Chapters (134)
- Baha'i Terms of Use
- [Letter to selected National Spiritual Assemblies]
- EXTRACTS FROM THE WRITINGS OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH AND ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ AND FROM THE LETTERS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI AND THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE ON SCHOLARSHIP
- 1. THE STATION OF SCHOLARSHIP
- 1.1 Importance of Knowledge and Learning
- From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh
- 1: “Knowledge is one of the wondrous gifts of God. It is incumbent upon...”
- 2: “Knowledge is as wings to man’s life, and a ladder for his ascent. Its...”
- From the Writings and Utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
- 3: “Make every effort to acquire the advanced knowledge of the day, and...”
- 4: “...I most urgently request the friends of God to make every effort, as much...”
- 5: “All blessings are divine in origin, but none can be compared with this...”
- From a Letter Written on Behalf of Shoghi Effendi
- 6: “...Bahá’u’lláh considered education as one of the most fundamental factors...”
- 1.2 Characteristics of the “truly learned”
- From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh
- 7: “Happy are ye, O ye the learned ones in Bahá. By the Lord! Ye are...”
- 8: “The Great Being saith: The man of consummate learning and the sage...”
- 9: “Know thou that he is truly learned who hath acknowledged My Revelation, and...”
- 10: “Consider, how can he that faileth in the day of God’s Revelation...”
- From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
- 11: “...there are those famed and accomplished men of learning, possessed of...”
- From Letters Written on Behalf of Shoghi Effendi
- 12: “In connection with the question as to whether Bahá’ís should be familiar...”
- 13: “The Cause needs more Bahá’í scholars, people who not only are devoted...”
- 1.3 Scope of “Bahá’í Scholarship”
- From a Letter Written on Behalf of the Universal House of Justice
- 14: “At this early stage in the development of the Faith, it would not...”
- 1.4 Appreciation of Scholarship
- From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh
- 15: “Respect ye the divines and learned amongst you, they whose conduct accords...”
- 16: “O people of God! Righteous men of learning who dedicate themselves to...”
- 17: “Beware, O My loved ones, lest ye despise the merits of My learned servants...”
- From the Writings and Utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
- 18: “...the religion of God is the promoter of truth, the founder of science and...”
- 19: “There are certain pillars which have been established as the unshakeable...”
- From a Letter Written by Shoghi Effendi
- 20: “The responsibilities of the members of the Spiritual Assemblies that are...”
- 2. FUNCTIONS OF BAHÁ’Í SCHOLARSHIP
- 2.1 Promotion of Human Welfare
- From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh
- 21: “The Great Being saith: The learned of the day must direct the people to...”
- 22: “True learning is that which is conducive to the well-being of the world, not...”
- From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
- 23: “The primary, the most urgent requirement is the promotion of education....”
- From a Letter Written on Behalf of Shoghi Effendi
- 24: “The news of the co-operation of the Bahá’í young men and women in...”
- From a Letter of the Universal House of Justice
- 25: “The further emergence of the Faith from obscurity is reflected in distinctive...”
- 2.2 Defence of the Faith
- From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh
- 26: “If any man were to arise to defend, in his writings, the Cause of God against...”
- From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
- 27: “The second of these spiritual standards which apply to the possessor of...”
- From Letters Written on Behalf of Shoghi Effendi
- 28: “Shoghi Effendi was delighted to hear of your conversation with Sir .......”
- 29: “There is an answer in the teachings for everything; unfortunately the...”
- 2.3 Expansion and Consolidation of the Bahá’í Community
- From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
- 30: “Pure souls, such as Mírzá Abu’l-Fadl, upon him be the Glory of God,...”
- From Letters Written on Behalf of Shoghi Effendi
- 31: “We had heard through various channels the wonderful way your children had...”
- 32: “The university training which you are receiving at present will be of immense...”
- 33: “Young men and women in the Faith must be deep and thoughtful scholars of its...”
- 34: “If the Bahá’ís want to be really effective in teaching the Cause they need to...”
- From a Letter Written on Behalf of the Universal House of Justice
- 35: “The Universal House of Justice ... regards Bahá’í scholarship as of...”
