Re: More Nature of Morality was Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-31 Thread Mark A. Foster
Hi, Gilberto, I wrote: However, I assume you believe in contextualizing some sort of timeless (?) essentialist morality. You replied: Sure. Except I'm not sure I can clearly even imagine the alternative. My understanding of existentialism would suggest an individual boldly making whatever

Re: More Nature of Morality was Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-31 Thread Mark A. Foster
Gilberto, At 06:50 PM 1/30/2005, you wrote: Yes, I know. Existentialism and Essentialism are often contrasted. So if Mark is opposing essentialist morality it suggests or at least raises the possibility that he is defending some version of existentialism. Okay. I wasn't sure why you referred

Re: More Nature of Morality was Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-31 Thread Mark A. Foster
In my personal gestalt, I have often equated Sartre with Warholesque theatricalism. For existential think, I far prefer Albert Camus and Soren Kirkegaard. Well, Camus certainly perfected the art of tragedy. What about Sartre do you think is pop culturist? Regards, Mark A. Foster •

Re: More Nature of Morality was Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-30 Thread Mark A. Foster
Gilberto, At 07:55 AM 1/30/2005, you wrote: I gave this a little more thought and I think that perhaps we could all agree that morality can be situational and that what is appropriate or inappropriate can depend on the concrete specifics of a situation, but I think that would still see

Re: More Nature of Morality was Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-30 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 11:36:14 -0600, Mark A. Foster [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Gilberto, At 07:55 AM 1/30/2005, you wrote: I gave this a little more thought and I think that perhaps we could all agree that morality can be situational and that what is appropriate or inappropriate can depend

Re: More Nature of Morality was Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-30 Thread Popeyesays
In a message dated 1/30/2005 12:52:43 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: That would be my view, yes. However, I assume you believe in contextualizing some sort of timeless (?) essentialist moralitySure. Except I'm not sure I can clearly even imagine the alternative.My

Re: More Nature of Morality was Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-30 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 15:09:27 EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 1/30/2005 12:52:43 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: That would be my view, yes. However, I assume you believe in contextualizing some sort of timeless (?) essentialist morality

Re: Nature of Morality Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-28 Thread Mark A. Foster
Gilberto, At 01:13 AM 1/28/2005, you wrote: or even trial and error, sure. Well, thought experiments are not exactly based on trial and error. I wrote: I am not sure what you mean by certain kinds of actions. However, off the top of my head, I can think of many situations in which that would

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-28 Thread Iskandar Hai
Gilberto (not dear Gilberto): If by moral relativism you mean the kind of mentality and attitude that anything goes and everything is OK, then Baha'is are definitely not moral relativists. As I said, just read Shoghi Effendi's Advent of Divine Justice for example. The relativism that we Baha'is

Re: Nature of Morality Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-28 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 21:41:05 -0600, Mark A. Foster [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Gilberto, I wrote: What kind of reasoning process? You replied: One example would be through some kind of deliberative process where we think about the consequences of having certain rules and what kind of

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-28 Thread Iskandar Hai
See below.. Quoting Gilberto Simpson [EMAIL PROTECTED]: On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 10:31:43 -0500, Iskandar Hai [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Gilberto (not dear Gilberto): If by moral relativism you mean the kind of mentality and attitude that anything goes and everything is OK, then Baha'is are

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-28 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 12:14:42 -0500, Iskandar Hai [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: See below.. Quoting Gilberto Simpson [EMAIL PROTECTED]: On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 10:31:43 -0500, Iskandar Hai [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Gilberto (not dear Gilberto): If by moral relativism you mean the kind of

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-28 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 11:43:16 EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 1/28/05 8:06:41 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Gilberto (not dear Gilberto): If by moral relativism you mean the kind of mentality and attitude that anything goes and

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-28 Thread Popeyesays
In a message dated 1/28/2005 12:10:52 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Gilberto:It's not a hang-up. I'm perfectly happy to let the matter drop. I justwouldn't want to casually suggest that prophets might lie or commitidolatry. I do not think a Prophet ever lied. I believe

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-28 Thread Mark A. Foster
Susan, At 10:43 AM 1/28/2005, you wrote: That's because the definition above is not our understanding of moral relativism. We understand that morality 'relates' to concrete circumstances, it isn't just an absolute ideal up in the sky somewhere. Yes. Regards, Mark A. Foster •

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-28 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 14:17:36 -0600, Mark A. Foster [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Susan, At 10:43 AM 1/28/2005, you wrote: That's because the definition above is not our understanding of moral relativism. We understand that morality 'relates' to concrete circumstances, it isn't just an absolute

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-28 Thread JS
G:Alot of emphasis is put on the fact that the Quran was revealed in stages Know of a certainty that in every Dispensation the light of Divine Revelation hath been vouchsafed unto men in direct proportion to their spiritual capacity... if the Sun of Truth were suddenly to reveal, at the earliest

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-27 Thread Mark A. Foster
Gilberto, At 10:29 PM 1/26/2005, you wrote: Could you give examples of each to explain how they are different? Justice is a virtue. It is defined (structurized) by Baha'u'llah, in one sense, as upheld by reward and punishment: O people of God! That which traineth the world is Justice, for

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-27 Thread Mark A. Foster
Hi, Gilberto, At 11:24 PM 1/26/2005, you wrote: So would it be fair to say that the sinlessness is a non-falsifiable statement? You aren't saying that they conform to some prior moral principles, but that by definition, beecause they are the Manifestation they could do no wrong? Yes, IMO,

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-27 Thread Ahang Rabbani
Dear Firouz, I think this is a big challenge Baha'u'llah is inviting people to produce a verse like what He is revealing. The verse in the Tablet of Ahmad doesn't appear to me to be an invitation to produce man-made verses. He is stating that it's impossible for men to come up with such

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-27 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 02:13:23 EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 1/26/2005 7:25:35 P.M. Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I DID answer her question in the most reasonable way I know how. If you don't like that answer I'm not sure how to help you.

