Why is scripture no longer being written today?

[AmbiguousGuy]

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!

If I walked up to you and proclaimed that I successfully predicted the Christmas 2004 tsunami, would you believe me?

No. You'd want to examine my specific words. When were they written? Where were they written? What exactly did they say? Etc.

Then you'd want me to explain how my prediction was successful and to answer your questions about it.

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

I'm not interested in researching your prophet's supposed prophecies. I've never seen any prophet or seer successfully foretell the future and so I have no reason to even believe such a thing possible.

But as I've said, if you want to present a few of Baha'u'llah's successful prophecies, I'll discuss them with you.

Not to my knowledge, no.

If you believe that Baha'u'llah never failed in any of his predictions, I'm sorry, but I can only see you as believing in magic.

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

Sometimes the Christians declare that Jesus fulfilled all the messianic prophecies. I ask them for evidence of that and they do as you've done. They list some claims.

But when I ask them to actually present the prophecy, in modern American English, so that I can study it... they decline. As you decline.

It makes me think that the whole prophecy thing is not real.

 

[Hawkins]

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. Instead of these early writings bringing people together, they only bring division. 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? 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? Religion has only caused division, wars, confusion, bloodshed, misunderstanding, etc. 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? Do we have to reply on the previous revelations of men long dead from times which were so different from ours? How long can organized religion stand up whose foundations are old and crumbling, being the product of men long since decayed in the grave?:shrug

I can't speak for other religions.

Christianity is about a contract/covenant saying that you need faith in Christ to be saved.

A history book is written be a human (or a small group of them) for other humans to believe to reach a truth. No faith, no truth.

To that similar effect, the Bible God wants humans to put faith to reach Him through a book written by His selected witnesses. It is the same no faith no truth situation.

From a legal/lawful/theological point of view, the above said contract/covenant is already the last one. Thus nothing will be added, just like another history book. Humans have to choose to believe what is said or not.

 

[arcanum]

I can't speak for other religions.

Christianity is about a contract/covenant saying that you need faith in Christ to be saved.

A history book is written be a human (or a small group of them) for other humans to believe to reach a truth. No faith, no truth.

To that similar effect, the Bible God wants humans to put faith to reach Him through a book written by His selected witnesses. It is the same no faith no truth situation.

From a legal/lawful/theological point of view, the above said contract/covenant is already the last one. Thus nothing will be added, just like another history book. Humans have to choose to believe what is said or not.

Ok, well my retort to you would be this: This supposed contact with the sacred should be historically rock solid, there should be no question of the authenticity of the events recorded, but in all reality there is reason for doubt. Being raised as a fundamentalist I took the accounts of the NT to be solidly backed up historically , but boy was I in for a surprise when existence of Jesus was not backed up by the historical record. Outside of the gospels and the forged documents of Josephus there is no accounts of him. Now the question is: If someone of that magnitude did exist why is there no unbiased accounts of him? Anyways, I guess I have digressed from the real direction of this thread.

 

[zenzero]

Friend arcanum,

but boy was I in for a surprise when existence of Jesus was not backed up by the historical record.

Am little confused could you clarify where did BC and AD come from, if the life of Jesus is not historical??

Love & rgds

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

Am little confused could you clarify where did BC and AD come from, if the life of Jesus is not historical??

You're kidding, I hope?

 

[rusra02]

I believe the Bible is God's book for mankind, written over a period of 1,500 years and completed in the first century C.E. Though completed so long ago, the Bible continues to be the all-time best seller, read by untold millions every day. Far from being dead history or outdated, millions find the Bible to be a powerful force for good, a source of unfailing wisdom, and a reliable guide in life. As the Bible itself says, " All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16,17) The Bible has been a book that applies to all races, cultures, and periods in history. Ai believe it foretells the future down to our day, and far beyond. Thus, there is no need for further revelations at this time. (Ecclesiastes 3:14)

 

[BruceDLimber]

A mere cop-out on your part.

So given that you refuse to address any of the specifics I listed, drop the thread.

I have better things to do than listen to your repeated refusals to reply to anything definite.

 

[chinu]

@Why is scripture no longer being written today?

