tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4021317.post113280829345315513..comments2023-10-17T03:46:54.909-07:00Comments on Karen's Thoughts: November 14 UHJ LetterKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915968995957299554noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4021317.post-1173253711634848032007-03-06T23:48:00.000-08:002007-03-06T23:48:00.000-08:00My understanding is that the writings themselves s...My understanding is that the writings themselves state that the UHJ is 'infallible' and 'guided by God'. Nowhere does it mention a similar infallability attenuated to the NSA's or LSA's. The sole allowable interpreters of the writings were deemed initially to be Abdu'l Baha<BR/>and following him Shoghi Effendi. The UHJ cannot 'interpret' the writings save for areas which have not been clarified in the actual writings or which might arise out of future social contexts and issues.The UHJ acts as a representative of the writings, as they have already been interpreted by the Guardian and Abdu'l Baha...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4021317.post-1152979253345222782006-07-15T09:00:00.000-07:002006-07-15T09:00:00.000-07:00All Religions are one under the Prophet who appear...All Religions are one under the Prophet who appears in every age to guide mankind toward unity. Sectarianism is the opposite of unity by its very meaning. Nowhere in the history of Religion has there been anything close to the clear texts of a Prophet, preventing any possibility of offshoots from the center of the Bahá'í Faith. <BR/><BR/>Perhaps just as there are luminous people of spiritual brilliance there are contrasting hearts of extreme spiritual darkness, as a void, although they may appear sympathetic. "Shunning" only involves those who are like black holes - to offer another analogy - where even light, itself, cannot resist - due to the escape velocity - being sucked into the void. It is not some superstition but a reality demonstrated over history and known in the physical universe. Some people who are not enrolled say they believe in Bahá'u'lláh. Then why do they not believe in his Teachings on this very subject?<BR/><BR/>There are people being sympathized with for having been removed from the rolls of the Bahá'í Faith. ntellectuals who do not have faith in the succession to the present Universal House of Justice have to accept the fact that they have removed themselves. The clear Teachings of the Faith down through the Guardian are there for the open mind to read independently. Further, "deeds before words". The Universal House of Justice need not be defended by words if its qualities, spiritual love and power, and its vast accomplishments are studied. Proofs. Show proofs of virtue and truth instead of mere words by those who want to break off into sects. Compare qualities, the history of the Faith till the present. In whose Hands was the Faith left in by the Guardian to carry the Bahá'í Community toward the election of the Universal House of Justice but the very best among us chosen by the Guardian, himself. Everything is relative. Are the detractors endowed with equal qualities? Read not only the words they say but the attitude behind them that speaks loudest.<BR/><BR/>Free will, according to the Teachings of the Faith ("Some Answered Questions") involves the choice to do right and wrong. It does not involve doing anything you want. If a captain at sea did that instead of knowing and applying the laws of navigation his ship would sink! <BR/><BR/>Those who have been removed from the Bahá'í rolls no doubt were already attacking or causing grave problems in the Bahá'í Community, at times full of resentment and jealousy of its leadership over many years - as well as working contrary to Bahá'í principles. I am a direct witness to this but not a Bahá'í administrator. All those years are allowed for, even at the risk of causing great harm within the Community to people of less capacity. Immense tolerance is allowed in this Faith - the proofs are there - and if one would truly study the subjects discussed instead of relying upon interpretations of those who are not even members of the Bahá'í Faith they might understand why such people just fade away as the Bahá'í Faith grows in light, beauty and spiritual power.<BR/><BR/>This is far from a perfect statement. But aren't they all? Again study truly independently. Faith is ultimately between the individual and God.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4021317.post-1148070798993505022006-05-19T13:33:00.000-07:002006-05-19T13:33:00.000-07:00If you wish to see many of the ideas shared with t...If you wish to see many of the ideas shared with the Baha'i Faith and other religions, you may wish to visit www.globalpublic.org. The website provides practical ideas on making real change in the world. It is different from organized religions in that it welcomes different opinions as part of continuous improvement for ideas such as forming a Global Ethic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4021317.post-1135699191253756002005-12-27T07:59:00.000-08:002005-12-27T07:59:00.000-08:00Dear Brigitta,There are great difficulties in crea...Dear Brigitta,<BR/><BR/>There are great difficulties in creating another Baha'i group. First of all, Baha'is view that as a great sin, and will actually shun schismatics, thinking of them as "spiritually sick" -- a practice which cuts a person off from a lifetime of friends and family. Another problem is that Baha'is are widely spread in very small communities, so it's hard to have enough liberal Baha'is in any one area to sustain an alternative group.