The first and utmost problem is that Bahā’u’llāh, neither regards reason nor science, as a usable tool for recognizing the truth about a religion. Rather, he believes that Baha’ism is the yardstick of truth and anything uttered in it however unscientific and unreasonable that it may be is the absolute truth. He believes that the correctness of peoples’ knowledge and reason must be measured using the words of Bahā’u’llāh, not the other way around:

Say: O leaders of religion![1] Weigh not the Book of God with such standards and sciences as are current amongst you, for the Book itself is the unerring Balance established amongst men. In this most perfect Balance whatsoever the peoples and kindreds of the earth possess must be weighed, while the measure of its weight should be tested according to its own standard, did ye but know it.[2]

According to Bahā’u’llāh, science is not a means of weighing the book of Aqdas, rather science and everything the people possess must be weighed and compared with the book of Aqdas!

The following quotes—that we already mentioned in chapter one—clearly show that Baha’ism is a yardstick for measuring ones reason and science:

The general criterion is what we mentioned and any soul who has success in it, meaning recognizes and realizes the Sunrise of Manifestation (meaning himself), will be mentioned in the Divine Book as someone who possesses reason or else he will be (mentioned as) ignorant even if he himself thinks that his reason equals that of the whole world.[3]

No one has denied or will deny what has been revealed by the Ancient Pen (meaning himself) in this Most Great Manifestation regarding society, unity, manners, rites, and being occupied with what has benefits for the people, except that he completely lacks reason.[4]

If today, someone grasps all of the knowledge on earth but stops at the word ‘yes’ (meaning does not become a Baha’i), the Lord will not pay attention to him (ladī l-Ḥaqq madhkūr na) and he will be considered as the most ignorant amongst the people.^[5]

From now on nobody is to be called knowledgeable, except those who have decorated themselves with the garment of this New Affair (meaning those who have become Baha’is).[6]

If reason and science are not a criterion for recognizing the truth about a religion, then what is?

It would have been better if this principle was called “Science and Reason Must be in Conformity With Baha’ism” instead of “Religion Must be in Conformity With Science and Reason.”

[1] In the Arabic version of the Aqdas, the words used are yā ma`shar al-`ulamā which translates to “O group of scholars.” This has been translated to “O leaders of religion,” in the official Baha’i version.

[2] Bahā’u’llāh, The Kitābi Aqdas, p. 56.

[3] `Abd a l-Ḥamīd Ishrāq Khāwarī, Mā’idiy-i āsimānī, vol. 7, p. 160.

[4] Bahā’u’llāh, Iqtidārāt wa chand lauḥ dīgar, p. 168.

[5] Bahā’u’llāh, Iqtidārāt wa chand lauḥ dīgar, p. 111.

[6] Bahā’u’llāh, Badī`, pp. 138–139.