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Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Judith Oppenheimer, An Enormous Expansion in Access to Knowledge, bahai-library.com.
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
An Enormous Expansion in Access to Knowledge
Judith Oppenheimer
published in Scriptum: Newsletter for Bahá'í Librarians & Information Professionals3
1995-10
"An enormous expansion in access to knowledge" is identified in
the Bahá'í International Community's recent statement "The Prosperity of
Humankind" as one of the requirements for the development of a global society.
Clearly, this is a matter of importance to Bahá'ís working in the field of
information sciences.
What is knowledge? What purpose does it serve? How is it made accessible?
Consideration of these questions is essential to the definition of steps
towards attainment of the goal; and it is necessary to consider them in the
light of Bahá'u'lláh's spiritual principles, for the ultimate objective of that
"enormous expansion in access to knowledge" is none other than to
promote the establishment of a global society functioning in accord with the
principles and provisions of His World Order. A study of Bahá'í Writings will
serve to sanctify our views and orient our thoughts on the subject of
knowledge. The following extracts from Bahá'u'lláh's Writings serve to
illustrate the point:
"Through Him the ocean of
knowledge hath surged amidst mankind and the river of divine wisdom hath gushed
out at the behest of God..."
"We have decreed, O people,
that the highest and last end of all learning be the recognition of Him Who is
the Object of all knowledge..."
"Knowledge is as wings to
man's life, and a ladder for his ascent. Its acquisition is incumbent upon
everyone... In truth, knowledge is a veritable treasure for man, and source of
glory, of bounty, of joy, of exaltation, of cheer and gladness unto
him."(1)
Knowledge has a divine source, its ultimate purpose is the recognition of
God, its influence on man is one of upliftment and empowerment. To enable man
to recognize Him, God has also conferred on him "the gift of
understanding", which "giveth man the power to discern the truth in
all things, leadeth him to that which is right, and helpeth him to discover the
secrets of creation".(2)
'Abdu'l-Bahá has extolled man's intellectual powers as "the supreme
gift of God", "the effulgence of God", and "a crown He has
placed upon our heads".(3) Through this faculty, man is enabled to acquire
knowledge:
"All the sciences and arts
we now enjoy and utilize were once mysteries, and according to the mandates of
nature should have remained hidden and latent, but the human intellect has
broken through the laws surrounding them and discovered the underlying
realities."(4)
With our thoughts turned towards the divinity of knowledge and intellect, we
can then deduce that the purposes for which knowledge should be used are
spiritual ones, such as the processes of justice, the promotion of unity, and
the advancement of civilization -- all of them principles of Bahá'u'lláh.
Use of knowledge implies accessibility, the issue towards which we are
directed by The Prosperity of Humankind. One of the keys to accessibility lies
in communication, and here again the principles of Bahá'u'lláh show the way,
for He has chosen to use words as the vehicle for communicating His Revelation
-- while acknowledging the limitations of language in His statement, "How
great the multitude of truths which the garment of words can never
contain!" (5) Words are communicated by writing and by speech, and
Bahá'u'lláh has emphasised the importance of both literacy and language,
through His Laws. Instruction in the arts of reading and writing is a parental
obligation,(6) and the adoption of a universal language and script has been
designated by Him as one of the "two signs for the coming of age of the
human race":
"God, verily, maketh plain
for you that which shall profit you and enable you to be independent of
others... This will be the cause of unity, could ye but comprehend it, and the
greatest instrument for promoting harmony and civilization, would that ye might
understand!"(7)
On the subject of the international auxiliary language 'Abdu'l-Bahá has
stated:
"...then mutual interchange
of thought will be possible for all... The world of matter will become the
expression of the world of mind. Then discoveries will be revealed, inventions
will multiply, the sciences advance by leaps and bounds, the scientific culture
of the earth will develop along broader lines. Then the nations will be enabled
to utilize the latest and best thought, because expressed in the International
Language..."(8)
An essential prerequisite to accessibility of knowledge is its organization,
an activity in which we are involved directly through our professions. Through
the discovery of new technologies, the window to new means of accessing and
organizing information has begun to open. It would be well to bear in mind the
source of these technologies. In the words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá:
"Now consider, in this great
century which is the cycle of Bahá'u'lláh, what progress science and knowledge
have made, how many secrets of existence have been discovered, how many great
inventions have been brought to light and are day by day multiplying in number.
