Gilberto wrote: > ...Bahais > making a point of saying "holy war" has been blotted out the book > especially combined with the idea of progressive revelation, would > give the impression that they are somehow specifically claiming to be > less violent than islam. Is that a fair statement?
I've reached the conclusion that I simply don't understand where you're coming from. I think that the statement that the Bahá'í Faith is less violent than Islam is a fair statement if you consider actual actions as opposed to an abstract consideration of the principles espoused. > ...it doesn't make sense to compare a pretty statement about > non-violence from the Bahai writings with the recent suicide bombing > in Iraq. Why not? > You have to look at what the actual teachings of Muhammad and > the Quran on warfare are and you compare them to what the Bahai > writings say. The actual teachings of Muhammad may be one thing, but the facts of suicide bombings, beheadings etc. are undeniable. It may be true that such actions are a total perversion of the teachings of Muhammad. That is, in fact, my understanding. Nevertheless the fact remains that these actions have become the public face of Islam. I think we could discuss how much of that is a result of Western propaganda. [on the practice of putting rape victims to death, etc...] > I don't think this is a religious issue. There is no religious > justification for this kind of a practice. The way "shame" and "honor" > play a role in certain societies is basically due to culture not > religion. But if the cultures that practice this kind of thing are overwhelmingly Muslim, is it not fair to assume there's a connection? And do not religion and culture intermingle in a thousand ways? How does one disconnect one from the other? > I think if you took North-South developed world- developing world > issues into account, it would help you see more clearly which issues > have their root in religion and which have origins elsewhere. Perhaps you could help to deepen my understanding in this regard. Dave Lambert www.vintagerr.com __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:archive@mail-archive.com To unsubscribe, send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, use subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu Web - http://list.jccc.edu/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Public - http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu
