1384. Affiliation with Faith Alone is Insufficient
"So far as non-Bahá’ís affiliating with the Bahá’í Faith is concerned, either a person becomes a Bahá’í and accepts Bahá’u’lláh as the divine Manifestation for this day, or he does not. The tenets of the Bahá’í Faith are simple as outlined by the Guardian, but they do not permit of any variations. In other words, if any members of the… Movement wish to become Bahá’ís, they will be most welcome; but they can only become Bahá’ís on the basis of accepting Bahá’u’lláh as a divine Manifestation, and of course, with this goes the acceptance of the Báb as the Forerunner, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the Center of the Covenant, and the present Administrative Order.
"When a person has reached the sea of immortality, it is idle to keep seeking elsewhere…."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Spiritual Assembly of Japan, July 24, 1953: Japan Will Turn Ablaze, pp. 76-77)
1385. Affiliation with Non-Bahá’í Organizations
"Regarding association with the World Fellowship of Faiths and Kindred Societies, Shoghi Effendi wishes to reaffirm and elucidate the general principle that Bahá’í elected representatives as well as individuals should refrain from any act or word that would imply a departure from the principles, whether spiritual, social or administrative, established by Bahá’u’lláh. Formal affiliation with and acceptance of membership in organizations whose programs or policies are not wholly reconcilable with the Teachings is of course out of the question…. To merely address such gatherings on one or two occasions on a subject which is in harmony with the spirit of the Teachings does not constitute acceptance by the Bahá’í speaker of the entire program of the Fellowship. We should welcome and seize every opportunity that presents itself, however modest it may be, to give a wider publicity to the Cause, to demonstrate its all-inclusiveness and liberal attitude, its independence and purity, without committing ourselves, whether by word or deed, to programs or policies that are not in strict conformity with the tenets of the Faith. Shoghi Effendi hopes that this principle will guide your distinguished Assembly in its dealings with various associations which will increasingly seek, in the days to come, the support of Bahá’í individuals and Assemblies for the attainment of their ends."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, June 17, 1933)
1386. Association and Affiliation Defined for Bahá’í Purposes
"There should be no confusion between the terms affiliation and association. While affiliation with ecclesiastical organizations is not permissible, association with them should not only be tolerated but even encouraged. There is no better way to demonstrate the universality of the Cause than this. Bahá’u’lláh indeed urges His followers to consort with all religions and nations with utmost friendliness and love. This constitutes the very spirit of His Message to mankind."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, December 11, 1935: Compilation on Association with Non-Bahá’í Organizations, Bahá’í World Centre)
1387. Bahá’ís Belonging to Churches, Synagogues, Freemasonry and the Like
"As regards the question of Bahá’ís belonging to churches, synagogues, Freemasonry, etc., the friends must realize that now that the Faith is over 100 years old, and its own institutions arising, so to speak, rapidly above-ground, the distinctions are becoming ever sharper, and the necessity for them to support whole-heartedly their own institutions and cut themselves off entirely from those of the past, is now clearer than ever before. The eyes of the people of the world are beginning to be focused on us; and, as humanity's plight goes from bad to worse, we will be watched ever more intently by non-Bahá’ís, to see whether we do uphold our own institutions wholeheartedly; whether we are the people of the new creation or not; whether we live up to our beliefs, principles and laws in deed as well as word. We cannot be too careful. We cannot be too exemplary.
"There is another aspect to this question which the friends should seriously ponder, and that is that, whereas organizations such as Freemasonry may have been in the past entirely free from any political taint, in the state of flux the world is in at present, and the extraordinary way in which things become corrupted and tainted by political thought and influences, there is no guarantee that such an association might not gradually or suddenly become a political instrument. The less Bahá’ís have to do, therefore, with such things, the better."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles, August 5, 1955)
1388. Bahá’ís Requested to Withdraw from Masonic and other Secret Societies
"As regards your question about Masonry, the Bahá’ís, the Guardian feels very strongly, must learn at the present time to think internationally and not locally. Although each believer realizes that he is a member of one great spiritual family, a member of the New World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, he does not often carry this thought through to its logical conclusion: which is that if the Bahá’ís all over the world each belong to some different kind of society or church or political party, the unity of the Faith will be destroyed, because inevitably they will become involved in doctrines and policies that are in some way against our Teachings, and often against another group of people in another part of the world, or another race, or another religious block.
