among
them. The greatest cause of human alienation has been religion because
each party has considered the belief of the other as anathema and deprived
of the mercy of God.

The teachings specialized in Baha'u'llah are addressed to humanity. He
says, "Ye are all the leaves of one tree." He does not say, "Ye are the
leaves of two trees: one divine, the other satanic." He has declared that
each individual member of the human family is a leaf or branch upon the
Adamic tree; that all are sheltered beneath the protecting mercy and
providence of God; that all are the children of God, fruit upon the one
tree of His love. God is equally compassionate and kind to all the leaves,
branches and fruit of this tree. Therefore, there is no satanic tree
whatever--Satan being a product of human minds and of instinctive human
tendencies toward error. God alone is Creator, and all are creatures of
His might. Therefore, we must love mankind as His creatures, realizing
that all are growing upon the tree of His mercy, servants of His
omnipotent will and manifestations of His good pleasure.

Even though we find a defective branch or leaf upon this tree of humanity
or an imperfect blossom, it, nevertheless, belongs to this tree and not to
another. Therefore, it is our duty to protect and cultivate this tree
until it reaches perfection. If we examine its fruit and find it
imperfect, we must strive to make it perfect. There are souls in the human
world who are ignorant; we must make them knowing. Some growing upon the
tree are weak and ailing; we must assist them toward health and recovery.
If they are as infants in development, we must minister to them until they
attain maturity. We should never detest and shun them as objectionable and
unworthy. We must treat them with honor, respect and kindness; for God has
created them and not Satan. They are not manifestations of the wrath of
God but evidences of His divine favor. God, the Creator, has endowed them
with physical, mental and spiritual qualities that they may seek to know
and do His will; therefore, they are not objects of His wrath and
condemnation. In brief, all humanity must be looked upon with love,
kindness and respect; for what we behold in them are none other than the
signs and traces of God Himself. All are evidences of God; therefore, how
shall we be justified in debasing and belittling them, uttering anathema
and preventing them from drawing near unto His mercy? This is ignorance