As to the difference between the natural (i.e. physical or
material) civilization which is in the present day in force, and the Divine
civilization which shall be of the results of The House of Justice: The
material civilization prevents and safeguards people from committing evil
deeds, through the force of the laws of retaliation and correction. Thus, you
see how prohibitory laws and rules of correction are constantly in circulation
and yet, by no means, any (adequate) law of retribution is to be found; and in
all the cities of Europe and America spacious prison buildings have been
founded and established for correcting and punishing the criminals.
But the Divine civilization will so train mankind that no
soul will commit crimes, except rare (or few) individuals, which exception is
of no importance whatsoever. Consequently, there is much difference between
preventing people from evil actions and crimes through correction and
retaliation or through violent punishment, and so training them, enlightening
them and spiritualizing them that they will shun crimes and evil deeds without
any fear (however) of punishment, prevention or retaliation. Nay, they will
consider crimes themselves as the greatest punishment and mightiest
retribution, will be attracted to the virtues of the human world and devotedly
spend their lives in that which is conducive to the enlightenment of mankind
and to spreading qualities acceptable in the Threshold of the Almighty.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet, Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 3, April 28, 1911)