"Therefore, all the Bahá’ís everywhere have been urged to give up their old affiliations and withdraw from membership in the Masonic and other secret Societies in order to be entirely free to serve the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh as a united body. Such groups as Masonry, however high the local standard may be, are in other countries gradually being influenced by the issues sundering the nations at present.
"The Guardian wants the Bahá’ís to disentangle themselves from anything that may in any way, now or in the future, compromise their independent status as Bahá’ís and the supra-national nature of their Faith."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, February 17, 1956)
1389. Why Bahá’ís are Requested to Withdraw from Membership in the Church, Synagogue, etc.
"The point is not that there is something intrinsically wrong with Masonry, which no doubt has many very high ideals and principles, and has had a very good influence in the past.
"The reasons why the Guardian feels that it is imperative for the Bahá’ís to be dissociated from masonry at this time, and I might add, other secret associations, is that we are the building blocks of Bahá’u’lláh's New World Order … the Bahá’ís should be absolutely independent, and stand identified only with their own teachings. That is why they are requested to withdraw from membership in the church, the synagogue, or whatever other previous religious organization they may have been affiliated with, to have nothing whatsoever to do with secret societies, or with political movements, etc. It protects the Cause, it reinforces the Cause, and it asserts before all the world its independent character.
"Another reason is that unfortunately the tremendous political influences in the world today are seeping deeper and deeper into men's minds; and movements which in the past were absolutely uninfluenced by any political tinge of thought now in many places are becoming infiltrated with political side-taking and political issues; and it becomes all the more important for the Bahá’ís to withdraw from them in order to protect the Faith.
"The Guardian believes that you, as an intelligent man, a Bahá’í, will see the need for this. It is only by all living according to general principles that we can knit the fabric of the Faith all over the world into a closer unity.
"He is fully aware that certain individuals are struck much more forcibly by such requests than others. This has been the case with some of the old Bahá’ís in England, who have been Masons from their boyhood on; but, as it is his duty to protect the Faith, he can only appeal to the Bahá’ís to assist him in doing so; and to consider the general good, rather than their personal feelings, however deep they may be, in such matters."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, February 12, 1956)
1390. Resignation from the Masonic Order
"As regards your question about the Masonic Order, he considers that the honest and courageous thing for you to do is to inform your Lodge that you no longer consider yourself, for purely personal reasons, a Mason; and would like to have your name taken off their list. If they should press you for an explanation, which he imagines is unlikely, everybody being free to do as they please in this world, you can explain to them that in the present chaotic period the world is passing through, with so many streams and counterstreams of political thoughts and prejudices of all kinds, racial, religious, etc., storming the minds of men, that you wish to disentangle yourself from all association with the past and to stand alone, free in your own ideas.
"He does not think that such an explanation will prejudice the Masons or their friends, or arouse in them a feeling of anger against the Faith, or indeed need involve the Faith at all."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, March 26, 1956)
1391. The Believers should Dissociate Themselves from Secret Organizations
"…Generally speaking, the friends should not enter secret societies. It is certainly much better for the believers to dissociate themselves from such organizations…"
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany and Austria, March 2, 1951)
1392. Theosophists: One Cannot be Bahá’í and Theosophist at the Same Time
"A Bahá’í cannot at the same time be a Theosophist; many theosophists have become believers and very enlightened ones, but as we do not believe in reincarnation we obviously cannot be active as Theosophists and Bahá’ís at the same time."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of India, June 28, 1950: Dawn of a New Day, p. 140)
"With regard to the Theosophists and their activities; although they obviously try to copy and claim as their own some of the principles of the Cause, yet the Guardian feels that it would be of no advantage to oppose them and to refute their arguments. The best attitude for the friends to adopt in such cases at the present time is to totally disregard and even neglect their opponents. This has invariably been his advice to the friends, whether in the East or the West."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of India, Dawn of a New Day, pp. 64-65)
1393. World Government Organization—Should Be Non-Partisan and Non-Discriminatory
"There is no objection to the Bahá’ís associating with such organizations as the World Government Organization…. However, great care should be taken to make sure these organizations are absolutely non-partisan in their political views and lean neither to East or West."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, June 1950: Bahá’í News, No. 241, March 1951, p. 15)
"Bahá’ís should certainly not belong to clubs or societies that practice any form of discrimination."
