Individual initiative

All initiative requires consultation with and obedience to Assembly. Otherwise people will act independently and harm the Cause

"It is incumbent upon everyone not to take any step without consulting the Spiritual Assembly, and they must assuredly obey with heart and soul its bidding and be submissive unto it, that things may be properly ordered and well arranged. Otherwise every person will act independently and after his own judgment, will follow his own desire, and do harm to the Cause."

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Principles of Bahá’í Administration, p. 42)

Bahá’ís free to publish magazines of their own provided there is no content the Assembly considers detrimental to the interests of the Cause. Private initiative should in no wise be discouraged and is highly praiseworthy.

"Regarding the publication of Bahá’í periodicals in America, there is no doubt whatsoever that every individual Bahá’í is free to inaugurate and conduct any magazine of his own provided that nothing is published therein which in the estimation of the National Assembly tends in the least to become detrimental or injurious to the highest interests of the Cause. Within these limits, and these limits only, private initiative should in no wise be discouraged and is indeed highly praiseworthy."

(Shoghi Effendi, Principles of Bahá’í Administration, pp. 33-34)

See also

• Civil society
• Freedom of speech
• Literature review