Where are the people?

[TransmutingSoul]

No, I don't know. Why should I know?
One of the other Baha'is such as @Truthseeker might know, since he knows a lot of the history of the Faith.

Abdul'baha was a very wise and cleaver business person. He had many business connections. Both Baha'u'llah and Abdul'baha did not use funds donated to the faith for their own means. You will not be able to convince those not intent on justice. (This is how he was knighted by the British Empire, his business wisdom helped many during the 1st world war, which the British Empire acknowledged with that high honour)

All the Mansions have a story, it is well worth reading up on them. Some were abandoned and run down, as the plague had seen the occupants leave.

Regards Tony

 

[Trailblazer]

Abdul'baha was a very wise and cleaver business person. He had many business connections. Both Baha'u'llah and Abdul'baha did not use funds donated to the faith for their own means. You will not be able to convince those not intent on justice. (This is how he was knighted by the British Empire, his business wisdom helped many during the 1st world war, which the British Empire acknowledged with that high honour)

All the Mansions have a story, it is well worth reading up on them. Some were abandoned and run down, as the plague had seen the occupants leave.

Regards Tony

Thanks Tony. It is fascinating. I wish I knew more of the history of the Faith.... maybe someday.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Thanks Tony. It is fascinating. I wish I knew more of the history of the Faith.... maybe someday.

A really great read is the Dawnbreakers, I highly recommend the read. Love from my wife and I.

Regards Tony

 

[CG Didymus]

But how did he afford to rent a mansion? I bet you do not even know the answer in my opinion.

But they're not renting Mt. Carmel. Did they buy the whole hillside? And who did they buy it from?

 

[CG Didymus]

Abdul'baha was a very wise and cleaver business person. He had many business connections. Both Baha'u'llah and Abdul'baha did not use funds donated to the faith for their own means. You will not be able to convince those not intent on justice. (This is how he was knighted by the British Empire, his business wisdom helped many during the 1st world war, which the British Empire acknowledged with that high honour)

All the Mansions have a story, it is well worth reading up on them. Some were abandoned and run down, as the plague had seen the occupants leave.

Regards Tony

What kind of business can a prisoner do?

 

[Truthseeker]

No, I don't know. Why should I know?
One of the other Baha'is such as @Truthseeker might know, since he knows a lot of the history of the Faith.

Here is the long answer to you question, plus some more:


There lived in ‘Akká a man by the name of Muḥammad Páshá Safwat, who was most inimical to the Cause. He had built a palace five or six miles outside the town. Many days I searched for a suitable house to rent for the Blessed Perfection, but I could find nothing else but the palace of this man. After much delay and postponement, through the confirmation of God I succeeded in renting this palace from him at £25 a year provided I might be allowed to repair the mansion with the rent of the first five years. Having papered and furnished all the rooms I ordered the carpenters to make for me a carriage with a cover which was done in due time.

Having prepared everything and attended to every detail I went to the Blessed Perfection and said: "A good mansion is made ready for you outside of ‘Akká. It is wonderfully situated and very charming. From one side the lovely mountains and undulating valleys are seen; from another side there are large orange and mandarin orchards; the oranges, like unto red lanterns, shine and glow through the green boughs; from another side, verdant gardens and prairies full of narcissus and tulips are seen; the Mediterranean glistens in the distance; a stream of cool water flows in the centre; in brief, it is an ideal place. I supplicate you to leave the town and live there."

The Blessed Perfection answered: "I am a prisoner. The prisoners are not allowed to go beyond the town of ‘Akká." I repeated my praises of the place and begged him to come out. But to no avail. Again he refused my request. I did not want to go on with this insistence so I chose silence and left the Blessed Perfection's presence.

I thought a good deal over this matter, trying to find a solution to this problem. Finally I decided to send for the Muftí, who loved Bahá’u’lláh and enjoyed freedom of conversation in his presence. When he arrived I told him something had come which none of us was able to cope with save him. He asked me what it was. I said: "We are all anxious that the Blessed Perfection should go out of town. I have begged him twice, the believers have also entreated, but all have been refused. This is thy work. After sunset go thou to the house, knock at the door, and if they ask thee what thou dost want, say, 'I have come to meet Bahá’u’lláh.' Thou must not leave his presence without his promise to go out."

As soon as he was given permission to enter the presence he went directly to him and threw himself at his holy feet, took hold of his blessed hands, and bluntly said: "My Lord, why dost thou not go out. The country is charming, the weather is delightful, the pastures are green, the water is cool and the palace is made ready." The Blessed Perfection said to him: "Mufti! I am a prisoner!" "O," he said, "You are not a prisoner. You are free. Everything depends upon your own will." Again Bahá’u’lláh objected, but the Muftí did not let his hands go and insisted and insisted till the much-expected promise was given.

