as in the explanation of several of the other Principles.]

FOURTH PRINCIPLE--THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE RELATION BETWEEN RELIGION AND
SCIENCE

4 Avenue de Camoeens, Paris,
November 12th

'Abdu'l-Baha said:

I have spoken to you of some of the principles of Baha'u'llah: The Search
after Truth and The Unity of Mankind. I will now explain the Fourth
Principle, which is The Acceptance of the Relation between Religion and
Science.

There is no contradiction between true religion and science. When a
religion is opposed to science it becomes mere superstition: that which is
contrary to knowledge is ignorance.

How can a man believe to be a fact that which science has proved to be
impossible? If he believes in spite of his reason, it is rather ignorant
superstition than faith. The true principles of all religions are in
conformity with the teachings of science.

The Unity of God is logical, and this idea is not antagonistic to the
conclusions arrived at by scientific study.

All religions teach that we must do good, that we must be generous,
sincere, truthful, law-abiding, and faithful; all this is reasonable, and
logically the only way in which humanity can progress.

All religious laws conform to reason, and are suited to the people for
whom they are framed, and for the age in which they are to be obeyed.

Religion has two main parts:

(1) The Spiritual.

(2) The Practical.

The spiritual part never changes. All the Manifestations of God and His
Prophets have taught the same truths and given the same spiritual law.
They all teach the one code of morality. There is no division in the
truth. The Sun has sent forth many rays to illumine human intelligence,
the light is always the same.

The practical part of religion deals with exterior forms and ceremonies,
and with modes of punishment for certain offences. This is the material
side of the law, and guides the customs and manners of the people.

In the time of Moses, there were ten crimes punishable by death. When
Christ came this was changed; the old axiom 'an eye for an eye, and a
tooth for a tooth' was converted into 'Love your enemies, do good to them
that hate you', the stern old law being changed into one of love, mercy
and forbearance!

In the former days the punishment for theft was the cutting off of the
right hand; in our time this law could not be so applied. In this age, a
man who curses his father is allowed to live, when formerly he would h