As the Baha'i
community grows it will acquire experts in numerous fields both by Baha'is
becoming experts and by experts becoming Baha'is. As these experts bring their
knowledge and skill to the service of the community and, even more, as they
transform their various disciplines by bringing to bear upon them the light of
the Divine Teachings, problem after problem now disrupting society will be
answered. In such developments they should strive to make the utmost use of
non-Baha'i resources and should collaborate fully with non-Baha'is who are
working in the same fields. Such collaboration will, in the long run, be of far
more benefit than any attempt now to treat such scientific endeavours as
specifically Baha'i projects operating under Baha'i institutions and financed
by investment of Baha'i funds. Paralleling this process, Baha'i institutional
life will also be developing, and as it does so the Assemblies will draw
increasingly upon scientific and expert knowledge - whether of Baha'is or of
non-Baha'is - to assist in solving the problems of their communities. In time
great Baha'i institutions of learning, great international and national
projects for the betterment of human life will be inaugurated and flourish.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated 21 August 1977 written on behalf of the Universal House of
Justice to an individual believer)
