A consummate union
Posted by Sen on May 22, 2009
I recently came across Bahai blog (whose owner prefers not to be named) that, as an example of the Bahai teachings, presented this passage from the old compilation Bahai World Faith:
“He has ordained and established the House of Justice which is endowed with a political as well as a religious function, the consummate union and blending of church and state. This institution is under the protecting power of Baha’u'llah Himself.“
(Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith, 247)
The issue of what is, and what is not, Bahai scripture is of general importance, so I am responding here.
Dear S.,
the text you cite from Bahai World Faith is not authentic. It is precisely for this reason that Bahai World Faith has passed out of use in the Bahai community: the book is a mixture of authoritative scripture and other materials we cannot rely on.
In this case, the source is a “pilgrim’s note” – that is, a report of what was said by Abdu’l-Baha, not a text he wrote. As regards such reports of talks, the Guardian’s secretary wrote in 1947 that:
Nothing can be considered scripture for which we do not have an original text. A verbatim record in Persian of His talks would of course be more reliable than one in English because He was not always accurately interpreted . . .
(Unfolding Destiny, 208)
In this case, there is no Persian record of these words being spoken, so what we have is simply what somebody said the interpreter said Abdu’l-Baha was saying.
In addition, the original report has been altered, and ideas are put in Abdu’l-Baha’s mouth with which he would certainly not agree. The version in Bahai World Faith comes from The Promulgation of Universal Peace, page 455, which is based on notes of the talk first published in Star of the West, Vol. 4, No. 15 (December 12, 1913). The original reads: 
The eleventh teaching is the organization called, The House of Justice, which is endowed with a political as well as a religious aspect. It embodies both aspects, and it is protected by the Preserving Power of Baha’o'llah Himself.
In 1925 the editor of The Promulgation of Universal Peace, Howard MacNutt, revised this to read:
He has ordained and established the House of Justice, which is endowed with a political as well as a religious function, the consummate union and blending of church and state. This institution is under the protecting power of Baha’u'llah Himself. (Promulgation of Universal Peace, 455)
Clearly, the phrase about “church and state” is a corruption of the text: it is what Howard MacNutt teaches, not what Abdu’l-Baha teaches. MacNutt was one of a handful of early American Bahais who imposed theocratic thinking onto the Bahai teachings: I’ve discussed and quoted some of their writings in ‘Theocratic assumptions in Baha’i literature’ (pdf here) and, on this blog, in ‘how theocracy happened.’
The older version of this talk by Abdu’l-Baha, in Star of the West, continues:
A Universal or World House of Justice shall be organized. That which it orders shall be the Truth in explaining the Commands of Baha’o'llah, and that which the House of Justice ordains concerning the Commands of Baha’o'llah shall be obeyed by all.
Which MacNutt revises to read:
A universal, or international, House of Justice shall also be organized. Its rulings shall be in accordance with the commands and teachings of Baha’u'llah, and that which the Universal House of Justice ordains shall be obeyed by all mankind.
By removing the phrase “in explaining the Commands of Baha’o'llah,” MacNutt makes it appear that the Universal House of Justice has an unlimited authority, whereas the original says only that it has the authority to elucidate Baha’i laws.
I said above that MacNutt put ideas in Abdu’l-Baha’s mouth with which he would certainly not agree. How do I know that? Because Abdu’l-Baha wrote, for example:
Should they place in the arena the crown of the government of the whole world, and invite each one of us to accept it, undoubtedly we shall not condescend, and shall refuse to accept it." (Tablets of the Divine Plan, 51)
and, with specific reference to the House of Justice:
The signature of that meeting should be the Spiritual Gathering (House of Spirituality) and the wisdom therein is that hereafter the government should not infer from the term "House of Justice" that a court is signified, that it is connected with political affairs, or that at any time it will interfere with governmental affairs. Hereafter, enemies will be many. They would use this subject as a cause for disturbing the mind of the government and confusing the thoughts of the public. The intention was to make known that by the term Spiritual Gathering (House of Spirituality), that Gathering has not the least connection with material matters, and that its whole aim and consultation is confined to matters connected with spiritual affairs. This was also instructed (performed) in all Persia. (Tablets of Abdu’l-Baha Abbas vol. 1, page 5)
Similar teachings can be found in the writings of Baha’u’llah and Shoghi Effendi. I have collected some of these in the compilation on Church and State on this blog. For example in the Lawh-e Ashraf, Baha’u'llah writes:
The one true God, exalted be His glory, hath ever regarded, and will continue to regard, the hearts of men as His own, His exclusive possession. All else, whether pertaining to land or sea, whether riches or glory, He hath bequeathed unto the Kings and rulers of the earth. From the beginning that hath no beginning the ensign proclaiming the words “He doeth whatsoever He willeth” hath been unfurled in all its splendor before His Manifestation. What mankind needeth in this day is obedience unto them that are in authority, and a faithful adherence to the cord of wisdom. The instruments which are essential to the immediate protection, the security and assurance of the human race have been entrusted to the hands, and lie in the grasp, of the governors of human society. This is the wish of God and His decree…. (Gleanings, CII 206-7)
and Shoghi Effendi writes:
Theirs is not the purpose, while endeavoring to conduct and perfect the administrative affairs of their Faith, to violate, under any circumstances, the provisions of their country’s constitution, much less to allow the machinery of their administration to supersede the government of their respective countries.
(The World Order of Baha’u’llah, 66)
Although the text in The Promulgation of Universal Peace, page 455, is not authentic, and not in line with Bahai teachings, and should have been recognised as a pilgrim’s note by knowledgeable Bahais, it has been quite widely cited and used:
- in a compilation called “The Essence of the Covenant” published by Palabra Publications in 2005.
- in a compilation ‘Regarding the Establishment of the Universal House of Justice’ which is part of the Compilation of Compilations Vol. I, pp. 319-66
- in the “theme material” prepared by a national committee in the USA for use in state and regional summerschools, in 2005.
It seems to me very important that the Bahai community should pay more attention to the standards that Abdu’l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi have set, as to what constitutes authentic Bahai scripture.
muslimsperspective said
“It seems to me very important that the Bahai community should pay more attention to the standards that Abdu’l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi have set, as to what constitutes authentic Bahai scripture.”
I agree. There is too much acceptance of whatever is considered to be the “Baha’i teachings”, regardless of the source. People should always ask “what is the source” for every single claim, even if it gets annoying and frustrated and makes some people mad. Getting into that habit would help the community immensely.