date:20050122

RE: Bahai jihad?

2005-01-22 Thread Susan Maneck



So does that mean it is infallibly true and authoritative?

It means it isn't.

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Righteous Warfare - `Abdu'l-Bahá - The Secret of Divine Civilization [1]

2005-01-22 Thread Sandra Chamberlain

In response to Gilberto's question on Righteous Warfare...
part 1 of 4
`Abdu'l-Bahá - The Secret of Divine Civilization pgs. 55-59
Today we have closed our eyes to every righteous act and have
sacrificed the abiding happiness of society to our own
transitory profit. We regard fanaticism and zealotry as
redounding to our credit and honor, and not content with this,
we denounce one another and plot each other's ruin, and
whenever we wish to put on a show of wisdom and learning, of
virtue and godliness, we set about mocking and reviling this
one and that. The ideas of such a one, we say, are wide of
the mark, and so-and-so's behavior leaves much to be desired.
The religious observances of Zayd are few and far between, and
Amr is not firm in his faith. So-and-so's opinions smack of
Europe. Fundamentally, Blank thinks of nothing but his own
name and fame. Last night when the congregation stood up to
pray, the row was out of line, and it is not permissible to
follow a different leader. No rich man has died this month,
and nothing has been offered to charity in memory of the
Prophet. The edifice of religion has crumbled, the foundations
of faiths have been blown to the winds. The carpet of belief
has been rolled up, the tokens of certitude blotted out; the
whole world has fallen into error; when it comes to repelling
tyranny all are soft and remiss. Days and months have passed
away, and these villages and estates still belong to the same
owners as they did last year. In this town there used to be
seventy different governments functioning in good order, but
the number has steadily decreased; there are only twenty-five
left now, as a memento. It used to be that two hundred
contradictory judgments were handed down by the same mufti in
any one day, now we hardly get fifty. In those days there were
crowds of people who were all brainsick with litigation, and
now they rest in peace; today the plaintiff would be defeated
and the defendant victorious, tomorrow the plaintiff won the
case and the defendant lost it -- but now this excellent
practice has been abandoned too. What is this heathenish
religion, this idolatrous kind of error! Alas for the Law,
alas for the Faith, alas for all these calamities! O Brothers
in the Faith! This is surely the end of the world! The
Judgment is coming!
With words such as these they assault the minds of the
helpless masses and disturb the hearts of the already
bewildered poor, who know nothing of the true state of affairs
and the real basis for all such talk, and remain completely
unaware of the fact that a thousand selfish purposes are
concealed behind the supposedly religious eloquence of certain
individuals. They imagine that speakers of this type are
motivated by virtuous zeal, when the truth is that such
individuals keep up a great hue and cry because they see their
own personal ruin in the welfare of the masses, and believe
that if the people's eyes are opened, their own light will go
out. Only the keenest insight will detect the fact that if the
hearts of these individuals were really impelled by
righteousness and the fear of God, the fragrance of it would,
like musk, be spreading everywhere. Nothing in the world can
ever be supported by words alone.
But these ill-omened owls have done a wrong,
And learned to sing as the white falcon sings.
And what of Sheba's message that the lapwing brings
If the bittern learn to sing the lapwing's song?[1]
[1 Cf. Qur'án 27:20 ff.]
The spiritually learned, those who have derived infinite
significance and wisdom from the Book of Divine Revelation,
and whose illumined hearts draw inspiration from the unseen
world of God, certainly exert their efforts to bring about the
supremacy of the true followers of God, in all respects and
above all peoples, and they toil and struggle to make use of
every agency that will conduce to progress. If any man
neglects these high purposes he can never prove acceptable in
the sight of God; he stands out with all his shortcomings and
claims perfection, and destitute, pretends to wealth.
One sluggish, blind and surly's a poor thing,
A lump of flesh, without a foot or wing.
How far is he who apes and makes a show
From the illumined, who doth truly know.
One but an echo, though it's clear and sharp,
And one, the Psalmist David with his harp.
Knowledge, purity, devotion, discipline, independence, have
nothing to do with outer appearance and dress. Once in the
course of My travels I heard an eminent personage make the
following excellent remark, the wit and charm of which remain
in memory: Not every cleric's turban is a proof of continence
and knowledge; not every layman's hat a sign of ignorance and
immorality. How many a hat has proudly raised the banner of
knowledge, how many a turban pulled down the Law of God!
The third element of the utterance under discussion is,
opposes his passions. How wonderful are the implications of
this deceptively easy, all-inclusive phrase. This is the very
foundation of every laudable

