Bahai is correct about God in my opinion

[shivsomashekhar]

Everyone is judged according to how they lived their life. (Matthew 25:31-40)

That is an Abrahamic view.

The Hindu just reincarnates and there is no judge. This is why the Abrahamic God is not a universal God nor are the other beliefs associated with this God.

But I can see why it would appear Universal to someone who always held some Abrahamic belief (Christian, Muslim, Bahai...)

 

[TransmutingSoul]

By embracing that divine spirit within us, and within each other. And by rejecting that which seeks to overwhelm and disregard that spirit. As religion too often does.

This is why man is in need of an Educator. As we struggle between our higher and lower self. We need the guide to show us what the higher self is.

That is the Messenger who is that perfect reflection in this Matrix.

Regards Tony

 

[Trailblazer]

Then why are the most important parts of Judaism, the commandments, focusing most heavily on no other Gods, no graven images, cannot take MY name in vein?
Why does Allah say that Christians and Jews are liars, doomed and must repent?
Why are so many religions using multiple Gods?
Why does the history of God start out with a warrior deity who is very angry and over centuries get Greek philosophy and theology added on by Aquinas, Agustine, Origen and so on....?

Kinda looks like there are no Gods and are just things made up in legends.

There are answers to all of those questions that still leave us with a God who is behind all the religions.

 

[Trailblazer]

That is an Abrahamic view.

The Hindu just reincarnates and there is no judge. This is why the Abrahamic God is not a universal God nor are the other beliefs associated with this God.

But I can see why it would appear Universal to someone who always held some Abrahamic belief (Christian, Muslim, Bahai...)

So do you think God being the judge makes a religion not universal? Do you think that Hinduism is a universal religion? Do you think reincarnation is more fair?

 

[TransmutingSoul]

That is an Abrahamic view.

The Hindu just reincarnates and there is no judge. This is why the Abrahamic God is not a universal God nor are the other beliefs associated with this God.

But I can see why it would appear Universal to someone who always held some Abrahamic belief (Christian, Muslim, Bahai...)

This is the quandary we face with One God.

What concepts are from the limited human mind, and what concepts are from the light of God.

It all becomes relative to our choices in that regard.

Regards Tony

 

[Watchmen]

Bahais believe in God of Abraham. They believe God of abraham is the universal God. And that God has no spesific religion.

I agree with this,

Do you agree or disagree?

Disagree. Now what?

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Disagree. Now what?

Keep living, until you also pass on.

Regards Tony

 

[Trailblazer]

So you believe that only your idea of God is the true idea of God?

The fact that you said, "Baha'is do not believe that Odin or Xenu are gods because we believe that there is only one true God," you are denying that Odin or Xenu are that God you believe in, understood by others as Odin or Xenu to them. In other words, only your idea of God, is really what God is. And what they believe is not the same God understood by them differently from you. Is that correct?

Nobody knows what God is. All we have to go on are revelations from God that later become religions.
Our idea of God is according to the teachings of the Baha'i Faith. This is what God is to us. Our idea of God does not accommodate any other God except the one true God that we believe in. We believe that the one true God is universal.

universal: of, affecting, or done by all people or things in the world or in a particular group; applicable to all cases.
universal means - Google Search

So how is the God of the Baha'i Universal? How does it embrace all faith's understandings of God? You are denying the validity of Odin and Xenu.

Our idea of God does not embrace every faith's understandings of God, it embraces only those faiths that we believe were revealed by the one true God. We don't believe in the existence of Odin or Xenu so in that sense we believe they are false gods.

 

[England my lionheart]

Baha’is believe in all the major religions but not the added things like Shariah law, sacraments and conflicting interpretations. Baha’u’llah states that God is the ‘Lord of all religions’.

Is that cherry picking?.

 

[Exaltist Ethan]

In the Syntheism-religions we believe that human actions and behavior actually creates God and that humans are closer to God than anything else, at least that we can observe on Earth. So in Earthseed God is more focused on what humans can do and our abilities than a "Universal" God, yet, if we Earthseed shapers are correct, humans will one day become Universal, affecting every part of our Universe with our rapid development of knowledge and technology. Therefore, the God we are in essence are developing is becoming this Universal God you seek.

 

[loverofhumanity]

Is that cherry picking?.

Hello. No that is how Baha’u’llah explains it. That religion shorn of its superstitions and man made dogmas is all truth from the same God.

 

[Windwalker]

Nobody knows what God is. All we have to go on are revelations from God that later become religions.

And yet, scriptures themselves say that God can be known without the scriptures. Why do you say you cannot, when scripture itself say you can?

"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."
~ Ro. 1:20

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.

