O handmaid of the Lord! Speak thou no word of politics; thy task concerneth the life of the soul, for this verily leadeth to man's joy in the world of God. Except to speak well of them, make thou no mention of the earth's kings, and the worldly governments thereof.
-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 92.
This passage seems to indicate that kings, whether literally kings or not, are a part of politics. The King of Samoa is a Baha'i, yet the House of Justice hasn't told him to abdicate. Is the King of Samoa involved in politics in his role? From what I have heard he isn't involved with parties. As I understand a Baha'i could not enter the Senate or run for President in the US, because that would be political involvement. Of course the role of king and president has tended to be quite different. I talked to a family member about this passage who thought it doesn't have to be read as indicating that kings are by definition people who are involved in politics. That could well be, but the wording doesn't appear to be the clearest.
I'm not too clear on Baha'u'llah's point in allowing kings, but I suspect that will all be ditched in the next Dispensation. No one will want to be a king anyway, apparently. What exactly would be the purpose of kings in a Baha'i world? To take some of the load off the institutions?
Regards,
David
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