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Paris Talks
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Pages 101-106
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ON CALUMNY
Monday, November 20th
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From the beginning of the world until the present
time each `Manifestation'
[1]
sent from God has been
opposed by an embodiment of the `Powers of Darkness'.
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2 |
This dark power has always endeavoured to extinguish
the light. Tyranny has ever sought to overcome
justice. Ignorance has persistently tried to trample
knowledge underfoot. This has, from the earliest ages,
been the method of the material world.
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3 |
In the time of Moses, Pharaoh set himself to prevent
the Mosaic Light being spread abroad.
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In the day of Christ, Annas and Caiaphas inflamed
the Jewish people against Him and the learned doctors
of Israel joined together to resist His Power. All sorts
of calumnies were circulated against Him. The Scribes
and Pharisees conspired to make the people believe
Him to be a liar, an apostate, and a blasphemer. They
spread these slanders throughout the whole Eastern
world against Christ, and caused Him to be condemned
to a shameful death!
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5 |
In the case of Muhammad also, the learned doctors
of His day determined to extinguish the light of His
influence. They tried by the power of the sword to
prevent the spread of His teaching.
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6 |
In spite of all their efforts the Sun of Truth shone
forth from the horizon. In every case the army of
light vanquished the powers of darkness on the battlefield
of the world, and the radiance of the Divine
Teaching illumined the earth. Those who accepted the
Teaching and worked for the Cause of God became
luminous stars in the sky of humanity.
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7 |
Now, in our own day, history repeats itself.
Those who would have men believe that religion is their own private property once more bring their
efforts to bear against the Sun of Truth: they resist
the Command of God; they invent calumnies, not
having arguments against it, neither proofs. They
attack with masked faces, not daring to come forth
into the light of day.
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8 |
Our methods are different, we do not attack, neither
calumniate; we do not wish to dispute with them; we
bring forth proofs and arguments; we invite them to
confute our statements. They cannot answer us, but
instead, they write all they can think of against the
Divine Messenger, Bahá'u'lláh.
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9 |
Do not let your hearts be troubled by these defamatory
writings! Obey the words of Bahá'u'lláh and
answer them not. Rejoice, rather, that even these falsehoods
will result in the spread of the truth. When these
slanders appear inquiries are made, and those who
inquire are led into a knowledge of the Faith.
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10 |
If a man were to declare, `There is a lamp in the
next room which gives no light', one hearer might be
satisfied with his report, but a wiser man goes into the
room to judge for himself, and behold, when he finds
the light shining brilliantly in the lamp, he knows the
truth!
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11 |
Again, a man proclaims: `There lies a garden in
which there are trees with broken branches bearing no
fruit, and the leaves thereof are faded and yellow! In
that garden, also, there are flowering plants with no
blooms, and rose bushes withered and dying--go not
into that garden!' A just man, hearing this account
of the garden, would not be content without seeing for
himself whether it be true or not. He, therefore, enters
the garden, and behold, he finds it well tilled; the
branches of the trees are sturdy and strong, being also
loaded with the sweetest of ripe fruits amongst the
luxuriance of beautiful green leaves. The flowering
plants are bright with many-hued blossoms; the rose
bushes are covered with fragrant and lovely roses and
all is verdant and well tended. When the glory of the
garden is spread out before the eyes of the just man, he
praises God that, through unworthy calumny, he has
been led into a place of such wondrous beauty!
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This is the result of the slanderer's work: to be the
cause of guiding men to a discovery of the truth.
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We know that all the falsehoods spread about Christ
and His apostles and all the books written against Him,
only led the people to inquire into His doctrine; then,
having seen the beauty and inhaled the fragrance, they
walked evermore amidst the roses and the fruits of that
celestial garden.
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Therefore, I say unto you, spread the Divine Truth
with all your might that men's intelligence may become
enlightened; this is the best answer to those who
slander. I do not wish to speak of those people nor to
say anything ill of them--only to tell you that slander
is of no importance!
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Clouds may veil the sun, but, be they never so dense,
his rays will penetrate! Nothing can prevent the radiance
of the sun descending to warm and vivify the
Divine Garden.
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Nothing can prevent the fall of the rain from
Heaven.
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Nothing can prevent the fulfilment of the Word of
God!
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Therefore when you see books and papers written
against the Revelation, be not distressed, but take
comfort in the assurance that the cause will thereby
gain strength.
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No one casts stones at a tree without fruit. No one
tries to extinguish a lamp without light!
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Regard the former times. Had the calumnies of
Pharaoh any effect? He affirmed that Moses was a
murderer, that he had slain a man and deserved to be
executed! He also declared that Moses and Aaron
were fomenters of discord, that they tried to destroy
the religion of Egypt and therefore must be put to
death. These words of Pharaoh were vainly spoken.
The light of Moses shone. The radiance of the Law of
God has encircled the world!
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When the Pharisees said of Christ that He had
broken the Sabbath Day, that He had defied the Law
of Moses, that He had threatened to destroy the Temple
and the Holy City of Jerusalem, and that He deserved
to be crucified--We know that all these slanderous
attacks had no result in hindering the spread of the
Gospel!
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The Sun of Christ shone brilliantly in the sky, and
the breath of the Holy Spirit wafted over the whole
earth!
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And I say unto you that no calumny is able to prevail
against the Light of God; it can only result in causing
it to be more universally recognized. If a cause were
of no significance, who would take the trouble to
work against it!
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But always the greater the cause the more do
enemies arise in larger and larger numbers to attempt
its overthrow! The brighter the light the darker the
shadow! Our part it is to act in accordance with the
teaching of Bahá'u'lláh in humility and firm steadfastness.
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Notes
1. [i.e.--Divine Manifestation.]
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