Re: If the Bahai faith truly represents radical progress and maturity

Dean Betts Mon, 10 Jan 2005 08:06:27 -0800

I believe the Baha'i version of the "Golden Rule" is significantly different, although I notice a similar Qur'anic reference to the same concept in a more specific context:

Charity is pleasing and praiseworthy in the sight of God and is regarded as a prince among goodly deeds. Consider ye and call to mind that which the All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur'an: `They prefer them before themselves, though poverty be their own lot. And with such as are preserved from their own covetousness shall it be well.'(1) Viewed in this light, the blessed utterance above is, in truth, the day-star of utterances. Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself. Verily, such a man is reckoned, by virtue of the Will of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, with the people of Baha who dwell in the Crimson Ark.
(Baha'u'llah: Tablets of Baha'u'llah, Page: 71)

Don Calkins wrote:

At 11:39 PM -0500 1/9/05, Gilberto Simpson wrote:

iIf the Bahai faith truly represents
radical progress and maturity then it should provide something which
is missing from the other religions. If there is nothing missing from
previous religions then they are perfectly sufficient for today.


Of course.  And it is an explicit lesser Covenant, which defends against
divisiveness, and the Baha'i administration, which, according to Shoghi
Effendi, is a "pattern for future society."

These are the *only* new teachings in the Faith.  Everything else is a
re-statement of the principles enunciated by the religions of the past.
(see the Baha'u'llah's intro to the Hidden Words and then re-read them in
that light.)

Note that the Bible (Revelations) states that at this time, the
Dispensation of Baha'u'llah, there will be a new heaven and a new earth for
the old heaven and earth have passed away.  The new heaven, religion, will,
for the first time in known history, be characterized by unity, a lack of
division.  The new earth, civil society, will be run by inidividuals
selected by the masses on the basis of the criteria delineated by Shoghi
Effendi - individual spiritual development, a history of service to
mankind, and a critical mind.

Along with beginning to implement these teachings, we are also called to
develop the spiritual princilples of previous religions, such as humility
and service, to a degree unknown by them.

This will be a major change in how society functions.

Don C



He who believes himself spiritual proves he is not.



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Re: If the Bahai faith truly represents radical progress and maturity

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