ir views and conclusions with moderation and due humility. In
this connection one of the Tablets of Baha'u'llah states:

Thou hast written that one of the friends hath composed a treatise. This
was mentioned in the Holy Presence, and this is what was revealed in
response: Great care should be exercised that whatever is written in these
days doth not cause dissension, and invite the objection of the people.
Whatever the friends of the one true God say in these days is listened to
by the people of the world. It hath been revealed in the Lawh-i-Hikmat:
"The unbelievers have inclined their ears towards Us in order to hear that
which might enable them to cavil against God, the Help in Peril, the
Self-Subsisting." Whatever is written should not transgress the bounds of
tact and wisdom, and in the words used there should lie hid the property
of milk, so that the children of the world may be nurtured therewith, and
attain maturity. We have said in the past that one word hath the influence
of spring and causeth hearts to become fresh and verdant, while another is
like unto blight which causeth the blossoms and flowers to wither. God
grant that authors among the friends will write in such a way as would be
acceptable

(18 July 1979 to an individual believer) [68]

69: "The House of Justice had hoped that the publication of the
statement..."

The House of Justice had hoped that the publication of the statement(4)
would stimulate discussion among Baha'i scholars and encourage them to
examine more profoundly all aspects of their work, and the effect it has
upon both Baha'i and non-Baha'i audiences. The aim was not to instruct
scholars to abandon any specific methodology but to warn them of the
dangers of taking for granted the a priori assumptions of modern
non-Baha'i scholars and of allowing their thinking and their understanding
of the Faith to be limited by criteria which they themselves, as Baha'is,
would know to be in error. It was also the hope of the House of Justice
that Baha'i scholars would realize the significance of the manner in which
they express themselves, and that they would guard against use of the
proud and scornful language with which some had been publicly referring to
their fellow believers who, nevertheless, were devotedly trying to serve
the Faith of God.

(8 October 1980 to an individual believer) [69]

70: "From your letter the House of Justice understands that you desire
to..."

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