Shoghi Effendi has for years urged the Bahá'ís (who asked
his advice, and in general also) to study history, economics, sociology, etc.,
in order to be au courant with all the progressive movements and thoughts being
put forth today, and so that they could correlate these to the Bahá'í
teachings. What he wants the Bahá'ís to do is to study more, not to study less.
The more general knowledge, scientific and otherwise, they possess, the better.
Likewise he is constantly urging them to really study the Bahá'í teachings more
deeply. One might liken Bahá'u'lláh's teachings to a sphere; there are points
poles apart, and in between the thoughts and doctrines that unite them.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a
letter dated 5 July 1947 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, The Importance of Deepening
Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith)
