Anticipation of Guardianship in the Kitab-i-Aqdas

 Memorandum

To: The Universal House of Justice  

December 8, 1992

From: The Research Department

The Research Department has studied the questions raised by Mr. ... in his letter of 24 October 1992 to the Universal House of Justice. Mr. ... is writing a paper on the…

Mr. ... draws attention to Shoghi Effendi's statement that the Kitab-i-Aqdas anticipates the institutions of the Administrative Order "in a number of passages". He expresses the view that the Guardianship is anticipated in the passage concerning the "endowments dedicated to charity". In addition, he has been informed that since Bahá'u'lláh provides, in the Aqdas, for payment of the Huququ'llah without specifying its recipient, this particular passage implicitly anticipates the Guardianship. He asks whether one or both of these passages anticipate the Guardianship. We provide the following response.

The issues raised by Mr. ... are addressed in a letter dated 27 May 1980 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice in response to a number of questions about the Kitab-i-Aqdas. The relevant section of this letter is cited below:

The Gaia Concept [1]

 Memorandum

To: The Universal House of Justice 

June 8, 1992

From: The Research Department

In his letter of 15 April 1992, Dr. --- states that he has received an inquiry on the Gaia hypothesis, which regards the planet earth as a living organism, and asks if we have prepared a memorandum on the subject.

The Research Department has not previously received any inquiries on the Gaia hypothesis. We can, however, provide the following for Dr. ---'s consideration.

Briefly stated and in the words of its originator, James Lovelock, the Gaia hypothesis postulates that "the physical and chemical condition of the surface of the Earth, of the atmosphere and of the oceans has been, and is, actively made fit and comfortable by the presence of life itself ... in contrast to the conventional wisdom which held that life adapted to the planetary conditions as it, and they, evolved their separate ways.'' [2]

We have attached a selection of extracts from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and the Writings and Utterances of 'Abdu'l-Bahá on the subject of nature. The extracts neither confirm nor oppose the Gaia proposal, the resolution of which would appear to be in the domain of science. They do, however, state some fundamental principles about created phenomena and their inter-relationships, subjects that bear reflection by those who investigate the Gaia hypothesis. Among the points made in the attached extracts are the following:

Sixteen Questions about Huququ'llah

 Memorandum

To: The Universal House of Justice 

Date: 5 May 1992

From: Ad Hoc Committee

Re: Questions asked by Mr. --- in his letter of 6 November 1991

We have considered the various questions [1] raised in Mr. ---'s letter of 6 November 1991 addressed to the Board of Trustees in the United States. As Mr. --- notes in his letter of 18 February 1992, a number of these matters have been covered by the answers sent in response to his letter of 12 November 1991. We have attempted below to cover the remaining issues.

The crucial point seems to be the one made in the third paragraph of Mr. ---'s letter, namely:

“I must prepare wills and trusts that provide clear, detailed instructions as to how the executor of an estate, or the successor trustee of a trust, is to calculate and pay the Huququ’llah. Sometimes these are not Bahá’ís; sometimes these are institutions, such as banks named as executors or successor trustees. If I do not provide detailed and clear guidance on the complex financial aspects of this law, I will ensure that the estate will be tied up in probate court, and that the judge will have to make the determinations. This may result in wrangling, wasted time, and the eating up of the assets in legal fees.”

This problem was alluded to in the final paragraph of our memorandum of 9 December 1991:

Ancient Goddess Religion; The Nature of God; The Gender of Spirit; The Nature and Function of the Manifestation; The Role of the Feminine in Religion and Society; The Equality of Men and Women

 Memorandum

To: The Universal House of Justice  

February 23, 1992

From: The Research Department

The Research Department has studied the questions concerning the possible existence of an ancient goddess religion and goddess worship contained in the letter dated 26 November l991 from ... ... explains that there is renewed interest in goddess worship in the United States and that neo-pagan groups are encouraging an elevated status of women and white witchcraft, which they regard as healing techniques. She seeks assistance in knowing how to respond to questions that are based on what she describes as "supposed new archaeological findings". We provide the following response.

1. Ancient Goddess Religion

The Research Department has not, to date, been able to locate any statements in the Bahá'í Writings concerning either the existence of an ancient goddess religion or the subject of goddess worship.

2. Responding to Questions about Goddess Worship

While the Research Department cannot provide detailed comment on the archaeological findings that are being presented as evidence of the existence of an ancient goddess religion and goddess worship, we would like to suggest a strategy that might assist ... in formulating her response to such questions. It is our view that by considering the reported research evidence and the underlying issues raised by such evidence within the overall framework of the Bahá'í teachings, it is possible to begin to generate responsive answers. We provide the following example as a stimulus to ...'s thinking.

Some archaeological records have been interpreted to suggest that, in certain neolithic civilizations, the Godhead was female and that goddesses were the principal religious figures. Female deities have been variously linked to the fertility of crops, the sovereignty of kingship, the protection of ceremonial centres, and the waging of warfare against enemies. These records raise such issues as the nature of God, the gender of the spirit, the nature and function of the Manifestation of God, the relationship between women and men, and the role of the feminine in religion and society. And these are issues on which the teachings of the Faith have a great deal to say.