Spiritual Teachings/Independent Investigation of Truth
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5. Independent Investigation of Truth
In the past, faith was often blind and unquestioning. People believed in something because their family, friends, or religious leaders believed. They did not think and pray and investigate truth for themselves. This type of faith is no longer acceptable. Baha’u’llah teaches that each person must investigate truth for himself and come to his own conclusions without relying on someone else’s thinking. Faith in this day must be built on knowledge and must be one’s own decision.
Investigating truth takes much effort and courage, but God has given each person the capacity to recognize truth. De- tachment also helps man in his search. Baha’u’llah advises the seeker to put aside all love and hate he feels toward the things of the world, for that love may pull him toward error and that hate may drive him away from the truth. Sometimes love makes ° one do things he knows are not right, and one’s feelings may keep him from hearing the truth when it comes from someone he does not like. Detachment tears away some of the veils which blind man to the truth.
While Baha’u’llah requires man to investigate truth for him- self, He has left man more guidance to help him in his search than has ever been given by a Manifestation. In addition to leaving hundreds of books and Tablets, Baha’u’llah appointed
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‘Abdu’1-Baha the authorized interpreter of His Teachings, and
‘Abdu’ 1-Baha in turn appointed Shoghi Effendi the Guardian of
the Cause. Their explanations are divinely inspired and must be
accepted by all Baha’is. No other Baha’i, however learned, can
force another to accept his understanding and explanations of
the teachings.
One reason religion has become a source of disunity is that people have blindly followed the religion into which they were born. When they begin to investigate religious truth for them- selves and with open minds, they will be able to see beyond the man-made differences which divide them. They will learn that the truth in their religion also appears in the other great religions of the world. Truth is truth wherever it is taught, just as light is light in whatever lamp it burns. Knowledge of this will help unite mankind, and religious belief will no longer be a cause of disunity.