Before long, material science and learning, as well as the knowledge of God,
will make such progress and will show forth such wonders that the beholders
will be amazed. Then the mystery of this verse in Isaiah, "For the earth
shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord," will be completely
evident."(9)
Lest these words leave us in any doubt as to the divine source of
technology, we can turn to this passage in the Writings of the Báb: "I
yield praise unto Thee, O Lord our God, for the bounty of having called into
being the realm of creation and invention...".(10)
In light of the Bahá'í teachings we can envisage that the call for "an
enormous expansion in access to knowledge" goes beyond anything that we,
as librarians, archivists and others working in the information field, have
experienced or dreamed of. 'Abdu'l-Bahá has written that the new principles
revealed by Bahá'u'lláh require that: "The people... must be set
completely free from their old patterns of thought, that all their attention
may be focused upon these new principles, for these are the light of this time
and the very spirit of this age."(11) We must continually be willing to
take a fresh look at our work as information scientists, to review our
philosophy and practices, to discover new methods and examine new ideas, and
above all, as Bahá'ís, to lead the way. As 'Abdu'l-Bahá states, "change is
a necessary quality and an essential attribute of this world, and of time and
place".(12) The Association of Bahá'í Librarians and Information
Professionals and its newsletter provide a forum for exploration and debate of
such vital issues.
Notes:
(1) Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, page 47; The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, para.
102; Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, pages 51-52. The Islamic tradition
"Knowledge is twenty and seven letters..." quoted and authenticated by
Bahá'u'lláh in the Kitáb-i-Iqan (page 243), both acknowledges the divine
source of knowledge and indicates the vastness of the expansion in knowledge
inaugurated by the new Dispensation.
(2) Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, XCV
(3) The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pages 350 and 351.
(4) The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pages 351.
(5) Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, LXXXIX.
(6) The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, para. 48 and note 105.
(7) The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, para. 189.
(8) Bahá'í Scriptures, page 340.
(9) Some Answered Questions, page 64.
(10) Selections from the Writings of the Báb, page 195.
(11) Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, pages 252-253.
(12) Quoted in Wellspring of Guidance, page 84.
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──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
An Enormous Expansion in Access to Knowledge
Judith Oppenheimer
published in Scriptum: Newsletter for Bahá'í Librarians & Information Professionals3
1995-10
"An enormous expansion in access to knowledge" is identified in
the Bahá'í International Community's recent statement "The Prosperity of
Humankind" as one of the requirements for the development of a global society.
Clearly, this is a matter of importance to Bahá'ís working in the field of
information sciences.
What is knowledge? What purpose does it serve? How is it made accessible?
Consideration of these questions is essential to the definition of steps
towards attainment of the goal; and it is necessary to consider them in the
light of Bahá'u'lláh's spiritual principles, for the ultimate objective of that
"enormous expansion in access to knowledge" is none other than to
promote the establishment of a global society functioning in accord with the
principles and provisions of His World Order. A study of Bahá'í Writings will
serve to sanctify our views and orient our thoughts on the subject of
knowledge. The following extracts from Bahá'u'lláh's Writings serve to
illustrate the point:
"Through Him the ocean of
knowledge hath surged amidst mankind and the river of divine wisdom hath gushed
out at the behest of God..."
"We have decreed, O people,
that the highest and last end of all learning be the recognition of Him Who is
the Object of all knowledge..."
"Knowledge is as wings to
man's life, and a ladder for his ascent. Its acquisition is incumbent upon
everyone... In truth, knowledge is a veritable treasure for man, and source of
glory, of bounty, of joy, of exaltation, of cheer and gladness unto
him."(1)
Knowledge has a divine source, its ultimate purpose is the recognition of
God, its influence on man is one of upliftment and empowerment. To enable man
to recognize Him, God has also conferred on him "the gift of
understanding", which "giveth man the power to discern the truth in
all things, leadeth him to that which is right, and helpeth him to discover the
secrets of creation".(2)
'Abdu'l-Bahá has extolled man's intellectual powers as "the supreme
gift of God", "the effulgence of God", and "a crown He has
placed upon our heads".(3) Through this faculty, man is enabled to acquire
knowledge:
"All the sciences and arts
we now enjoy and utilize were once mysteries, and according to the mandates of
nature should have remained hidden and latent, but the human intellect has
broken through the laws surrounding them and discovered the underlying
realities."(4)
With our thoughts turned towards the divinity of knowledge and intellect, we
can then deduce that the purposes for which knowledge should be used are
spiritual ones, such as the processes of justice, the promotion of unity, and
the advancement of civilization -- all of them principles of Bahá'u'lláh.
