True consultation is difficult because it requires fearless courage and egoless effort. But the collective wisdom that emerges from true consultation is the truth itself. True problem solving and true dispute resolution is achieved with the tool of consultation.
This makes me wonder what might have happened after the death of Shoghi Effendi, had the Bahá'í world engaged in true consultation and openly discussed the question of the successorship of the Guardian. Would not the collective wisdom of the Bahá'ís reach the truth? Even the Hands, by all accounts, failed to consult over the question of the Guardianship. In fact, the decision there would be no Guardian was railroaded through that body, which secretly voted to end the Guardianship and then secretly went about the business of electing a headless UHJ completely contrary to the requirements set forth in `Abdu'l-Bahá's Will and Testament. Refusing to consult over the question thereafter and prohibiting any discussion by anyone on the question of the continuing Guardianship, the illicit body of the Hands, calling itself the "Custodians" went forth with the greatest violation of the Covenant ever committed. (I realize that the heterodox "UHJ" supposedly consulted on this question, yet there was never the prerequisite consultation over whether this body was legitimate or properly constituted. It is clearly obvious that it was not.)
To this day, the Bahá'í world refuses to consult over this question, despite the pleas set forth by the Orthodox Bahá'ís to reconsider and to come back under the Covenant in obedience to the living Guardian. Bahá'u'lláh did not say consult on some things, He said to consult in all matters.
By Jeffrey Goldberg
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