~Psalm 19
​

I do not at all see that having some human tell you about God, is necessary for humans to know God. A little child knows God without being told by some "prophet". "Except you become as a little child you will not see the kingdom of God", says Jesus.

Our idea of God is according to the teachings of the Baha'i Faith. This is what God is to us. Our idea of God does not accommodate any other God except the one true God that we believe in. We believe that the one true God is universal.

Then God is not universal at all if it cannot embrace diversity. You are describing an authoritarian exclusivist view of God, that that one idea alone is right and true. Your view are not applicable in all cases. You require others to reject their own beliefs. That is not universal in the least. That's absolutist.

Our idea of God does not embrace every faith's understandings of God, it embraces only those faiths that we believe were revealed by the one true God.

So it does not accomplish becoming the voice of all religions at all. It rejects Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Native religions, pagan religions, and so forth. I thought your prophet was supposed to bring about the new world religion that embraced all faiths, and all faiths could embrace it. Apparently not.

We don't believe in the existence of Odin or Xenu so in that sense we believe they are false gods.

Well, Xenu I just learned is a made up science fiction character, so I don't have a problem calling that not a real god in human history. Not anymore than Scobie Doo or Mr. Ed are gods.

But Odin most certainly was worshipped as a real deity in human history. And you are saying, that those people were not touching that Light in any way, shape, or form, because their idea of the Divine in the form of Odin, does not align with your ideas of God you adopted by your teachers. They were wrong, but you are right. Correct? You realize this is not a universalist view in the least?

 

[England my lionheart]

Hello. No that is how Baha’u’llah explains it. That religion shorn of its superstitions and man made dogmas is all truth from the same God.

Man made say’s it all imo.

 

[loverofhumanity]

Man made say’s it all imo.

In appearance yes. But we do not know everything. There is much more than just this existence. There is so much we cannot explain so to just write off the existence of a supreme Being would be I think presumptuous.

 

[Trailblazer]

And yet, scriptures themselves say that God can be known without the scriptures. Why do you say you cannot, when scripture itself say you can?

"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."
~ Ro. 1:20

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.

~Psalm 19​

I notice that came from scriptures. The Baha'i scriptures also say that we can know God through everything in His creation, which reflects God's qualities. We can know God's qualities but we cannot know God's will for us, which come by way of God's teachings and laws, without a revelation from God through a Messenger.

I do not at all see that having some human tell you about God, is necessary for humans to know God. A little child knows God without being told by some "prophet". "Except you become as a little child you will not see the kingdom of God", says Jesus.

That is your interpretation of a verse, but I do not interpret it that way. That does not say a little child knows God.

Then God is not universal at all if it cannot embrace diversity. You are describing an authoritarian exclusivist view of God, that that one idea alone is right and true. Your view are not applicable in all cases. You require others to reject their own beliefs. That is not universal in the least. That's absolutist.

Baha'is don't require anyone to do anything, we just believe what we believe, and we do not believe every so-called religion was revealed by God. What you are in effect saying is that God is not universal if He does not embrace everything and anything people believe is true, even if it is false.

So it does not accomplish becoming the voice of all religions at all. It rejects Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Native religions, pagan religions, and so forth. I thought your prophet was supposed to bring about the new world religion that embraced all faiths, and all faiths could embrace it. Apparently not.

Voice of all religions that were revealed by a prophet of God. That includes Hinduism, Buddhism, and Native religions.

But Odin most certainly was worshipped as a real deity in human history. And you are saying, that those people were not touching that Light in any way, shape, or form, because their idea of the Divine in the form of Odin, does not align with your ideas of God you adopted by your teachers. They were wrong, but you are right. Correct? You realize this is not a universalist view in the least?

No, I am not saying that those people were not touching that Light in any way, shape, or form, because their idea of the Divine in the form of Odin does not align with my ideas of God I adopted by my teachers. I am not saying that they were wrong and I am right. I have no way of knowing who has touched the Light. Why the need for the dichotomy?

 

[Exaltist Ethan]

I notice that came from scriptures. The Baha'i scriptures also say that we can know God through everything in His creation, which reflects God's qualities.

That is so close to how I see it, but I place importance on humans to create those divine attributes and qualities of such. It is because humans exist that one day God will be created, from the science of the sagacious, the wisdom of the revelations of all prophets that had, have and will exist at one point. Baha'u'llah wasn't telling us about the divine; he was creating that divine between himself and his followers. Honestly I don't really care if the Abha Kingdom exists, because I know everything will be made from our will at one point.

 

[F1fan]

This is why man is in need of an Educator. As we struggle between our higher and lower self. We need the guide to show us what the higher self is.

That is the Messenger who is that perfect reflection in this Matrix.

