e. At present, however, because of their inadequate schooling, most of
the population lack even that vocabulary to explain what they want.

("The Secret of Divine Civilization", 2nd ed. (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing
Trust, 1983), p. 18) [31]

"32: The primary, the most urgent requirement is the promotion of
education...."

The primary, the most urgent requirement is the promotion of education. It
is inconceivable that any nation should achieve prosperity and success
unless this paramount, this fundamental concern is carried forward. The
principal reason for the decline and fall of peoples is ignorance. Today
the mass of the people are uniformed even as to ordinary affairs, how much
less do they grasp the core of the important problems and complex needs of
the time.

("The Secret of Divine Civilization", p. 109) [32]

"33: Observe carefully how education and the arts of civilization bring
honour,...."

Observe carefully how education and the arts of civilization bring honour,
prosperity, independence and freedom to a government and its people.

("The Secret of Divine Civilization", p. 111) [33]

"34: But education is of three kinds: material, human, and spiritual...."

But education is of three kinds: material, human, and spiritual. Material
education is concerned with the progress and development of the body,
through gaining its sustenance, its material comfort and ease. This
education is common to animals and man.

Human education signifies civilization and progress--that is to say,
government, administration, charitable works, trades, arts and
handicrafts, sciences, great inventions and discoveries and elaborate
institutions, which are the activities essential to man as distinguished
from the animal.

Divine education is that of the Kingdom of God: it consists in acquiring
divine perfections, and this is true education; for in this state man
becomes the focus of divine blessings, the manifestation of the words,
"Let Us make man in Our image, and after Our likeness."(4) This is the
goal of the world of humanity.

Now we need an educator who will be at the same time a material, human,
and spiritual educator, and whose authority will be effective in all
conditions. So if anyone should say, "I possess perfect comprehension and
intelligence, and I have no need of such an educator", he would be denying
that which is clear and evident, as though a child should say, "I have no
need of educ