It is evident that, currently, there is in the wider society no consensus on how to assess the problem related to race in America or how to resolve it, even among those well-meaning, fair-minded participants in the discourse on race. In the Bahá’í community as well, individual Bahá’ís may express personal, and sometimes conflicting, views on the subject of race; other friends are welcome to respond to such views. If approached with the necessary spiritual qualities, this exchange can help to gradually create unity of thought and action around the concepts presented in the Bahá’í teachings. Of course, individuals should not represent or convey the impression that their personal ideas constitute the Bahá’í teachings, and correspondingly, Bahá’ís who hear such expressions should distinguish between the authoritative Bahá’í texts and individuals’ attempts to explore the concepts contained therein. As you are surely aware, the House of Justice has encouraged the development of communities characterized by tolerance; that implies Assemblies’ allowing for the interchange of ideas, including those that some may find uncomfortable.
Naturally, if the promotion of a particular idea leads to disunity within the Bahá’í community, then an Assembly must act.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated 28 January 2022, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer; US Baha’i National Administrative website)
