Freedom of Conscience in the Báhá’i Faith

"Under these circumstances a just government can [find] no excuse, and possesses no pretext [for further persecuting this sect] except [a claim to the right of] interference in thought and conscience, which are the private possessions of the heart and soul.  And, as regards this matter, there has [already] been much interference, and countless efforts have been made.  What blood has been shed!  What heads have been hung up!  Thousands of persons have been slain; thousands of women and children have become wanderers or captives; many are the buildings which have been ruined; and how many noble races and families have become headless and homeless!  Yet naught has been effected and no advantage has been gained; no remedy has been discovered for this ill, nor any easy salve for this wound.   [To insure] freedom of conscience and tranquility of heart and soul is one of the duties and functions of government, and is in all ages the cause of progress in development and ascendancy over other lands."

(`Abdu'l-Baha:  A Traveler's Narrative, Pages: 86-87)

"As regards religious zeal and true piety, their touchstone and proof are firmness and steadfastness in noble qualities, virtues, and perfections, which are the greatest blessings of the human race; but not interference with the belief of this one or that one, demolition of edifices, and cutting off of the human race.  In the middle ages, whereof the beginning was the time of the fall of the Roman Empire, and the end the capture of Constantinople at the hands of [the followers of] Islam, fierce intolerance and molestation of far and near arose in [all] the countries of Europe by reason of the paramount influence of religious leaders.  The matter came to such a pass that the edifice of humanity seemed tottering to its fall, and the peace and comfort of chief and vassal, king and subject, became hidden behind the veil of annihilation.  Night and day all parties were slaves to apprehension and disquietude:  civilization was utterly destroyed:  the control and order of countries was neglected:  the principles and essentials of the happiness of the human race were in abeyance:  the supports of kingly authority were shaken: but the influence and power of the heads of religion and of the monks were in all parts complete. But when they removed these differences, persecution, and bigotries out of their midst, and proclaimed the equal rights of all subjects and the liberty of men's consciences, the lights of glory and power arose and shone from the horizons of that kingdom in such wise that those countries made progress in every direction; and whereas the mightiest monarchy of Europe had been servile to and abased before the smallest government of Asia, now the great states of Asia are unable to oppose the small states of Europe.  These are effectual and sufficient proofs that the conscience of man is sacred and to be respected; and that liberty thereof produces widening of ideas, amendment of morals, improvement of conduct, disclosure of the secrets of creation, and manifestation of the hidden verities of the contingent world.  Moreover, if interrogation of conscience, which is one of the private possessions of the heart and the soul, take place in this world, what further recompense remains for man in the court of divine justice at the day of general resurrection?  Convictions and ideas are within the scope of the comprehension of the King of kings, not of kings; and soul and conscience are between the fingers of control of the Lord of hearts, not of [His] servants  So in the world of existence two persons unanimous in all grades [of thought] and all beliefs cannot be found.  `The ways unto God are as the number of the breaths of [His] creatures' is a mysterious truth, and `To every [people] We have appointed a [separate] rite'(50) is one of the subtleties of the Qur'an.  If this vast energy and precious time which have been expended in persecuting other religions, and whereby no sort of result or effect has been obtained, had been spent in strengthening the basis of the monarchy, fortifying the imperial throne, making prosperous the realms of the sovereign, and quickening the subjects of the king, ere now the royal dominions would have become prosperous, the seed-plot of the people would have been watered by the bounty of princely justice, and the splendor of the kingdom of Persia would be evident and apparent as the true dawn throughout the horizons of the world." 

(`Abdu'l-Baha:  A Traveler's Narrative, Pages: 90-92)

"Now this is beyond the power of man, that he should be able by interference or objection to change the heart and conscience, or meddle with the convictions of anyone.  For in the realm of conscience naught but the ray of God's light can command, and on the throne of the heart none but the pervading power of the King of Kings should rule.  Thus it is that one can arrest and suspend [the action of] every faculty except thought and reflection; for a man cannot even by his own volition withhold himself from reflection or thought, nor keep back his musings and imaginings. "

(`Abdu'l-Baha:  A Traveler's Narrative, Page: 40)

"Likewise, when you meet those whose opinions differ from your own, do not turn away your face from them.  All are seeking truth, and there are many roads leading thereto.  Truth has many aspects, but it remains always and forever one.

