Bahaism and Its Claims: A Study of the Religion Promulgated by Baha Ullah and Abdul BahaWilson, Samuel Graham
Religion
Bahaism and Its Claims: A Study of the Religion Promulgated by Baha Ullah and Abdul Baha
Wilson, Samuel Graham
Bahai Faith -- Controversial literature
With them will lie the interpretation of points of doctrine. They must
decree and judge according to Bahai revelation. "They must gaze day and
night towards that which hath been revealed from the horizon of the
Supreme Pen." They shall rule by divine right. Their authority shall be
absolute. Abdul Baha restates the words of Baha:[294] "The House of
Justice must be obeyed in all things." "It is the centre of true
government." "The Law of God will be invested in them, and they will
render decisions." "All judgment will be from the standpoint of God's
laws." "Its decisions and commands will be guarded from mistake. It will
have conferred upon it infallibility." The House of Justice will have
local councils, national ones, and an international one.[295] Of the
latter, Abdul Baha said in an address in New York:
"A universal or world House of Justice shall be organized. That which it
orders shall be the Truth in explaining the commands of Baha Ullah and
shall be obeyed by all. _All men shall be under its supervision._"[296]
Its functions are not confined to matters of faith, for Abdul Baha
continues: "The House of Justice is endowed with a political as well as
a religious aspect. It embodies both aspects, and is protected by the
preserving power of Baha Ullah himself." _In the political aspect it
will be supreme._ "The separation of the Religion and the State can only
be temporary," says Dreyfus,[297] "a momentary stage. For the present
the two spheres are separate. When Bahaism triumphs they will be
united." "The House of Justice[298] will have under its control almost
the whole administration, and naturally will take the place of our
municipal councils. Such has been Baha Ullah's intention. Further he
clearly aims not only at a municipal House of Justice, but also at a
legislative one, sitting as a national parliament and as an
international tribunal." Remember that all the members are to be Bahais.
So Remey says, "There will be a union of Religion and the State--the
governments of the nations. The material laws of men will be founded and
enforced according to Bahaism."[299] In this politico-religious régime,
the political will be subject to the religious. "The kings and rulers of
the world," says Abdul Baha,[300] "will find their true authority under
the rulings of the House of Justice. It will decide between kings and
kings." Baha addressed letters[301] to kings with arrogant assumption of
authority to control the civil powers.
The Houses of Justice will have _large financial powers_. They shall
inherit all property of those dying without heirs, and one-third of
that of those dying childless.[302] One-third of all fines for crimes
shall go to them. For example, in case of murder, two-thirds of the
blood money shall go to the family of the murdered and one-third to the
House of Justice. A tithe of nineteen-hundredths shall be given into
their hands. They shall act as trustees for minors and incapables, and
as a Poor Board.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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