"I was at a talk by Ali Nakhjavani a couple days ago, and he explained
how the House makes decisions. He said that the research
department finds all passages in the Writings that have direct or
indirect bearing on a question. These passages are often
going to be from untranslated Writings, which House of Justice members
are not familiar with. As we know, the Universal House of
Justice is not a prophetic body, and their ability to make the
right;decision is dependent on getting the right information. I
originally assumed that House of Justice members would be required
to undertake the onerous task of familiarising themselves with
everything in the Writings, included all that is untranslated, in
order to make their decisions."
Dear David,
How can anyone possibly know *everything* that is in the Writings?
"For a reason I do not understand they are obviously not required to
do this."
If they were required to do this wouldn't only those Baha'is who know
Persian and Arabic be eligible for membership on the Universal House
of Justice.
"In not doing this I would think surely the possibility is opened up
for making wrong decisions because of potential errors from the
fallible research department."
Have you been following our previous discussions? Some of us don't
think infallibility is about propositional inerrancy to begin with. It
is about making decisions in accord with spiritual principles. If the
Research Department fails to bring some passage to the House's
attention any believer is free to do so.
:Also, someone on the list told us that the House of Justice,
even today, still gets sent new Tablets and such from believers.
Since the House is not a prophetic body, could they not make a
decision, only to find later that some previously unseen part of the
Writings contradicted this decision?"
Yes, and then they are free to change that decision.
warmest, Susan
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