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]