Research Department of the Universal House of Justice

The Center for the Study of the Texts in Haifa, seat of the Research Department.

The Research Department of the Universal House of Justice is a body established in 1968[1] which is responsible for preparing "commentaries on various subjects related to the Faith, as requested by the Universal House of Justice" and its compilations and publications are often also shared with individuals and the Bahá’í community as a whole.[2]

In a 1987 letter the Universal House of Justice explained that:

"Research Department statements should be regarded as representing no more than the views of the members of that Department. While such views are very useful as an aid to resolving perplexities or gaining an enhanced understanding of the Bahá’í teachings, they should never be taken to be in the same category as the elucidations and clarifications provided by the House of Justice in the exercise of its assigned functions."[3]

In a 1994 letter the Universal House of Justice noted that while they are not authoritative

". . . the House of Justice chooses to convey the materials prepared by the Research Department to the friends because it wishes them to be thoughtfully attended to and seriously considered."[4]

History[edit]

In 1968 the Universal House of Justice invited ‘Abdu’lláh Mesbah to the Holy Land to assist with the establishment of the Research Department and he remained in Israel to assist with the development of the Institution until 1988.[5] Dr. Vahid Rafati was serving as director of the body as of 1985.[6]

In 1987 the Universal House of Justice issued a message on the construction of the Arc on Mount Carmel and referred to the construction of the Center for the Study of the Texts as representing the "efflorescence" of the Research Department,[7] and after its completion in 1999 the building became the seat of the Research Department.[8]

Publications[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (2002). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 29 (2000-2001), Pg(s) 270. View as PDF.
  2. ↑ Letter from the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer dated 16 August 1987 published in Bahá'í Studies Bulletin, p81, 1992
  3. ↑ Letter from the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer dated 16 August 1987 published in Bahá'í Studies Bulletin, p81, 1992
  4. ↑ Authorization of Translations and the Authority of Publications from the Research Department by / on behalf of Universal House of Justice 1994-12-15
  5. ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (2002). Bahá’í World Centre. Haifa. Volume 29 (2000-2001), Pg(s) 271. View as PDF.
  6. ↑ Baha'i News (1985). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 648, Pg(s) 11. View as PDF.
  7. ↑ Baha'i News (1987). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. No 679, Pg(s) 1. View as PDF.
  8. ↑ Baha'i World Centre, Visiting Baha'i Holy Places, Baha'i World Centre: Haifa, 2003, p 35
  9. ↑ https://bahai.works/Vision_in_Action/A_Compilation_of_Extracts_from_Letters_Written_by_or_on_Behalf_of_Shoghi_Effendi_and_the_Universal_House_of_Justice,_Prepared_by_the_Research_Department,_October_1993
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