Re: “The World Religion A summary of Its Aims, Teachings and History by SHOGHI EFFENDI"
The Baha'i Studies Listserv Very good and thank you John. Have notated my file accordingly. By the time I became a Baha’i, this statement had long disappeared, having been replaced by the 1947 statement subsequently published as a stand alone piece. This we know about. On 9 July 47, he received a letter from the chairman of United Nations Special Committee on Palestine requesting a statement on the relationship which the Bahá'í Faith had to Palestine and the Bahá'í attitude towards any future changes in the status of the country. His reply was dated 15 July 47, and a portion of the cover letter were published in BW and not made part of the statement published as a pamphlet. That letter is as follows as published in Ruhiyyih Khanum’s 1988 book, “The Guardian of the Baha’i Faith” [which is similar but not identical to “The Priceless Pearl.] What is interesting about this letter is how he distances the Faith from any political involvement or activity, a position echoed during the 1948 war when he was the only Haifa area non-Jewish religious leader to not leave the country. Don C Mr. Justice Emil Sandstrom, Chairman, United Nations Special Committee on Palestine. Sir: Your kind letter of July 9th reached me and I wish to thank you for affording me the opportunity of presenting to you and your esteemed colleagues a statement of the relationship which the Baha' Faith has to Palestine and our attitude towards any future changes in the status of this sacred and much disputed land. I am enclosing with this letter, for your information, a brief sketch of the history, aims and significance of the Bahá'í Faith, as well as a small pamphlet setting forth its views towards the present state of the world and the lines on which we hope and believe it must and will develop. The position of the Bahá'ís in this country is in a certain measure unique: whereas Jerusalem is the spiritual center of Christendom it is not the administrative center of either the Church of Rome or any other Christian denomination. Likewise although it is regarded by Moslems as the spot where one of its most sacred shrines is situated, the Holy Sites of the Muhammadan Faith, and the center of its pilgrimages, are to be found in Arabia, not in Palestine. The Jews alone offer somewhat of a parallel to the attachment which the Bahá'ís have for this country inasmuch as Jerusalem holds the remains of their Holy Temple and was the seat of both the religious and political institutions associated with their past history. But even their case differs in one respect from that of the Bahá'ís, for it is in the soil of Palestine that the three central Figures of our religion are buried, and it is not only the center of Bahá'í pilgrimages from all over the world but also the permanent seat of our Administrative Order, of which I have the honor to be the Head. The Bahá'í Faith is entirely non-political and we neither take sides in the present tragic dispute going on over the future of the Holy Land and its peoples nor have we any statement to make or advice to give as to what the nature of the political future of this country should be. Our aim is the establishment of universal peace in this world and our desire to see justice prevail in every domain of human society, including the domain of politics. As many of the adherents of our Faith are of Jewish and Moslem extraction we have no prejudice towards either of these groups and are most anxious to reconcile them for their mutual benefit and for the good of the country. What does concern us, however, in any decisions made affecting the future of Palestine, is that the fact be recognized by whoever exercises sovereignty over Haifa and Acre, that within this area exists the spiritual and administrative center of a world Faith, and that the independence of that Faith, its right to manage its international affairs from this source, the right of Bahá'ís from any and every country of the globe to visit it as pilgrims (enjoying the same privilege in this respect as Jews, Moslems and Christians do in regard to visiting Jerusalem), be acknowledged and permanently safeguarded. The Sepulchre of the Bab on Mt. Carmel, the Tomb of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in that same spot, the Pilgrim Hostel for oriental Bahá'ís in its vicinity, the large gardens and terraces which surround these places (all of which are open to visits by the public of all denominations), the Pilgrim Hostel for western Baha's at the foot of Mt Carmel, the residence of the Head of the Community various houses and gardens in Acre and its vicinity associated with Bahá'u'lláh's incarceration in that city, His Holy Tomb at Bahji, near Acre, with His Mansion which is now preserved as a historic site and a museum (both likewise accessible to the public of all denominations), as well as holdings in the plain of Acre — all these comprise the bulk of Baha' properties in the Holy Land. It should also be no
