"Saying that a second Guardian must necessarily satisfy certain literal criteria in terms of bloodline or saying that a Manifestation can come no sooner than 1000 literal years after Bahaullah said is just as much an example of "typing up God's hands" as saying that Muhammad (saaws) was the last prophet."
Dear Gilberto, You can't compare an issue of successorship to that of a Manifestation. In the case of successorship legitimacy (nass) is everything, when it comes to a Manifestation it is recognition (irfan) that counts. Yes, we are warned that a Manifestation will not come in less than a thousand years, but I would still judge a claimant more on the basis of their character, their writings, etc. "None of the claims are a priori illegitimate on the basis of "tying up God's hands". They are either true or not true." You mean like the claim in Malachi that there would be no more prophets until Elijah returns? warmest, Susan __________________________________________________ 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