- (From a letter of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of South America, April 23, 1957)
1394. New History Society—Avowed Enemies of the Faith
"As regards…, he should be kindly but firmly admonished by your Assembly that he cannot consider himself spiritually a Bahá’í and be associated with the avowed enemies of the Faith such as the New History Society; and that he should discontinue supporting their work or having anything to do with them; otherwise, he will find that he has been deprived wholly of his association with the Bahá’í Cause; in other words, he will not only lose his voting rights, but be outside the Faith."
- (From a letter of the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, January 24, 1957)
1395. Social Organizations, Relief Work—The Believers are Building a Refuge for Mankind
"He feels that, although your desire to partake actively of the dangers and miseries afflicting so many millions of people today is natural and a noble impulse, there can be no comparison between the value of Bahá’í work and any other form of service to humanity.
"If the Bahá’ís could evaluate their work properly they would see that whereas other forms of relief work are superficial in character, alleviating the sufferings and ills of men for a short time at best, the work they are doing is to lay the foundation of a new spiritual Order in the world founded on the Word of God, operating according to the laws He has laid down for this age. No one else can do this work except those who have fully realized the meaning of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh, whereas almost any courageous, sincere person can engage in relief work, etc.
"The believers are building a refuge for mankind. This is their supreme sacred task and they should devote every moment they can to this task."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer: Principles of Bahá’í Administration, p. 24)
1396. Membership in Non-Bahá’í Religious Organizations
"Concerning membership in non-Bahá’í religious associations. The Guardian wishes to re-emphasize the general principle already laid down in his communications to your Assembly and also to the individual believers that no Bahá’í who wishes to be a wholehearted and sincere upholder of the distinguishing principles of the Cause can accept full membership in any non-Bahá’í ecclesiastical organization. For such an act would necessarily imply only a partial acceptance of the Teachings and laws of the Faith, and an incomplete recognition of its independent status, and would thus be tantamount to an act of disloyalty to the verities it enshrines. For it is only too obvious that in most of its fundamental assumptions the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh is completely at variance with outworn creeds, ceremonies and institutions. To be a Bahá’í and at the same time accept membership in another religious body is simply an act of contradiction that no sincere and logically-minded person can possibly accept. To follow Bahá’u’lláh does not mean accepting some of His teachings and rejecting the rest. Allegiance to His Cause must be uncompromising and whole-hearted…."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, June 15, 1935)
1397. Teaching in a Mission School
"He does not think there is any objection to your teaching in a mission school, as long as it is clearly understood that you are, yourself, a Bahá’í; and if you do not have to teach their brand of religion to the pupils. There are many people nowadays employed in mission work in different parts of the world who do not belong to the Church; and, wherever such a tolerant relationship is possible, there can certainly be no objection from our side.
"Naturally it would be better if you could get a job where you would be completely independent of such relationships…."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, February 1, 1954)
1398. Bahá’ís Should Not Attack the Church
"The Guardian agrees with you that the Bahá’ís should be very careful not to criticize or rather attack the church. As we believe the church of Rome to be the inheritor, so to speak, of Christ's teachings, the direct line, however perverted by men's doctrines, it certainly does not befit us to show antagonism towards it. We know it is out-dated. Tact is required!"
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, March 22, 1950)
1399. A Bahá’í Cannot be a Spiritist
"…the Guardian feels it incumbent upon him to make it quite clear that membership in every Bahá’í organization excludes the possibility of joining any religious or political association, even though such an alliance does not involve a complete repudiation of Bahá’í principles and doctrines. It would be utterly impossible to reconcile the teachings of the Faith with all the views and conceptions which any existing group, whether religious or political, may advocate. In view of that, it seems but logical that a Bahá’í cannot be a spiritist at the same time. Not that the ideas which the spiritists proclaim are each and all in direct opposition to the Bahá’í teachings. As a matter of fact there are some good points in spiritism. But this is not sufficient justification for a believer to accept membership in a spiritist organization.
