Superstition and the search for causes

The hens were very worried that the sun wouldn't rise if the crowing of their lord and master did not summon it. The hens, you see, thought the sun came up only because the rooster crowed.

The next day the sun cured them of their superstition.

All religions of the present day have fallen into superstitious practices, out of harmony alike with the true principles of the teaching they represent and with the scientific discoveries of the time. Many religious leaders have grown to think that the importance of religion lies mainly in the adherence to a collection of certain dogmas and the practice of rites and ceremonies! Those whose souls they profess to cure are taught to believe likewise, and these cling tenaciously to the outward forms, confusing them with the inward truth.

Haroun-Er-Rashid who ruled over many countries of the East had not a clock like this one in his room. The first clock was made during his reign and it was such a novelty that he ordered another one to be made of wood and sent as a great gift to Charlemagne the Great. When it was presented to him all the people were astonished that it works automatically. The priests of the Court stood before it wonderstruck and could not explain to themselves, the secret power which made it work. Finally after much reflection and consultation they decided that the Arab machinist has imprisoned the devil within the clock and it is the devil that makes it work. Then they unloosed the various instruments of the clock and found nothing in it neither could they put them together!

Abdul Baha: There is a kind of mathematics where they take the name of a person according to 'Abjad' (each letter of the alphabet has a numerical value) and the sum total of the values of the letters in the name are used. This mathematics is a concise science. They add the numerical value of numbers. It becomes 120. (Note: These figures were indistinct in original copy. Copyist) See how many 9s are in it. These things were very much studied in the East, but now the Eastern people have put them aside. In ancient times the king had a man who used to make these calculations especially for him. If the Shah wanted to make a journey, this man might say, 'Don't go. If you do it will be dangerous.' If the Shah wanted to marry, he might say, 'Don't marry this year, wait until a certain hour arrives, or until the sun reaches a certain sign (of the Zodiac).' If the Shah wanted to take some medicine, he might say, 'Don't take it today.' There were many, many such precautions, but it was found that no benefit resulted from observing them, so they were put aside.

The deductions of astrologers - that is, deductions related to events of good and evil - have absolutely no authority. "The astrologers have lied, by the Lord of the Ka'bah!" However, technical deductions related to the movements of the stars, such as eclipses and the like, these have foundation and substance. As for deducing the appearance of the Holy Manifestations from the stars, this is extraordinary and has nothing to do with the current science of astronomy.

As to spiritual influences, although it might seem strange that these stars should exert a spiritual influence upon the human world, yet were you to reflect deeply upon this matter you would not be greatly surprised by it. My meaning, however, is not that the deductions that the astrologers of old made from the motions of the stars and planets were true, for these were mere figments of the imagination which had their origin with the Egyptian, Assyrian and Chaldean priests, or rather stemmed from the idle conjectures of the Hindus and the superstitions of the Greeks, the Romans and the other star-worshipers. My meaning, instead, is that this endless universe is like the human body and that all its parts are connected one with another and are linked together in the utmost perfection. That is, in the same way that the parts, members and organs of the human body are interconnected, and that they mutually assist, reinforce and influence each other, so too are the parts and members of this endless universe connected with, and spiritually and materially influenced by, one another. For example, the eye sees and the entire body is affected; the ear hears and every limb and member is stirred. Of this there is no doubt, for the world of existence is also like a living person. Thus, the interconnection that exists between the various parts of the universe requires mutual influences and effects, whether material or spiritual.

Such suppositions regarding lucky or unlucky numbers are purely imaginary. The superstition concerning thirteen had its origin in the fact that Jesus Christ was surrounded by twelve disciples and that Judas Iscariot was the thirteenth member of their gathering. This is the source of the superstition, but it is purely imaginary. Although Judas was outwardly a disciple, in reality he was not. Twelve is the original number of significance and completion. Jacob had twelve sons from whom descended twelve tribes. The disciples of Jesus were twelve; the Imams of Muhammad were twelve. The zodiacal signs are twelve; the months of the year are twelve, etc.

O servant of God! Regarding what you wrote about the pure and impure eye, meaning the evil eye - this is purely imaginary.