Your messenger's bigotry is far from perfect, so given I can figure out that bigotry is bad all by myself perhaps it is gods and messengers that are the problem with the ignorant and immoral.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Your messenger's bigotry is far from perfect, so given I can figure out that bigotry is bad all by myself perhaps it is gods and messengers that are the problem with the ignorant and immoral.

Our own self can be very deceiving.

I would suggest, that to say one knows more than the Creator, is the greatest self deception possible.

All the best with that choice, God allows it.

Regards Tony

 

[Brian2]

That is an Abrahamic view.

The Hindu just reincarnates and there is no judge. This is why the Abrahamic God is not a universal God nor are the other beliefs associated with this God.

But I can see why it would appear Universal to someone who always held some Abrahamic belief (Christian, Muslim, Bahai...)

I was expressing a Christian view when I said everyone is judged according to how they lived their lives. And that includes Hindus and Buddhists and pre Christian people and those who have never heard of Jesus etc.
And yes I agree that the Abrahamic God is different to the Hindu God and is not the God of all religions, for the reason above and other reasons.
It is the Baha'i religion that wants to say all religions are from God and that they have all been corrupted except for the Baha'i religion and so are all wrong except for Baha'i.
But of course they say it in other ways that are more diplomatic but mean the same thing.

 

[Windwalker]

I notice that came from scriptures.

Exactly. It is stating what we all can know without them. That's the point of Paul saying that.

The Baha'i scriptures also say that we can know God through everything in His creation, which reflects God's qualities. We can know God's qualities but we cannot know God's will for us, which come by way of God's teachings and laws, without a revelation from God through a Messenger.

We cannot know God's will through creation? But Paul said we can. That's why he says we are without excuse. If we can't know God's will without a prophet telling us, then we have an excuse. But unlike what you just claimed, Paul says not having a prophet or a preacher is not an excuse for not knowing God's will, because we can know this through the creation itself.

That is your interpretation of a verse, but I do not interpret it that way. That does not say a little child knows God.

Why did Jesus say we need to become as little children are then, in order to see the kingdom of God, if little children can't see it? "Be like those who can't see God, in order to be able to see God". Does that make any sense to you? It doesn't to me.

Baha'is don't require anyone to do anything, we just believe what we believe, and we do not believe every so-called religion was revealed by God. What you are in effect saying is that God is not universal if He does not embrace everything and anything people believe is true, even if it is false.

I'm saying you don't understand what it means to claim that God is universal, if it excludes other ideas of God. Have you ever read the parable of the blind men and the elephant?

It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined, Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind), That each by observation Might satisfy his mind.

The First approached the Elephant, And happening to fall Against his broad and sturdy side, At once began to bawl: "God bless me! but the Elephant Is very like a WALL!"

The Second, feeling of the tusk, Cried, "Ho, what have we here, So very round and smooth and sharp? To me 'tis mighty clear This wonder of an Elephant Is very like a SPEAR!"

The Third approached the animal, And happening to take The squirming trunk within his hands, Thus boldly up and spake: "I see," quoth he, "the Elephant Is very like a SNAKE!"

The Fourth reached out an eager hand, And felt about the knee "What most this wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain," quoth he: "'Tis clear enough the Elephant Is very like a TREE!"

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, Said: "E'en the blindest man Can tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can, This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a FAN!"

The Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope, Than seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope, "I see," quoth he, "the Elephant Is very like a ROPE!"

And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong, Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the wrong!​

You're arguing the leg of the elephant is the whole elephant. Not recognizing that the other ideas of God that the other blind men have of God is likewise a partial understanding of the same "creature". You claim to see the whole elephant, yet you can't recognize the partiality of everyone's perspective and your own partiality.

That betrays this is not a universal view of God whatsoever. It's an absolutist perspective. "The elephant is a wall!"

Voice of all religions that were revealed by a prophet of God. That includes Hinduism, Buddhism, and Native religions.

You don't know anything about these other religions do you? Hinduism and Buddhism, are not "revealed religions". They don't have prophets and oracles. They have holy men who have mystical realizations about the Divine.

You don't need to be a prophet to experience the Divine like this. Anyone can, including yourself, if you have the intent and commitment to self-surrender in order to Realize the Divine that is fully available at all times to every single one of us, not just some select few. The Truth does not need a prophet to be seen and understood. It is there for anyone who has the "ears to hear and the eyes to see".

No, I am not saying that those people were not touching that Light in any way, shape, or form, because their idea of the Divine in the form of Odin does not align with my ideas of God I adopted by my teachers. I am not saying that they were wrong and I am right. I have no way of knowing who has touched the Light. Why the need for the dichotomy?

Yet, you called them false. That clearly says you see yourself right, and them wrong. That makes you wrong.