18: "...the religion of God is the promoter of truth, the founder of
science and..."
...the religion of God is the promoter of truth, the founder of science
and knowledge, it is full of goodwill for learned men; it is the civilizer
of mankind, the discoverer of the secrets of nature, and the enlightener
of the horizons of the world. Consequently, how can it be said to oppose
knowledge? God forbid! Nay, for God, knowledge is the most glorious gift
of man and the most noble of human perfections. To oppose knowledge is
ignorant, and he who detests knowledge and science is not a man, but
rather an animal without intelligence. For knowledge is light, life,
felicity, perfection, beauty and the means of approaching the Threshold of
Unity. It is the honour and glory of the world of humanity, and the
greatest bounty of God. Knowledge is identical with guidance, and
ignorance is real error.
("Some Answered Questions" (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1984), p.
137) [18]
19: "There are certain pillars which have been established as the
unshakeable..."
There are certain pillars which have been established as the unshakeable
supports of the Faith of God. The mightiest of these is learning and the
use of the mind, the expansion of consciousness, and insight into the
realities of the universe and the hidden mysteries of Almighty God.
To promote knowledge is thus an inescapable duty imposed on every one of
the friends of God. It is incumbent upon that Spiritual Assembly, that
assemblage of God, to exert every effort to educate the children, so that
from infancy they will be trained in Baha'i conduct and the ways of God,
and will, even as young plants, thrive and flourish in the soft-flowing
waters that are the counsels and admonitions of the Blessed Beauty.
("Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha" (Haifa: Baha'i World
Centre, 1982), section 97) [19]