Religion for Mankind - From Essays and Talks by Hand of the Cause Horace Holley
The essays and talks in this book are selected from the work, during half a century, of one of the most distinguished members of the Bahá'í Faith, the most recent of the world religions. The Faith adds nothing to creed and ritual, but has much to say on the grave problems facing humanity today.
'The crucial task of this age is to establish co-operation as the fundamental law of human life. Power must be found to create world unity or the nations perish.
Why could not the nineteenth century, with all its knowledge and culture, attain the goal of universal peace? Because, as the Bahá'í Faith steadfastly upholds, mankind was fatally divided in its allegiance to its divine Creator. Without unity of faith and agreement on the spiritual teachings which set forth the purpose of human life, the aim of our existence, the laws and principles which come from God and which must be obeyed by governments as well as by peoples and races, there can be no political nor economic unity. Spiritual unity is the source and cause of all true co-operation among men. Singleness of faith is the gate which stands between the age of war and the age of peace, between a war-torn humanity and a humanity which has attained the blessings of God.'
Bahá'u'lláh, the Founder of the Bahá'í Faith (1817-92), wrote: 'The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.'
Mr. Holley presents a fair and intelligible summary of the Bahá'í contribution to the achievement of this unity in an ordered world society.
Horace Holley was for more than thirty years Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States (and until 1948, of Canada), and was also widely known as an editor, writer and teacher. In 1951 he was elevated by the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith to the rank of a Hand of the Cause of God, and in this capacity he travelled throughout the Western hemisphere, as well as to other continents, to stimulate and guide Bahá'í activity.
In 1959 he was called to serve at the Bahá'í World Centre of the Faith in Haifa, Israel, where in 1960 he died, and is now buried on Mt. Carmel.
Mr. Holley's was a unique contribution to the establishment of the world-wide Bahá'í Administrative Order. His writings are unexcelled in this field and were highly esteemed by the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, who wrote: 'I greatly value your presentation of the various aspects of the Cause, for whose expansion, consolidation and defence you have, for so many years, laboured so indefatigably and served with such distinction'.
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Softcover
Pages: 248
Dimensions: 223 x 142 mm (8.75 x 5.5 in)
Weight: 346 g
ISBN: 978-0-85398-510-5
