Confucius
Praise of Confucius as a moral reformer (but not a Prophet)[edit]
Confucius was a cause of the illumination of the world of humanity[edit]
"Blessed souls whether Moses, Jesus, Zoroaster, Krishna, Buddha, Confucius, or Muhammad were the cause of the illumination of the world of humanity. How can we deny such irrefutable proof? How can we be blind to such light?""
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá from a Tablet - translated from the Persian, in Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects, no. 1; also in Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 346)
Confucius renewed ancient morals[edit]
"To which category [independent or contingent prophets] do Buddha and Confucius belong?...Confucius renewed the ancient conduct and morals..."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1984), Chapter 43, pars. 7-8 passim (older translation at pp. 165-166))
Confucius was not a Prophet but was the founder of a moral system and a great reformer[edit]
"Confucius was not a Prophet. It is quite correct to say he is the founder of a moral system and a great reformer."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi - 26 December 1941 to the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand, in Lights of Guidance, no. 1685)
Confucius was not a divine Manifestation of God[edit]
"Confucius was a reformer, not a divine Manifestation of God"
- (On behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual, 1944-02-11, in Bahá’í Studies Bulletin Vol I #2 September 1982 pp61)
Cannot be sure about translation suggesting Confucius was an independent Manifestation of God[edit]
“Unless we can produce the original Persian.we cannot be sure that the translation is correct, and that ‘Abdu’1-Bahá really meant that Confucius was a Prophet in the sense of being an independent Manifestation of God.
The beliefs, rites, and institutions of Confucius have not continued according to their basic teachings[edit]
"Question.--To which category [independent or contingent prophet] do Buddha and Confucius belong?
"Answer: Buddha also established a new religion and Confucius renewed the ancient conduct and morals, but the original precepts have been entirely changed and their followers no longer adhere to the original pattern of belief and worship...
"...Our meaning is that the followers of Buddha and Confucius now worship images and statues and have become entirely unaware of the oneness of God, believing instead in imaginary gods, as did the ancient Greeks. But such were not their original precepts; indeed, their original precepts and conduct were entirely different.
"...It is therefore abundantly clear that, with the passage of time, religions are entirely changed and altered, and hence they are renewed."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1984), Chapter 43, pars. 7-8, 11-12 passim; older translation at pp. 165-166)
Confucius became the cause of civilization, advancement and prosperity for the people of China, but his time has gone as Bahá'u'lláh has come[edit]
"Thou hast written regarding Buddha and Confucius. Buddha was an illustrious personage. Confucius became the cause of civilization, advancement and prosperity for the people of China. Now it is not the time when we discuss concerning the stations and positions of those who are passed away. We must concentrate our attention upon the present. What hath transpired in a former time is past. Now is the time when we restrict our discussion to the Most Great Luminary of Peace and Salvation in this Age, to talk of the Blessed Perfection [Bahá'u'lláh] and to voice His exhortations, behests and teachings. Buddha and Confucius were kings in bygone ages who have disappeared. Their sovereignty in this world is ended and their cycle is completed. Now the Throne of the Kingdom of ABHA is established and the Blessed Perfection is sitting upon the Throne of Grandeur. We must raise this Call, promulgate the Word of God and live in accord with the teachings and advices of the Beauty of ABHA"
- (Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas, vol. 2 (Chicago: Bahá'í Publishing Society, 1915), pp. 469-70, in Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects no. 2)
Teachings contain no (detailed) data on Confucianism, so to refer to authoritative books regarding its history and teachings[edit]
"As regards Confucianism, the Teachings contain no data on this subject, and the Guardian would therefore advise that you refer to authoritative books regarding the history and teachings of this Faith."
Authenticity of past Scriptures cannot be ascertained besides for the Qur'án[edit]
Application to Confucius?:
"In the Baha'i teachings it states that all the Prophets have foretold a Promised One Who is Baha'u'llah. We cannot be sure of the authenticity, word for word, of any of the past Holy Scriptures except the Qur'an, as they were either not written down during the Prophet's lifetime or have been changed in the course of time and the originals lost; what we can be sure of is that when Baha'u'llah or the Master stated that Zoroaster foretold a Promised One's coming, it is correct. The Zoroastrians have no way of contradicting this assertion of ours, as they themselves know their scriptures are not in the original form, and therefore not absolutely authentic."
- (Shoghi Effendi, 22 June 1943, in Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster and Related Subjects, no. 20)
Book of Confucius refers to glad tidings of this Promised Day[edit]
"In the divine Holy Books there are unmistakable prophecies giving the glad tidings of a certain Day in which the Promised One of all the Books would appear, a radiant dispensation be established, the banner of the Most Great Peace and conciliation be hoisted and the oneness of the world of humanity proclaimed. Among the various nations and peoples of the world no enmity or hatred should remain. All hearts were to be connected one with another. These things are recorded in the Torah, or Old Testament, in the Gospel, the Qur'an, the Zend-Avesta, the books of Buddha and the book of Confucius. In brief, all the Holy Books contain these glad tidings. They announce that after the world is surrounded by darkness, radiance shall appear. For just as the night, when it becomes excessively dark, precedes the dawn of a new day, so likewise when the darkness of religious apathy and heedlessness overtakes the world, when human souls become negligent of God, when materialistic ideas overshadow spirituality, when nations become submerged in the world of matter and forget God - at such a time as this shall the divine Sun shine forth and the radiant morn appear."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 220-221)
Teaching Confucianists[edit]
When teachings are spread in Confucian (and other) places of worship, all will bear witness that the teachings bestow fresh life and are the immediate remedy for all social ills[edit]
"In short, all sections and parties have their aspirations realized in the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh. As these teachings are declared in churches, in mosques and in other places of worship, whether those of the followers of Buddha or of Confucius, in political circles or amongst materialists, all shall bear witness that these teachings bestow a fresh life upon mankind and constitute the immediate remedy for all the ills of social life. None can find fault with any of these teachings, nay rather, once declared they will all be acclaimed, and all will confess their vital necessity, exclaiming, `Verily this is the truth and naught is there beside the truth but manifest error.'"
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablet to August Forel, pp. 26-27)
Those deeply attracted to Confucius to be led beyond traditional veils to see their aspirations realized in Bahá'u'lláh[edit]
"Indeed, for every people certain beliefs are as veils that prevent the penetration of the light of truth brought by a new Manifestation. Just as the followers of, say, Christianity and Islam must shed the veils imposed by their traditional beliefs, so too must the Chinese who are deeply attracted to Confucius be led to see that their aspirations are realized in the coming of Bahá'u'lláh, Whose life-giving Message is the divine elixir necessary for every people to achieve its promised destiny."
- (4 June 1995, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, at https://bahai-library.com/compilation_cultural_diversity_maturity#218 )
Bahá'í teacher of the Chinese people must know their sacred literature and national customs[edit]
"The Bahá'í teacher of the Chinese people must first be imbued with their spirit, know their sacred literature, study their national customs and speak to them from their own standpoint, and their own terminologies. He must entertain no thought of his own, but ever think of their spiritual welfare."
- (Attributed to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of the West, Vol. 8, issue 3 (April 28, 1917), p. 37; also at https://bahai-library.com/east-asia/macau/macau.1.html )
