The Arts

" In this great dispensation, art (or a profession) is identical with an act of worship and this is a clear text of the Blessed Perfection. "(Baha'i World Faith*, page 377)

N O T F I N I S H E D

"quote - O My Servants! Ye are the trees of my garden; ye must give forth goodly and wondrous fruits, that ye yourselves and others may profit therefrom. Thus it is incumbent on everyone to engage in crafts and professions, for therein lies the secret of wealth, O men of understanding! For results depend upon means, and the grace of God shall be all-sufficient unto you. Trees that yield no fruit have been and will ever be for the fire. The Hidden Words "

The people of Bahá'í should not deny any soul the reward due to him, should treat craftsmen with deference, and unlike the people aforetime, should not defile their tongues with abuse. In this Day the sun of craftsmanship shineth above the horizon of the occident and the river of arts is flowing out of the sea of that region. One must speak with fairness and appreciate such bounty... Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (Haifa: Bahá'í World Centre, 1988) pp. 38-39

One of the names of God is the Fashioner. He loveth craftsmanship. Therefore any of His servants who manifesteth this attribute is acceptable in the sight of this Wronged One. Craftsmanship is a book among the books of divine sciences, and a treasure among the treasures of His heavenly wisdom. This is a knowledge with meaning, for some of the sciences are brought forth by words and come to an end with words. From a Tablet - translated from the Persian [7]

God grant that thou wilt exert thine utmost to acquire perfections, as well as proficiency in a craft. From a Tablet - translated from the Persian [8]

Blessed is he who in the days of God will engage in handicrafts. This is a bounty from God, for in this Most Great Dispensation it is acceptable in the sight of God for man to occupy himself in a trade which relieveth him of depending upon charity. The craft of every craftsman is regarded as worship. From a Tablet - translated from the Persian [6]

several para. on what worship is -can be - etc.

Some books on this topic are:

The Bahá´í Faith by socioligist, Peter Smith,
ISBN:

The Bahá´í Faith by anthropologist, Joseph Sheppherd,
ISBN:

Links to: Historical facts and figures, Books,..other topics??