less longings for something still unattained. More and more it has
been chafing in the confinement of the old dogmas and orthodoxies. But now
the era of confinement is at an end, and it can launch on the wings of
faith and reason into the higher realms of spiritual love and truth. It
will no longer be earthbound as it was before its wings had grown, but
will soar at will to the regions of wide outlook and glorious freedom. One
thing is necessary, however, if its flight is to be sure and steady. Its
wings must not only be strong, but they must act in perfect harmony and
coordination. As 'Abdu'l-Baha says:--"It cannot fly with one wing alone. If
it tries to fly with the wing of religion alone it will land in the slough
of superstition, and if it tries to fly with the wing of science alone it
will end in the dreary bog of materialism."

Perfect harmony between religion and science is the sine qua non of the
higher life for humanity. When that is achieved, and every child is
trained not only in the study of the sciences, and arts, but equally in
love to all mankind and in radiant acquiescence to the Will of God as
revealed in the progress of evolution and the teachings of the Prophets,
then and not till then, shall the Kingdom of God come and His Will be done
on earth as it is in Heaven; then and not till then shall the Most Great
Peace shed its blessings on the world.

"When religion," says 'Abdu'l-Baha, "shorn of its superstitions,
traditions and unintelligent dogmas, shows its conformity with
science, then there will be a great unifying, cleansing force in
the world, which will sweep before it all wars, disagreements,
discords and struggles, and then will mankind be united in the
power of the love of God."

CHAPTER 13: PROPHECIES FULFILLED BY THE BAHA'I MOVEMENT

As to the Manifestation of the Greatest Name (Baha'u'llah): this is He
Whom God promised in all His Books and Scriptures, such as the Bible, the
Gospels and the Qur'an.--'ABDU'L-BAHA.

Interpretation of Prophecy

The interpretation of prophecy is notoriously difficult, and on no subject
do the opinions of the learned differ more widely. This is not to be
wondered at, for, according to the revealed writings themselves, many of
the prophecies were given in such a form that they could not be fully
understood until the fulfillment came, and even then, only by those who
were pure in heart and free from prejudice. Thus