Use of knowledge implies accessibility, the issue towards which we are
directed by The Prosperity of Humankind. One of the keys to accessibility lies
in communication, and here again the principles of Bahá'u'lláh show the way,
for He has chosen to use words as the vehicle for communicating His Revelation
-- while acknowledging the limitations of language in His statement, "How
great the multitude of truths which the garment of words can never
contain!" (5) Words are communicated by writing and by speech, and
Bahá'u'lláh has emphasised the importance of both literacy and language,
through His Laws. Instruction in the arts of reading and writing is a parental
obligation,(6) and the adoption of a universal language and script has been
designated by Him as one of the "two signs for the coming of age of the
human race":
"God, verily, maketh plain
for you that which shall profit you and enable you to be independent of
others... This will be the cause of unity, could ye but comprehend it, and the
greatest instrument for promoting harmony and civilization, would that ye might
understand!"(7)
On the subject of the international auxiliary language 'Abdu'l-Bahá has
stated:
"...then mutual interchange
of thought will be possible for all... The world of matter will become the
expression of the world of mind. Then discoveries will be revealed, inventions
will multiply, the sciences advance by leaps and bounds, the scientific culture
of the earth will develop along broader lines. Then the nations will be enabled
to utilize the latest and best thought, because expressed in the International
Language..."(8)
An essential prerequisite to accessibility of knowledge is its organization,
an activity in which we are involved directly through our professions. Through
the discovery of new technologies, the window to new means of accessing and
organizing information has begun to open. It would be well to bear in mind the
source of these technologies. In the words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá:
"Now consider, in this great
century which is the cycle of Bahá'u'lláh, what progress science and knowledge
have made, how many secrets of existence have been discovered, how many great
inventions have been brought to light and are day by day multiplying in number.
Before long, material science and learning, as well as the knowledge of God,
will make such progress and will show forth such wonders that the beholders
will be amazed. Then the mystery of this verse in Isaiah, "For the earth
shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord," will be completely
evident."(9)
Lest these words leave us in any doubt as to the divine source of
technology, we can turn to this passage in the Writings of the Báb: "I
yield praise unto Thee, O Lord our God, for the bounty of having called into
being the realm of creation and invention...".(10)
In light of the Bahá'í teachings we can envisage that the call for "an
enormous expansion in access to knowledge" goes beyond anything that we,
as librarians, archivists and others working in the information field, have
experienced or dreamed of. 'Abdu'l-Bahá has written that the new principles
revealed by Bahá'u'lláh require that: "The people... must be set
completely free from their old patterns of thought, that all their attention
may be focused upon these new principles, for these are the light of this time
and the very spirit of this age."(11) We must continually be willing to
take a fresh look at our work as information scientists, to review our
philosophy and practices, to discover new methods and examine new ideas, and
above all, as Bahá'ís, to lead the way. As 'Abdu'l-Bahá states, "change is
a necessary quality and an essential attribute of this world, and of time and
place".(12) The Association of Bahá'í Librarians and Information
Professionals and its newsletter provide a forum for exploration and debate of
such vital issues.
Notes:
(1) Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, page 47; The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, para.
102; Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, pages 51-52. The Islamic tradition
"Knowledge is twenty and seven letters..." quoted and authenticated by
Bahá'u'lláh in the Kitáb-i-Iqan (page 243), both acknowledges the divine
source of knowledge and indicates the vastness of the expansion in knowledge
inaugurated by the new Dispensation.
(2) Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, XCV
(3) The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pages 350 and 351.
(4) The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pages 351.
(5) Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, LXXXIX.
(6) The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, para. 48 and note 105.
(7) The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, para. 189.
(8) Bahá'í Scriptures, page 340.
(9) Some Answered Questions, page 64.
(10) Selections from the Writings of the Báb, page 195.
(11) Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, pages 252-253.
(12) Quoted in Wellspring of Guidance, page 84.
METADATA
Views6350 views since posted 2012-06-24; last edit 2018-11-02 20:23 UTC;
previous at archive.org.../oppenheimer_expansion_access_knowledge
Language
English
Permission
Creative Commons open access
Share
Shortlink: bahai-library.com/2255
Citation: ris/2255
select Collection:
Archives
Articles
Articles-unpublished
Audio
Bibliographies
BIC
Biographies
Books
Chronologies
Compilations
Compilations-NSA
Compilations-personal
Documents
East-asia
Encyclopedia
Essays
Etc
Excerpts
Fiction
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Guardian
Histories
Introductory
Letters
Maps
Music
Newspapers
NSA-documents
NSA-letters
Personal
Pilgrims
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Presentations
Resources
Reviews
Scripts
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Statistics
Study
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Transcripts
Translations
UHJ-documents
UHJ-letters
Video
Visual
Writings
home
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search:
author
title
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tags
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RSS
new
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