(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Lawh-i-Lahih (Tablet to the Hague), 1919-Dec-17, to Central Organization for a Durable Peace (the Hague) -- AB00016)
Religion’s test: does it bring hearts together?
religion as source of love and unity
Editorial introduction
Religion is a remedy, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says, and a remedy that makes the patient sicker should be put aside. He returned to that image before audiences in London, Paris and America and in letters to individual believers, and it never softened: if faith becomes the cause of enmity, strife and bloodshed, then the absence of religion is preferable, and an irreligious person is better than one who professes faith and hates. Bahá’u’lláh had laid down the ground for this: the religion of God is for love and unity, and whoever turns it into dissension has made of it something other than religion, a man-made imitation. The positive claim is just as strong. When Moses gathered the scattered tribes, their fellowship became the beginning of their freedom and their flourishing; divine teaching binds hearts and gives life. First John puts the same test to the single believer, asking how anyone can love the unseen God while hating the brother who stands in plain view [1]. The question will not let a person rest in agreement with a principle; it asks what a gathering, a way of speaking, a habit of cooperation actually does to the people it touches. From here the subject widens into what religion is for, in a life and in a society, into the unchanging core and changing forms of religion, and into love and unity themselves.
Selected passages
(Bahá’u’lláh, Kitab-i-'Ahd (Book of the Covenant) -- BH00003)
The purpose for which God, exalted and glorified be He, established religion was the unity and concord of all the world's peoples.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1297-1299, to son of Nasir -- BH00499)
O thou who soarest in the atmosphere of My knowledge! The religion of God and His prescribed Law have ever been the cause of love and unity, yet through misunderstanding they have become the source of enmity and discord.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1307-04-05 [1889-Nov-29], to Mulla Muhammad Qa'ini (Nabil-i-Akbar) -- BH01084)
O Kazim! The divine religion has ever been for unity, concord, fellowship and love, yet ignorant servants have made it the cause and reason for hatred.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1304 ? [1886-1887], to Haji Kazim -- BH01895)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1920-Jan-28, to Rasmussen, Captain et al -- AB00197)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Church of the Messiah on 1912-Sep-01 -- ABU0052)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address at Stanford University on 1912-Oct-08 -- ABU0008)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Universalist Church on 1912-Nov-06 -- ABU0009)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address to International Peace Forum, spoken at Grace Methodist Church on 1912-May-12 -- ABU0016)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given in Baptist Temple on 1912-Jun-08 -- ABU0007)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken at Theosophical Society in Paris, Nov. 1911 -- ABU0091)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Hall home on 1912-Sep-20 -- ABU0150)
In a word, according to the explicit text of God, to be found in all the heavenly books, religion must needs be the bond of amity and love among men. If religion should prove to be the cause of alienation, then it is not divine religion, but an imitation that man has created, because divine religion, being a bond to unite human hearts, creates fellowship, love and life. Anything contrary thereto is not religion but man made superstition.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1912-Oct-23 in Oakland -- ABU0219)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Metaphysical Club on 1912-Aug-27 -- ABU0024)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at St. James Methodist Church on 1912-Sep-05 -- ABU0012)
All the divine manifestations have appeared for the purpose of creating love and unity. All the heavenly books have descended for love's sake. All the divine teachings have been for the purpose of effecting love and unity. But we have forgotten this reality.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1912-Oct-06 in San Francisco -- ABU0013)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Central Congregational Church on 1912-Jun-16 -- ABU0027)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Church of the Divine Paternity on 1912-May-19 -- ABU0178)
Among all these, what truly serves as the unifying force of human society is religion. It unites different religions, unifies different nations, brings together different races, unites different languages, and unifies different homelands. It blends individuals together, melts them down and remolds them anew. For instance, observe how the Christian religion was a divine unifying force, what unity it created. The religion of Muhammad, Islam, how many different nations it united. The unity of religion eliminated all these differences.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken at German hostel in Tiberias, 1916-Sep-23 -- ABU0987)
The foundation of divine religions is one - that foundation will become universal through the power of Baha'u'llah. In the East, various teachings were previously spread that appeared universal, but as they were not confirmed by divine power, their flame was quickly extinguished. But the teachings of Baha'u'llah penetrated to such a degree that twenty thousand souls were martyred, yet day by day their power increased.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Mr. J.J. van Rijckevorsel -- AB00801)
First is the independent investigation of truth, second is the oneness of humanity, third is that religion must be the cause of love and fellowship - if it is not the cause of love and fellowship it has no purpose, fourth is that religion must accord with science, fifth that religious prejudice, sectarian prejudice, racial prejudice and national prejudice destroy the foundation of humanity - all people are God's sheep and of one race and the earth is one homeland, sixth that one must be free of all imitations and hold fast to the foundation of divine religions, seventh is unity of language - one language must be chosen or newly invented that will be universal so that misunderstandings between religions and races and nations will disappear, and likewise the equality of men and women, and likewise the spread of sciences and knowledge, and likewise the union of women and men among all religions and nations, and likewise justice and equity, and likewise political unity and so forth.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1919-Dec-06, to Wilhelm Heydorn -- AB07457)
"Say: The sea of bestowal hath appeared, and the sun of knowledge hath shone forth. Make not the Divine Faith---which is the cause of the unity of the peoples of the world---a reason for difference. O Nabil! if men were to become informed of that which hath been made manifest, all would turn unto the Most Exalted Horizon, and would behold themselves freed and delivered from all save Him.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1297-08-02 [1880-Jul-10], to Mulla Muhammad Qa'ini (Nabil-i-Akbar) -- BH00323)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Address to the Baha'is at 780 West End (Kinney home) in New York, 1912-Dec-02 -- ABU0130)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Address to the Baha'is at Thompson home in New York, 1912-Nov-15 -- ABU0038)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at All Souls Unitarian Church on 1912-Jul-14 -- ABU0023)
Thirdly: Baha'u'llah taught, that Religion is the chief foundation of Love and Unity and the cause of Oneness. If a religion become the cause of hatred and disharmony, it would be better that it should not exist. To be without such a religion is better than to be with it.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken at Theosophical Society in London, 1911-Oct-03 -- ABU0257)
Baha'u'llah says if religion does not become the cause of unity, its nonexistence is better than its existence. Religion must be the cause of love.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1911-Oct-15 in Paris -- ABU0633)
The fourth principle is that religion must be the cause of unity, it must connect hearts to one another. Christ and all the other divine messengers came to create unity and love. Therefore, if religion becomes the cause of differences, its nonexistence is preferable.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to some newspaper reporters, spoken at Plaza Hotel on 1912-Apr-30 -- ABU0521)
Third is that the reality of religion must be the cause of fellowship, love, connection and unity between people, otherwise irreligion is better.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Hishmatullah (London and Bombay) -- AB01118)
Third, religion must be the cause of fellowship and love - if it is not, it has no result - with the details you have heard.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1920-Sep-30, to Davud, Yuhanna et al -- AB01419)
And likewise He says: "The religion of God and His divine law are for the purposes of creating love and unity. Make them not the cause of discord."
