Why is scripture no longer being written today?

[BruceDLimber]

What about all the Baha'i stuff?

The Book of Mormon.

It's older than most--if not all--of the Baha'i scriptures.

And in response to another post, please note that the Baha'i Faith explicitly advocates the harmony of science and religion and endorses the importance of both!

Peace,

Bruce

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

It's older than most--if not all--of the Baha'i scriptures.

My own humble scriptures can be enjoyed hot off the press.

You might even be the first person in the history of humankind to read them!

 

[zenzero]

Friend arcanum,

Why is scripture no longer being written today?

Personal guess is that they do get written but to be recognised as a scriptures it needs many many enlightened individuals following the same scripture to be recognised so and that means it needs proof over time.
Kindly come back after few thousand years or more as this age we are getting few who are walking and talking the path except maybe few on RF and here and there.

Love & rgds

 

[arcanum]

Friend arcanum,


Personal guess is that they do get written but to be recognised as a scriptures it needs many many enlightened individuals following the same scripture to be recognised so and that means it needs proof over time.
Kindly come back after few thousand years or more as this age we are getting few who are walking and talking the path except maybe few on RF and here and there.

Love & rgds

Yes you have a good point, though there has been many "inspired writings" and wonderful spiritual literature written by very enlightened individuals in the last hundred years ago or so, for something to be considered scripture seems to need the test of time to be considered worthy of that level. But it appears nothing really and truly original has appeared, aside from perhaps the Book of Mormon and the Bahia literature, that is ground breaking enough enough to be considered holy writ, not just inspired writings. Most recent contributions have been spin off's, variations on a theme, and new age crackery. I guess we'll have to settle for what we have and nothing really new is coming down the pike, but perhaps god has other plans and a new revelation for the modern age will appear, I wish it would.

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

Yes you have a good point, though there has been many "inspired writings" and wonderful spiritual literature written by very enlightened individuals in the last hundred years ago or so, for something to be considered scripture seems to need the test of time to be considered worthy of that level. But it appears nothing really and truly original has appeared, aside from perhaps the Book of Mormon and the Bahia literature, that is ground breaking enough enough to be considered holy writ, not just inspired writings. Most recent contributions have been spin off's, variations on a theme, and new age crackery. I guess we'll have to settle for what we have and nothing really new is coming down the pike, but perhaps god has other plans and a new revelation for the modern age will appear, I wish it would.

I suggest you look to poetry. The BOM and Baha'i literature both speak of magical stuff, and I'm pretty sure that the new God is not a God of magic. He's more secular.

Also, He's not so closely related to the Abrahamic god as the Mormons and Baha'is would claim.

 

[zenzero]

Friend AmbiguousGuy,

He's not so closely related to the Abrahamic god as the Mormons and Baha'is would claim.

Personal understanding is that humans are more closer in their understanding of what enlightened individuals have experienced and taught Today's humans from various such paths/ways/religions are coming closer that they are not different paths/ways/religions to be different but different paths to reach the same state as walked by the originator but the final state remains the same.

Love & rgds

 

[BruceDLimber]

IThe BOM and Baha'i literature both speak of magical stuff....

What "magical stuff" are you referring to in Baha'i scriptures?

Also, there IS only one God IOV, known by many different names in the various languages and cultures. (I have a list of a bunch of these names if you'd like to see them; just ask me for it.)

And for Arcanum: The Baha'i Faith states Divine Revelation will never end!

It is episodic, however, typically at intervals of 500-1,000 years; and our scriptures state there will be no further Revelation for at least a millenium (now down to about 850 years).

Peace,

Bruce

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

What "magical stuff" are you referring to in Baha'i scriptures?

I should have said Baha'i theology, and I'm thinking specifically of prophecy, in the sense of inerrant prognostication.

The other bit of magic is believing that a single man can transmit words directly from God to humankind.

Also, there IS only one God IOV, known by many different names in the various languages and cultures. (I have a list of a bunch of these names if you'd like to see them; just ask me for it.)

That's a fine opinion. I think there are as many gods as there are people to create them in their heads.

