What if we accepted each others Religion?

[CG Didymus]

Hinduism is evolving all the time, renewing itself, on its own.

Yes, there is evidence that religions evolve.

God renews the Faiths. Every Holy book talks of the decay of religion and its renewal.

I still go with the new religion replaces the older ones. And can you quote every Holy Book that says that their religion will decay and need a new religion to renew it?

Hindus don't even believe in evil. Please stop putting your Abrahamic/Baha'i (Bible quotes? Really?) world view into a paradigm where it makes no sense.

Yes, the Baha'i Faith is most closely related to Shia Islam. It doesn't even renew Christianity and Judaism... let alone Buddhism and Hinduism. And speaking of "renewing"...

Well, reincarnation is generally taken to mean a continually abiding something (a soul) that passes from one sentient being to another. Buddhism rejects the notion of a continually abiding anything, Two of the three (or four....depending...) fundamentals of Buddhism are that one accepts as true:
1. Anicca (impermanance of all "things.")
2. Anatta (no abiding "essence.")
Hence: no soul -> no reincarnation.
As to rebirth, the concept is understood in more than one way, depending on the school of Buddhism - simply put : maybe lifetime to lifetime or moment to moment. If you, sorry, the big dummy wishes to they could peruse this to get a taste of the variety of approaches:

- The Buddhist Teachings on Rebirth | Lion’s Roar

How exactly does the Baha'i Faith renew both Hinduism and Buddhism? Oh, I see... They tell them they were both wrong.

 

[Trailblazer]

Yet, you guys argued a lot with a lot of people.

but that doesn't mean we have to continue to do so.

 

[CG Didymus]

To answer that would stir a hornets nest.

So silence is the way. Regards Tony

Baha'is have already stirred up the hornet's nest and opened several cans of worms. And the best answer you can give is... "Our prophet was sent by God, so whatever he says is the truth."

You can't prove it. You have weak evidence. You cherry-pick verses and interpret them in a way to make them say what you want them to say.

If we all became Baha'is... Why would anyone keep doing the things taught and practiced in any of the other religions? There would be no need, because many of those beliefs and practices Baha'is say are wrong. So, essentially, the Baha'i Faith replaces all those wrong beliefs and practices of the other religions with the "true" teachings from God.

 

[Secret Chief]

How exactly does the Baha'i Faith renew ... Buddhism? Oh, I see... They tell them they were ... wrong.

To be fair, we got the name right. But then - starting with the three marks of existence - it all went badly awry.

 

[Secret Chief]

I'll take a peek at it when things level out here and if I, I mean, she can't get it, I'll let you know.

Ok, but don't be harsh on her - she sounds really dumb.

 

[Secret Chief]

So silence is the way.

20,000 posts?

 

[Trailblazer]

I still go with the new religion replaces the older ones.

The new religion does not replace the older ones because that would mean those religions were abrogated.
According to Shoghi Effendi the Baha'i Faith abrogates none of the religions that have preceded it.

“Let no one, however, mistake my purpose. The Revelation, of which Bahá’u’lláh is the source and center, abrogates none of the religions that have preceded it, nor does it attempt, in the slightest degree, to distort their features or to belittle their value. It disclaims any intention of dwarfing any of the Prophets of the past, or of whittling down the eternal verity of their teachings. It can, in no wise, conflict with the spirit that animates their claims, nor does it seek to undermine the basis of any man’s allegiance to their cause.” The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, pp, 57-58​

​

Read more: Fundamental Principle of Religious Truth​

What is the synonym of abrogate?

Some common synonyms of abrogate are annul, invalidate, negate, and nullify. While all these words mean "to deprive of effective or continued existence," abrogate is like annul but more definitely implies a legal or official act. a law to abrogate trading privileges.

ABROGATE Synonyms: 79 Similar and Opposite Words​

 

[CG Didymus]

And the way Bahais worked with the Shah against the Shiite Muslims further complicates it.

