How are these Great Beings explained?

[CG Didymus]

Exactly. And why would a homosexual's friends, a homosexual's parents, or any other person who is tolerant of homosexuals want to. Many people are not fond of bigoted prejudicial religions. Just sayin' (I like that.)

What is scary is that they believe God rejects them for their behavior. In some of the past religions God told his followers to kill them. It sounds like the Baha'is will only put them into therapy, so they can be cured.

 

[CG Didymus]

The Bahais believe in Bible exactly as is. The Word Trinity is not found in Bible, and has a significance which comes from the interpretation of the Mainstream Christians.

But, if instead of asking, do you believe in Trinity, you ask, Do You believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Bahai answer would be a big YES.

One of the Baha'is said that Baha'u'llah has come in the station of the "Father". So when Christians use the term "Father" do they mean God or Baha'u'llah, but just don't know it? And, Is Jesus, therefore, Baha'u'llah's son? And, who was the Mother? And, if not God, what is the Holy Spirit?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

It sounds very much like you're saying that what he believes now is not God's way.

Thats what he's saying. I asked him to clarify it but this is what he said instead.

 

[loverofhumanity]

Homosexuality is a sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is not an action and has no bias on gender and sex. Religion creates bias.

Homosexuals are people who have sexual (intimate/spiritual/so have you) orientation with another human being. Religion should not dictate love based on sex (genitals) but on one's spirit.

Many homosexuals are Catholic. They build platonic relationships because they feel their spirit and love with their friends is more important than intercourse. They give up the feelings of consummating their love because they define their actions as sins.

Many homosexuals are in religions that forbid them to love other people as god loves them all because of heir sex. Many find that sacrifice is better than being in a relationship and not being able to touch the person they are spiritually in love with. Homosexual Catholics sometimes take the vow of celibacy.

They rather love god since they feel they cant give gods love to whomever they love because of their sex.

It depends on the person and how they define themselves as homosexuals. You must ask them how they identify before judging whether they should be in X religion. A lot of times people leave religion because they are not accepted as people and they are told how god should love them.

Many go to god-religions because they love god first.

Intercourse has nothing to do with it.

We can't judge others. It's for them to walk the path of their choosing. We walk the path we choose.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Exactly. And why would a homosexual's friends, a homosexual's parents, or any other person who is tolerant of homosexuals want to. Many people are not fond of bigoted prejudicial religions. Just sayin' (I like that.)

I still talk with my ex. She's married to her wife with two beautiful children and she's catholic. She and her wife works so much that she says they cant find time for anything else. I like that she doesnt let people define her as a lesbian. She says she loves god, her wife does, and she isnt afraid to tell people she is a lesbian, married, catholic. Its real nice to hear her not be influenced by people. Its between her and god. No one else.

Wish others would understand that.

 

[loverofhumanity]

Keep in mind

1. Homosexuality is a sexual orientation not an action

2. Homosexuals identify in many ways; no one person fits under one religion's definition. Its always better to ask first

3. Homosexuals who usually is identify as LGBTQ do not use the word homosexual because many religions describe it by what people do not who people are.

4. Straight people can be homosexuals according to the bible and probably other god-religions as well.



This is for all people. One's sexual orientation doesnt exclude a person from these things you mention.

Remember, before you form an opinion about someone homosexual, Hindu, Epileptic, whoever, ask about how they see themselves first. Your religion could be describing something totally different but you tie it to people because of words.

To me all people are people. Im not interested in judging them. We are all humans and that's how I like to see it.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

We can't judge others. It's for them to walk the path of their choosing. We walk the path we choose.

Its not a path. Thats the problem.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

To me all people are people. Im not interested in judging them. We are all humans and that's how I like to see it.

I was just answering your questions. Your religion judges people by defining them by their sex. Abrahamic God-religions judge. Tolerance is different than love.

 

[RoaringSilence]

From obeying the laws and Teachings of Bahaullah we receive inner peace, contentment and joy and happiness and our lives become spiritual and free from material attachments.

