Faith and reason are attributes of the human soul through which insights and knowledge can be gained about the physical and the spiritual dimensions of existence. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá states: “
By faith is meant, first, conscious knowledge, and second, the practice of good deeds.”He describes reason as “
the first faculty of man” and notes that reasoning power “
singles man out from among created beings, and makes of him a creature apart.” “
God has given us rational minds for this purpose, to penetrate all things, to find truth. If one renounce reason, what remains?” Faith and reason together make it possible to discover the powers and capacities latent in individuals, and in humanity as a whole, and enable people to work for the realization of these potentialities....
o have faith is not merely “to know” the truth. True faith is conscious knowledge expressed in action. Bahá’u’lláh states that “
The essence of faith is fewness of words and abundance of deeds…” On the same subject, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá writes: “
it is first ‘to know’ and then ‘
to do’.” If we know of a truth, then, it is incumbent on us to act in accordance with it, detached from the things of this world. “
[T]hey that tread the path of faith,” Bahá’u’lláh has written, “
must cleanse themselves of all that is earthly—their ears from idle talk, their minds from vain imaginings, their hearts from worldly affections, their eyes from that which perisheth. They should put their trust in God, and, holding fast unto Him, follow in His way.”...
An Ever-Advancing Civilization
No comments:
Post a Comment