Re: The World Religion A summary of Its Aims, Teachings and History by SHOGHI EFFENDI"
ny of the component parts if the general interests of the entity itself are neglected. Nor should the fact be overlooked that the Faith has already asserted and demonstrated its independent religious character, has been emancipated from the fetters of orthodoxy in certain Islamic countries, has obtained in one of them an unsolicited testimony to its independent religious status, and succeeded in winning the allegiance of royalty to its cause. Tributes by Leaders "It is like a wide embrace," is Queen Marie of Rumania's own tribute, "gathering together all those who have searched for words of hope. It accepts all great Prophets gone before, ' it destroys no other creeds and leaves all doors open The Bahá'í teaching brings peace to the soul and hope to the heart. To those in search of assurance, the words of the Father are as a fountain in the desert after long wandering It is a wondrous message that Bahá'u'lláh and His son `Abdu'l-Bahá have given us. They have not set it up aggressively, knowing that the germ of eternal truth which lies at its core cannot but take root and spread It is Christ's Message taken up anew, in the same words almost, but adapted to the thousand years and more difference that lies between the year one and today. . . If ever the name of Bahá'u'lláh or `Abdu'l-Bahá comes to your attention, do not put their writings from you. Search out their books, and let their glorious, peace -bringing, love - creating words and lessons sink into your hearts as they have into mine." "The teachings of the Bábis," wrote Leo Tolstoy, ". . . have a great future before them . . . I therefore sympathize with Bábism with all my heart, inasmuch as it teaches people brotherhood and equality and sacrifice of material life for service to God . . . The teachings of the Bábis which come to us out of Islam have through Bahá'u'lláh's teachings been gradually developed, and now present us with the highest and purest form of religious teaching." "Take these principles to the diplomats," is the late President Masaryk's advice, "to the universities and colleges and other schools, and also write about them. It is the people who will bring the universal peace." "The Bahá'í teaching," is President Eduard Benes' testimony, "is one of the great instruments for the final victory of the spirit and of humanity . . . The Bahá'í Cause is one of the great moral and social forces in all the world today. I am more convinced than ever, with the increasing moral and political crises in the world, we must have greater international coordination. Such a movement as the Bahá'í Cause which paves the way for universal organization of peace is necessary." "If there has been any Prophet in recent times," asserts the Rev. T. K. Cheyne in his 'The Reconciliation of Races and Religions', "it is to Bahá'u'lláh that we must go. Character is the final judge. Bahá'u'lláh was a man of the highest class-that of Prophets." "It is possible indeed," declares Viscount Samuel of Carmel, "to pick out points of fundamental agreement among all creeds. That is the essential purpose of the Bahá'í religion, the foundation and growth of which is one of the most striking movements that have proceeded from the East in recent generations." "Palestine," is Professor Norman Bentwich's written testimony, "may indeed be now regarded as the land not of three but of four faiths, because the Bahá'í creed, which has its center of faith and pilgrimage in 'Akka and Haifa, is attaining to the character of a world religion. So far as its influence goes in the land, it is a factor making for international and inter-religious understanding." And, finally, is the judgment passed by no less outstanding a figure than the late Master of Balliol, Professor Benjamin Jowett: "The Bábi movement may not impossibly turn out to have the promise of the future." Professor Lewis Campbell, an eminent pupil of Dr. Jowett, has confirmed this statement by quoting him as saying: "This Bahá'í Movement is the greatest light that has come into the world since the time of Jesus Christ. You must watch it and never let it out of your sight. It is too great and too near for this generation to comprehend. The future alone can reveal its import." Quoting John Bromberek : > The Baha'i Studies Listserv > At 04:30 PM 1/25/2014, Don C wrote: > >I recently found an old pamphlet entitled The > >World Religion A summary of Its Aims, Teachings > >and History by SHOGHI EFFENDI Guardian of the > >Bahá'i Faith as reprinted Jan 1941. > > The first two paragraphs from the stat
Re: The World Religion A summary of Its Aims, Teachings and History by SHOGHI EFFENDI"
