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Paris Talks
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Pages 146-151
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THE FIFTH PRINCIPLE--THE ABOLITION OF PREJUDICES
4 Avenue de Camöens, Paris,
November 13th
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All prejudices, whether of religion, race, politics or
nation, must be renounced, for these prejudices
have caused the world's sickness. It is a grave malady
which, unless arrested, is capable of causing the destruction
of the whole human race. Every ruinous war,
with its terrible bloodshed and misery, has been caused
by one or other of these prejudices.
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The deplorable wars going on in these days are
caused by the fanatical religious hatred of one people
for another, or the prejudices of race or colour.
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Until all these barriers erected by prejudice are
swept away, it is not possible for humanity to be at
peace. For this reason Bahá'u'lláh has said, `These
Prejudices are destructive to mankind'.
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Contemplate first the prejudice of religion: consider
the nations of so-called religious people; if they were
truly worshippers of God they would obey His law
which forbids them to kill one another.
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If priests of religion really adored the God of love
and served the Divine Light, they would teach their
people to keep the chief Commandment, `To be in
love and charity with all men'. But we find the contrary,
for it is often the priests who encourage nations
to fight. Religious hatred is ever the most cruel!
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All religions teach that we should love one another;
that we should seek out our own shortcomings before
we presume to condemn the faults of others, that we
must not consider ourselves superior to our neighbours!
We must be careful not to exalt ourselves lest we be
humiliated.
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Who are we that we should judge? How shall we
know who, in the sight of God, is the most upright
man? God's thoughts are not like our thoughts! How
many men who have seemed saint-like to their friends
have fallen into the greatest humiliation. Think of
Judas Iscariot; he began well, but remember his end!
On the other hand, Paul, the Apostle, was in his early
life an enemy of Christ, whilst later he became His
most faithful servant. How then can we flatter ourselves
and despise others?
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Let us therefore be humble, without prejudices,
preferring others' good to our own! Let us never say,
`I am a believer but he is an infidel', `I am near to God,
whilst he is an outcast'. We can never know what
will be the final judgment! Therefore let us help all
who are in need of any kind of assistance.
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Let us teach the ignorant, and take care of the young
child until he grows to maturity. When we find a
person fallen into the depths of misery or sin we must
be kind to him, take him by the hand, help him to
regain his footing, his strength; we must guide him
with love and tenderness, treat him as a friend not as
an enemy.
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We have no right to look upon any of our fellow-mortals
as evil.
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Concerning the prejudice of race: it is an illusion, a
superstition pure and simple! For God created us all of
one race. There were no differences in the beginning,
for we are all descendants of Adam. In the beginning,
also, there were no limits and boundaries between the
different lands; no part of the earth belonged more to
one people than to another. In the sight of God there
is no difference between the various races. Why should
man invent such a prejudice? How can we uphold war
caused by an illusion?
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God has not created men that they should destroy
one another. All races, tribes, sects and classes share
equally in the Bounty of their Heavenly Father.
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The only difference lies in the degree of faithfulness,
of obedience to the laws of God. There are some who
are as lighted torches, there are others who shine as
stars in the sky of humanity. The lovers of mankind,
these are the superior men, of whatever nation, creed,
or colour they may be. For it is they to whom God
will say these blessed words, `Well done, My good and
faithful servants'. In that day He will not ask, `Are
you English, French, or perhaps Persian? Do you come
from the East, or from the West?'
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The only division that is real is this: There are
heavenly men and earthly men; self-sacrificing servants
of humanity in the love of the Most High, bringing
harmony and unity, teaching peace and goodwill to
men. On the other hand there are those selfish men,
haters of their brethren, in whose hearts prejudice has
replaced loving kindness, and whose influence breeds
discord and strife.
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To which race or to which colour belong these two
divisions of men, to the White, to the Yellow, to the
Black, to the East or to the West, to the North or to
the South? If these are God's divisions, why should we
invent others? Political prejudice is equally mischievous,
it is one of the greatest causes of bitter strife
amongst the children of men. There are people who
find pleasure in breeding discord, who constantly endeavour
to goad their country into making war upon
other nations--and why? They think to advantage
their own country to the detriment of all others. They
send armies to harass and destroy the land, in order to
become famous in the world, for the joy of conquest.
That it may be said: `Such a country has defeated another,
and brought it under the yoke of their stronger,
more superior rule'. This victory, bought at the price
of much bloodshed, is not lasting! The conqueror
shall one day be conquered; and the vanquished
ones victorious! Remember the history of the past:
did not France conquer Germany more than once--
then did not the German nation overcome France?
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We learn also that France conquered England;
then was the English nation victorious over France!
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These glorious conquests are so ephemeral! Why
attach so great importance to them and to their fame,
as to be willing to shed the blood of the people for their
attainment? Is any victory worth the inevitable train
of evils consequent upon human slaughter, the grief
and sorrow and ruin which must overwhelm so many
homes of both nations? For it is not possible that one
country alone should suffer.
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Oh! why will man, the disobedient child of God,
who should be an example of the power of the spiritual
law, turn his face away from the Divine Teaching and
put all his effort into destruction and war?
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My hope is that in this enlightened century the
Divine Light of love will shed its radiance over the
whole world, seeking out the responsive heart's intelligence
of every human being; that the light of the Sun
of Truth will lead politicians to shake off all the claims
of prejudice and superstition, and with freed minds to
follow the Policy of God: for Divine Politics are
mighty, man's politics are feeble! God has created all
the world, and bestows His Divine Bounty upon every
creature.
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Are we not the servants of God? Shall we neglect
to follow our Master's Example, and ignore His
Commands?
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I pray that the Kingdom shall come on Earth, and
that all darkness shall be driven away by the effulgence
of the Heavenly Sun.
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