<BR/><BR/>What I do see evolving, though, is informal, localized groups of alienated and unenrolled Baha'is that meet for prayers without formally setting up an alternative organization. Another idea floating around is the creation of a broader sort of spiritual fellowship -- based on an interest in the Baha'i Writings, but not requiring a person to have a Baha'i religious identity.<BR/><BR/>Whatever the prohibitions against schism, the Baha'i administration has to expect that if they throw people out of the Baha'i Faith for not being orthodox enough, that believers in Baha'u'llah who do not "qualify for membership" are going to create some sort of community for themselves eventually -- even if only in this local, informal way.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15915968995957299554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4021317.post-1133019594765410142005-11-26T07:39:00.000-08:002005-11-26T07:39:00.000-08:00Hi guys!Baquia: Don't put your own commentary dow...Hi guys!<BR/><BR/>Baquia: Don't put your own <A HREF="http://http://bahairants.blogspot.com/2005/11/fahrenheit-145.html" REL="nofollow"><BR/>commentary</A> down; you linked this latest thing to a pattern of behavior, which is something I didn't do.<BR/><BR/>Paul: Theocracy only became orthodoxy in the 1990s. It has been, of course, part of popular Baha'i belief for a very long time, but never has been universal. Old-timers quote 'Abdu'l-Baha' that Baha'is should not accept rulership, even if it is offered to them. Even in the current official position, much is left vague, with many important questions left unanswered: How can Baha'i institutions be the government without either allowing non-Baha'is to elect assemblies, or depriving them of the franchise? How can Baha'i membership be voluntary if, by renouncing it, a person essentially loses the privileges of citizenship? How can you uphold human rights if a person can be deprived of citizenship for not being orthodox enough religiously? What about the status of covenant-breakers, who in the teachings explicitly are due human rights? How can you have a stable state, when those unhappy with government/religion policy can just leave citizenship at any time, turning a "Baha'i majority" country to a "Baha'i minority" one?<BR/><BR/>Things can get very, very sticky when you mix religion and government. Another thing left very vague is how the transition is to be accomplished. If even the tiniest move is made towards theocracy, such as making the Baha'i Faith a state religion like what they have in England, won't non-Baha'is howl in protest? You'd have to have an overwhelming majority (like 90%, at least) of Baha's in a country in order to accomplish it without massive social disruption. It could also very well provoke persecution of Baha'is in other countries, once they see what the administration's goal is.<BR/><BR/>Finally, what about the fact that not all Baha'is themselves are going to approve of a government take-over? It could provoke schism in the religion just by attempting to do that, since the attempt could be easily thwarted by protesters resigning from the Haifan faith.<BR/><BR/>The whole thing is really a can of worms, and hasn't been thought through realistically. It is just a pie-in-the-sky daydream, like the millennial expectations of any religion; they figure it's all going to work out perfectly somehow but they avoid giving thought to exactly how, in the real world.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15915968995957299554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4021317.post-1133013888616205052005-11-26T06:04:00.000-08:002005-11-26T06:04:00.000-08:00Hi Karen,Reading your comments about the orthodox ...Hi Karen,<BR/><BR/>Reading your comments about the orthodox view being "pro-theocracy", I'm reminded of a talk I heard some years ago by Wendi Momen at a Baha'i Studies conference I went to.<BR/><BR/>She was talking about how a more-Baha'i future might come about, and was suggesting that the popular idea that somehow NSAs are going to become national governments was wrong - instead, she had a looser vision of secular government "borrowing" Baha'i ideas, and coming more to resemble a Baha'i ideal of consultation than oppositional party government, and the Baha'is potentially holding an advisory position, perhaps something like the "established" status of the Church of England. This way, you wouldn't have to be a declared Baha'i in order to vote for your countries government.<BR/><BR/>I thought this was quite an interesting vision - but from what you are saying, if Momen published these views, she'd probably get into trouble for it.<BR/><BR/>Now I come to think of it, I think I met Sen at that conference, too.<BR/><BR/>PaulAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4021317.post-1132880183923775482005-11-24T16:56:00.000-08:002005-11-24T16:56:00.000-08:00Karen, Thanks for breaking it down paragraph by pa...Karen, Thanks for breaking it down paragraph by paragraph. I didn't want to jeopardize my few remaining brain cells in that endeavor (thanks for taking one for the Gipper!).<BR/><BR/>You make some important points. Especially the last one that I forgot to mention, that this is all about defending a theocratic stance which has no basis on scripture by attacking a scholar's work which does.<BR/><BR/>Since they can't do battle on the field of scholarship, they choose to build up a straw man; that he is claiming a special station or status (a taboo within the Faith) and through it, scare Baha'is away from his work. Tragically, it will be effective for most sheeple.<BR/><BR/>I'm still not sure whether this is a well thought out strategy or simply due to a ginormous amount of incompetence. But does it really matter in the end?Baquiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06666496567257618823noreply@blogger.com