e
lights of which have shone throughout the world. His sun bestows its
effulgence unsparingly upon all, His clouds send down rain without
distinction or favor, His breezes refresh the whole earth. It is evident
that humankind without exception is sheltered beneath His mercy and
protection. Some are imperfect; they must be perfected. The ignorant must
be taught, the sick healed, the sleepers awakened. The child must not be
oppressed or censured because it is undeveloped; it must be patiently
trained. The sick must not be neglected because they are ailing; nay,
rather, we must have compassion upon them and bring them healing. Briefly;
the old conditions of animosity, bigotry and hatred between the religious
systems must be dispelled and the new conditions of love, agreement and
spiritual brotherhood be established among them.

The third teaching of Baha'u'llah is that religion must be the source of
fellowship, the cause of unity and the nearness of God to man. If it
rouses hatred and strife it is evident that absence of religion is
preferable and an irreligious man better than one who professes it.
According to the divine will and intention religion should be the cause of
love and agreement, a bond to unify all mankind for it is a message of
peace and good-will to man from God.

The fourth teaching of Baha'u'llah is the agreement of religion and
science. God has endowed man with intelligence and reason whereby he is
required to determine the verity of questions and propositions. If
religious beliefs and opinions are found contrary to the standards of
science they are mere superstitions and imaginations; for the antithesis
of knowledge is ignorance, and the child of ignorance is superstition.
Unquestionably there must be agreement between true religion and science.
If a question be found contrary to reason, faith and belief in it are
impossible and there is no outcome but wavering and vacillation.

Baha'u'llah has also taught that prejudices, whether religious, racial,
patriotic or political are destructive to the foundations of human
development. Prejudices of any kind are the destroyers of human happiness
and welfare. Until they are dispelled the advancement of the world of
humanity is not possible, yet racial, religious and national bias are
observed everywhere. For thousands of years the world of humanity has been
agitated and disturbed by prejudices. As long as it prevails, warfare,
animosity and hatred will continu