At 12:15 -0900 2/10/05, Sandra Chamberlain wrote:
Dear Gilberto,

One of the difficulties encountered when Baha'is give answers off the top of their head about the Baha'i Faith is that it is generally an abbreviated explanation. The common denominator here, is the Sacred texts of the Baha'i Faith and the source for the most thorough explanation. Which is why so many of us choose to refer you back to the Writings of the Central Figures.

With regard to obedience/disobedience to governments... there is a "qualifier" that seems to be missing from the discussion. That word is "just". Obedience to JUST governments.


1463. Obedience to Just Governments--What It Means
"Regarding your question about politics and the Master's Will: The attitude of the Baha'is must be two-fold, complete obedience to the government of the country they reside in, and no interference whatsoever in political matters or questions. What the Master's statement really means is obedience to a duly constituted Government, whatever that Government may be in form. We are not the ones, as individual Baha'is, to judge our Government as just or unjust--for each believer would be sure to hold a different viewpoint, and within our own Baha'i fold a hotbed of dissension would spring up and destroy our unity. We must build up our Baha'i system, and leave the faulty systems of the world to go their way. We cannot change them through becoming involved in them; on the contrary, they will destroy us.
"The Guardian does not think any part of this statement of his is suitable for publication in the Press. The less 'politics' is associated in any way with the name Baha'i, the better. It should always be made clear that we are a religious non-political community, working for humanitarian ends."
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Teaching Committee for Central America, July 3, 1948)


--Lights of Guidance, Page 451

Don C

--
He who believes himself spiritual proves he is not.


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