Bibliography: BIB28813

Key	BIB28813
Reference type	Book Section
Title	Infallible Institutions?
Book title	Reason & Revelation : New Directions in Bahá'í Thought
Series title	Studies in the Bábí and Bahá'í Religions
Author	Schaefer, Udo
Editor	Fazel, Seena and Danesh, John
Year	2002
Publisher	Kalimát Press
Place published	Los Angeles, CA
Abstract	Infallibility is a complex term in Bahá'í scripture nthat has not been much discussed in Bahá'í secondary literature. The concept, which has analogies in Catholicism and Islam, is historically burdened and has become obsolete in secular thought. This paper analyzesd two categories of infallibility: essential infallibility which is inherent in the messengers of God, and conferred infallibility which is a characteristic of the institutions of the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice. This paper focuses on the Universal House of Justice. Does its infallibility operate to an unlimited extent? Are every one of its decisions infallible, and if not, what are its boundaries? The immanent limits of this charisma are analyzed and a detailed argument provided that supports a defensible restrictive interpretation.
Language	English
Keywords	INFALLIBILITY; UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
Pages	3–37
Section	7.
Series volume	v.13