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Taking Things Too Literally vs. Interpreting Texts for the Oneness of Humanity
Taking things too literally – particularly religious texts – can be a problem – as we tragically see in our world. In some cases it contributes to murderous results. In other cases it creates irresolvable conflicts between communities and points of view. This article discusses how Bahá’u’lláh interprets religious texts to lay the foundations of unity. As noted in previous articles, the overriding purpose of Bahá’u’lláh’s life’s work is the fostering of unity and friendship among human beings. How we understand and interpret religious texts affects our ability to build unified harmonious communities. To take one dimension, overly literal readings of religious texts is one factor which holds back a coherence between scientific and…
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Solving Problems Beyond Solution – The Book of Certitude
The goal of Bahá’u’lláh’s entire life’s work, as he describes, is to foster unity among human beings. Of his writings, the Book of Certitude plays a particular role in this purpose. Accordingly, it has been said of the Book of Certitude that by sweeping away the age-long barriers that have so insurmountably separated the great religions of the world, [it] has laid down a broad and unassailable foundation for the complete and permanent reconciliation of their followers.[1] In works such as the Hidden Words, we primarily find guidance directed to the spiritual life of the individual. In Bahá’u’lláh’s later writings, such as those published in the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, we find…