The Baha'i Studies Listserv At 04:30 PM 1/25/2014, Don C wrote: >I recently found an old pamphlet entitled The >World Religion A summary of Its Aims, Teachings >and History by SHOGHI EFFENDI Guardian of the >Bahá'i Faith as reprinted Jan 1941. The first two paragraphs from the statement appear inside the back cover of each issue of "The Journal of Baha'i Studies", which is probably where people are most likely to have encountered it. I see that there is a reference to the statement on the Lincoln, Nebraska Web site, where they refer to it as having been written in 1933: http://www.lincolnbahai.org/Content/BahaiFaith.php Following up on that I noticed that a single phrase from the statement scientific in its method,[121] is referred to in: "Shoghi Effendis The Dispensation of Baháu'lláh: A Theology of the Word" by Jack McLean Published in Lights of Irfan, Volume 9, pages 239-280 (Wilmette, IL: Irfan Colloquia, 2008) This document is also online as a formatted PDF; download from irfancolloquia.org/79/mclean_proactive. http://jack-mclean.com/articles/shoghi-effendis-dispensation-of-bahaullah/#_edn121 The footnote (121) indicates the origin of the statement as: "[121] Shoghi Effendi, letter of June 1933 to the High Commissioner of Palestine. Extract from Compilation of Letters and Extracts of Writings From the Guardian Published in the Baháí News of the United States (December 1924 November 1934), no. 85." "This letter provides a cogent summary statement of the teachings of the Baháí Faith." -- Likewise, the first two paragraphs are also referred to in a compilation on "Science and Technology" put together by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice: http://bahai-library.com/compilation_science_technology And the source is again identified as: "(June 1933, from a letter written by Shoghi Effendi to the High Commissioner for Palestine)" - The entire statement is also online, but without identification of its source, at: http://bahairesearch.com/english/Baha'i/Authoritative_Baha'i/Shoghi_Effendi/Summary%20Statement%20-The%20World%20Religion.aspx Possibly this rendering has its origins with the pamphlet that you found. John B. __ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:arch...@mail-archive.com Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:leave-738670-27401.54f46e81b66496c9909bcdc2f7987...@list.jccc.edu Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to ly...@list.jccc.edu Or subscribe: http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=bahai-st Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu Web - http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/?forum=bahai-st News (on-campus only) - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu
“The World Religion A summary of Its Aims, Teachings and History by SHOGHI EFFENDI"
The Baha'i Studies Listserv I recently found an old pamphlet entitled “The World Religion A summary of Its Aims, Teachings and History by SHOGHI EFFENDI Guardian of the Bahá'i Faith” as reprinted Jan 1941. Poking around, I find it is Appendix II of Martha Root’s “Tahirih, the Pure” which had been published in 1937. see http://www.paintdrawer.co.uk/david/folders/Research/Bahai/Tahirih/Life of Tahirih (Martha Root)[64].pdf But I can’t find it printed anywhere else as such, tho’ it appears to be a formal statement, perhaps to the British Mandate. Mr. Giachery notes, “we must remember the friendly relations he maintained in brilliantly conceived letters to the authorities of the British Mandate in Palestine and, after 1948, of the State of Israel, activities which greatly enhanced the prestige of the Faith, as did his communications with outstanding leaders and personalities in various countries of Europe.” So there are obviously materials that has never been published. Several paragraphs are cited individually in the BN of July 1934, and Ives quotes one sentence in Portals to Freedom. Perhaps Shoghi Effendi sent a copy of a statement to the NSA which it did not publish as a single document? Any suggestions? ¶1- BN 85 - July 1934 - page 1 ¶2-BN 85 - July 1934 - page 4-5 ¶3 -> 5 - Found only in Appendix II ¶6 - The first sentence is also found in Ives’ “Portals to Freedom”, first published in SOTW Dec 1934; otherwise not found elsewhere ¶7 - Found only in Appendix II ¶8 - No. 85 - July 1934 - page 7 Don C --- It doesn't matter whether the sun shines if you never go outside. __ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:arch...@mail-archive.com Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:leave-738663-27401.54f46e81b66496c9909bcdc2f7987...@list.jccc.edu Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to ly...@list.jccc.edu Or subscribe: http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=bahai-st Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu Web - http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/?forum=bahai-st News (on-campus only) - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu
