live together in love and unity. We should manifest the
spirit of justness and good-will toward each other. Shall we do this or
shall we censure and pronounce anathema, praising ourselves and condemning
all others? What possible good can come from such attitude and action? On
the contrary, nothing but enmity and hatred, injustice and inhumanity can
possibly result. Has not this been the greatest cause of bloodshed, woe
and tribulation in the past?
Praise be to God! You are living in a land of freedom. You are blessed
with men of learning, men who are well versed in the comparative study of
religions. You realize the need of unity and know the great harm which
comes from prejudice and superstition. I ask you, Is not fellowship and
brotherhood preferable to enmity and hatred in society and community? The
answer is self-evident. Love and fellowship are absolutely needful to win
the good-pleasure of God which is the goal of all human attainment. We
must be united. We must love each other. We must ever praise each other.
We must bestow commendation upon all people, thus removing the discord and
hatred which have caused alienation amongst men. Otherwise the conditions
of the past will continue, praising ourselves and condemning others;
religious wars will have no end and religious prejudice, the prime cause
of this havoc and tribulation, will increase. This must be abandoned, and
the way to do it is to investigate the reality which underlies all the
religions. This underlying reality is the love of humanity. For God is one
and humanity is one, and the only creed of the prophets is love and unity.