Righteous Warfare - `Abdu'l-Bahá - The Secret of Divine Civilization [3]

2005-01-22 Thread Sandra Chamberlain

Continuing part 3:
`Abdu'l-Bahá - The Secret of Divine Civilization pgs. 64-68
True civilization will unfurl its banner in the midmost heart
of the world whenever a certain number of its distinguished
and high-minded sovereigns -- the shining exemplars of
devotion and determination -- shall, for the good and
happiness of all mankind, arise, with firm resolve and clear
vision, to establish the Cause of Universal Peace. They must
make the Cause of Peace the object of general consultation,
and seek by every means in their power to establish a Union of
the nations of the world. They must conclude a binding treaty
and establish a covenant, the provisions of which shall be
sound, inviolable and definite. They must proclaim it to all
the world and obtain for it the sanction of all the human
race. This supreme and noble undertaking -- the real source of
the peace and well-being of all the world -- should be
regarded as sacred by all that dwell on earth. All the forces
of humanity must be mobilized to ensure the stability and
permanence of this Most Great Covenant. In this all-embracing
Pact the limits and frontiers of each and every nation should
be clearly fixed, the principles underlying the relations of
governments towards one another definitely laid down, and all
international agreements and obligations ascertained. In like
manner, the size of the armaments of every government should
be strictly limited, for if the preparations for war and the
military forces of any nation should be allowed to increase,
they will arouse the suspicion of others. The fundamental
principle underlying this solemn Pact should be so fixed that
if any government later violate any one of its provisions, all
the governments on earth should arise to reduce it to utter
submission, nay the human race as a whole should resolve, with
every power at its disposal, to destroy that government.
Should this greatest of all remedies be applied to the sick
body of the world, it will assuredly recover from its ills and
will remain eternally safe and secure.[1]
[1 The foregoing paragraph, together with the later paragraph
beginning A few, unaware of the power latent in human
endeavor, was translated by Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the
Bahá'í Faith. Cf. The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 37-38.]
Observe that if such a happy situation be forthcoming, no
government would need continually to pile up the weapons of
war, nor feel itself obliged to produce ever new military
weapons with which to conquer the human race. A small force
for the purposes of internal security, the correction of
criminal and disorderly elements and the prevention of local
disturbances, would be required -- no more. In this way the
entire population would, first of all, be relieved of the
crushing burden of expenditure currently imposed for military
purposes, and secondly, great numbers of people would cease to
devote their time to the continual devising of new weapons of
destruction -- those testimonials of greed and
bloodthirstiness, so inconsistent with the gift of life -- and
would instead bend their efforts to the production of whatever
will foster human existence and peace and well-being, and
would become the cause of universal development and
prosperity. Then every nation on earth will reign in honor,
and every people will be cradled in tranquillity and content.
A few, unaware of the power latent in human endeavor, consider
this matter as highly impracticable, nay even beyond the scope
of man's utmost efforts. Such is not the case, however. On the
contrary, thanks to the unfailing grace of God, the
loving-kindness of His favored ones, the unrivaled endeavors
of wise and capable souls, and the thoughts and ideas of the
peerless leaders of this age, nothing whatsoever can be
regarded as unattainable. Endeavor, ceaseless endeavor, is
required. Nothing short of an indomitable determination can
possibly achieve it. Many a cause which past ages have
regarded as purely visionary, yet in this day has become most
easy and practicable. Why should this most great and lofty
Cause -- the daystar of the firmament of true civilization and
the cause of the glory, the advancement, the well-being and
the success of all humanity -- be regarded as impossible of
achievement? Surely the day will come when its beauteous light
shall shed illumination upon the assemblage of man.
The apparatus of conflict will, as preparations go on at their
present rate, reach the point where war will become something
intolerable to mankind.
It is clear from what has already been said that man's glory
and greatness do not consist in his being avid for blood and
sharp of claw, in tearing down cities and spreading havoc, in
butchering armed forces and civilians. What would mean a
bright future for him would be his reputation for justice, his
kindness to the entire population whether high or low, his
building up countries and cities, villages and districts, his
making life easy, peaceful and happy for his fellow

