RE: ONE COMMON FAITH - Dominus Iesus, side-by-side common study (1)

[Khazeh Fananapazir]

Thank you Barmak Thank you dear Barmak   This study is very useful_ in that it focuses our minds on what the recent Message says and the context of 21st Century Christianity in a document penned by its most powerful institution and leader.   Our attitude is always to affirm, expand and expound and then take the spiritual journey further. 1] . And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the world" (Mt 28:18-20; cf. Lk 24:46-48; Jn 17:18,20,21; Acts 1:8). [the Document Dominus Iesus quotes the Gospel] My humble understanding is that Yes He is with us always but that in relation to His Advent in the Glory of the Father He is calling humanity yet again **Ye make mention of Me, and know Me not.  Ye call upon Me, and are heedless of My Revelation....  O people of the Gospel!  They who were not in the Kingdom have now entered it, whilst We behold you, in this day, tarrying at the gate.  Rend the veils asunder by the power of your Lord, the Almighty, the All-Bounteous, and enter, then, in My name My Kingdom.  Thus biddeth you He Who desireth for you everlasting life....  We behold you, O children of the Kingdom, in darkness. This, verily, beseemeth you not.  Are ye, in the face of the Light, fearful because of your deeds?  Direct yourselves towards Him....  Verily, He [Jesus] said:  `Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.'  In this day, however, We say:  `Come ye after Me, that We may make you to become the quickeners of mankind.'"  "Say," He moreover has written, "We, verily, have come for your sakes, and have borne the misfortunes of the world for your salvation.  Flee ye the One Who hath sacrificed His life that ye may be quickened?  Fear God, O followers of the Spirit [Jesus], and walk not in the footsteps of every divine that hath gone far astray....  Open the doors of your hearts.  He Who is the Spirit [Jesus] verily, standeth before them.  Wherefore keep ye afar from Him Who hath purposed to draw you nigh unto a Resplendent Spot?  Say:  We, in truth, have opened unto you the gates of the Kingdom.  Will ye bar the doors of your houses in My face?  This indeed is naught but a grievous error."           (Shoghi Effendi:  The Promised Day is Come, Page: 106)**   2] the Universal House of Justice document says: ** This, of course, has been the work that the Baha'i community has been pursuing throughout the history of the Faith, but the accelerating breakdown in social order calls out desperately for the religious spirit to be freed from the shackles that have so far prevented it from bringing to bear the healing influence of which it is capable. If they are to respond to the need, Baha'is must draw on a deep understanding of the process by which humanity's spiritual life evolves. Baha'u'llah's writings provide insights that can help to elevate discussion of religious issues above sectarian and transient considerations.** *** If they are to respond to the need, Baha'is must draw on a deep understanding of the process by which humanity's spiritual life evolves.***   This is an area we have to work on. I think Barmak this study and the One Common Faith Document is a start Thank you and God willing others will show interest               From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Barmak Kusha Sent: 05 May 2005 22:15 To: Baha'i Studies Subject: ONE COMMON FAITH - Dominus Iesus, side-by-side common study (1)   Dear Friends,   I will now post ONE COMMON FAITH, and Dominus Iesus, two to three pages at a time (daily? ever other day? weekly?), in that order, if that is ok, for our study.   I will start with the Preface by the Universal House of Justice; and I will follow it by the Introduction to Dominus Iesus.   ~Allah'u'Abha~ ========================================   This etext is based on: One Common Faith Baha'm World Centre, Haifa Copyright (c) 2005 by the Universal House of Justice Copyright under the Berne Convention All Rights Reserved Availability of this etext in no way modifies the copyright status of the above publication.  This etext is freely available through anonymous internet file-sharing.   Foreword At Ridvan 2002, we addressed an open letter to the world's religious leaders. Our action arose out of awareness that the disease of sectarian hatreds, if not decisively checked, threatens harrowing consequences that will leave few areas of the world unaffected. The letter acknowledged with appreciation the achievements of the interfaith movement, to which Baha'is have sought to contribute since an early point in the movement's emergence. Nevertheless, we felt we must be forthright in saying that, if the religious crisis is to be addressed as seriously as is occurring with respect to other prejudices afflicting humankind, organized religion must find within itself a comparable courage to rise above fixed conceptions inherited from a distant past. Above all, we expressed our conviction that the time has come when religious leadership must face honestly and without further evasion the implications of the truth that God is one and that, beyond all diversity of cultural _expression_ and human interpretation, religion is likewise one. It was intimations of this truth that originally inspired the interfaith movement and that have sustained it through the vicissitudes of the past one hundred years. Far from challenging the validity of any of the great revealed faiths, the principle has the capacity to ensure their continuing relevance. In order to exert its influence, however, recognition of this reality must operate at the heart of religious discourse, and it was with this in mind that we felt that our letter should be explicit in articulating it. Response has been encouraging. Baha'i institutions throughout the world ensured that thousands of copies of the document were delivered to influential figures in the major faith communities. While it was perhaps not surprising