 

[seeking4truth]

I guess we'll have to settle for what we have and nothing really new is coming down the pike, but perhaps god has other plans and a new revelation for the modern age will appear, I wish it would.

The Holy Quran begins Chapter 2- Al Baqarah - with the words

"This is a perfect Book; there is no doubt in it. It is a guidance for the righteous who believe in the unseen, observe prayer and spend out of what we have provided for them"

Maybe there is no need for any new revealed scripture!

 

[FranklinMichaelV.3]

Funny Jews and Christians feel the same about their scriptures...maybe bias is involved....

 

[BruceDLimber]

What "magical stuff" are you referring to in Baha'i scriptures?

I should have said Baha'i theology, and I'm thinking specifically of prophecy, in the sense of inerrant prognostication.

The other bit of magic is believing that a single man can transmit words directly from God to humankind.

Save that we don't consider Him merely a "man."

And in that case you have the task of explaining away the dozens of correct prophecies He did make, which are listed in several books. (If you need to see the list, let me know and I can post it here.)


Bruce

 

[BruceDLimber]

Maybe there is no need for any new revealed scripture!

Perhaps not if you're satisfied with living under laws revealed for extremely different circumstances millenia ago!


Bruce

 

[DeepShadow]

In all the major religions we are expected to believe in the revelations of men long since dead. Many of these scriptures are struggling to keep pace with modern paradigms and sensibilities, and there is much confusion over what these scriptures actually mean.

Agreed.

Instead of these early writings bringing people together, they only bring division.

Only division? That "only" is a small word, but a strong one. I think you'd need some evidence to back up a claim that these early writings ONLY divide.

Why was spiritual revelation only for men from previous era's and not for individuals to receive today? Is it perhaps because the consciousness of modern man, with it's over emphasized left brained orientation has closed off the portal to spiritual reception which people from previous era's had easier access to?

Maybe...or maybe scripture is still being written.

Why was this connection to the spiritual realm that our ancestors seemed to have had been seemingly cut off? Surely a new revelation or a new spiritual outpouring would be very helpful and is even necessary for the modern era would it not?

Exactly why some of us follow a modern prophet, and allow for an open canon and new scripture.

Religion has only caused division, wars, confusion, bloodshed, misunderstanding, etc.

There's that word again. I think you are using it presumptuously.

Surely a new paradigm to replace the old would be helpful, but perhaps the god's are no longer able to reach us anymore? Perhaps the byproduct of the modern mind is that connection with the sacred has been severed?

It's like there's an echo in here. What's your purpose in saying the exact same thing twice?

 

[Monk Of Reason]

Older religions are usually pretty set as far as scripture is concerned. Though there are new religions popping up all over the place that have new scripture being written. Mormonism was created less than 200 years ago. Scientology was created just a few short decades ago. I don't know if you'll call it "scripture" but tons of writtings for neo-pagan religions pop up ALL the time. Go to the new age section of your local bookstore and you'll find plenty written as early as the past year.

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

Save that we don't consider Him merely a "man."

OK. That's a fine way to look at it, I guess. But I continue to believe that anyone can be a prophet -- whether we call them men or supermen.

But no one can foretell the future infallibly. That appears to be a belief in magic.

And in that case you have the task of explaining away the dozens of correct prophecies He did make, which are listed in several books. (If you need to see the list, let me know and I can post it here.)

All the followers of all the prophets proclaim that their prophet could actually foretell the future. But I've never seen any evidence of that. I mean, I can surely foretell the future as well as any I've seen.

 

[Sabour]

The Holy Quran begins Chapter 2- Al Baqarah - with the words

"This is a perfect Book; there is no doubt in it. It is a guidance for the righteous who believe in the unseen, observe prayer and spend out of what we have provided for them"

Maybe there is no need for any new revealed scripture!

Let me say you are correct

Let me add to that a part of chapter 5 verse 3:
This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.