And He says: "If religion becomes the cause of discord, its absence is better, for conflict and dissension exist naturally in all; there is no need of a further vehicle for its expression."
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken to E.G. Brown on 1913-Mar-09 in Paris -- ABU1754)
His Holiness Baha'u'llah hath said that if Religion and Faith become the cause of difference, enmity and hatred, undoubtedly its non-existence is better than its existence. Consider how much emphasis He hath placed upon love, harmony and affection.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Stirling, L. G. et al et al -- AB07818)
Religion is the Cause of fellowship, not strangeness, the motif of ideal communication and not separation, the basis of complete union and not ill-feeling, the foundation of the solidarity of human race and not backbiting.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Interview for al-Ahram newspaper, Ramleh, 1913-Oct-15 -- ABU0237)
Fifth, religion should be the bond of love and unity amongst men. If religion be not the cause of love, it is better to do without, it is better to be irreligious.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Interview with F. R. Hinkle of the Sacramento Union, 1912-Oct-25 -- ABU0382)
3 - Religion has to be a cause of harmony for mankind. When religion breeds enmity and hate, it is preferable that religion does not exists.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Interview with Mrs. Jo Goudsmit at House of the Master in Haifa, 1920-02 ca. -- ABU0477)
The third teaching of Baha'u'llah was that religion must be the cause of fellowship and love; if religion becomes the cause of enmity, irreligion is better. For religion is a remedy; if the remedy causes illness, it is better to have no remedy. God has sent the Prophets to establish love; Christ came to establish fellowship, not to establish war.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1915-Jul-24 in Haifa -- ABU1080)
[To those who were present he speaks about science and religion; that religion must ever become the cause of amity and love, otherwise irreligion is better; and science at the same time must be the means of human progress and enlightenment. If science creates deadly weapons for human slaughter and destruction it is worse than ignorance.]
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- ABU3382)
I have no creed to preach. I have no doctrine to propound. My word is the word of love...
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to newspaper reporters, spoken on 1912-Apr-11 -- ABU3423)
The quintessence of religion is the knowledge of God and the love of mankind. There are many people who are deprived of these spiritual gifts.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to some friends, spoken on 1915-Feb-11 -- ABU0496)
The divine teachings today promote love and righteousness, and make fellowship and human welfare as resplendent as the moon, and mankind as brilliant as a shining star. For the religion of God today is love and kindness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Bahram Mihraban -- AB09893)
Religion is for the establishment of unity and fellowship among the people and not for the establishment of class distinctions and social privileges. Today in Persia, were you to enter a Bahai gathering, you could not distinguish between who is the prince and who is the poor. The poor and the rich associate with each other with the utmost equality.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Mayor Stitt Wilson of Berkeley, spoken at 1815 California Street on 1912-Oct-05 -- ABU0034)
So also religion should teach man to love his fellow man and to associate and co-operate with one another.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to an English-speaking enquirer spoken in April 1914 -- ABU2272)
To live in peace, love, union, and agreement, and overlook the faults and defects of others and to see only their good actions and not their bad ones. These are things that will lead to perfect success and thorough happiness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Anton Haddad ca. 1900 -- ABU0050)
Act according to the teachings and counsels of the Blessed Beauty and become the cause of illumination of the human world, so that the light of truth and the radiance of love may enlighten all hearts and humanity may gain wisdom and become like loving brothers with each other and mix like milk and honey.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1905 ca., to Malmiri, Muhammad Tahir et al -- AB00406)
Continue exploring
For thought and discussion
Questions to carry forward
- What becomes visible when religion is evaluated through the remedy image?
- How can a community distinguish agreement with the principle of unity from relationships that actually express it?
- Why are reason, investigation, and freedom from prejudice placed alongside fellowship?
- How does First John’s challenge concerning love of God and hatred of another person deepen this inquiry?
- What practices might help a religious gathering overcome social privilege or estrangement?
- How can people respond to harmful religious practices while preserving goodwill toward the people involved?