Eighth: The evil eye which is the "eye of perfection" is people's imagination and the effect on hearts, and when intense effect occurs in hearts, harm may result. The verse "they would almost make you slip with their eyes" is a metaphor for the intensity and severity of an angry gaze.

And as for the matter of sneezing, it is pure imagination. This blessed Dispensation has removed such imaginings from our midst. Even mentioning it is not permitted.

The Chinese held a superstition that if they burn certain pieces of paper this will drive the devils away; they sometimes burnt these pieces of paper on board ships when they were travelling in order to drive away devils, and by so doing they set fire to the ships and destroyed many lives. This was a type of dangerous and harmful superstition.

Once in Bagdad a European woman was passing through the streets. She happened to see a poor man sitting in dirt, surrounded with filth and clad in rags. She pitied him and took out of her hand bag a piece of gold, and placed it in the palm of his hand. The man hurried to the stream and started to wash the money. The European woman who was no less a personage than the wife of the English consul was astonished and asked him why did he do this for? "Oh" the man answered quite calmly "Because the money coming out of your hand is unclean." The lady was amused. "Is this hand which is washed with soap several times during the day, unclean and your hands black with dirt, soot and filth, clean?" she half-inquired and went on her way. The minds of men must become purified from these foolish ideas.

Sixty years ago they introduced the potato into Persia. There was so much superstition that they used to say that whoever takes it becomes an infidel. No one would eat it except those who would take it with wine. There was so much prejudice. If any one would eat it occasionally they would say he has become an infidel. Now see what Baha'u'llah has done. We are all gathered around one table, filled with love.

O handmaid of God! The stars in the sky do not exert any spiritual influence on this world of dust; but all the members and parts of the universe are very strongly linked together in that limitless space, and this connection produceth a reciprocity of material effects. Outside the bounty of the Holy Spirit, whatsoever thou hearest as to the effect of trances, or the mediums' trumpets, conveying the singing voices of the dead, is imagination pure and simple. As to the bounty of the Holy Spirit, however, relate whatsoever thou wilt---it cannot be overstated; believe, therefore, whatsoever thou hearest of this. But the persons referred to, the trumpet-people, are entirely shut out from this bounty and receive no portion thereof; their way is an illusion.

Are there "earthbound" souls who try to have, and do have, an influence over people, sometimes taking entire possession of their wills? Abdu'l-Baha answered, "There are no earthbound souls. When the souls that are not good die, they go entirely away from this earth and so cannot influence anyone. They are spiritually dead. Their thoughts can have influence only while they are alive on the earth. Caiaphas had great influence during his life, but as soon as he died, his influence ceased. It was of this kind that Christ said, 'Let the dead bury their dead.' But the good souls are given eternal life, and sometimes God permits their thoughts to reach the earth to help people."

Thou hadst asked about the jinn which is mentioned in the heavenly Books. The jinn refers to imperceptible forces which influence human souls, and the word jinn in Arabic means hidden, that is, realities and forces which cannot be seen. Likewise devils and what people imagine are mere superstitions and have no existence whatsoever. Similarly, believing and assured souls are interpreted as angels, and unbelieving souls are designated as devils and jinn. Also, souls who are believing and assured and manifest, and are known among people for their faith and certitude, these are interpreted as mankind [ins], and believing souls who conceal and hide their faith, these are also called jinn because their faith and certitude is concealed and hidden.

What is the power used in automatic writing? The power is neither heavenly nor spiritual; neither is it an influence from disembodied spirits. It is of the human spirit--magnetism within the self of the one doing the writing. When the thoughts have taken possession of the mind and are not consciously directed, one becomes subject to their promptings and, unconsciously, or automatically, takes a pencil and writes them down. The oftener this is done, the stronger becomes the magnetic prompting.

Someone wished to know if it were a good custom to wear a symbol, as, for instance, a cross. He said: "You wear the cross for remembrance, it concentrates your thoughts; it has no magical power. Baha'is often wear a stone with the greatest name engraved on it: there is no magical influence in the stone; it is a reminder, and companion. If you are about to do some selfish or hasty action, and your glance falls on the ring on your hand, you will remember and change your intention."