 

[Sha'irullah]

More scripture is written now than ever. The issue is the common definition of scripture which usually incorporates ancient into the mix. Scripture is illumination and revealed knowledge, science is a form of scripture to be honest as it provides answers to the nature of our existence. I myself write my own scripture daily, it is a holy book called Kitab al-Marifa but unlike a lot of other scripture it is entirely esoteric. True scripture is esoteric and what we call scripture now a days is just bloated literature that is abused. Real holy writ is myself and unknown. The Bible for example is not a holy writ any longer along with a lot of other supposed "scriptures".

When knowledge is only relevant to the self then it has become scripture

 

[BruceDLimber]

All the followers of all the prophets proclaim that their prophet could actually foretell the future. But I've never seen any evidence of that.

Fine.

Then kindly address these:

Baha'u'llah could--and did!--make many totally accurate prophecies in numerous, unrelated fields in which He could not possibly have had any earthly knowledge or expertise. Gary Matthews has written two books discussing this.

Here's Matthews' overall list of prophecies by Baha'u'llah that he then goes on to discuss in great depth:

What are the developments that have, in the words of Baha'u'llah, 'come to pass on this earth' after being announced and prophesied . . .?
Those of which I am aware, and which I discuss in the following pages, include:

1. The fall from power of the French Emperor Napoleon III and the consequent loss of his empire.
2. The defeat of Germany in two bloody wars, resulting in the 'lamentations of Berlin.'
3. The success and stability of Queen Victoria's reign.
4. The dismissal of 'Ali Pasha as prime minister of Turkey.
5. The overthrow of Sultan 'Abdu'l-Aziz of Turkey.
6. The breakup of the Ottoman Empire, leading to the extinction of the 'outward spendour' of its capital, Constantinople.
7. The downfall of Nasiri'd-Din Shah, the Persian monarch.
8. The advent of constitutional government in Persia.
9. A massive (albeit temporary) decline in the fortunes of monarchy throughout the world.
10. A worldwide erosion of ecclesiastical authority.
11. The collapse of the Muslim Caliphate.
12. The spread of communism, the "Movement of the Left,' and its rise to world power.
13. The catastrophic decline of that same movement, triggered by the collapse of its egalitarian economy.
14. The rise of Israel as a Jewish homeland.
15. The persecution of Jews on the European continent (the Nazi holocaust).
16. America's violent racial struggles.
17. Baha'u'llah's release from the prison of 'Akka and the pitching of His tent on Mount Carmel.
18. The seizure and desecration of Baha'u'llah's House in Baghdad.
19. The failure of all attempts to create schism within the Baha'i Faith.
20. The explosive acceleration of scientific and technological progress.
21. The development of nuclear weapons.
22. The achievement of transmutation of elements, the age-old alchemist's dream.
23. Dire peril for all humanity as a result of that achievement.
24. The discovery that complex elements evolve in nature from simpler ones.
25. The recognition of planets as a necessary by-product of star formation.
26. Space travel.
27. The fruitless search for a 'missing link' between man and ape.
28. The non-existence of a mechanical ether (the supposed light-carrying substance posited by classical physics), and its redefinition as an abstract reality.
29. The breakdown of mechanical models (literal images) as a basis for understanding the physical world.
Gary Matthews, The Challenge of Baha'u'llah, pp. 39-41.
[end quote]
Note: His other book covering this topic is He Cometh With Clouds.

('Abdu'l-Baha stated, similarly, that some forms of cancer are communicable--a fact now verified.)

Peace,

Bruce

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

Fine.

Then kindly address these:

You've presented no prophecies. A 'prophecy' is 'a group of words, written by the prophet, which purports to infallibly foretell the future.'

I see none of Baha'u'llah's words in your message. Just a bunch of claims that he made successful prophecies.

By the way, did Baha'u'llah ever make a prophecy which was mistaken?

 

[BruceDLimber]

I see none of Baha'u'llah's words in your message. Just a bunch of claims that he made successful prophecies.

NONE of which you've bothered to address, please note! The overall points of each are clearly there: all you need to do is respond to their specifics!

And if you want to read the original texts, check the books I cited, which contain them.

By the way, did Baha'u'llah ever make a prophecy which was mistaken?

Not to my knowledge, no.

So the ball remains in your court: You can at least address the items I've already listed.


Bruce