Reconciling apparent contradictions or dichotomies
Documents[edit]
View of the teachings as a diverse whole with doctrines uniting[edit]
Teachings like a sphere with points poles apart and doctrines uniting them[edit]
"One might liken Bahá'u'lláh's teachings to a sphere; there are points poles apart, and in between the thoughts and doctrines that unite them.."
- (On behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, 5 July 1947, in Science and Technology (compilation), no. 7)
The wholeness of the teachings (with many facets)[edit]
"He feels that many of the perplexities that arise in your mind could be dissipated if you always conceived of the teachings as one great whole with many facets. Truth may, in covering different subjects, appear to be contradictory, and yet it is all one if you carry the thought through to the end... He hopes you will ... rest assured inwardly that for these things which sometimes seem difficult to understand there is usually a quite simple and reasonable explanation."
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, February 24, 1947: The Importance of Deepening our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, A Compilation from the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, January 1983, in Lights of Guidance, no. 2050; also available in part in Lights of Guidance, no. 1571)
Reconciling seemingly opposing statements[edit]
To take the teachings as a great whole not oppose two strong statements (as these have links uniting them)[edit]
"We must take the teachings as a great, balanced whole, not seek out and oppose to each other two strong statements that have different meanings; somewhere in between, there are links uniting the two. That is what makes our Faith so flexible and well balanced."
- (On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 19 March 1946, cited in Reconciliation of Apparent Contradictions in the Bahá'í Writings)
Necessary to take into account a wide range of statements on a complex subject[edit]
"In order to deepen one's understanding of a complex subject it is necessary to take into account a wide range of statements."
- (Research Department, 2002-05-28, at https://bahai-library.com/uhj_reconciliation_apparent_contradictions#s0 )
Two matters appearing to be in tension can become coherent through careful reading of the Writings and House of Justice, and consideration of circumstances of locality, timeliness, periodic need for focus[edit]
"A careful reading of the Bahá’í writings and the guidance of the House of Justice can clarify how two matters that appear to be in tension with one another are coherent once the concepts and principles that connect them are understood. Particular circumstances in a locality, timeliness, and the periodic need for focus also have a bearing on such issues."
- (From a letter dated 27 April 2017 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer; cited in "The Universal House of Justice" (compilation), no. 84.1)
Careful reading of the writings and guidance can clarify how two matters are coherent[edit]
"Unfortunately, sometimes when approaching such important and deeply felt matters, the friends can create dichotomies where none exist. Thus, for example, it is contended that one must choose between either non-involvement in politics or social action; either teaching the Faith or involvement with society; either the institute process and the community-building activities it fosters or a program for race unity; and so on. Such apparent conflicts can be greatly dissipated by keeping in mind Shoghi Effendi’s advice, conveyed in a letter written on his behalf, to conceive of the teachings as one great whole with many facets. “Truth may, in covering different subjects, appear to be contradictory,” the same letter indicated, “and yet it is all one if you carry the thought through to the end.” A careful reading of the Bahá’í writings and the guidance of the House of Justice can clarify how two matters that appear to be in tension with one another are coherent once the concepts and principles that connect them are understood. Particular circumstances in a locality, timeliness, and the periodic need for focus also have a bearing on such issues."
- (On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, 27 April 2017, to an individual, https://www.bahai.org/r/979827701 )
