Bahai Faith; Peace -- Religious aspects -- Bahai Faith
In brief, the nations of the world are becoming united under the
sovereignty of the divine Kingdom. The East and the West are embracing
here in love and affection today. This is not a commercial or political
unity, but unity through the love of God. We have crossed the sea to
spread that love in America, to announce the call of the Kingdom, to
establish the spiritual foundations of international peace. Although men
may arise against the Kingdom, the dominion and sovereignty of God will be
set up. It is an eternal Kingdom, a divine sovereignty. In His day Christ
was called Satan, Beelzebub, but hear the bells now ringing for Him! He
was the Word of God and not Satan. They mocked Him, led Him through the
city upon a donkey, crowned Him with thorns, spat upon His blessed face
and crucified Him, but He is now with God and in God because He was the
Word and not Satan. Fifty years ago no one would touch the Christian Bible
in Persia. Bahá’u’lláh came and asked, “Why?” They said, “It is not the
Word of God.” He said, “You must read it with understanding of its
meanings, not as those who merely recite its words.” Now Bahá’ís all over
the East read the Bible and understand its spiritual teaching. Bahá’u’lláh
spread the Cause of Christ and opened the book of the Christians and Jews.
He removed the barriers of names. He proved that all the divine Prophets
taught the same reality and that to deny One is to deny the Others, for
all are in perfect oneness with God.
In London some of the Christians said we were deniers of Christ. We say
Christ is the Word of God. We are gathered here this morning for His
mention. The bells have called us together in love and unity. This house
is the temple of God. All are welcome! Very welcome!
Question: How shall we determine the truth or error of certain biblical
interpretation, as, for instance, the higher criticism and other
present-day Christian teachings?
‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Your question is an abstruse and important one. Complete
answer to it would require a long time. I will reply to it briefly. The
only true Explainer of the Book of God is the Holy Spirit, for no two
minds are alike, no two can comprehend alike, no two can speak alike. That
is to say, from the mere human standpoint of interpretation there could be
neither truth nor agreement.
Question: Do you approve of the new thought in which the control of mind
over matter is the central principle?
‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Philosophy develops the mind. Christ and the Word of God are
revealed through the Spirit. Plato says, “The mental conclusions are so
and so.” Christ says, “Be led of the Spirit.”
Question: Should children be allowed to read the higher criticism?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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