that the message it contained was dismissed out of hand in a few circles, Baha'is report that, in general, they were warmly welcomed. Particularly affecting has been the obvious sincerity of many recipients' distress over the failure of religious institutions to assist humanity in dealing with challenges whose essential nature is spiritual and moral. Discussions have turned readily to the need for fundamental change in the way the believing masses of humankind relate to one another, and in a significant number of instances, those receiving the letter have been moved to reproduce and distribute it to other clerics in their respective traditions. We feel hopeful that our initiative may serve as a catalyst opening the way to new understanding of religi! on's purpose. However rapidly or slowly this change occurs, the concern of Baha'is must be with their own responsibility in the matter. The task of ensuring that His message is engaged by people everywhere is one that Baha'u'llah has laid primarily on the shoulders of those who have recognized Him. This, of course, has been the work that the Baha'i community has been pursuing throughout the history of the Faith, but the accelerating breakdown in social order calls out desperately for the religious spirit to be freed from the shackles that have so far prevented it from bringing to bear the healing influence of which it is capable. If they are to respond to the need, Baha'is must draw on a deep understanding of the process by which humanity's spiritual life evolves. Baha'u'llah's writings provide insights that can help to elevate discussion of religious issues above sectarian and transient considerations. The responsibility to avail oneself of this spiritual resource is inseparable from ! the gift of faith itself. "Religious fanaticism and hatred", Baha'u'llah warns, "are a world-devouring fire, whose violence none can quench. The Hand of Divine power can, alone, deliver mankind from this desolating affliction...." Far from feeling unsupported in their efforts to respond, Baha'is will come increasingly to appreciate that the Cause they serve represents the arrowhead of an awakening taking place among people everywhere, regardless of religious background and indeed among many with no religious leaning. Reflection on the challenge has prompted us to commission the commentary that follows. One Common Faith, prepared under our supervision, reviews relevant passages from both the writings of Baha'u'llah and the scriptures of other faiths against the background of the contemporary crisis. We commend it to the thoughtful study of the friends. THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE Naw-Ruz 2005 =================================== DECLARATION "DOMINUS IESUS": ON THE UNICITY AND SALVIFIC UNIVERSALITY OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE CHURCH CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH     INTRODUCTION 1. The Lord Jesus, before ascending into heaven, commanded his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world and to baptize all nations: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mk 16:15-16); "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the world" (Mt 28:18-20; cf. Lk 24:46-48; Jn 17:18,20,21; Acts 1:8). The Church's universal mission is born from the command of Jesus Christ and is fulfilled in the course of the centuries in the proclamation of the mystery of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the mystery of the incarnation of the Son, as saving event for all humanity. The fundamental contents of the profession of the Christian faith are expressed thus: "I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation, he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come".1 2. In the course of the centuries, the Church has proclaimed and witnessed with fidelity to the Gospel of Jesus. At the close of the second millennium, however, this mission is still far from complete.2 For that reason, Saint Paul's words are now more relevant than ever: "Preaching the Gospel is not a reason for me to boast; it is a necessity laid on me: woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!" (1 Cor 9:16). This explains the Magisterium's particular attention to giving reasons for and supporting the evangelizing mission of the Church, above all in connection with the religious traditions of the world.3 In considering the values which these religions witness to and offer humanity, with an open and positive approach, the Second Vatican Council's Declaration on the relation of the Church to non-Christian religions states: "The Catholic Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions. She has a high regard for the manner of life and conduct, the precepts and teachings, which, although differing in many ways from her own teaching, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that truth which enlightens all men".4 Continuing in this line of thought, the Church's proclamation of Jesus Christ, "the way, the truth, and the life" (Jn 14:6), today also makes use of the practice of inter-religious dialogue. Such dialogue certainly does not replace, but rather accompanies the missio ad gentes, directed toward that "mystery of unity", from which "it follows that all men and women who are saved share, though differently, in the same myste! ry of salvation in Jesus Christ through his Spirit".5 Inter-religious dialogue, which is part of the Church's evangelizing mission,6 requires an attitude of understanding and a relationship of mutual knowledge and reciprocal enrichment, in obedience to the truth and with respect for freedom.7   __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:archive@mail-archive.com Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe: http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=bahai-st Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu Web - http://list.jccc.edu:8080/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