Firstly, intentionally any scripture of the world was never written in any special language, But the day to day changing style of languages made the language of scriptures, special.

Thus.. today's common language can be tomorrow's scripture.

Secondly, any scripture of the world wasn't given importance during their time, they all gained their importance afterwards.

Thus.. who knows there's any scripture written in todays style which will get importance in future

 

[BruceDLimber]

[A]ny scripture of the world wasn't given importance during their [sic] time; they [sic] all gained their importance afterwards.

Then you are totally ignoring the fact that, for example, Baha'i scriptures were widely accepted among Baha'is and adopted/promulgated widely within a decade of their being written.

Peace,

Bruce

 

[zenzero]

Friend BruceDLimber,

Baha'i scriptures were widely accepted among Baha'is and adopted/promulgated widely within a decade of their being written.

True, Bahai has 7 million followers and Cao Đài which originated in 1026 has 4 million followers other than scientologists, rastafarian which are new religions have their own scriptures.

However guess that to be accepted by large numbers globally requires passage of time rather to stand the test of time.

Love & rgds

 

[chinu]

Then you are totally ignoring the fact that, for example, Baha'i scriptures were widely accepted among Baha'is and adopted/promulgated widely within a decade of their being written.

Peace,

Bruce

Its just because of world's growing population day by day, There's lot of difference between the population in world which it was 2000 years ago and today. Thus.. I hope Baha'i scriptures will More-Widely be accepted day by day or later in the future.

Happy ?

 

[Tumah]

A mere cop-out on your part.

So given that you refuse to address any of the specifics I listed, drop the thread.

I have better things to do than listen to your repeated refusals to reply to anything definite.

I...I don't think you get how this works.

If you want him to believe your prophecies are true, you need to provide the actual wording of the prophecies for analyzation.
For all he knows, you might be reading, "my mille-feuille and its plate, fell to the floor." And interpreting the mille-feuille as a reference to the French Emperor and the plate as his Empire.
That wouldn't be called a prophecy, that would be called a recitation of events at the cafe.

So its always important to provide your sources.

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

I...I don't think you get how this works.

If you want him to believe your prophecies are true, you need to provide the actual wording of the prophecies for analyzation.

Yes. And in modern American English, since that's my only language.

And I'd need to know exactly when the prophecy was written, along with other info which I'm probably forgetting right now.

 

[BruceDLimber]

If you want him to believe your prophecies are true, you need to provide the actual wording of the prophecies for analyzation....

So its always important to provide your sources.

No problem: there are entire books written about this, which I've already cited, as well as this web site:

Baha'i: Prophecy Fulfilled Homepage

Here's the information yet again:


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]

Here's the information yet again:

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:

I can't tell if you're simply unable to comprehend my request or whether you understand my request but are intentionally ducking it.

Anyway, Baha'u'llah never successfully prophesied anything at all. Just search the web for "Baha'i prophecies debunked." You'll see.

(And if you'd like to actually respond to my request, I am still ready to examine such a response in good faith.)

 

[zenzero]

Friends,

Are we not discussing SCRIPTURES here and guess 'prophesies' are not the same as scriptures.
Kindly stick to the OP.

Love & rgds

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

Friends,

Are we not discussing SCRIPTURES here and guess 'prophesies' are not the same as scriptures.
Kindly stick to the OP.

Unfortunately, in my view, prognostication is still the major sign by which many folks decide whether a text is or isn't scripture.

And all scripture is, by definition, written by prophets, isn't it?

Scripture = prophecy.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Do you guys want me to write some Scripture for you or something?

 

[idea]

Why was spiritual revelation only for men from previous era's and not for individuals to receive today?

We have modern revelation in our church! As well as prophets
[youtube]j8nSv95wXyM[/youtube]
We Need Living Prophets - YouTube

 

[Quintessence]

Unfortunately, in my view, prognostication is still the major sign by which many folks decide whether a text is or isn't scripture.

And all scripture is, by definition, written by prophets, isn't it?

Scripture = prophecy.

I thought "scripture" - as used in inter-religious dialogue - simply refers to any and all sacred texts of the world's religions. Restricting its meaning this way is putting a heavily Christian-centric bent on it, which I doubt the OP wished to limit to.