In order to search after the truth, men must shut their eyes to all the traditional superstitions of the past.
The Jews have traditional superstitions, the Christians also; also the Zoroastrians, the Buddhists. All religions are bound by traditions and dogma, all consider they themselves are right and the rest are wrong. The Jews believe themselves to be the only possessors of the truth and condemn all other religions; the Christians say their religion is the only true one and all others are false; likewise the Buddhists and Muslims, all limit themselves. If all condemn one another, where can we search for Truth? All contradict one another, all cannot be true. If each considers their religion as the only true one, it is impossible for them to see the truth in the others.
If a Jew is bound by the external practice of the religion of Israel, he can never understand that truth can exist in any other religion but his own. We must, therefore, detach ourselves from forms and external practices of religion if we wish to see the truth and reality of others. We must abandon the prejudices of tradition.
If a Zoroastrian believes that the sun is God, how can he be united to other religions? The idolaters believe in their idols, how can they understand the unity of God?
It is clear then that in order to search after truth we must detach ourselves from superstition. If all men would follow this principle, truth would be found and they would have a clear vision.
If five people meet together to search for truth, they must begin by putting aside their own special convictions and renounce their own prejudices. In order to find truth we must give up our own small ideas. The fact that we imagine ourselves to be right and every one else to be wrong, is the greatest obstacle in the path of unity, and unity is necessary if we desire to find Truth.
Therefore we must renounce our own particular prejudices and superstitions if we are in earnest in our search for truth. Unless we make a distinct division between dogma, superstition, prejudice, on the one hand, and truth on the other, we shall never succeed. When we wish to find a thing we search for it everywhere, therefore we must carry this principle out in our search for Truth.
Science must be accepted. Light is good in whatever lamp it is burning; a rose is beautiful in whatever garden it grows; a star has the same radiance from whatever point it rises.
Have no prejudices. You must love the Sun wherever it rises. If the Sun of Truth shines in Jesus, it has also shone in Moses and in Buddha. That is what is meant by the search for truth.
It means also that we must put aside all we have learned before and recommence our education. We must not be attached to any one religion or personality, for fear of at last becoming bound by superstition. When we are once detached we can seek the Truth and arrive at our goal. Then we shall see Truth in the reality of all religions, for Truth is in all.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From discourses given by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in London and Paris’; Star of the West, vol. 3, no. 1, March 21, 1912)