Re: Baha'i Cause was to be a spiritual democracy - not a theocratic dictatorship

Well, your subject line sounds about right to me.

Abdu'l Baha seems to be talking about meekness and dependency on
Baha'u'llah rather than the specifics of any putative future state
where Baha'i is the established religion, though.

What do you think he means by contrasting "spiritual democracy" with
"theocratic dictatorship"?

Paul


Jeffrey wrote:

Abdu'l-Baha:

Were it not for the favors of the Blessed Perfection, no one would
have given us any importance. There are some who become proud and
haughty and forget this fact. In their utter blindness they consider
themselves to be important. Then they fall from their high pedestal,
and great is the noise thereof.

Meekness and humility are the hallmarks of faith. As soon as a
believer feels himself the least degree superior to others, the
beginning of his spiritual decline has set in, all unaware to himself.
There are no offices in this Cause. I do not and have not "appointed"
any one to perform any special service, but I encourage every one to
engage in the service of the Kingdom. The foundation of this Cause is
pure spiritual democracy, and not theocracy. The difference between me
and others is this: I confess and acknowledge my own inability,
weakness and humility, and know that all these outward confirmations
are the favors of the Blessed Perfection. There are some who imagine,
and little by little come to believe, that their spiritual successes
are by and through themselves.

Baha'i Scriptures, pp. 449-450
.