Righteous Warfare - `Abdu'l-Bahá - The Secret of Divine Civilization [2]

2005-01-22 Thread Sandra Chamberlain

Continuing part 2:
`Abdu'l-Bahá - The Secret of Divine Civilization pgs. 60-63
All the peoples of Europe, notwithstanding their vaunted
civilization, sink and drown in this terrifying sea of passion
and desire, and this is why all the phenomena of their culture
come to nothing. Let no one wonder at this statement or
deplore it. The primary purpose, the basic objective, in
laying down powerful laws and setting up great principles and
institutions dealing with every aspect of civilization, is
human happiness; and human happiness consists only in drawing
closer to the Threshold of Almighty God, and in securing the
peace and well-being of every individual member, high and low
alike, of the human race; and the supreme agencies for
accomplishing these two objectives are the excellent qualities
with which humanity has been endowed.
A superficial culture, unsupported by a cultivated morality,
is as a confused medley of dreams,[1] and external lustre
without inner perfection is like a vapor in the desert which
the thirsty dreameth to be water.[2] For results which would
win the good pleasure of God and secure the peace and
well-being of man, could never be fully achieved in a merely
external civilization.
[1 Qur'án 12:44; 21:5.]
[2 Qur'án 24:39.]
The peoples of Europe have not advanced to the higher planes
of moral civilization, as their opinions and behavior clearly
demonstrate. Notice, for example, how the supreme desire of
European governments and peoples today is to conquer and crush
one another, and how, while harboring the greatest secret
repulsion, they spend their time exchanging expressions of
neighborly affection, friendship and harmony.
There is the well-known case of the ruler who is fostering
peace and tranquillity and at the same time devoting more
energy than the warmongers to the accumulation of weapons and
the building up of a larger army, on the grounds that peace
and harmony can only be brought about by force. Peace is the
pretext, and night and day they are all straining every nerve
to pile up more weapons of war, and to pay for this their
wretched people must sacrifice most of whatever they are able
to earn by their sweat and toil. How many thousands have given
up their work in useful industries and are laboring day and
night to produce new and deadlier weapons which would spill
out the blood of the race more copiously than before.
Each day they invent a new bomb or explosive and then the
governments must abandon their obsolete arms and begin
producing the new, since the old weapons cannot hold their own
against the new. For example at this writing, in the year 1292
A.H. [1] they have invented a new rifle in Germany and a
bronze cannon in Austria, which have greater firepower than
the Martini-Henry rifle and the Krupp cannon, are more rapid
in their effects and more efficient in annihilating humankind.
The staggering cost of it all must be borne by the hapless
masses.
[1 1875 A.D.]
Be just: can this nominal civilization, unsupported by a
genuine civilization of character, bring about the peace and
well-being of the people or win the good pleasure of God? Does
it not, rather, connote the destruction of man's estate and
pull down the pillars of happiness and peace?
At the time of the Franco-Prussian War, in the year 1870 of
the Christian era, it was reported that 600,000 men died,
broken and beaten, on the field of battle. How many a home was
torn out by the roots; how many a city, flourishing the night
before, was toppled down by sunrise. How many a child was
orphaned and abandoned, how many an old father and mother had
to see their sons, the young fruit of their lives, twisting
and dying in dust and blood. How many women were widowed, left
without a helper or protector.
And then there were the libraries and magnificent buildings of
France that went up in flames, and the military hospital,
packed with sick and wounded men, that was set on fire and
burned to the ground. And there followed the terrible events
of the Commune, the savage acts, the ruin and horror when
opposing factions fought and killed one another in the streets
of Paris. There were the hatreds and hostilities between
Catholic religious leaders and the German government. There
was the civil strife and uproar, the bloodshed and havoc
brought on between the partisans of the Republic and the
Carlists in Spain.
Only too many such instances are available to demonstrate the
fact that Europe is morally uncivilized. Since the writer has
no wish to cast aspersions on anyone He has confined Himself
to these few examples. It is clear that no perceptive and
well-informed mind can countenance such events. Is it right
and proper that peoples among whom, diametrically opposed to
the most desirable human behavior, such horrors take place,
should dare lay claim to a real and adequate civilization?
Especially when out of all this no results can be hoped for
except the winning of a transient victory; and since this
outcome never endures, it is, to