I was still in contact with my Baha'i friends when the Ayatollah took over. It sounds extremely complicated. Many of us assumed that the Muslims were corrupt and evil. Then in a college course about the Middle East, I found out that the Shah was corrupt and was propped up by the West. Then there is the Baha'is. Whose side were they on?

One of the bridges that needs to be built is between Shia's and the Baha'is. How is that going to be possible?

But it's not much different than the Baha'is and any religion. They keep telling them that they, the Baha'is, are right and they, the other religions are wrong. And the other religions can say either that the Baha'i Faith is a false religion or ask "Your religion has nothing to do with ours. Let us practice our religion and you practice yours."

Unfortunately, for a Baha'i to practice theirs, it includes "teaching" others about the Baha'i Faith... that the Baha'i prophet is the one promised to come and renew (replace) their old religion.

 

[Trailblazer]

Baha'is have already stirred up the hornet's nest and opened several cans of worms. And the best answer you can give is... "Our prophet was sent by God, so whatever he says is the truth."

You can't prove it. You have weak evidence. You cherry-pick verses and interpret them in a way to make them say what you want them to say.

Why the double standard?

Christians have stirred up the hornet's nest and opened several cans of worms.
And the best answer they can give is... "Jesus is God, or at least the Son of God, so whatever he says is the truth."

They can't prove it. They have weak evidence. They cherry-pick verses and interpret them in a way to make them say what they want them to say

 

[Vinayaka]

Why the double standard?

Christians have stirred up the hornet's nest and opened several cans of worms.
And the best answer they can give is... "Jesus is God, or at least the Son of God, so whatever he says is the truth."

They can't prove it. They have weak evidence. They cherry-pick verses and interpret them in a way to make them say what they want them to say

Christians have a different approach with regard to Hinduism. Of course it varies by person and denomination, but the hard core evangelists just tell us flat out that we're wrong, we worship the devil, and we're all going to hell for it. I like and admire that direct approach. The Baha'is, OTOH play this wishywashy, maybe, maybe not game devoid of direct statements. The say they accept us, but they're here to update us, they say they believe in karma and reincarnation, but then go on to say totally false things about those two concepts, etc.

Nobody has solid evidence for anything religious. You and I agree on that, I think, although I could be wrong, as I've heard some Bahai's say they have clear evidence.

 

[Trailblazer]

I like and admire that direct approach.

I also like the direct approach, although some Baha'i beliefs are not so clear cut.

they say they believe in karma and reincarnation, but then go on to say totally false things about those two concepts, etc.

They do? Maybe we believe in something akin to karma, since we believe that how we lived our life in this world will be the primary determinant regarding what our life will be like in the next world, but we do not believe in reincarnation, since we do not believe that our soul will ever come back to this world and occupy a new body.

Nobody has solid evidence for anything religious. You and I agree on that, I think, although I could be wrong, as I've heard some Bahai's say they have clear evidence.

If by solid evidence you mean verifiable evidence, which is proof, no religion has that. That is why religion is a belief, not a fact.
Maybe some Baha'i believe that they have clear evidence that Baha'u'llah was who He claimed to be, but that is not provable.
Given that the existence of God can never be proven, how could it ever be proven that a Messenger got messages from God?

 

[Vinayaka]

I also like the direct approach, although some Baha'i beliefs are not so clear cut.

They do? Maybe we believe in something akin to karma, since we believe that how we lived our life in this world will be the primary determinant regarding what our life will be like in the next world, but we do not believe in reincarnation, since we do not believe that our soul will ever come back to this world and occupy a new body.

If by solid evidence you mean verifiable evidence, which is proof, no religion has that. That is why religion is a belief, not a fact.
Maybe some Baha'i believe that they have clear evidence that Baha'u'llah was who He claimed to be, but that is not provable.
Given that the existence of God can never be proven, how could it ever be proven that a Messenger got messages from God?

Direct and clarity is the best way, for sure, for me.