- 2.4 Contribution to Scholarly Development
- From Letters Written on Behalf of Shoghi Effendi
- 36: “He was very happy to hear from you, and to see with what keen appreciation...”
- 37: “Regarding the advice you requested from him concerning what studies you...”
- From Letters Written by or on Behalf of the Universal House of Justice
- 38: “You are already a qualified practitioner in your field, and no doubt you...”
- 39: “As the Bahá’í community grows it will acquire experts in numerous fields...”
- 40: “Indeed, let them [the Bahá’í youth] welcome with confidence the challenges...”
- 41: “The House of Justice recognizes that the questions you raise, concerning...”
- 3. GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES
- 3.1 Spiritual Foundation
- From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh
- 42: “Therefore, hath it been said: “Knowledge is a light which God casteth into...”
- 43: “We have decreed, O people, that the highest and last end of all learning...”
- From the Writings and Utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
- 44: “Although to acquire the sciences and arts is the greatest glory of...”
- 45: “And every branch of learning, conjoined with the love of God, is approved...”
- 46: “Scientific knowledge is the highest attainment upon the human plane,...”
- From a Letter Written on Behalf of Shoghi Effendi
- 47: “Between the truth which comes from God through His Prophets, and the...”
- From Letters Written on Behalf of the Universal House of Justice
- 48: “Just as there is a fundamental difference between divine Revelation itself...”
- 49: “The combination of absolute loyalty to the Manifestation of God and...”
- 50: “The House of Justice suggests that the issues raised in your letter...”
- 3.2 “Useful” Sciences
- From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh
- 51: “It is permissible to study sciences and arts, but such sciences as are...”
- From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
- 52: “The individual should, prior to engaging in the study of any subject, ask...”
- From Letters Written on Behalf of Shoghi Effendi
- 53: “The choice you have made for your course of study is surely most...”
- 54: “Philosophy, as you will study it and later teach it, is certainly not...”
- From a Letter Written on Behalf of the Universal House of Justice
- 55: “In response to your letter of ... in which you seek guidance on the...”
- 3.3 Attitudes of the Scholar
- From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh
- 56: “Amongst the people is he whose learning hath made him proud, and who hath...”
- 57: “Show forbearance and benevolence and love to one another. Should any...”
- 58: “Beware lest ye contend with any one, nay, strive to make him aware of the truth...”
- 59: “Warn, O Salmán, the beloved of the one true God, not to view with too...”
- From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
- 60: “Good behaviour and high moral character must come first, for unless the...”
- From Letters Written by or on Behalf of the Universal House of Justice
- 61: “...the believers must recognize the importance of intellectual honesty and...”
- 62: “When studying at school or university Bahá’í youth will often find...”
- 63: “The House of Justice agrees that it is most important for the believers,...”
- 64: “The House of Justice feels that Bahá’í scholars must beware of the...”
- 3.4 Methodological Issues
- 65: “Weigh not the Book of God with such standards and sciences as are current...”
- 66: “When the eyes of the people of the East were captivated by the arts...”
- From the Utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
- 67: “There are only four accepted methods of comprehension—that is to say,...”
- From Letters Written on Behalf of the Universal House of Justice
- 68: “The concern was expressed that many of the friends, holding that there...”
- 69: “The House of Justice had hoped that the publication of the statement...”
- 70: “From your letter the House of Justice understands that you desire to...”
- 71: “The principal concern of the House of Justice is over a methodological...”
- 3.5 The Covenant
- From Letters Written by or on Behalf of Shoghi Effendi
- 72: “Concerning the course of study you may follow:.... The Cause is...”
- 73: “The Guardian feels that a sound knowledge of history, including religious...”
- 75: “It seems what we need now is a more profound and co-ordinated Bahá’í...”
- 76: “He was very pleased to hear you do a lot of lecturing for the Cause; this...”
- From Communications of the Universal House of Justice
- 77: “In the field of Bahá’í scholarship we feel that it is most important not...”
- 78: “There can be no doubt that the progress of the Cause from this time...”
- Footnotes
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