Coming out of the house the Muftí came to me and imparted to me the glad news. I was overjoyed, so much so that I kissed his lips many times. On the next day when I stood in the presence of the Blessed Perfection he smiled and said: "What a tenacious man you sent to me!" I said: "Now you have given your promise to the Muftí that you will go out, the carriage is ready at the door. ..." I rode with him through the streets of ‘Akká and beyond the gate. Then I alighted from the carriage and walked to the palace of Mazra'ih. The Blessed Perfection was most pleased with the place.
US Bahá’í News Service, "Star of the West: Excerpts #5, March 1917–June 1919"

 

[TransmutingSoul]

But they're not renting Mt. Carmel. Did they buy the whole hillside? And who did they buy it from?

All land was purchased. The Baha'is would have contributed to these purchases.

There are amazing stories as to how that land was purchased.

One needs to have read the history. Many comments people are making is only egg on their own faces.

Regards Tony

 

[TransmutingSoul]

What kind of business can a prisoner do?

Baha'u'llah was a Messenger of God, can men fully suppress a Messenger of God!? Baha'u'llah wanted nothing for himself, but enabled those held captive with him to earn a living for themselves and their families.

Many amazing stories how prisoners were able to sustain themselves.

Also consider many believers were drawn to the Holy land from the East on Pilgrimage. Many of those found settlement around Akka and Haifa. Abdul'baha was a very clever person and Abdul'baha gave all of these people Business advice and instruction.

This is another massive story, one I would love to see a book written on, it will need a lot of research.

Abdul'baha was knighted as he has organised the Baha'i Farmers to stockpile food prior to the war, and it was this stockpile that was also used to feed the British Army. Abdul'baha had already in America 2 years before told the world when the war would ignite.

Abdul'baha paid his own way and lived on very little to provide aid to many thousands of people, he was well loved.

Regards Tony

 

[CG Didymus]

Baha'u'llah was a Messenger of God, can men fully suppress a Messenger of God!? Baha'u'llah wanted nothing for himself, but enabled those held captive with him to earn a living for themselves and their families.

Many amazing stories how prisoners were able to sustain themselves.

Also consider many believers were drawn to the Holy land from the East on Pilgrimage. Many of those found settlement around Akka and Haifa. Abdul'baha was a very clever person and Abdul'baha gave all of these people Business advice and instruction.

This is another massive story, one I would love to see a book written on, it will need a lot of research.

Abdul'baha was knighted as he has organised the Baha'i Farmers to stockpile food prior to the war, and it was this stockpile that was also used to feed the British Army. Abdul'baha had already in America 2 years before told the world when the war would ignite.

Abdul'baha paid his own way and lived on very little to provide aid to many thousands of people, he was well loved.

Regards Tony

Oh, I was told they were all prisoners, so I wondered how they could have jobs and property and make any money.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Even now they still have plenty of money to spend on buildings. So, that's one thing they got going for them.

They also have plenty of money to pay influencers on internet forums. Perhaps based on the number of posts made.

Abdul'baha was a very clever person and Abdul'baha gave all of these people Business advice and instruction.

I do not doubt that. Where did he get his money from? Neither Bahaollah nor Abbas ever work for their living.

 

[YoursTrue]

Manipulation wouldn't be necessary if people only would think rationally. Conflict always costs resources and rarely does it yield any gain for the country. The only winner is the military-industrial complex and they are manipulating the different groups to do the wrong thing.

I thought I thought rationally when I was growing up from the age of cognizance as I was exploring things. But what is there rational to explore? Religion surrounds us. Festivals based on religious teaching certainly abounds in many manners. Let's say for the moment there were no religious teachings whatsoever in any manner. That the earth was devoid of any suggestion of religion. Then what would you say? Think about it for a moment or two -- what if there were no religious teachings, right or wrong, on the earth. Then what would there be?

 

[Aupmanyav]

-- what if there were no religious teachings, right or wrong, on the earth. Then what would there be?

No difference. The world would be just as it is today, with one less reason for conflict.

 

[Heyo]

I thought I thought rationally when I was growing up from the age of cognizance as I was exploring things. But what is there rational to explore? Religion surrounds us. Festivals based on religious teaching certainly abounds in many manners. Let's say for the moment there were no religious teachings whatsoever in any manner. That the earth was devoid of any suggestion of religion. Then what would you say? Think about it for a moment or two -- what if there were no religious teachings, right or wrong, on the earth. Then what would there be?

Philosophy. The attempt to discern right from wrong based on logic, not on bronze age fairy tales.

Is there any religion that you'd prefer to live by rather than the principles of humanism and the Enlightenment? Would you know that slavery is wrong? Absolut monarchy? War? Misogyny? Capital punishment? Religious oppression?
The world has become a better place because Enlightenment philosopher have questioned the ethics of the times, something that religions failed to do for millennia.

 

[danieldemol]

No, I don't know. Why should I know?
One of the other Baha'is such as @Truthseeker might know, since he knows a lot of the history of the Faith.