"While Shoghi Effendi would urge you to dissociate yourself from the spiritists, he wishes you at the same time to act with caution and wisdom. Your separation from the spiritists should be gradual, and in a way that would not arouse the antagonism of your friends and relatives. Too sudden and abrupt a change is, indeed, harmful not only to you but to those who through you have been attracted to the Cause…."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, April 14, 1934)
1400. Relationship of Bahá’í Community to the United Nations
"The outstanding development in the relationship of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations was the accreditation of the Community as a non-governmental organization with consultative status to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The Bahá’í International Community now has a permanent representative at the United Nations and maintains an office in New York."
- (From the Message of the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís of the World, Ridván 1973)
1401. All Social Movements Have Some Spark of Truth
"There are so many movements in the world at present akin to various Bahá’í principles; indeed we can almost say that the principles of Bahá’u’lláh have been adapted by thinking people all over this planet. But what they do not realize, and what the Bahá’ís must therefore teach them, is that these principles, however perfect, will never be able to create a new society unless and until they are animated by the spirit which alone changes the hearts and characters of men, and that spirit is recognition of their divine origin in a teacher sent from God, in other words, Bahá’u’lláh. When they recognize this, their hearts will change and a change of heart is what people need, not merely a change of intellectual outlook."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to the Bahá’í Youth of Lima, Peru, November 17, 1945)
1402. A Bahá’í Should Not Seek Financial Help from a Religious Organization as a Bahá’í
"The questions raised in your letter of 9 January 1985 have been considered by the Universal House of Justice, and we are asked to inform you that Bahá’ís should not seek financial assistance from a religious organization as Bahá’ís. However, if some charitable organization, operated by the followers of another religion, grants scholarships to individuals, for example, a Bahá’í may accept such general assistance as an individual, but not as a Bahá’í.
"The House of Justice states that while Mr. … may continue to receive assistance from the Catholic Commission, other Bahá’í refugees should not ask or receive aid from that body if the nature of the aid is different from what is explained above. The time will come when the Bahá’í Faith is strong enough to extend financial assistance to Catholics and others. At that time, it would be possible for Bahá’ís to partake of the facilities of the Catholic Commission. However, at present, when mutual reciprocity cannot be established, the House of Justice advises that it is not dignified for Bahá’ís to apply for such assistance."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Peru, February 7, 1985)
1403. Membership in Trade Unions—Election Procedures
"The Alaska Public Employees Association appears to be a type of union organization. As long as this and other associations, such as the special interest groups you mention, are not affiliated with any political party and are not involved in political activities there is no objection to Bahá’ís belonging to them nor to their holding office in them.
"As for participation in elections of non-Bahá’í organizations which are open to Bahá’ís but which employ electional methods different from Bahá’í practices, believers need not avoid the election procedures carried out in such organizations.
"In all such activities the friends should bear in mind the following exhortation so clearly set forth by the beloved Guardian in a letter dated February 20, 1927 to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada:
'Fully aware of the repeated statements of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that universality is of God, Bahá’ís in every land are ready, nay anxious, to associate themselves by word and deed with any association of men which, after careful scrutiny, they feel satisfied is free from every tinge of partisanship and politics and is wholly devoted to the interests of all mankind…. They should always bear in mind, however, the dominating purpose of such collaboration, which is to secure in time the recognition by those with whom they are associating of the paramount necessity and the true significance of the Bahá’í Revelation in this day.' "
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Alaska, January 4, 1979)
1404. As to Participation in Strikes
"As to participation in strikes, when one of the believers who was employed in a factory as a supervisor to labourers and who felt that a strike was likely at the factory asked the Guardian what the Bahá’í attitude should be if a strike were called, the Guardian's secretary in a letter dated June 30, 1937 wrote on his behalf:
'With regard to your question concerning the Bahá’í attitude towards labour problems; these cannot assuredly be solved, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá tells us, through the sheer force of physical violence. Non-cooperation too, even though not accompanied by acts of violence, is ineffective. The conflict between labour and capital can best be solved through the peaceful and constructive methods of cooperation and of consultation.
'The Bahá’ís, therefore, are advised to avoid, as much as they can, getting mixed in labour strikes and troubles, and particularly to desist from all acts of physical violence which indeed run counter to the very spirit of the Cause. The Faith of Bahá’u’lláh stands for peace, harmony, and cooperation between the individuals and nations of the world.' "
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Luxembourg, April 4, 1973)
