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Unity in Diversity
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Let there be no misgivings as to the animating purpose of the
world-wide Law of Bahá'u'lláh. Far from aiming at the subversion
of the existing foundations of society, it seeks to broaden its basis,
to remold its institutions in a manner consonant with the needs of
an ever-changing world. It can conflict with no legitimate allegiances,
nor can it undermine essential loyalties. Its purpose is neither to
stifle the flame of a sane and intelligent patriotism in men's hearts,
nor to abolish the system of national autonomy so essential if the
evils of excessive centralization are to be avoided. It does not ignore,
nor does it attempt to suppress, the diversity of ethnical origins, of
climate, of history, of language and tradition, of thought and habit,
that differentiate the peoples and nations of the world. It calls for a
wider loyalty, for a larger aspiration than any that has animated
the human race. It insists upon the subordination of national impulses
and interests to the imperative claims of a unified world. It
repudiates excessive centralization on one hand, and disclaims all
attempts at uniformity on the other. Its watchword is unity in
diversity such as `Abdu'l-Bahá Himself has explained:
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"Consider the flowers of a garden. Though differing in kind,
color, form and shape, yet, inasmuch as they are refreshed by the
waters of one spring, revived by the breath of one wind, invigorated
by the rays of one sun, this diversity increaseth their charm and
addeth unto their beauty. How unpleasing to the eye if all the flowers
and plants, the leaves and blossoms, the fruit, the branches and the
trees of that garden were all of the same shape and color! Diversity
of hues, form and shape enricheth and adorneth the garden, and
heighteneth the effect thereof. In like manner, when divers shades of
thought, temperament and character, are brought together under the
power and influence of one central agency, the beauty and glory of
human perfection will be revealed and made manifest. Naught but
the celestial potency of the Word of God, which ruleth and transcendeth
the realities of all things, is capable of harmonizing the
divergent thoughts, sentiments, ideas and convictions of the children
of men."
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The call of Bahá'u'lláh is primarily directed against all forms of
provincialism, all insularities and prejudices. If long-cherished ideals
and time-honored institutions, if certain social assumptions and religious
formulae have ceased to promote the welfare of the generality
of mankind, if they no longer minister to the needs of a continually
evolving humanity, let them be swept away and relegated to the
limbo of obsolescent and forgotten doctrines. Why should these, in
a world subject to the immutable law of change and decay, be exempt
from the deterioration that must needs overtake every human institution?
For legal standards, political and economic theories are
solely designed to safeguard the interests of humanity as a whole,
and not humanity to be crucified for the preservation of the integrity
of any particular law or doctrine.
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