undefined
201
ORTHODOX BAHA’I FAITH
Posted by
The
Orthodox Bahá’í Faith is distinguished by the acceptance of the Will and
Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Son of the Founder of the Faith, as a
divinely-conceived, sacred, immutable and immortal Document which delineates
the essential Institutions of an unique Administrative Order which, together
with the application of the Laws and Principles revealed by Bahá’u’lláh,
constitutes the basis for the establishment of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh
and a future World Civilization.
This
Order was established in embryonic form by Shoghi Effendi, the first Guardian
of the Bahá’í Faith during a 36-year ministry. He had been appointed by
‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His Will and Testament, a Document which also provided for the
continuity of this Institution as long as the Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh
endured through a succession of Guardians of the Faith each appointed by his
predecessor "in his own lifetime." Sole interpretative
authority of Bahá’í Holy Writ has been vested by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Guardians
who also serve as the "sacred head and the distinguished member for
life" of the Universal House of Justice, the highest legislative organ
of the Administrative Order and in this capacity provide "the necessary
guidance to define the sphere of the legislative action" of this
institution and insure that such subsidiary laws as are enacted by this body
are in conformity with the immutable Laws revealed by Bahá’u’lláh in His Most
Holy Book. Shoghi Effendi stated that the twin institutions of the Guardianship
and the Universal House of Justice "supplement each other’s authority
and functions" are inseparable and are "the twin pillars that
support this mighty Administrative Structure."
Unlike
sans-Guardian Bahá’ís, who believe that the Guardianship ended with the passing
of Shoghi Effendi, the Bahá’ís under the living Guardian believe that Shoghi
Effendi appointed his successor, Mason Remey, in faithful compliance with the
sacred provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and that only
complete acceptance of him as the second Guardian and the "Center of
the Cause" and, in turn, his appointed successor, constitutes fidelity
to the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh.
Very
recently The Third Guardian Joel B. Marangella, following the pattern employed
by his predecessors, the first Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, and second Guardian,
Mason Remey, established the Third International Bahá’í Council, composed of
nine members, a milestone in the TRUE FAITH OF BAHÁULLÁH.
·
Secretary General,
Franklin Schlatter
0 comments:
Post a Comment