An in-depth Investigation of Baha’i Principles
Seeking the truth and setting aside Imitation “Bahāu’llāh’s first principle is the seeking of the truth. He says that man must seek the truth and set aside imitations.” Ref: – Abdu’l-Bahā, Khaṭābāt (Tehran), vol. 2, p. 144. Abdul Baha says that everyone should search for truth themselves without any influence of love and hatred, …
Independent Investigation of Truth : Unpacking the Baha’i Paradox “Bahāu’llāh’s first principle is the seeking of the truth. He says that man must seek the truth and set aside imitations.” Ref: – Abdu’l-Bahā, Khaṭābāt (Tehran), vol. 2, p. 144. Abdul Baha says that everyone should search for truth themselves without any influence of love and …
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Seeking the truth is most definitely logical, and reasonable; blind imitation is also an inappropriate and irrational action. But just as was determined in the second perspective, this principle is not exclusive to Baha’i sect.
For reasons still unknown, Bahā’u’llāh had prohibited his followers from teaching Baha’ism to the people of Israel. In a letter dated 23/6/1995 the Universal House of Justice replies to an individual believer:
What most Baha’is do not know today, is that `Abdu’l-Bahā had prohibited his followers from sending their children to non-Baha’i schools.
Baha’is actively engage in proselytizing missions that are utterly against the investigation of truth. In these campaigns— that continue with great force today—illiterate masses in third world countries that have no means of investigating the truth whatsoever, are converted to Baha’ism under the disguise of education and humanitarian relief.
The greatest obstacle in the path of investigating the truth is not hiding the material that can be used to do so, rather, it is deceiving the investigator by distorting and creating an inverted image of the truth.
Suppose someone uses the limited means at hand to investigate the truth about Baha’ism and, based on his investigation, reaches a conclusion that goes against official doctrine. If this conclusion is publically announced, that person will be shunned.
To investigate the truth about anything, we must first obtain knowledge about it then use our reason to reach a verdict and conclusion. If a Baha’i wants to research his or her religion, there are three sources from which he or she can seek knowledge:
This is a prescription that has only been prescribed for non-Baha’is. How is it that the Jews, Christians, Muslims, and followers of all other religions must put aside the words of their forefathers and seek the truth with open ears and eyes, but Baha’is should absolutely refrain from doing so?