These Teachings are to bring us peace and well being and after 40 years I can say that they do. Next year is our 40th wedding Anniversary and when I met my wife in Burma all I could say in Burmese was 'I love you'. But over the years our marriage, instead of going off track, it became stronger as we both tried to live a Baha'i life. Whenever we had problems we would consult what Baha'u'llah said on the topic and it would solve things.

For instance, my dear wife used to have hysterical nightmares always of dead people cuddling her. She would be visibly shaken all day. I almost had to call an ambulance once then my niece in Burma said we should look at Ruhi Book One together. Ruhi are free courses for both Baha'is and non Baha'is on how to be spiritual and are aimed at helping all become spiritual not conversion. We have these courses over Skype etc. I run them often. We began and after a few months she became calmer. The nightmares still came but she was spiritually stronger to put them aside. As a child she was taught about ghosts and spirits by the Buddhust monks in her town and so she was always superstitious. Now after a few years she has become completely healed. She still has the nightmares but ignores them. A far cry from when she nearly had a stroke.

The Writings of Bahaullah have a special power to help people with all sorts of problems. We also consult doctors and experts as this is a law too but spiritual healing is there for all and there are many useful prayers, meditations and writings which can greatly assist all people.

Only by trying something can we know if it is useful or not. It's not about us being better but about having something precious that humanity might find very useful if it can stop seeing us as a competitive religion. We are really just servants of humanity with a lot of solutions to offer to current day problems and hope that people don't look past these solutions just because they don't believe in Baha'u'llah.

v good nice stuff , but still no imposing law or invading other countries , for a change have faith in other people's wise men and let them craft their own law. and lets teach how to love god in our own sweet ways . without trying to govern them ....DEAL? and make your temples /court into a tennis court for poor people.. give them free tennis rackets to play in temple and your law court.

 

[CG Didymus]

Yes of course. But when you are saying we are taking things out of context you need to explain which context and prove that the context as you understand it is the correct context...

This quote involves a couple of Baha'i beliefs. One, the resurrection of Jesus. And two, the promise of the Holy Spirit. Baha'is us a quote to say the Spirit of Truth that was promised is a prophecy about Baha'u'llah. Christians would say, in context, it is the Holy Spirit that descended on Jesus' followers on Pentecost. Here's the quote from the NIV version of Acts 1:1-5.

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach
2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

"Convincing proofs" that Jesus was alive? Who is right about this, Luke or Abdu'l Baha? If the Baha'is believe the resurrection was the "body of believers" and not Jesus coming back to life, then how do you explain what Luke is saying?

 

[RoaringSilence]

I was just answering your questions. Your religion judges people by defining them by their sex. Abrahamic God-religions judge. Tolerance is different than love.

 

[CG Didymus]

40, 001, the extra one not agreeing being the Baha'i.

There are spin offs and groups of people claiming to be the true Baha'i Faith... but Baha'is don't count them as real sects of their religion. Even within the Baha'i Faith there is the usual conservative and liberal interpretations going on.

About those 40k sects, I'll bet for several hundred years the Universal Christian Church, the Catholics, probably said that Christianity was not divided... that they were the only true Church. They still might, so all those other "sects" don't count. They aren't Christian; they are heretical.

 

[CG Didymus]

All we do know for certain is that Ishmael was Abraham's only son as Isaac was born about 13 years later. So when Abraham was told to offer up his only son only Ishmael qualifies as he was first born. It couldn't have been Isaac as Isaac had not been born yet so Isaac was never Abraham's only son.

"By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son ..." (Hebrews 11:17, R.S.V.)

According to the Quran Moses was first told to sacrifice His son. Then AFTER the sacrifice He was given the glad tidings of the soon to be born Isaac.

Further scrutiny requires that we quote the full passage in surah 37:

ISHMAEL spoken of here by default because further down Abraham is told that Isaac will be born to Him. The first son isn't named but it wasn't Isaac so it had to be Ishmael.


