Hi, Gilberto, At 02:40 PM 1/24/2005, you wrote: >>Do you think this is just your independent opinion or is it ultimately rooted >>in the Bahai faith somehow? I suspect that it probably is common among Bahais >>who have thought about ethics and morality a certain way but I would be >>interested in your take on it.<<
It is a combination of my own readings, my dialogues with Susan Maneck over the last 10 years (though I would not blame her for any of my views!), and my understandings of various Baha'i texts, including those which distinguish between a particular individual's essence and its qualities. Also, the following: "And should the Essence of Truth reveal that which is contrary to their inclinations and desires, they will straightway denounce Him as an infidel, and will protest saying: 'This is contrary to the sayings of the Imams of the Faith and of the resplendent lights. No such thing hath been provided by our inviolable Law.' Even so in this day such worthless statements have been and are being made by these poor mortals. "And now, consider this other tradition, and observe how all these things have been foretold. In 'Arba'in' it is recorded: 'Out of Bani-Hashim there shall come forth a Youth Who shall reveal new laws. He shall summon the people unto Him, but none will heed His call. Most of His enemies will be the divines. His bidding they will not obey, but will protest saying: "This is contrary to that which hath been handed down unto us by the Imams of the Faith."' In this day, all are repeating these very same words, utterly unaware that He is established upon the throne of 'He doeth whatsoever He willeth,' and abideth upon the seat of 'He ordaineth whatsoever He pleaseth.' "No understanding can grasp the nature of His Revelation, nor can any knowledge comprehend the full measure of His Faith. All sayings are dependent upon His sanction, and all things stand in need of His Cause. All else save Him are created by His command, and move and have their being through His law." -- Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, pp.242-243 >>I wonder what you would think about the example of slavery? There were >>certainly Christian abolitionists who well before the Babi/Bahai faith spoke >>against slavery realized on their own that there was something morally >>questionable about that "peculiar institution". So were they actually wrong? >>Was slavery actually ok until the very moment that it was banned?<< Personally, I would say that slavery, including the rather strange capitalistic variety in the United States, has been wrong for some time. However, in saying so, I am asserting my own will, not necessarily the Will of God. The only standard we have for the Will of God is the Revelations of His Prophets. Regards, Mark A. Foster • http://markfoster.net • [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Sacred cows make the tastiest hamburger." ---- Abbie Hoffman __________________________________________________ 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
