The Baha'i Studies Listserv Lots of interesting Raëlian sites, because I read them in the five Raëlian e books I downloaded onto my iPad. Interesting side note, I have seen a Theraveda Buddhist Facebook page attacking Raëlism and another Theraveda Buddhist website attacking Scientology. While, not explicitly identifying themselves as Theraveda, the authors of the web sites showed an ignorance of Mahayana and Vajrayana forms of Buddhism. The above websites compared Theraveda Buddhism to Raëlism and Scientology rather than Mahayana or Vajrayana. Their arguments assume all Buddhism is Theraveda Buddhism.
Though, I personally think I-Kuan-Tao aka Yi-Guan-Dao, Raëlism, Scientology, Adi Dam, Ahmadiyya aka Qadianism, Baha'i Faith, Mission of Maitreya - Eternal Divine Path, Neo-Gnosticism, Islam, Ismailism, Foundation International, etc. are all skillful means to lead sentient beings closer to enlightenment. They are all useful to build a utopia and to benefit sentient beings in infinite ways. Bodhisattvas teach infinite dharmas to help even one to infinite sentient beings who practice them. The theory of said dharmas are the skillful means and the practice of them is what is important. I wouldn't take anything of the doctrinal and philosophical dimensions above to be skillful means. While it is beneficial to practice based on belief in the above doctrines and philosophies, it'd wouldn't be wise to mistake anything for anything other than skillful means. http://www.apostasynow.org/ http://www.clonaid.com/ http://www.rael.org/ http://www.rael-science.org/ http://www.raelafrica.org/ http://www.raelianews.org/ http://www.raelradio.net/ http://www.subversions.com/ http://www.thereisnogod.info/ http://www.ufoland.com/ Sent from my iPad On Apr 29, 2013, at 18:43, Stephen Kent Gray <skg_z...@yahoo.com> wrote: > The Baha'i Studies Listserv > Another message where I referenced Raëlism. > > Sent from my iPad > > On Apr 19, 2013, at 23:35, Stephen Kent Gray <skg_z...@yahoo.com> wrote: > >> The Baha'i Studies Listserv >> There are a variety of religions in the world. While most either are >> explicitly anti LGBTQQIA or neutral towards them, there are affirming >> religious groups. >> >> Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism have affirming >> factions. This is a specific denominational issue in Judaism and >> Christianity. I could add Buddhism as well because of the Hinayana and >> Mahayana divide on this issue. Most Hindus are on one side and conservative >> Hindutva is on the other. Most Muslims are on one side and the liberal Al >> Fatiha Foundation and liberal Imaan groups are on the other. >> >> Wicca, Unitarian Universalism, Eckankar, LaVeyanism, Raëlism, Neo-Druidism, >> and the Native American Religion are affirming religions. Though, not listed >> by Wikipedia, I would add Thelema as well to the list due to my own research. >> >> Religious Humanists and Religious Existentialists tend to be affirming as >> well. >> >> I compiled the lists from Wikipedia articles on affirming religions, >> organizations that support same sex marriage, religious views on same sex >> marriage, etc. >> >> It's ironic that the leeway for interpretation in scripture present in the >> top five religions allows for flexibility in this matter that the Baha'i >> Faith lacks. >> >> While LGBTQQIA people and allies are part of the top five religions, they do >> tend to be drawn to the next seven as well. I wonder what are the religious >> demographics of these people. >> >> Skygram, do you know what religions these ex-Baha'is convert to or to >> irreligion? How are they doing today? Do you still keep in contact with >> them? Was it all for the better now, if they managed to convert to an >> affirming religion or denomination? >> >> This is especially noted in how lots of Unitarian Universalist churches have >> extensive affirming programs in congregations which are known as Welcoming >> Churches. >> >> It is sad for the ones who stay Baha'is, but they apostates probably have >> moved on with their lives for the better. >> >> While I didn't come to my current religious affiliations because they were >> affirming, but rather for other reasons. I choose Unitarian Universalism >> because of the diversity of religious beliefs that can fit within that big >> tent. Religious Humanism because I liked reading the Humanist Manifestoes, >> but didn't care for Secular Humanism. Buddhist Humanism, Humanistic >> Buddhism, Nichiren Buddhism, Buddhist Modernism, Engaged Buddhism, Buddhist >> Protestantism, etc. because of my prior like of Religious Humanism and my >> liking of Mahayana Buddhism. >> >> I was interested in Eckankar because of soul travel and various other >> things. I was interested in Contemporary Modern Neo Paganism and hence >> Neo-Druidism and Wicca. I was interested in various UFO religions including >> Raëlism. >> >> I like the Golden Rule which is in all religions. I like the page on >> Wikipedia listing the various formulations across religions. Buddhism and >> Humanism have my favorite formulations. I also like the Declaration of a >> Global Ethic. Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism have formulations I >> read regularly as well via the Wikipedia page. Wicca and Thelema also have >> formulations that I have memorized as well as read regularly via Wikipedia. >> >> The Humanist Manifesto II >> >> In the best sense, religion may inspire dedication to the highest ethical >> ideals. The cultivation of moral devotion and creative imagination is an >> expression of genuine spiritual experience and aspiration. >> >> We believe, however, that traditional dogmatic or religions that place >> revelation, God, ritual, or creed above human needs and experience do a >> disservice to the human species. >> >> Whether the Baha'i Faith does a disservice to humanity is up to debate, or >> not? >> >> Sent from my iPad >> >> On Apr 16, 2013, at 20:20, Skygram <skyg...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> The Baha'i Studies Listserv >>> Gary, >>> >>> You have prodded the sleeping elephant in the room! >>> >>> I recall many years ago there was a Bahai bumper sticker that read, "Human >>> Rights are God Given Rights". But now that sexual preference is considered a >>> human right by many countries along with the United Nations, you don't see >>> this bumper sticker any more. >>> >>> Over the years having known a number of gay Bahais, both male and female, >>> who have struggled with their issues of sexual identity, most have ended up >>> leaving the Bahai Faith because in it they found no sense of spiritual >>> refuge. Instead most encountered a lot of mean spirited behaviour of self >>> righteous Bahais of which unfortunately, there are more than a few. >>> >>> Then there is another group of Bahais who marry into relationships with >>> other gay Bahais of the opposite sex. They do this to "pass" as straight for >>> various reasons and they also struggle with the inherent conflicts of being >>> homosexual in the Bahai Faith. >>> >>> It is all very sad for these human beings and I have discovered that there >>> is little compassion found in our communities for these people. I cannot >>> imagine that this is what Baha'u'llah had in mind nor how Abdul Baha would >>> want us to treat these children of God. >>> >>> I am sure that some of the Bahais will comfort themselves with Bahai >>> scripture as a way of justifying their behaviour. But it shouldn't take >>> scripture to love all of human kind without exception. >>> >>> Bill >>> >>> >>> >>> __________________________________________________ >>> You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:skg_z...@yahoo.com >>> Unsubscribe: send a blank email to >>> mailto:leave-697342-1719008.2a3842ae5b2f7d34dd5fdfc724616...@list.jccc.edu >>> Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to >>> ly...@list.jccc.edu >>> Or 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 (on-campus only) - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st >>> Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net >>> New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu >> >> __________________________________________________ >> You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:skg_z...@yahoo.com >> Unsubscribe: send a blank email to >> mailto:leave-698633-1719008.2a3842ae5b2f7d34dd5fdfc724616...@list.jccc.edu >> Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to ly...@list.jccc.edu >> Or 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 (on-campus only) - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st >> Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net >> New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu > > __________________________________________________ > You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:skg_z...@yahoo.com > Unsubscribe: send a blank email to > mailto:leave-699934-1719008.2a3842ae5b2f7d34dd5fdfc724616...@list.jccc.edu > Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to ly...@list.jccc.edu > Or 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 (on-campus only) - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st > Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net > New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu > __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:arch...@mail-archive.com Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:leave-700205-27401.54f46e81b66496c9909bcdc2f7987...@list.jccc.edu Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to ly...@list.jccc.edu Or 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 (on-campus only) - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu
