The
Independent Investigation of Truth
Baha'u'llah emphasizes the fundamental obligation of human beings to
acquire knowledge with their "own eyes and not through the eyes of
others." One of the main sources of conflict in the world today is
the fact that many people blindly and uncritically follow various traditions,
movements, and opinions. God has given each human being a mind and the
capacity to differentiate truth from falsehood. If individuals fail to
use their reasoning capacities and choose instead to accept without question
certain opinions and ideas, either out of admiration for or fear of those
who hold them, then they are neglecting their basic moral responsibility
as human beings. Moreover, when people act in this way, they often become
attached to some particular opinion or tradition and thus intolerant of
those who do not share it. Such attachments can, in turn, lead to conflict.
History has witnessed conflict and even bloodshed over slight alterations
in religious practice, or a minor change in the interpretation of doctrine.
Personal search for truth enables the individual to know why he or she
adheres to a given ideology or doctrine.
Bahá'ís believe that, as there is only one reality, all
people will gradually discover its different facets and will ultimately
come to common understanding and unity, provided they sincerely seek after
truth. In this connection, 'Abdu'l-Bahá said:
Being one, truth cannot be divided, and the differences that appear to exist among the many nations only result from their attachment to prejudice. If only men would search out truth, they would find themselves united.
'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks (London: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1969), p. 129.
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