Re karma ... see post 930

We agree about the nature of belief. Although it may be preferable to preface every statement with 'I believe', at this time on this forum, it's basically unnecessary as most of us oldies understand nearly every statement that way. But trouble arises when people say things like, 'it's a fact that ...' I do think some folks do believe they are stating facts, when they're not.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Unluckily your interpretation is at odds with mine.

I asked what is your take on Nagarjuna. Do you have one?

No I do not.

Regards Tony

 

[TransmutingSoul]

'No intent' is no excuse. Lots of people, with no intent to do so, hurl insults. Does a judge accept 'I didn't mean to do it' as a valid excuse? Everyone here other than your fellow Baha'is, is informing you that it's disingenuous, and you dismiss them as fools. How very unifying.

I would expect that when their traditional concepts have been challenged.

It's not about being fools. It is each individuals ability to approach that challenge that results in the various responses.

Regards Tony

 

[loverofhumanity]

Can you explain how you see that the Baha'i Faith has "renewed" Buddhism?

I'm afraid it's going to be similar to how you believe that the Baha'i Faith has "renewed" all the other religions... those old beliefs and teachings, even when new, were for the people in that time and place. But those "original" teachings got corrupted.

For me, because Baha'is believe those "original" teachings have been lost, it more like the Baha'i Faith has replaced the teachings of the older religions, more than "renewing" them.

None of the religions of the past taught the oneness of religion or the oneness of humanity which is the remedy for mankind’s ills today so by teaching these and many other new teachings all the religions have been renewed.

 

[loverofhumanity]

I think the interpretation of Bahai Faith is the most dishonest interpretation that exists about the Quran. Maybe only thing on par or more is an old sect that held Imams (a) as incarnations of God. It's impossible to interpret Quran your way but the denial is for real.

I think you guys talking about religion will further people away from God because people hate when someone calls for something but does the opposite. You ask people to be honest, but are very dishonest yourselves.

Quran 2:87

When a messenger comes to you with (a message) that you do not want, do you become arrogant? You call some imposters, and you kill others.

When Muhammad appeared with what they did not desire what did they do? They persecuted Him and killed His followers. Yet today billions follow Him. The same it is with Baha’u’llah. Those who are opposing now are the same people who opposed Muhammad but in God’s good time, as was with Muhammad, Baha’u’llah will be vindicated and those opposing will be exposed to have been in grave error.

Until then, those who wish to mock and ridicule, enjoy.

 

[loverofhumanity]

I would expect that when their traditional concepts have been challenged.

It's not about being fools. It is each individuals ability to approach that challenge that results in the various responses.

Regards Tony

I had a Christian pastor come to my home a couple of days ago. A wonderful man. After some time we discussed 1844 which is the year they believe Christ returned. I asked him if they knew the place and he said he never thought of that so we went into Jeremiah 49:38. And he said he would take note of it and do some research and then discuss it further. Also we went into Revelation 5 where it says no one but the Lion can unseal the books. Again he said he would read up on it. I feel we can both learn from each other and I’m looking forward to what he has found.

 

[Secret Chief]

I would expect that when their traditional concepts have been challenged.

Silence is the way.

 

[Secret Chief]

all the religions have been renewed.

Only for Bahais. For those of the faiths Bahai has made use of, the misuse is only an irritant.

 

[loverofhumanity]

The Mahdi (a) will renew Islam, but he is yet to come. Jesus (a) won't die till everyone from people of the book believe in him per Quran.

The Mahdi (a) will bring people back to the views of the Quran, and he will bring the Quran of Ali (a) (which contains commentary from God, Gabriel, Mohammad (s) and Ali (a)).

He will not channel a new revelation but rather be a Messenger that brings the Quran to new heights we can hardly imagine now.

Quran 3:7

…none knows its interpretation, save only God.

Too many people by their interpretations or following those of scholars are ‘joining partners with God’ because if it says only God knows the interpretation then you, me and scholars have no place interpreting, as the Quran states that ‘God alone’ knows its interpretation. The only one qualified to give an interpretation is God’s Messenger. The Bible states similar things in Revelation 5:5 that only the Promised One is the true Interpreter. Only God’s interpretation is 100% accurate.