Sixteen Questions about Huququ'llah

5 May 1992

Dear Bahá'í Friend,

As foreseen in your fax of 18 February 1992 to the Office of Huququ'llah, your letter of 6 November 1991 to the Board of Trustees in the United States has been referred to the Bahá'í World Centre. The House of Justice has asked us to express its appreciation for your comments designed to simplify the task of answering the questions you raise and to avoid duplication of effort.

Your letter has been referred to an Ad Hoc Committee, and the House of Justice has asked us to send you the enclosed copy of the Committee's reply.

With loving Bahá'í greetings,

For Department of the Secretariat

(Baha’i Library Online)

Memorandum

To: The Universal House of Justice 

Date: 5 May 1992

From: Ad Hoc Committee

Re: Questions asked by Mr. --- in his letter of 6 November 1991

We have considered the various questions [1] raised in Mr. ---'s letter of 6 November 1991 addressed to the Board of Trustees in the United States. As Mr. --- notes in his letter of 18 February 1992, a number of these matters have been covered by the answers sent in response to his letter of 12 November 1991. We have attempted below to cover the remaining issues.

The crucial point seems to be the one made in the third paragraph of Mr. ---'s letter, namely:

“I must prepare wills and trusts that provide clear, detailed instructions as to how the executor of an estate, or the successor trustee of a trust, is to calculate and pay the Huququ’llah. Sometimes these are not Bahá’ís; sometimes these are institutions, such as banks named as executors or successor trustees. If I do not provide detailed and clear guidance on the complex financial aspects of this law, I will ensure that the estate will be tied up in probate court, and that the judge will have to make the determinations. This may result in wrangling, wasted time, and the eating up of the assets in legal fees.”

This problem was alluded to in the final paragraph of our memorandum of 9 December 1991:

Ancient Goddess Religion; The Nature of God; The Gender of Spirit; The Nature and Function of the Manifestation; The Role of the Feminine in Religion and Society; The Equality of Men and Women

Memorandum

To: The Universal House of Justice  

February 23, 1992

From: The Research Department

The Research Department has studied the questions concerning the possible existence of an ancient goddess religion and goddess worship contained in the letter dated 26 November l991 from ... ... explains that there is renewed interest in goddess worship in the United States and that neo-pagan groups are encouraging an elevated status of women and white witchcraft, which they regard as healing techniques. She seeks assistance in knowing how to respond to questions that are based on what she describes as "supposed new archaeological findings". We provide the following response.

1. Ancient Goddess Religion

The Research Department has not, to date, been able to locate any statements in the Bahá'í Writings concerning either the existence of an ancient goddess religion or the subject of goddess worship.

2. Responding to Questions about Goddess Worship

While the Research Department cannot provide detailed comment on the archaeological findings that are being presented as evidence of the existence of an ancient goddess religion and goddess worship, we would like to suggest a strategy that might assist ... in formulating her response to such questions. It is our view that by considering the reported research evidence and the underlying issues raised by such evidence within the overall framework of the Bahá'í teachings, it is possible to begin to generate responsive answers. We provide the following example as a stimulus to ...'s thinking.

Some archaeological records have been interpreted to suggest that, in certain neolithic civilizations, the Godhead was female and that goddesses were the principal religious figures. Female deities have been variously linked to the fertility of crops, the sovereignty of kingship, the protection of ceremonial centres, and the waging of warfare against enemies. These records raise such issues as the nature of God, the gender of the spirit, the nature and function of the Manifestation of God, the relationship between women and men, and the role of the feminine in religion and society. And these are issues on which the teachings of the Faith have a great deal to say.

2.1 The Nature of God

Aspects of the Bahá'í Teachings, Conditions for Membership, Voting Rights, and Seven various questions

30 December 1991

Dear Bahá'í Friend,

The Universal House of Justice referred to the Research Department your letter of 20 October 1991 in which you raised several questions about different aspects of the Bahá'í Teachings. We are now able to send you the enclosed copy of the memorandum dated 30 December 1991, and its three attachments, prepared in response.

It is hoped that a study of this material will provide the enlightenment you have sought.

With loving Bahá'í greetings,

For Department of the Secretariat

Enclosure, with three attachments

Memorandum

To: The Universal House of Justice

30 December 1991

From: The Research Department

Questions about Aspects of the Bahá'í Teachings

The Research Department has considered the questions about various aspects of the Bahá'í teachings and their application contained in the letter dated 20 October 1991 from Mr. .... We provide the following response.

1. Bahá'í Status and Community Membership