“…this age is the age of the revelation of reality…”

April 21, 1912

The Universalist Church
Washington D.C. USA

Whatever the minister has said (in his introductory remarks) is an evidence of high morals and service to the world of humanity, truly commendable and worthy of praise, for it is opposed to natural prejudices which for six thousand years have made unstable the world of humanity. How many wars were fought, how much discord has occurred, how much hatred has appeared amongst mankind. But inasmuch as this age is the age of the revelation of reality, praise be to God! the thoughts are being directed toward reality and the souls are ready for the oneness of the world of humanity. The ocean of truth is surging and the mirage of imitations is day by day passing away. The foundation of the existing religions is one foundation, and that foundation is reality and the cause of unity and love of humanity and the means of the progress of mankind. But after every one of the Divine Manifestations, that light of reality became obscured. The darkness of superstitions and imitations crept in. Darkness befell the world of humanity. Day by day bitterness increased to such a degree that nations became antagonistic, and to such an extent that were it not for political hindrances they would have crushed and annihilated each other.

Now it is enough! We must investigate reality. We must put away these superstitions. Praise be to God! We all are the servants of one God. We are all under the shade of His bounty. We are recipients of His bestowals. God is kind to all, why should we be unkind?

God is at peace with all, why should we be at war? At most some are ignorant; they must be trained. Some are sick and ailing; they must be healed. The sick must not be despised. The child must not be insulted. Efforts must be made to secure a remedy and healing.

All the prophets have come to educate and develop the immature souls into maturity; to establish unity and love amongst mankind, not bitterness and hatred, for God has wished all good for His servants, not evil. He who wishes evil for His servants is against God and is not following the example of God, nay rather, he is following the example of Satan. For the attribute of God is mercy, and the attribute of Satan is hate. He who is kind to the servants is following the example of God, and he who is unkind to the servants is against God. For God is absolute mercy, perfect love; and Satan is absolute hate and utter bitterness.

Therefore know that in every meeting where there is love, that meeting is the meeting of the Merciful One; and wherever there is hatred, that is satanic suggestion. The Divine Prophets appeared that the souls may become manifestations of the Merciful One, and to establish love and affection in the hearts…

Man has two aspects or natures - merciful or divine and an animal aspect. The merciful aspect is peace, happiness, love and faithfulness. But the animal aspect is strife, discord, war and battle. If the animal aspect dominates in man, he becomes lower than an animal. If the divine aspect dominates, he becomes an angel of the Lord. The teachings of the Prophets were for this: that the animal aspect may be conquered, so that the souls that are captives of nature may be saved and the heavenly aspect may dominate. That divine aspect consists of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It consists of 'the second birth.' He who possesses that aspect is a well-wisher of all; he is kind to all the creatures; he has no bitterness toward any creed, and he shuns no religion.

For the foundation of the divine religions is one. If we investigate that foundation, we become united; but if we follow imitations, we disagree because imitations are different. The foundation of the divine religions is conducive to unity and fellowship. His Holiness Christ said, 'I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he shall guide you into all truth.' This is the century when that Spirit of God has spoken and revealed all the truth; He has explained the validity of the religion of Christ, and delivered the people from superstitions. So that the basis of ignorance and bitterness may vanish, and the foundation of love may be established. We must strive with soul and heart that this bitterness and hatred may disappe.ar and this discord and strife may entirely pass away. 

~ 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Star of the West, vol.19, no. 3, June 1928)