For unity's sake: abandon counterfeit doctrines and imitations

When `Abdu'l-Bahá traveled through the United States, on 16 June 1912, He spoke before the Central Congregational Church in Brooklyn, New York on the subject of religious unity.  It would behove Bahá'ís everywhere today to carefully consider His comments and to act accordingly.

`Abdu'l-Bahá (as set forth in The Promulgation of Universal Peace):

"Just as in the world of politics there is need for free thought, likewise in the world of religion there should be the right of unrestricted individual belief. Consider what a vast difference exists between modern democracy and the old forms of despotism. Under an autocratic government the opinions of men are not free, and development is stifled, whereas in democracy, because thought and speech are not restricted, the greatest progress is witnessed. It is likewise true in the world of religion. When freedom of conscience, liberty of thought and right of speech prevail -- that is to say, when every man according to his own idealization may give expression to his beliefs -- development and growth are inevitable...."  [Emphasis added]

In considering this comment, it seems to me that `Abdu'l-Bahá is championing the right of this web site (http://www.truebahai.com) to exist. This is my personal web site and in it I publish my religious views.  That is, I give expression to my beliefs according to my own idealization.  Yet the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States took legal action against the Orthodox Bahá'í Faith to try (among other things) to have my web site shut down. Doesn't it seem strange to you that the leaders of an organization that purports to revere and follow `Abdu'l-Bahá would take this kind of action against me in light of the Master's clear views on religious liberty and the freedom to express one's beliefs?  The NSA would probably respond as they did in the court papers, to allege that this site causes confusion in the minds of the public as to its source.  Really?  Is there anybody out there who visits my site really confused about whether I am a supporter or not of the NSA?  Come on.  There is not a single article on this web site that I don't make abundantly clear my contempt for and opposition to the NSA. If anybody is confused, they are simply not reading the site.

"The divine religion is reality, and reality is not multiple; it is one. Therefore, the foundations of the religious systems are one because all proceed from the indivisible reality; but the followers of these systems have disagreed; discord, strife and warfare have arisen among them, for they have forsaken the foundation and held to that which is but imitation and semblance. Inasmuch as imitations differ, enmity and dissension have resulted...."

In this part of His speech,`Abdu'l-Bahá opines about the reason for disunity in religion.  He says that discord and strife among religions is because the followers of the religions have abandoned the foundation of their faith and have followed imitation.  In other words, it is the failure of religious persons to independently investigate the truth of the matter that is the cause of disunity. Instead of investigating for themselves, they follow the opinions of others including their leadership.  But is that not what is happening today with the NSA and its minions?  Are they not blindly following imitation, obeying the dictates of their leaders without making any serious investigation of the arguments and ideas presented by the Orthodox Bahá'ís?  Instead of investigating reality, they attempt to silence me and my fellow Orthodox Bahá'ís through the secular court system. This is not at all consistent with the Master's teachings.
 
"If Christians of all denominations and divisions should investigate reality, the foundations of Christ will unite them. No enmity or hatred will remain, for they will all be under the one guidance of reality itself. Likewise, in the wider field if all the existing religious systems will turn away from ancestral imitations and investigate reality, seeking the real meanings of the Holy Books, they will unite and agree upon the same foundation, reality itself. As long as they follow counterfeit doctrines or imitations instead of reality, animosity and discord will exist and increase."
 
Almost 100 years ago, the Master here sets forth the prescription for overcoming religious animosity and discord: not to follow counterfeit docrines or imitations instead of reality. All I can say to the Bahá'ís who follow the NSA, has it ever occurred to you that the abandonment of the Guardianship and with it many of the verities of the Faith, and the embrace of a headless so-called Universal House of Justice in place of the one described in the Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá is precisely to follow COUNTERFEIT DOCTRINES AND IMITATIONS.  This is common sense my friends. Attempting to silence us in the courts is not the method of attaining unity prescribed by the Master. How far will you allow your leadership to stray from the clear teachings of the Faith before you abandon its COUNTERFEIT DOCTRINES AND IMITATIONS? 

The third Guardian's web site can found at http://www.bahai-guardian.com/

Jeffrey

Comments

[Michael Zargarov]

I have copied this article and sent it to MANY heterodox organizations and bodies. It is SO important that they contine to "Investigate Independently" the VERITIES of OUR Faith.

[Calicoe]

Your website is like a breath of fresh air, after being locked up in oxygen-deprived room. I live with Bahais who follow the UHJ, and they were my first extensive exposure to the faith. They are lovely people, but I always had the nagging discomfort of their evasiveness or dismal of any kind of direct discussion, contradiction, or factual disagreement, on anything! I was given a book to read called "New Era", and it confirmed all of my suspicions and enlightened me on some very real concerns! I do not yet know where to separate the UHJ teachings and the pure teachings of the Bahai Faith. I would like to know before I turn away completely. I do not agree with a world theocracy and the elimination of culture through one language, though, so perhaps I am talking about all of it. I am open to contact and further discussion.

Thanks.