critiques of capitalism, communism, socialism
Editorial introduction
Socialism, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá once said, carries one fragrance from the leaves of the blessed tree, but the tree itself bears every fruit. The remark sets the terms for thinking about economic systems: what a programme gets right is not the whole of what religion intends. He foresaw that what socialists hoped to force would in time be done freely through faith and cooperation, warned that seizing the property of the rich would leave everyone hungry within a year, and watched democrats become extreme socialists and then Bolsheviks who took lives and public property alike. Preferring others to oneself is harder than enforced equality, because it depends on the willingness of the giver, and that is precisely why it lasts. A further caution warns against identifying a future Bahá’í commonwealth with any known system, left or right, and a later message asks the preachers of materialism, east and west, capitalist or socialist, where their promised new world is. Aristotle, long before, distinguished private possession from the generous common use of it, within a social order very unlike a vision of universal dignity [1]. The path continues toward the economic problem and its solution, voluntary giving, and the relations between labour and management.
Tell Mr. Cutress that the tree of socialism has one fragrance from the leaves of this blessed tree, but this blessed tree contains every fruit. When one sits beneath this tree, one partakes of the fruits of all trees.
That which the socialists aim to accomplish in the economic world will in time be done by the people freely through faith and love and cooperation. For that which is established through loving fellowship is permanent.
In America I said to the Socialists: 'These plans which you have will lead to no results. Suppose you take the property of the rich, what will you do after one year? All of you will be in need and will die from starvation. But it cannot be so for neither you nor the rich will be at rest.'
In these days in Europe, especially in Russia, the Democratic Party has become extreme, and the Socialists have become radical, and the Bolsheviks have become oppressive. Now they have gone beyond freedom and have become bold in taking lives, seizing public property, and violating the chastity and virtue of pure and innocent women. It has become clear and evident that these people are Democrats in the beginning, extreme Socialists in the middle, and in the end become unfair Nihilists and Bolsheviks. … True Democrats are souls who seek the freedom of humanity, who hold to legitimate liberty, who establish constitutional government, and who desire good for all on earth. I hope they will take the path of moderation, abandon savagery, seek tranquility and pursue legitimate freedom.
Thou hast asked whether to enlist in the Socialist party. The Baha'is must be in the Baha'i Cause which comprehends all the degrees and is perfect from every standpoint.
The principles of socialism are outstripped in the religions of God. For instance, God commands, 'But [they] prefer them [the poor] before themselves, although there be indigence among them' [Q59:9]. That is, the believers spend of their substance and share their possessions and prefer others to themselves willingly and with utmost spirituality. Socialists, however, desire to enforce equality and association by compulsion.
Further quotations · supplied wording and references
We cannot compare, much less identify the Baha'i Commonwealth of the future with any of the existing or known systems of government. The assumption that the Baha'i plan is reformed capitalism is incorrect even though we do uphold private property. For so do the socialists and to a lesser degree the communists. The difference between socialism and capitalism does not rest upon the issue of property, but on the question of the ownership and control of the means of production. Baha'u'llah does not answer this directly therefore it will be settled by the International House of Justice. In the meantime we cannot and should not lean to the right or to the left.
The time has come when those who preach the dogmas of materialism, whether of the east or the west, whether of capitalism or socialism, must give account of the moral stewardship they have presumed to exercise. Where is the "new world" promised by these ideologies? Where is the international peace to whose ideals they proclaim their devotion?
In the Bolshevistic principles equality is effected through force. The masses who are opposed to the people of rank and to the wealthy class desire to partake of their advantages. But in the divine teachings equality is brought about through a ready willingness to share. It is commanded as regards wealth that the rich among the people, and the aristocrats should, by their own free will and for the sake of their own happiness, concern themselves with and care for the poor. This equality is the result of the lofty characteristics and noble attributes of mankind.
Explore the explicit distinction between economic principles and a complete technical system.
For thought and discussion