Re: Planned obsolscence

2005-01-22 Thread louise mchenry

Religion, as in the Book of Religion, I love. I never consider that spilled milk. Light, from which lamp it shines, is light. Wisdom, no matter what inspired the wisdom, is wisdom. 

but yes, the customs and accepted interpretations of previous religions and the habits that people have developed based on their interpretation of the words of the Manifestation sometimes do feel like spilled milk to me. 

much love, 

janineGilberto Simpson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 16:51:00 -0800 (PST), JS <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: "jizya actually is ordained in the Quran, so if you really think it is necessarily a form of harrassment and tyranny then you should take it up with the author"  Yes, this work of the Author is well beyond the expiry date.You don't need to say it. I realized a very long time ago that Bahaisthink of previous religions as spoiled milk.PeaceGilberto-- "My people are hydroponic"__You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]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!
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Righteous Warfare - `Abdu'l-Bahá - The Secret of Divine Civilization [4]

2005-01-22 Thread Sandra Chamberlain

Continuing part 4:
`Abdu'l-Bahá - The Secret of Divine Civilization pgs. 69-71
Contrast with this the praiseworthy qualities and the
greatness and nobility of Anushirvan the Generous and the
Just. [1] That fair-minded monarch came to power at a time
when the once solidly established throne of Persia was about
to crumble away. With his Divine gift of intellect, he laid
the foundations of justice, uprooting oppression and tyranny
and gathering the scattered peoples of Persia under the wings
of his dominion. Thanks to the restoring influence of his
continual care, Persia that had lain withered and desolate was
quickened into life and rapidly changed into the fairest of
all flourishing nations. He rebuilt and reinforced the
disorganized powers of the state, and the renown of his
righteousness and justice echoed across the seven climes, [2]
until the peoples rose up out of their degradation and misery
to the heights of felicity and honor. Although he was a
Magian, Muhammad, that Center of creation and Sun of
prophethood, said of him: I was born in the time of a just
king, and rejoiced at having come into the world during his
reign. Did this illustrious personage achieve his exalted
station by virtue of his admirable qualities or rather by
reaching out to conquer the earth and spill the blood of its
peoples? Observe that he attained to such a distinguished rank
in the heart of the world that his greatness still rings out
through all the impermanence of time, and he won eternal life.
Should We comment on the continuing life of the great, this
brief essay would be unduly prolonged, and since it is by no
means certain that public opinion in Persia will be materially
affected by its perusal, We shall abridge the work, and go on
to other matters which come within the purview of the public
mind. If, however, it develops that this abridgement produces
favorable results, We shall, God willing, write a number of
books dealing at length and usefully with fundamental
principles of the Divine wisdom in its relation to the
phenomenal world.
[1 Sasaniyan king who reigned 531-578 A.D.]
[2 i.e., the whole world.]
No power on earth can prevail against the armies of justice,
and every citadel must fall before them; for men willingly go
down under the triumphant strokes of this decisive blade, and
desolate places bloom and flourish under the tramplings of
this host. There are two mighty banners which, when they cast
their shadow across the crown of any king, will cause the
influence of his government quickly and easily to penetrate
the whole earth, even as if it were the light of the sun: the
first of these two banners is wisdom; the second is justice.
Against these two most potent forces, the iron hills cannot
prevail, and Alexander's wall will break before them. It is
clear that life in this fast-fading world is as fleeting and
inconstant as the morning wind, and this being so, how
fortunate are the great who leave a good name behind them, and
the memory of a lifetime spent in the pathway of the good
pleasure of God.
It is all one, if it be a throne
Or the bare ground under the open sky,
Where the pure soul lays him
Down to die.[1
[1 Sa'di, The Gulistan, On the Conduct of Kings.]
A conquest can be a praiseworthy thing, and there are times
when war becomes the powerful basis of peace, and ruin the
very means of reconstruction. If, for example, a high-minded
sovereign marshals his troops to block the onset of the
insurgent and the aggressor, or again, if he takes the field
and distinguishes himself in a struggle to unify a divided
state and people, if, in brief, he is waging war for a
righteous purpose, then this seeming wrath is mercy itself,
and this apparent tyranny the very substance of justice and
this warfare the cornerstone of peace. Today, the task
befitting great rulers is to establish universal peace, for in
this lies the freedom of all peoples.
[The last paragraph is quoted in Bahá'u'lláh and The New Era
pg. 172]
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Tabernacle

