Memorandum
To: The Universal House of Justice
Date: 30 March 1987
From: The Research Department
Questions from Mr. …
Mr. … has raised several questions in a letter dated 16 December 1986. These questions have been referred to the Research Department for Study. We offer the following information.
1. Maní
We have not been able to identify any reference to Man! in the letters written by or on behalf of the beloved Guardian.
2. The Magi
The Research Department has identified two references to the Magi in Tablets written by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. In one Tablet the Master expresses His hope that the recipient will be like that heavenly star which guided the Magi to Christ. He states in the other that the Magi looked with the eye of truth and were able to discover the star which was an evidence of the birth of Christ. They were thus led to the Son of Truth.
3. The Five-Pointed Star as a Symbol of the Faith
As Mr. … is no doubt aware, a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual and published in "Bahá’í News" 228 (February 1950) on page 4 states:
Strictly speaking the 5-pointed star is the symbol of our Faith, as used by the Báb and explained by Him.
A reference to the use by the Báb of the five-pointed star is made on page 69 of "God Passes By" (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1974). However, the Research Department has not been able to identify the explanation to which Shoghi Effendi referred as the works of the Báb held at the World Centre are not as yet properly Indexed.
4. Joseph Smith and the Mormons
In addition to the extracts regarding Joseph Smith and the Mormons published on pages 379 and 380 of "Lights of Guidance: A Bahá’í Reference File", comp. Helen Hornby (New Delhi: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1983), we share the following quotations from letters written on the Guardian's behalf to Individual believers:
Joseph Smith is nowhere mentioned in the Teachings. Some, however, of the Mormon doctrines are very close in spirit to our own beliefs, and the Mormons should prove a group veil worth teaching the Faith to. (28 September 1941)
As there is nothing specific about Joseph Smith in the Teachings, the Guardian has no statement to make on his position or about the accuracy of any statements in "The Book of Mormon" regarding American history or its peoples. This is a matter for historians to pass upon. (31 May 1946)
Mr. … may wish to take note of the final sentence in the extract above. In his letters, Shoghi Effendi often advised friends who asked similar questions to refer to experts or authoritative books on that subject. Three extracts from such letters written on the Guardian's behalf are enclosed herewith.
Regarding the Magi, the Bahá’í World Centre Library has recommended the article in the "New Catholic Encyclopedia", vol. 9 (Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America, 1967), pp. 60-5, as a good theological treatment of the subject. Other sources which provide interesting information are:
"The New Encyclopaedia Britannica", 15th ed., s.v. "agi", vol. 7, p. 671; and s.v. "Zoroastrianism and Parsiism", vol. 29, p. 1079.
"The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church", 2nd ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1977), p. 858.
"The Maryknoll Catholic Dictionary" (New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1965), pp. 349-50.
"The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church", 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978), pp. 620-1.
These sources — particularly the "New Catholic Encyclopedia" — also provide information on Mani and Manichaeism, as does an article by Daniel Keith Conner, "Mani and Manichaeism: A Study in Religious Failure", World Order, vol. 11, no. 2 (Winter 1976-77), pp. 36-45.
For further Information on Joseph Smith and Mormonism, the Research Department suggests Mr. Stauffer consult:
William P. Collins, 'The Bahá’í Faith and Mormonism: A Preliminary Survey', World Order, vol. 15, nos. 1 & 2 (Fall 1980/Winter 1981), pp. 33-45;
William P. Collins, 'The Bahá’í Faith and Mormonism: Further Reflections', World Order, vol. 17, no. 3 (Spring 1983), pp. 25-33; and the sources cited therein.
Enclosure
"As regards Confucianism; the Teachings contain no data on this subject, and the Guardian would therefore advise that you refer to authoritative books regarding the history and teachings of this Faith." (From a letter dated 8 April 1939 written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer)
"Concerning your questions numbered 1, 2, 3, 6, about the Church and Christianity; as no detailed information is given in the Bahá’í teachings on these matters, the Guardian cannot answer you - this is for historians to prove and clarify." (From a letter dated 1 April 1946 written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer)
"We Bahá’ís do not believe in Genesis literally. We know this world was not created in seven days, or six, or eight, but evolved gradually over a period of millions of years, as science has proved. As to where the idea of a seven-day week originated it is certainly very ancient and you should refer to scholars for an answer.
"The Guardian suggests, if you want to be referred to works of reference regarding the early Christian Church, that you ask some university, or large library, to give you the names of suitable books to read." (From a letter dated 28 October 1949 written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer)
(Baha’i Library Online)