It is apparent that the crisis of contemporary civilization
is impelling thinkers in many lands to explore new scholarly methodologies
capable of coming to grips with spiritual, moral, cultural, and social
phenomena not hitherto encountered. No segment of humanity is so well equipped
as the Baha'i community to take a leading role in this effort. As a body of
people who are being steadily freed by the Revelation of Baha'u'llah from the
"gravitational pull," so to speak, of the cultures in which their
habits of mind have been formed, the community already has a unique approach to
the exploration of reality. This approach needs to be sharply honed as an ever
more effective instrument of social transformation. The devising of the new
scholarly paradigm called for by this circumstance offers a priceless
opportunity of service and achievement to those Baha'is who enjoy the dual
gifts of spiritual faith and intellectual faculties trained in the best that
contemporary society has to offer.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated 5 October 1993 written
on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer;
compilation: ‘Issues Related to Study of the Faith’, Extracts from letters
written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, prepared by the Research
Department of the Universal House of Justice)