Do not allow difference of opinion, or diversity of thought to separate you from your fellow-men, or to be the cause of dispute, hatred and strife in your hearts."

(`Abdu'l-Baha:  Paris Talks, Page: 53)

"Consider what it is that singles man out from among created beings, and makes of him a creature apart. Is it not his reasoning power, his intelligence? Shall he not make use of these in his study of religion? I say unto you: weigh carefully in the balance of reason and science everything that is presented to you as religion. If it passes this test, then accept it, for it is truth! If, however, it does not so conform, then reject it, for it is ignorance!"

(`Abdu'l-Baha: Paris Talks, Page: 144)

"O SON OF SPIRIT! The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor.  Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be.  Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness.  Set it then before thine eyes."

(Baha'u'llah:  Arabic Hidden Words, Page: 2)

"This is a goodly temple and congregation, for - praise be to God! - this is a house of worship wherein conscientious opinion has free sway.  Every religion and every religious aspiration may be freely voiced and expressed here.  Just as in the world of politics there is need for free thought, likewise in the world of religion there should be the right of unrestricted individual belief.  Consider what a vast difference exists between modern democracy and the old forms of despotism.  Under an autocratic government the opinions of men are not free, and development is stifled, whereas in democracy, because thought and speech are not restricted, the greatest progress is witnessed.  It is likewise true in the world of religion.  When freedom of conscience, liberty of thought and right of speech prevail - that is to say, when every man according to his own idealization may give expression to his beliefs - development and growth are inevitable.  Therefore, this is a blessed church because its pulpit is open to every religion, the ideals of which may be set forth with openness and freedom."

(`Abdu'l-Baha:  Promulgation of Universal Peace, Page: 197)

"Individual interpretations based on a person's understanding of the Teachings constitute the fruit of man's rational power and may well contribute to a greater comprehension of the Faith.  Such views, nevertheless, lack authority.  In presenting their personal ideas, individuals are cautioned not to discard the authority of the revealed words, not to deny or contend with the authoritative interpretation, and not to engage in controversy; rather they should offer their thoughts as a contribution to knowledge, making it clear that their views are merely their own."

(Kitab-i- Aqdas:  Notes, Pages: 221-222)

As Albert Einstein has written:

"The right to search for truth implies also a duty: one must not conceal any part of what one has recognized to be true."

"Should anyone oppose, he must on no account feel hurt for not until matters are fully discussed can the right way be revealed.  The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing opinions."

(`Abdu'l-Baha:  Selections ...  `Abdu'l-Baha, Page: 87)

" The Individual Believer in Accordance with His Prayerful Understanding of the Writings Should Determine His Course of Conduct

"It is neither possible nor desirable for the Universal House of Justice to set forth a set of rules covering every situation.  Rather it is the task of the individual believer to determine, according to his own prayerful understanding of the Writings, precisely what his course of conduct should be in relation to situations which he encounters in his daily life. If he is to fulfill his true mission in life as a follower of the Blessed Perfection, he will pattern his life according to the Teachings.  The believer cannot attain this objective merely by living according to a set of rigid regulations.  When his life is oriented towards service to Baha'u'llah, and when every conscious act is performed within this frame of reference, he will not fail to achieve the true purpose of his life."

     "Therefore, every believer must continually study the sacred Writings and the instructions of the beloved Guardian, striving always to attain a new and better understanding of their import to him and to his society.  He should pray fervently for Divine Guidance, wisdom and strength to do what is pleasing to God, and to serve Him at all times and to the best of his ability."

(From a letter of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, October 17, 1968: yes" National Baha'i Review, No. 47, November 1971, p. 3, Quoted in No. 1207, Lights of Guidance, Page: 360).

“If the individual fails to rectify his conduct in spite of repeated warnings, sanctions should be imposed. Assemblies, of course, must exercise care not to pry into the private lives of the believers to ensure that they are behaving properly, but should not hesitate to take action in cases of blatant misbehavior.”

(Department of the Secretariat of the Universal House of Justice, September 11, 1995, “The Bahá'í teachings on homosexuality”, A letter from the Universal House of Justice To the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States.)