We accept them as scripture because they were written by individuals we stipulate were God=sent Divine Messengers, and by an official successor and interpreter appointed (in writing) by one of Them.
Further, their very nature (i.e., their content) makes their inspired nature obvious to us...
Scripture makes that clear!
BTW, you need to learn the difference between "instinct" and "extinct."
Anyway, I can point this out from the Baha'i scriptures:
"[A] doubt occurs to the mind—that is, scorpions and serpents are poisonous. Are they good or evil, for they are existing...
Given that the Baha'i scriptures say (among many other things):
"Love Me that I may love thee [God speaking],"
it's clear that God does indeed have emotions!
Peace, :-)
Bruce
For those of us who are Baha'i, our scriptures state plainly that BOTH the Bible and the Qur'an are legitimate, God-sent scripture (in addition to which we have 200 volumes of our own scripture)!
Peace, :-)
Bruce
No problem whatever!
We'll happily stipulate a much higher plane for Him.
But that said, the whole debate is truly pointless because there is ZERO objective proof for either the existence or the non-existence of God!
Precisely why religions are called "faiths."
Peace, :-)
Bruce
Small world!
Many religions say the same thing:
Baha'is, seeking individual salvation is an unworthy goal. As an eighth century Muslim poetess put it:
If I love Thee in fear of hell,
May I burn in hell.
If I love Thee in hope of Heaven,
Bar me from Heaven.
But if I love Thee for Thine...
Feel free to read the scriptural explanation yourself and see if you agree.
YOu can find it here:
http://bahai-library.com/writings/abdulbaha/saq/81.html
Peace,
Bruce
Unlike some other religions, members of the Baha'i Faith are required to answer honestly when asked about their faith. Simple as that. :-)
Peace,
Bruce
No: The Baha'i scriptures state it's pure superstition, and explain why in detail.
What does happen is that we all to on to the Next Life, which lasts forever.
Peace, :-)
Bruce
We ALL go on to the Next Life, which the Baha'i scriptures state lasts forever.
As to reincarnation, they explain that it's pure superstition.
Peace, :-)
Bruce
The fact remains that no attempt to split the Baha'i Faith has survived beyond one lifetime, and indeed, many of those attempts have either re-split and fragmented themselves or are already completely extinct!
Just the facts.
Bruce
Whereas the Baha'i scriptures state something quite different:
"O SON OF THE SUPREME!
"I have made death a messenger of joy to thee; wherefore dost thou grieve?
"I have made the light to shine upon thee; why dost thou veil thyself therefrom?"
--The HIdden Words, Part One, #32
Only in your opinion.
We freely affirm that there's ONLY ONE God--of many names--Who founded all the great religions!
No problem whatever! :-)
Peace,
Bruce
It's not: it's blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, as various scriptures state.
The Baha'i scriptures say this:
Chapter 31. EXPLANATION OF BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT
"Question.--'Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy...
Truly a tempest in a teapot!
In fact, God has MANY names and titles in the various languages and cultures, and they are all equally acceptable!
Just a few of these names are: God, Boje, Jehovah, Dieu, Wankantanka, El, Jumala, Gott, Yahweh, Dios, Brahman, Elohim, Allah, Isten, Bog, Yazdan...
But that's even worse because taking that position can possibly endorse what the Jewish scripturse had made clear simply doesn't exist! Sounds more like a cop-out to me . . .
Peace,
Bruce
You should first recall the definition in Bierce's Devil's Dictionary:
MIRACLE, n. An event or occurrence out of sorts with nature and unaccountable,
as beating a normal hand of four kings and an ace with four aces and a king.
:-S
The Jewish scriptures explcitly REJECT inheritance of sin!! I refer you to Ezekiel 18:14-20 for proof.
And given that Christianity claims to accept the Jewish scriptures as the "Old Testament" and thus valid, this makes its doctrine of "original sin" all the more bizarre!
Peace, :-)
Bruce