God created the world as one; man created the boundaries

[Guest guest]

God has created the world as one--the boundaries are marked out by man. God has

not divided the lands, but each man has his house and meadow; horses and dogs do

not divide the fields into parts. That is why Baha'u'llah says:

 

" Let not a man glory in that he loves his country, but that he loves his kind. "

All are of one family, one race; all are human beings. Differences as to the

partition of lands should not be the cause of separation among the people.

 

One of the great reasons of separation is colour. Look how this prejudice has

power in America, for instance. See how they hate one another! Animals do not

quarrel because of their colour! Surely man who is so much higher in creation,

should not be lower than the animals. Think over this. What ignorance exists!

White doves do not quarrel with blue doves because of their colour, but white

men fight with dark-coloured men. This racial prejudice is the worst of all.

 

The Old Testament says that God created man like unto His own image; in the

Qur'an it says:

 

" There is no difference in the Creation of God! " Think well, God has created

all, cares for all, and all are under His protection. The policy of God is

better than our policy. We are not as wise as God!

 

 

Religion

 

To most men who have not heard the message of this teaching, religion seems an

outward form, a pretence, merely a seal of respectability. Some priests are in

holy office for no other reason than to gain their living. They themselves do

not believe in the religion they pretend to teach. Would these men lay down

their lives for their faith? Ask a Christian of this kind to deny Christ in

order to save his life, and he will do it.

 

Ask a Baha'i to deny any of the great Prophets, to deny his faith or to deny

Moses, Muhammad or Christ, and he will say: I would rather die. So a Muhammadan

& Baha'i is a better Christian than many so called Christians.

 

A Baha'i denies no religion; he accepts the Truth in all, and would die to

uphold it. He loves all men as his brothers, of whatever class, of whatever race

or nationality, of whatever creed or colour, whether good or bad, rich or poor,

beautiful or hideous. He commits no violence; if he is struck he does not return

the blow. He calls nothing bad, following the example of the Lord Baha'u'llah.

As a safeguard against intemperance he does not drink wine or spirits.

Baha'u'llah has said it is not good for a sane man to take that which will

destroy his health and sense.

 

The religion of God has two aspects in this world. The spiritual (the real) and

the formal (the outward). The formal side changes, as man changes from age to

age. The spiritual side which is the Truth, never changes. The Prophets and

Manifestations of God bring always the same teaching; at first men cling to the

Truth but after a time they disfigure it. The Truth is distorted by man-made

outward forms and material laws. The veil of substance and worldliness is drawn

across the reality of Truth.

 

As Moses and Jesus brought their Message to the people, so Baha'u'llah brings

the same Message.

 

Each time God sends a Great One to us we are given new life, but the Truth each

Manifestation brings is the same. The Truth never changes but man's vision

changes. It is dulled and confused by the complication of outward forms.

 

The Truth is easy to understand although the outward forms in which it is

expressed bewilder the intelligence. As men grow they see the futility of

man-made forms and despise them. Therefore many leave the churches, because the

latter often emphasize the external only.

 

Abdu'l-Baha, London, England, Monday, September 4th, 1911.

 

http://bahai-library.com/downloads/abl.txt