Bahá'u'lláh and the New EraEsslemont, J. E. (John Ebenezer)
Religion
Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era
Esslemont, J. E. (John Ebenezer)
Bahai Faith; Bahá'u'lláh, 1817-1892
Christ summoned all the people of the world to reconciliation and
peace. He commanded Peter to return his sword unto its scabbard.
Such was His wish and counsel, and yet they that bear His name
have unsheathed the sword! How great the difference between their
deeds and the explicit text of the Gospel!
Sixty years ago Bahá’u’lláh, even as the shining sun, shone in the
firmament of Persia, and proclaimed that the world is wrapt in
darkness and this darkness is fraught with disastrous results, and
will lead to fearful strife. In His prison city of Akká, He
apostrophized in unmistakable terms the Emperor of Germany,
declaring that a terrible war shall take place, and Berlin will
break forth in lamentation and wailing. In like manner, whilst the
wronged prisoner of the Sulṭán of Turkey in the citadel of Akká,
He clearly and emphatically wrote him that Constantinople will
fall a prey to grave disorder, in such wise that the women and
children will raise their moaning cry. In brief, He addressed
epistles to all the chief rulers and sovereigns of the world, and
all that He foretold has been fulfilled. From His pen of glory
flowed teachings for the prevention of war, and these have been
scattered far and wide.
His first teaching is the search after truth. Blind imitation, He
declared, killeth the spirit of man, whereas the investigation of
truth frees the world from the darkness of prejudice.
His second teaching is the oneness of mankind. All men are but one
fold, and God the loving Shepherd. He bestoweth upon them His most
great mercy, and considers them all as one. “Thou shalt find no
difference amongst the creatures of God.” They are all His
servants, and all seek His bounty.
His third teaching is that religion is the most mighty stronghold.
It should be conducive to unity, rather than be the cause of
enmity and hate. Should it lead to enmity and hate better not have
it at all. For religion is even as medicine, which if it should
aggravate the disease, its abandonment would be preferred.
Likewise, religious, racial, national, and political prejudice,
all are subversive of the foundation of human society, all lead to
bloodshed, all heap ruin upon mankind. So long as these remain,
the dread of war will continue. The sole remedy is universal
peace. And this is achieved only by the establishment of a supreme
Tribunal, representative of all governments and peoples. All
national and international problems should be referred to this
tribunal, and whatsoever be its decision that should be enforced.
Were a government or people to dissent, the world as a whole
should rise against it.
And among His teachings is the equality in right of men and women,
and so on with many other similar teachings that have been
revealed by His pen.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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