Well you go on about Baha'u'llah's life, mission and teachings quite a bit so naturally one wonders how much you know about them in my view.

 

[danieldemol]

Abdul'baha was a very wise and cleaver business person. He had many business connections.

Some thoughts on this.
1) Do you have a source that Abdul-Baha raised the money to rent the mansions based on business profits?
2) considering that the family assets appear to have been seized by the Persians prior to exiling Baha'u'llah and co where did the capital to invest in business come from, do you even know?

You will not be able to convince those not intent on justice.

Who is "not intent on justice" Tony? If you are alleging that of me you require evidence, otherwise it may be dismissed as ad-hominem.

 

[osgart]

Religion has no monopoly on truth. Many of them create their own version. I would venture to say truth founded on reason according to virtue with logical foundations is something many people never have the opportunity or time to discover. Genuine truth is not without strong defenses.

When people put the genuine truth first and foremost paramount in their lives that's the only time good things happen. There are things people should just know, and truth is one of those things.

The beauty of truth is that when people put it first in their lives they can discover it entirely on their own, or from others whom are truthful. When all those false truths just won't do, and all those seems so's don't cut the mustard. Too many wars throughout history are caused by a lack of truth.

All of truth is founded on trustworthiness and deservingness. If people had what is rightfully theirs how much better would life be. If anything there is often times famines whereas people are starved from a lack of truth. Often times there are ages where people don't even want truth. People build their lives on what serves their gains only, and everything is relative to their selfish desires; no solid foundations.

Truth is meant to be proved out, tested, and searched out to every ends of it. Nothing and no one is above that. Too many falsehoods, and false substitutes roam the planet. Too many people who set themselves up against truth.

The scientific method, and the popularity of reason and rationality are major steps closer to truth. There is no truth without all the virtues that there are. Far too long humanity has avoided truthfulness, and religions don't get a free pass whatsoever. Major wars occur every step of the way. There's no guarantees in life. With truth there is inner peace at least. Religion discourages questioning.

If people judge falsely there are major consequences. Humanity comes from a position of fallibility, and unknowns. People are all too often easily fooled, and become subject to lies and falsehoods they don't deserve. Paying attention to people's intentions that manifest in their actions is where the proof is. Yet without virtues there is no truth.

Some people say truth seeking is in vain. Nothing could be further from reality. Question, prove, and test everything the way it truly deserves, and by virtue truth comes, without virtue then nothing stands. What are human beings if we fail to deserve anything positive? To the world we are all just one person, but to one person we could mean the world. Not all people have the power to change the world through resources, they have to rely on other ways. Every little bit helps in big ways.

 

[YoursTrue]

Philosophy. The attempt to discern right from wrong based on logic, not on bronze age fairy tales.

Is there any religion that you'd prefer to live by rather than the principles of humanism and the Enlightenment? Would you know that slavery is wrong? Absolut monarchy? War? Misogyny? Capital punishment? Religious oppression?
The world has become a better place because Enlightenment philosopher have questioned the ethics of the times, something that religions failed to do for millennia.

Since I believe in and worship the God of my choice because of the love I have for Him and He has for me, there is nothing further to say in reference to proving anything to you. He proves Himself to those who want to know Him. He proved to me who and what He is. We all have our separate journeys and trials. He can reach the heart and He knows how to bring out what is in our hearts, just as He did many times in the Bible. Just as Pharaoh did not believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Moses, there will certainly be those who fit that category.

 

[YoursTrue]

Philosophy. The attempt to discern right from wrong based on logic, not on bronze age fairy tales.

Is there any religion that you'd prefer to live by rather than the principles of humanism and the Enlightenment? Would you know that slavery is wrong? Absolut monarchy? War? Misogyny? Capital punishment? Religious oppression?
The world has become a better place because Enlightenment philosopher have questioned the ethics of the times, something that religions failed to do for millennia.

You failed to see the beginning. There is nothing to show historically or otherwise that mankind never believed in any sort of god, God, or gods. Nothing. So religion was always there insofar as I know. And you don't know any different.

 

[Heyo]

Since I believe in and worship the God of my choice because of the love I have for Him and He has for me, there is nothing further to say in reference to proving anything to you. He proves Himself to those who want to know Him. He proved to me who and what He is. We all have our separate journeys and trials. He can reach the heart and He knows how to bring out what is in our hearts, just as He did many times in the Bible. Just as Pharaoh did not believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Moses, there will certainly be those who fit that category.

Way to avoid the question.

 

[Trailblazer]

Well you go on about Baha'u'llah's life, mission and teachings quite a bit so naturally one wonders how much you know about them in my view.

I do not know s much as @TransmutingSoul and @Truthseeker because I was not actively involved in the religion for most of my Baha'i life, as they have been. I know a lot about the teachings, but history was never a subject I was good at.