POST 2:
The following quotation from the Book of Certitude picks up where we left off in post 1. In this post, we begin to deal with specific errors committed by Shoghi Effendi, grandson of Baha’u’llah, when he used scripture from the Holy Bible to make his main points. The first post states his apparent purposes and other basic points that will not be covered in this post.
FROM THE BOOK OF CERTITUDE PDF VERSION [LINK IN PART 1]:
‘7Consider the past. How many, both high and low, have, at all times, yearningly awaited the
advent of the Manifestations of God in the sanctified persons of His chosen Ones. How often have
they expected His coming, how frequently have they prayed that the breeze of divine mercy
might blow, and the promised Beauty step forth from behind the veil of concealment, and be made
manifest to all the world. And whensoever the portals of grace did open, and the clouds of divine
bounty did rain upon mankind, and the light of the Unseen did shine above the horizon of celestial
might, they all denied Him, and turned away from His face—the face of God Himself. Refer ye, to
verify this truth, to that which hath been recorded in every sacred Book.[A]
[My comments below, on this underscored sentence, will be designated by, ‘A’, subsequent ones, by B, C….]
Ponder for a moment, and reflect upon that which hath been the cause of such denial on the
part of those who have searched with such earnestness and longing. Their attack hath been more
fierce than tongue or pen can describe. Not one single Manifestation of Holiness hath appeared
but He was afflicted by the denials, the repudiation, and the vehement opposition of the people
around Him. Thus it hath been revealed: “O the misery of men! No Messenger cometh unto them
but they laugh Him to scorn.”
1(Quran 36:30) Again He saith: “Each nation hath plotted darkly against their
Messenger to lay violent hold on Him, and disputed with vain words to invalidate the truth.”2 (Quran 40:5)
[One paragraph omitted because therein he used the Quran for a reference.]
Should you acquaint yourself with the indignities heaped upon the Prophets of God, and
apprehend the true causes of the objections voiced by their oppressors, you will surely appreciate
the significance of their position. Moreover, the more closely you observe the denials of those who
have opposed the Manifestations of the divine attributes, the firmer will be your faith in the
Cause of God. Accordingly, a brief mention will be made in this Tablet of divers accounts relative
to the Prophets of God, that they may demonstrate the truth that throughout all ages and
centuries the Manifestations of power and glory have been subjected to such heinous cruelties
that no pen dare describe them. Perchance this may enable a few to cease to be perturbed by the
clamor and protestations of the divines and the foolish of this age, and cause them to strengthen
their confidence and certainty.
Among the Prophets was Noah. For nine hundred and fifty years He prayerfully exhorted His
people and summoned them to the haven of security and peace. None, however, heeded His call.[B]
Each day they inflicted on His blessed person such pain and suffering that no one believed He
could survive. How frequently they denied Him, how malevolently they hinted their suspicion
against Him! Thus it hath been revealed: “And as often as a company of His people passed by
Him, they derided Him. To them He said: ‘Though ye scoff at us now, we will scoff at you
hereafter even as ye scoff at us. In the end ye shall know.’”3 Long afterward, He several times
promised victory to His companions and fixed the hour thereof. But when the hour struck, the
divine promise was not fulfilled. This caused a few among the small number of His followers to
turn away from Him, and to this testify the records of the best-known books.[C] These you must
certainly have perused; if not, undoubtedly you will. Finally, as stated in books and traditions,
there remained with Him only forty or seventy-two of His followers. At last from the depth of His
being He cried aloud: “Lord! Leave not upon the land a single dweller from among the
unbelievers.”4 [D] [Note 3: Quran 11:38; note 4, Quran 71:26]
[A. here is an example of Shoghi E. making a vague reference to some body of literature to support his point, instead of specifically citing other works with quotes…; also, he uses so many metaphors, that a reader could easily lose track of the chief points being discussed.]
[B. Prior to point B, he was stating that all the prophets / manifestations have been greatly opposed. He begins to demonstrate that by specifically citing Noah. Shoghi stated that Noah was opposed for 950 years during which time he was exhorting people to “the haven of security and peace.” I am guessing that means to belief, trusting and obeying? But I am not sure because he used a vague metaphor in the place of a specific statement.
The Bible states much different things about Noah: he was 600 years old when God sent the world-wide flood; after the flood, he lived an additional 350 years. After the flood, there were no people but of Noah’s family. Below, point ‘D,’ specific, scripture is inserted for your examination and comparison.]
[C. There is no record of any actions by Noah that resemble what Shoghi E. stated, check for yourself by reading Genesis 6-10; if you have no Bible, then go to Bible Hub and choose ESV or NIV, as those are easier to read than for example, KJV.]
[C. At the end of this underscored section C, Shoghi E. again makes a broad general statement that he expects should support his claims: “to this testify the records of the best-known books.” In other words, if you haven’t read those, and don’t know what I am talking about, then shame on you; or you are lacking in your spiritual edification. He is not supporting his statements. Anyone who has ever written a research paper in basic writing in any high school, will tell you that a writer cannot get away with such things. The Bible, for example, provides historical support and other kinds: read chapter one of Matthew or Luke and you will see what I am stating about supporting data.]
[D. No such thing is recorded in scripture. Also, after C, he made another statement about his readers surely having read books that support his words. It would be pure gullibility to accept such things as supporting evidence.]
[Scriptural statements from Genesis about Noah; note what the Bible says Noah was doing after he preached to his generation for 120 years as he was occupied in building the ark:
Genesis 6:12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark…. Genesis 7:1 Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.
Genesis 7:6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth… 24 And the waters prevailed on the earth 150 days.
Genesis 8:15 Then God said to Noah, 16 “Go out from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. 17 Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh…
Genesis 9:28 After the flood Noah lived 350 years. 29 All the days of Noah were 950 years, and he died.
POINTS TO CONSIDER FROM SCRIPTURE:
- Noah had no followers. Noah and his family were busy building the ark. The building of it in itself was a prophecy because he built it for the protection of his family from the coming flood – per revelation from God about how He would destroy the world. Noah did some preaching, but I have never seen a reference to how much of his day might have been spent that way, as he toiled at ark building.
- Scripture says nothing about Noah having uttered any curses on anyone.
- Shoghi E. apparently twisted scripture such that it would support his central point, that all the ‘manifestations of God’ have been opposed and their revelation has been rejected.
- If you read the New Testament, you would discover that Christ’s message was rejected by the majority of those who heard Him. In fact, the ONLY ones who received the truth He uttered were those who had been given FAITH by the Holy Spirit to do so. There are about a half-dozen statements in the book of Acts that say, essentially what this following verse states: Acts 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
- There are numerous statements in the New Testament about Christ being the one who is building His church, like the statement above
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