Independent investigation of truth
The independent investigation of truth is a fundamental concept of the Bahá’í Faith that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá described as the religions' first principle.[1][2] By independent is meant a pursuit freed from superstition, ignorance, bigotry, prejudice, intolerance, egotism and selfishness.[3] It is also a pursuit freed from attachments to the past. “In this day,” said Bahá’u’lláh, “he who seeks the Light of the Sun of Truth, must free his mind from the tales of the past.”[4] “No man should follow blindly his ancestors and forefathers,” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, “nay each must see with his own eyes, hear with his own ears, and investigate Truth in order that he may find Truth.”[5]
By truth is meant not only that great Universal Truth, emanating from God and revealed to humanity by His Messengers throughout history and contained in the holy books such as the Bible and the Qur'án, but also scientific truth. Today religious truth is revealed through the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, but as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says, “Science must be accepted” and “No one truth can contradict another truth.”[6] Shoghi Effendi writing to an individual said he hoped that all Bahá’í students would “be led to investigate and analyse the principles of the Faith and to correlate them with the modern aspects of philosophy and science.” That “Every intelligent and thoughtful young Bahá’í should always approach the Cause in this way, for therein lies the very essence of the principle of independent investigation of truth.”[7] This principle was also referred to by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the independent investigation of reality.[8]
The individual's relationship[edit]
The search for truth is the path and process of drawing ever closer to God, it is the foundation on which greater and greater understanding can be built. Even as Christ has said “if ye continue in My words. Then are ye my disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá states “in that if lies the solution of the whole problem.”[9]
‘Abdu’l-Bahá provides the following example:
| “ | If five people meet together to seek for truth, they must begin by cutting themselves free from all their own special conditions and renouncing all preconceived ideas. In order to find truth we must give up our prejudices, our own small trivial notions; an open receptive mind is essential. If our chalice is full of self, there is no room in it for the water of life. The fact that we imagine ourselves to be right and everybody else wrong is the greatest of all obstacles in the path towards unity, and unity is necessary if we would reach truth, for truth is one.[10] | ” |
Consequences for mankind[edit]
‘Abdu’l-Bahá discusses independent investigation of truth in relation to governments and its consequences for mankind:
| “ | The first principle of Bahá’u’lláh is independent investigation of truth, that is, all the nations of the world have to investigate after truth independently and turn their eyes from the moribund blind imitations of the past ages entirely. Truth is one when it is independently investigated, it does not accept division. Therefore the independent investigation of truth will lead to the oneness of the world of humanity.[11] | ” |
Further reading[edit]
- Children Should be Free to Choose Their Own Religion, From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, March 3, 1931
- Independent Investigation of Truth, by Shahnaz Waite appearing in The Bahá’í Magazine, April 1931
- Independent Investigation of Truth, by William Kenneth Christian appearing in World Order Magazine, October 1942
- 'The Searching eye', an essay on the independent investigation of truth by Gary L. Matthews published in Bahá’í News, September 1989
References[edit]
- ↑ Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá https://www.bahai.org/r/721224234
- ↑ Paris Talks by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: https://www.bahai.org/r/638700447
- ↑ Waite, Shahnaz (March 1932). "Independent Investigation of Truth". The Bahá’í Magazine. Washington, D. C.: The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- ↑ Star of the West, Vol 4, Issue 16 quoting Bahá’u’lláh
- ↑ The Promulgation of Universal Peace, Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Kinney
- ↑ Paris Talks, The First Principle—Search after Truth
- ↑ Messages from the Universal House of Justice, Use of the Term "Bahá’í Scholarship"
- ↑ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (1 August 1920). "To the Central Organization for a Durable Peace". Star of the West. Chicago, U. S. A.: Bahai News Service. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- ↑ Star of the West, Volume 22, Issue 12
- ↑ Paris Talks by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, https://www.bahai.org/r/068113036
- ↑ Excerpt from Tablet of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá published in Japan Will Turn Ablaze!, Bahá’í Publishing Trust of Japan, 1992 revised edition, p 35