| The concept that unity does not imply or require
uniformity of culture, taste, thought, race, nationality or custom: 'The
diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony,
as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the
making of a perfect chord.'7 |
| 'Abdu'l-Bahá explained the concept of unity in diversity as follows:
'A critic may object [to the notion of the unity of mankind], saying that
peoples, races, tribes and communities of the world are of different and
varied customs, habits, tastes, character, inclinations and ideas, that
opinions and thoughts are contrary to one another, and how, therefore,
is it possible for real unity to be revealed and perfect accord among
human souls to exist? |
| 'In answer we may say that differences are of two kinds. One is the
cause of annihilation . . . The other kind which is a token of diversity is
the essence of perfection and the cause of the appearance of the
bestowals of the Most Glorious Lord. |
| 'Consider the flowers of a garden: though differing in kind, colour,
form and shape, yet inasmuch as they are refreshed by the waters of
one spring, revived by the breath of one wind, invigorated by the rays of one sun, this diversity increaseth their
charm, and addeth unto their beauty. Thus
when that unifying force, the penetrating
influence of the Word of God, taketh effect,
the difference of customs, manners, habits,
ideas, opinions and dispositions embellisheth
the world of humanity . . . |
| 'How unpleasing to the eye if all the flowers
and plants, the leaves and blossoms, the
fruits, the branches and the trees of that
garden were all of the same shape and colour!
Diversity of hues, form and shape, enricheth
and adorneth the garden, and heighteneth
the effect thereof. In like manner, when
divers shades of thought, temperament and character,
are brought together under the power and
influence of one central agency, the beauty
and glory of human perfection will be revealed
and made manifest. Naught but the celestial
potency of the Word of God . . . is capable
of harmonizing the divergent thoughts, sentiments,
ideas, and convictions of the children
of men.'8 |
| [BD 229-30] |
|
