Chapter 59
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Writing on shunning, of questionable authenticity, attributed to Abdu'l-Baha. Worth further research. Last updated: July 25th, 2024.
In online discussions, some
Baha'i scholars have suggested that the writings in "The Promulgation
of Universal Peace" are not authenticated, and
should not be considered authoritative. Also, Abdu'l-Baha
states, "Any narrative that is not
authenticated by a Text should not be trusted". With
that background, below are a number of writings on "shunning". Passage 1, attributed to Abdu'l-Baha, states, "If they sense the least violation on the part of anyone, they
shun him entirely",
which does not sound like something Abdu'l-Baha would say -- its
authenticity is worth investigating... Shunning, based on subjective
assessments, can do great harm to families and communities. As shown in previous chapters, there are many
conflicts in the writings of Shoghi Effendi and the House when compared
to Baha'u'llah. Does that therefore qualify them as "violators", to be
shunned? Passage 2.1
from the Will and Testament also makes reference to shunning. As
indicated in Chapter 4 on Baha'i Theocracy
(which contradicts the teachings of Baha'u'llah), it may be that not all parts of the
Will and Testament are authentic; possibly including passage 2.1 below.
Passage 3, by Shoghi Effendi, where it says, "the absolute shunning of whomsoever we feel to be an enemy of the Cause"
has a similar extreme tone to passage 1... Passage 1 is also not
consistent with the tolerance expressed by Abdu'l-Baha in passage 4.
1)
31 October 1912
Talk at Hotel Plaza
Chicago, Illinois
Notes by Gertrude Buikema
...
115.2
The friends in Los Angeles and San Francisco are very firm in the
Covenant. If they sense the least violation on the part of anyone, they
shun him entirely; for they know that such a person is engaged in
extinguishing the lamps of faith ignited by the light of the Covenant,
thereby producing weakness and indifference in the divine Cause. For
instance, the firm ones teach a person. Then the violators go to him
and instill suspicion until he becomes lukewarm. There have been
violators here in Chicago for twenty years. What have they done?
Nothing. Have they been able to teach anybody? Have they been able to
speak in churches or address audiences elsewhere? Have they been able
to make anybody firm in the Cause? They are doing nothing except
extinguishing the lamps we ignite. The friends in San Francisco are
exceedingly firm. They do not receive violators in their homes.
Recently a violator went to that city. The Bahá'í friends turned him
away, saying, "You are not with us; why do you try to come among us?"
Today the most important principle of faith is firmness in the
Covenant, because firmness in the Covenant wards off differences.
Therefore, you must be firm as mountains.
-- Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 381
2.1)
And now, one of the
greatest and most fundamental principles of the Cause of God is to shun
and avoid entirely the Covenant-breakers, for they will utterly
destroy the Cause of God, exterminate His Law and render of no account
all efforts exerted in the past. O friends! It behooveth you to call to
mind with tenderness the trials of His Holiness, the Exalted One, and
show your fidelity to the Ever-Blest Beauty. The utmost endeavor must
be exerted lest all these woes, trials and afflictions, all this pure
and sacred blood that hath been shed so profusely in the Path of God,
may prove to be in vain.
-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, Will and Testament of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 20
2.2)
To read the writings of Covenant-breakers is not forbidden to the
believers and does not constitute in itself an act of
Covenant-breaking. Indeed, some of the Bahá'ís have the unpleasant duty
to read such literature as part of their responsibilities for
protecting the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh. However,
the friends are warned in strongest terms against reading such
literature because Covenant-breaking is a spiritual poison and the
calumnies and distortions of the truth which the Covenant-breakers give
out are such that they can undermine the faith of the believer and
plant the seeds of doubt unless he is forearmed with an unshakable
belief in Bahá'u'lláh and His Covenant and a knowledge of the true
facts. This is a factor that any Bahá'í doing research into the
history of the Faith must bear in mind, and he must himself decide,
whenever he comes upon such documents, whether he feels justified in
reading them for the purposes of his research.
-- Letters of The Universal House of Justice, 1987 Jun 17, Treatment of Covenant-breakers in Writing of Baha'i History.
3)
Unity amongst the friends, selflessness in our labors in His Path,
detachment from all worldly things, the greatest prudence and caution
in every step we take, earnest endeavor to carry out only what is His
Holy Will and Pleasure, the constant awareness of His Presence and of
the example of His Life, the absolute shunning of whomsoever we feel to be an enemy of the Cause ...
these, and foremost among them is the need for unity, appear to me as
our most vital duties, should we dedicate our lives for His service.
Should we in this spirit arise to serve Him, what surer and greater
promise have we than the one His Glorious Father, Bahá'u'lláh, gives us
in His Most Holy Book: -- "Verily, We behold you from Our Realm of
Effulgent Glory, and shall graciously aid whosoever ariseth for the
triumph of Our Cause with the hosts of the Celestial Concourse and a
company of Our chosen angels."
-- Shoghi Effendi, Baha'i Administration, p. 16
Verily, We behold you from Our realm of glory, and shall aid whosoever
will arise for the triumph of Our Cause with the hosts of the Concourse on high and a company of Our favoured angels.
-- Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 38
4)
These are effectual and sufficient proofs that the conscience of man is
sacred and to be respected; and that liberty thereof produces widening
of ideas, amendment of morals, improvement of conduct, disclosure of
the secrets of creation, and manifestation of the hidden verities of
the contingent world. Moreover, if interrogation of conscience, which
is one of the private possessions of the heart and the soul, take place
in this world, what further recompense remains for man in the court of
divine justice at the day of general resurrection? Convictions and
ideas are within the scope of the comprehension of the King of kings,
not of kings; and soul and conscience are between the fingers of
control of the Lord of hearts, not of [His] servants. So in the world
of existence two persons unanimous in all grades [of thought] and all
beliefs cannot be found.
-- Abdu'l-Baha, A Traveller's Narrative, p. 91
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