ABRAHAM ASKS GOD FOR A SON then is asked to sacrifice him

99. He said: "I will go to my Lord! He will surely guide me!
100. "O my Lord! Grant me a righteous (son)!"
101. So We gave him the good news of a forbearing son.
102. Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: "O my son! I have seen in a vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: now see what is thy view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if Allah so wills, one of the steadfast!"
103. So when they had both submitted (to Allah), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice),

God Rewards Abraham's sacrifice

104. We called out to him "O Abraham! ...
105. "Thou hast already fulfilled the vision!" - thus indeed do We reward those who do right.
106. For this was a clear trial-
107. And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice:
108. And We left for him among generations (to come) in later times:
109. "Peace and salutation to Abraham!"
110. Thus indeed do We reward those who do right.
111. For he was one of Our believing Servants.

GOD GIVES ABRAHAM ISAAC

112. And We gave him the good news of Isaac - a prophet,- one of the Righteous.
113. We blessed him and Isaac: but of their progeny are (some) that do right, and (some) that obviously do wrong, to themselves.

You see then that Abraham offered His only son BEFORE Isaac was born and that is clearly Ishmael. The Quran also clears up the contradiction in the Bible verse where Isaac is mentioned but 'only son' is mentioned too and it is not possible that Abraham sacrificed Isaac as he hadnt been born yet and Isaac was never Abraham's first or only son at any time. Ishmael was.

So is this affirmed in the Baha'i teachings? Or, is this all from the Quran?

 

[CG Didymus]

Thats what he's saying. I asked him to clarify it but this is what he said instead.

What's good is the Baha'is are truly trying to be loving and caring people. But, like people in other religions, most of the time the underlying reason is to convert them.

 

[RoaringSilence]

What's good is the Baha'is are truly trying to be loving and caring people. But, like people in other religions, most of the time the underlying reason is to convert them.

that's true for all of them ... even when we say hindu's don't or sikh's don't.. we all do a little..its basically fear driven for some and greed driven for others.. but don't worry coz auto correction takes place..some xtians give guilt and some buy it others get repelled.others give love .... those who get repelled fall to other options..so everyone finds weak spots and tries to insert their nail in the coffin. in the end have faith ..coz truth triumphs so that's how i chillax ..everyone thinks they are right ..otherwise why would they do it... at least the innocent ones ..

 

[Dawnofhope]

I personally certainly don't know, and it would be difficult to tell, as you couldn't start from scratch with either, without the influence gained from the first one. There are many factors to consider, not the least of which is the definition of meditation, as indicated earlier.
My Guru's second to last teacher was a Sufi mystic, if that means anything. So yes, there is stuff to be learned in both directions.
We can also compare the results of meditation in the characters of those who meditate. I presume good meditators would be calm, insightful folk.
And of course we have the celibacy factor difference, The very best of inner folk in Hinduism are celibate monks and nuns.

I think that is a wise answer. We really can not appreciate fully the inner reality of another person and to compare sayng this mystical experience is better than that seems to contrary to the spiritual life. I like it that one of your guru's teachers was a Sufi mystic and the learning across different faiths.

 

[Dawnofhope]

that's true for all of them ... even when we say hindu's don't or sikh's don't.. we all do a little..its basically fear driven for some and greed driven for others.. but don't worry coz auto correction takes place..some xtians give guilt and some buy it others get repelled.others give love .... those who get repelled fall to other options..so everyone finds weak spots and tries to insert their nail in the coffin. in the end have faith ..coz truth triumphs so that's how i chillax ..everyone thinks they are right ..otherwise why would they do it... at least the innocent ones ..

Hi @RoaringSilence,

I'm happy to just have a chat regardless of the outcome.

Of course everyone thinks their faith is better than his neighbours. Thats human nature.

We've been talking quite a lot about the diverse beliefs within Hinduism. Do you believe Krishna was a real person, a Deity, or both?

 

[DavidFirth]

Have you read any of the Baha'i posts explaining their take on the resurrection and ascension of Jesus? They say it was only symbolic.

They're wrong.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

They're wrong.

It is Bahau'llah that gave the message, not the folowers.

To be true to Christ one must Test the Prophets. To say He is Wrong must be scriptural.

Be well and happy

Regards Tony

 

[Vinayaka]

What is scary is that they believe God rejects them for their behavior. In some of the past religions God told his followers to kill them. It sounds like the Baha'is will only put them into therapy, so they can be cured.

Yes, it's curious. The God I know loves unconditionally.