Response #3: We are to obey the government unless doing so is a violation of a fundamental tenet of our faith. So whether the government ordered us to kill our next door neighbors, or to kill ourselves, it would be either murder or self-murder, and a violation of a fundamental law of God. Likewise if the government ordered us to commit adultery, or any other hypothetical.
A few months ago it was discussed whether a Baha'i would have to go into combat in war and kill others if required to, overriding the teaching on loving our neighbours. I think the general thought of those who partcipated in the discussion was that the former would override the latter. Do you disagree with this? From reading what both Shoghi Effendi and the House of Justice said regarding active military service it seems clear that they are saying that we should try our best to avoid combat, but that if we can't avoid it we must be involved. That would potentially involve murder. Here is one letter I would refer to:
"Whenever circumstances of military or paramilitary service arise the Baha'i friends should do their utmost to avoid taking part. If, however, they are compelled to do so they should then do everything possible to ensure that they are engaged only in non-combatant services.
(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to
the National Spiritual Assembly of Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana,
September 14, 1975)
If we can murder in war, wouldn't that mean we could under other circumstances, if the government wanted it? Or is murder in war somehow different? I'm a bit confused about this one, as I would have thought a quote I mentioned in my last letter precluded all murder.
"The cardinal principle which we must follow ... is obedience to the government prevailing in any land in which we reside....
"We see therefore that we must do two things - Shun politics like the plague, and be obedient to the Government in power in the place where we reside... We must obey in all cases except where a spiritual principle is involved, such as denying our Faith.
(Shoghi Effendi: Directives of the Guardian, Page: 57)
The insistence of its members, while obedient in all matters of a purely
administrative character to the civil statutes of their country, on adhering
to the fundamental spiritual principles, precepts and laws revealed by
Baha'u'llah, requiring them, among other things, to hold fast to
truthfulness, not to dissimulate their faith, observe the ordinances
prescribed for marriage and divorce, and suspend all manner of work on the
Holy Days ordained by Him..."
(Shoghi Effendi: God Passes By, Page: 362)In this latter quote we have some elucidation on what spiritual principles are. It seems to me that this passage indicates that everything in the Aqdas (Book of Laws) must be followed. So if the government want us to do something it is all right, providing it doesn't require us to violate any laws in the Aqdas. I'm not sure if anyone knows off hand how many laws and precepts there are in the Aqdas, but it sounds like there are numerous things we could not do if the government desired. I'm pretty sure that if the minimum age for marriage is higher than 15 in the country a particular Baha'i resides in that they must not marry until they reach the age required. Am I understanding correctly that we may do this because in the Aqdas 15 is the minimum age we are allowed to get married, not an age we are commanded to marry or try and marry at? What if a government forbade marriages? The precepts and laws of Baha'u'llah are implied to be spiritual principles, and there is this passage:
And when He desired to manifest grace and beneficence to men, and to set the world in order, He revealed observances and created laws; among them He established the law of marriage, made it as a fortress for well-being and salvation, and enjoined it upon us in that which was sent down out of the heaven of sanctity in His Most Holy Book. He saith, great is His glory: "Marry, O people, that from you may appear he who will remember Me amongst My servants; this is one of My commandments unto you; obey it as an assistance to yourselves."
(Baha'u'llah: Baha'i Prayers (US), Page: 105)
It is interesting how marriage is described by Baha'u'llah as a "law" and one of His "commandments," considering Baha'is are free to choose not to marry. Just out of interest, which would be the passage in the Aqdas which enjoins marriage?
Regards, David
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