2005-01-22 Thread louise mchenry

I posted this before but I am afraid it got lost in all the other discussions. So I am being bold and post it again.

Dear all, recently I was told that the word tabernacle in thisquote in the original persian is actually nottabernacle, but is a word for the curtain whichtraditionally divided the men's quarters from thewomen's quarters in houses in Persia when Baha'u'llahwas alive. I wonder if this word in the original language couldhave also the meaning of Tabernacle. much love, janineCXII. Behold the disturbances which, for many a longyear, have afflicted the earth, and the perturbationthat hath seized its peoples. It hath either beenravaged by war, or tormented by sudden and unforeseencalamities. Though the world is encompassed withmisery and distress, yet no man hath paused to reflectwhat the cause or source of that may be. Whenever theTrue Counsellor uttered a word in admonishment, lo,they all denounced Him as a mover of mischief andrejected His claim. How bewildering, how confusing
issuch behavior! No two men can be found who may be saidto be outwardly and inwardly united. The evidences ofdiscord and malice are apparent everywhere, though allwere made for harmony and union.The Great Being saith: O well-beloved ones! Thetabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye notone another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of onetree, and the leaves of one branch. We cherish thehope that the light of justice may shine upon theworld and sanctify it from tyranny. If the rulers andkings of the earth, the symbols of the power of God,exalted be His glory, arise and resolve to dedicatethemselves to whatever will promote the highestinterests of the whole of humanity, the reign ofjustice will assuredly be established amongst thechildren of men, and the effulgence of its light willenvelop the whole earth. The Great Being saith: Thestructure of world stability and order hath beenreared upon, a!
nd will
continue to be sustained by, thetwin pillars of reward and punishment In anotherpassage He hath written: Take heed, O concourse of therulers of the world! There is no force on earth thatcan equal in its conquering power the force of justiceand wisdom Blessed is the king who marcheth withthe ensign of wisdom unfurled before him, and thebattalions of justice massed in his rear. He verily isthe ornament that adorneth the brow of peace and thecountenance of security. There can be no doubtwhatever that if the day star of justice, which theclouds of tyranny have obscured, were to shed itslight upon men, the face of the earth would becompletely transformed(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings ofBaha'u'llah, p. 218)

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Re: Tabernacle, addition

2005-01-22 Thread louise mchenry

oh my, either my brain is going or I am suffering from lack of sleep! I keep leaving out half of what I want to convey in my messages. 

I wrote: 

I wonder if this word in the original language couldhave also the meaning of Tabernacle. 

This was actually a question which should have been followed by this: 
Can anybody tell me whether this word in Persian or Arabic would have also the meaning of Tabernacle?

So, anybody?

much love, 

janine van rooij
dublin, ireland
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