> Again, I repeat, the House of Justice, whether National or Universal, has > only legislative power and not executive power... > (From words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in: Star of the West, Vol. VII, No. 15, pp. > 138-139)
To me this passage illustrates the reason why pilgrim's notes are not a part of the authentic text, and why we are cautioned to not base our understanding of the Faith on them. This reported statement reminds me of the pilgrim's note in Star of the West where the Master reportedly said that the Baha'i Faith is not an organization and can never be organized. Yet, if you look in a Baha'i search engine you can see that the Master's Tablets and authenticated addresses have any number of references to organizing the Baha'i meetings, organizing teaching, organizing the translation work, organizing schools, organizing the Houses of Justice, organizing the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar, etc. The Will and Testament itself lays a foundation for the organization of the Faith. The Guardian refers to the "Secret of Divine Civilization" as the Master's contribution to the future reorganization of the world. And so on. The quote about the Faith can never be organized is, I believe, the statement the Guardian refers to on p. 5 of the World Order of Baha'u'llah as an "inexact rendering of an only partially understood statement." He wonders aloud at the tendency to accept the "obscure and unauthenticated translation of an oral statement made by Abdu'l-Baha" as a basis for correct understanding of the Faith, "in defiance and total disregard of the available text of all his universally recognized writings." (WOB 4) I suggest that the same principle be kept in mind with respect to what we base our understanding of the powers of the House of Justice, and the Texts on which they rest. Our understanding will be closer to the truth that way. Brent ---------- You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://list.jccc.net/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=bahai-st news://list.jccc.net/bahai-st http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist (public) http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] (public)
