Materialism puzzles me as well, but on a personal level, I saw through that at least 45 years ago. Christmas is particularly nasty. It seems people have no will at all when it comes to the next gadget.
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How are these Great Beings explained?
- Thread starter loverofhumanity
- Start date
Materialism puzzles me as well, but on a personal level, I saw through that at least 45 years ago. Christmas is particularly nasty. It seems people have no will at all when it comes to the next gadget.
No. He was all out proselytizing Christianity, just as the Baha'i here rarely ask about other faiths, wishing to stick to the Baha'i agenda. But he was far worse, in my view, and I'm sure he got reported from other threads where people are more likely to report. I was watching, popcorn in hand, for his and Tony's interaction.
I know what you mean but which ‘Christianity as Christians see it’ are you referring you because to my knowledge that’s a mythical address? In the real world there is no such thing as a Christianity as all Christians see it but a Christianity as 40,000 opposing sects see it. So which sect of these 40,000 are you referring to?
Christians themselves cannot define which is the true Christianity so how am I supposed choose from 40,000 sects?
The common denominator of the 40,000 sects of Christianity are Jesus Christ and the Gospels which is what we agree with. That’s pretty powerful unity and agreement.
The Japanese are very driven towards success in education and push their children hard from an early age. I think its across all cultures that education is now regarded highly and rightly so.
With the teaching/proselytizing, I see there is a happy medium between the Hindus and the fundamentalists...well, happy for me.
You are an excellent teacher and proselytizer! You just don't know how good you are. You would have to tone it down a few notches if you ever became a Baha'i.
I know nothing at all about Christianity, just going by what CG, Carlitas, and OB have said about Baha'is reinterpreting on this thread. So with regard to Hinduism, you accept Gaudiya Vaishnavism, but no other versions? Obviously you can't possible accept mine because it doesn't believe in your 'manifestations' at all.
CG Didymus
Veteran Member
Please don't leave the world to the Fundamentalists... Islamic and Christian. If you can find peace and unity with them, I'll believe there is a chance for world peace.
I find it too much, and for me that's sad. This planet works too hard already. I had childhood time building treehouses and swimming in rivers. There is no balance to education only. I know people, lots of them, that don't marry anyone besides their career. they're often sad people, vulnerable to heart attcjks at early ages, due to the stress of it all. Society as a whole needs to learn how to relax.
Japan is a sad example, very high suicide rates there, way too much pressure. No humanity.
Suicide in Japan - Wikipedia
The main problem for fundamentalists are other fundamentalist. The worst fights I have seen has been Christian against Christian.
The Baha'is just engage positively with everyone we can. That doesn't mean we have to be doormats though.
CG Didymus
Veteran Member
He goes places I don't. Also, it's a question of time. If I had the time to do extensive research, we'd still be discussing Revelation.
This is the first sentence of the Wiki article on fundamentalism.
"Fundamentalism usually has a religious connotation that indicates unwavering attachment to a set of irreducible beliefs."
The article goes on to explore various faiths, and alternative ideas. But if one goes by this simple definition alone, Baha'i is a fundamentalist faith, clearly. I see it all in degrees though, as to how far people go in their actions.
Certainly fundamentalism is the enemy of religion.
That's true. I had a lot of free time and still do...
I just read about a doctor who works 4 weeks a year. His house is a little small though...
OB certainly does go to some interesting places. I'm happy to have the discussion about the material but OB and I will probably wind each other up so much that we both get banned from RF...forever!
Here's the link
Fundamentalism - Wikipedia
Interestingly, the Hindus are listed but not the Baha'is.
I agree that fundamentalism is the enemy of religion. I don't believe the Baha'i Faith is a fundamentalist Faith as people are free to come and go and we don't shun people. We also see all truth as being relative along with an emphasis on detachment.
Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
Beyond the names and characterietics that you and I have just the same as them.
Moses was great in his day. Jesus likewjse. When they were alive. Id ask jesus the same question. What makes Moses great that now he has passed away. I probably wouldnt ask Muhammad. I dont think he reveres anyone else other than god. A lot of it seems like mans views and offerings.
Going pass man-love, compassion, etc are characterisrics of man-what about these people that are not characterics of man?
If god is an essense and cant be deacribed, how can man describe him 500 years ago that cant be explaines today?
I would offer this explanation again, and offer that it is read considering each aspect of what is being said.
Bahá'í Reference Library - Some Answered Questions, Pages 122-126
Regards Tony
I was only going by the first sentence, the one I quoted. Yes, Baha'i is not in it. Baha'i isn't mentioned in a lot of articles because its too small, and not considered a religion by many writers. I see 'fundamentalism' as an individual thing, so I see some Baha'is on here as more fundamentalist than others. Certainly there are elements of it, mainly the 'us versus them' exclusivism, and the 'I'm right and you're wrong' unrelenting approach in some, but not all. I'm surprised that the more liberal Baha'i's don't call out the others on it.
I am by no means alone in this assessment.
The Baha'i Faith: A Case Study in Fundamentalism
It is the Attributes that Man uses to describes God as, never the Essence. Thus today we now know this.
Abraham and Moses still Inspire to day as they did in the age of their Messages, with millions worshiping God through them. It is the living of attributes they inspire. They now have a whole new wave of Inspiration, as Baha'u'llah had revived their names for all Humanity.
Regards Tony
Unveiled Artist
Veteran Member
If Moses were alive in front of you what does he have that you dont given you two worship the same god?
Im focusing on how time distances make one person divine while another not. This is one huge clue divinity is man's connection with god. If it were reversed, than I should be able to differientiate Moses attributes from yours since you both sin.
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There is much truth in all versions and sects of all religions I believe.
But our belief is that originally Their was a Founder of each Faith which all these sects originally sprung from but they all went their own way eventually.
Officially we recognize Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Muhammad, Zoroaster, Christ, the Bab and Baha’u’llah but also many truths in other sects and science.
We don’t accept or reject everything that the different sects believe in. A lot of it is truth we believe but some things we have a different view on.
To me it started to fall apart here;
"The fundamentalist “bows down” to the work of his own mind: his own interpretations, his own doctrines. Does he not?
Our own interpretations of words all too easily become our own “idols”, for the ingrained tendency of the human mind is to confuse our own understanding of words with “the words themselves”; or, when it comes to scripture, to confuse our own understanding of “God’s words” with His own understanding of “his words”; or, worse still, when it comes to God himself, and to Life itself, to confuse our understanding of God and Life with the Truth Itself.
That is the quintessentially fundamentalist mistake: to interpret words, and then attribute absolute authority to one’s own interpretation of those words, under the guise of “just saying what the words say” (be they the words of the Bible, the Koran, the Constitution, Marx, or the Baha’i Writings)"
That describes why the Baha'i Faith is not Fundamentalist in this aspect, as it is does not follow an interpretation from our own Minds, but from the Universal Mind given of by Baha'u'llah. Written and sealed in Plain Language.
Now all Faiths will have Fundamental Belief and this has been explained;
"...From these facts and premises we may conclude that the establishing of the divine religions is for peace, not for war and the shedding of blood. Inasmuch as all are founded upon one reality which is love and unity, the wars and dissensions which have characterized the history of religion have been due to imitations and superstitions which arise afterward. Religion is reality and reality is one. The fundamentals of the religion of God are therefore one in reality. There is neither difference nor change in the fundamentals. Variance is caused by blind imitations, prejudices and adherence to forms which appear later, and inasmuch as these differ, discord and strife result. If the religions of the world would forsake these causes of difficulty and seek the fundamentals, all would agree, and strife and dissension would pass away; for religion and reality are one and not multiple." Abdu'l-Baha : Foundations of World Unity
Love is also Fundamental;
"Question: Is peace a greater word than love?
Answer: No! Love is greater than peace, for peace is founded upon love. Love is the objective point of peace, and peace is an outcome of love. Until love is attained, peace cannot be; but there is a so-called peace without love. The love which is from God is the fundamental. This love is the object of all human attainment, the radiance of heaven, the light of man." Abdu'l-Baha : The Promulgation of Universal Peace Part 1
Regards Tony