RE: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-27 Thread Max Jasper
And further, it is an allegorical indication that man can never reach the station of God. | | I think this is a big challenge Baha'u'llah is inviting people to | produce a verse like what He is revealing. | |The verse in the Tablet of Ahmad doesn't appear to me to be an |invitation to produce

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-27 Thread Mark A. Foster
Gilberto, At 06:16 AM 1/27/2005, you wrote: Ok, then part of the difficulty is that we are using words differently. Yes. Whether or not one belches in public is not a moral question. As I said, I would call etiquette and all low-level social norms folkways. Norms and values, as I define them,

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-27 Thread Smaneck
In a message dated 1/27/2005 1:57:20 A.M. Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I remember long long time back when I was living in Dubaiwe had a deepening class about Tablet of Ahmad, our Egyptian teacher explained it to us this way. Well, now that I compare it with

Nature of Morality Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-27 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 09:36:46 -0600, Mark A. Foster [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Gilberto, At 06:16 AM 1/27/2005, you wrote: Ok, then part of the difficulty is that we are using words differently. Yes. Whether or not one belches in public is not a moral question. As I said, I would call

Re: Nature of Morality Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-27 Thread Mark A. Foster
Gilberto, At 06:14 PM 1/27/2005, you wrote: But what makes one set of laws high-level and another low-level? It is relative to the norms of that community. Mores are norms which, in a particular time and place, are punished (formally or informally) more severely than folkways. A more in one

Re: Nature of Morality Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-27 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 19:53:07 -0600, Mark A. Foster [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Gilberto, You replied: I'm speaking imprecisely. I don't think I mean that kind of logic. I mean a different kind of reasoning process. Mark: What kind of reasoning process? Gilberto: One example would be

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-27 Thread Elaine Crowell
Dear Susan, I came to this conclusion after reading several online accounts of British activity in the middle east subsequent to WW1. I read that Lawrence of Arabia was deeply involved in the Arab revolt against the Ottoman hegemony instigated by Sharif Hussein bin Ali . Sharif Hussein had been

Re: Nature of Morality Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-27 Thread Mark A. Foster
Gilberto, I wrote: What kind of reasoning process? You replied: One example would be through some kind of deliberative process where we think about the consequences of having certain rules and what kind of society that would result in. A thought experiment. Sure but even apart from language,

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-27 Thread JS
Hi Iskandar, I think you are misunderstanding Gilberto and his intentions. I do not think he is saying that Baha'is don't take morality seriously, so there is no need for an apology. Gilberto is stating the Islamic stance on the issue, which is different from the Baha'i view. I am positive he is

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-27 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 19:57:22 -0800 (PST), JS [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Iskandar, I think you are misunderstanding Gilberto and his intentions. I do not think he is saying that Baha'is don't take morality seriously, so there is no need for an apology. Gilberto is stating the Islamic

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-27 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 22:49:29 -0500 (EST), Iskandar Hai, M.D. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: . A girl of 8, 9, or 10 years of age who has had her menses is still a girl, not a woman. From around 13 to about 18-19 years of age, she is called a teenager. Past nineteen, she can be called a woman (or

Re: Nature of Morality Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-27 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 21:41:05 -0600, Mark A. Foster [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Gilberto, I wrote: What kind of reasoning process? You replied: One example would be through some kind of deliberative process where we think about the consequences of having certain rules and what kind of

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-26 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 23:03:37 -0600, Susan Maneck [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In Islam, that's when a person becomes an adult. What other definition of woman are you using? Dear Gilberto, So do you think it would be okay today if a mature man married and had intercourse with a ten year old

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-26 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 17:26:59 EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 1/26/2005 2:31:41 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Which social laws? I don't think the Bible or the Quran given minimum ages for marriage. Like I said elsewhere its not a

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-26 Thread Popeyesays
In a message dated 1/26/2005 4:39:10 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: This is going in circles. I would want to make a distinction betweenthe laws which people make up and the ones which God gives. Iunderstand that Bahais disagree. This is nothing new. People make laws

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-26 Thread Popeyesays
In a message dated 1/26/2005 7:25:27 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I don't think you should talk to me like that. This is part of why Iwould rather use a more neutral example. I have absolutely no interestin marrying a nine-year old girl and as I said in my answer, I have

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-26 Thread Elaine Crowell
That is true. However The house of Sa'ud entered into an alliance with the Wahhabis and subsequent to attaining control of Arabia, they exported Wahhabism through the funding of religious schools throughout the middle East. One also might note British encouragement of the sect as well as by

RE: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-26 Thread louise mchenry
- Marriages then were rarely a matter of simple choice no matter what age you were, but by all accounts it was a happy marriage. Dear Susan, I realise that. I said this because she might not at all have been unwilling to marry Muhammad, maybe have even wished for it. It is not usual that

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-26 Thread Mark A. Foster
Gilberto, At 08:01 PM 1/26/2005, you wrote: The original point was how do you evaluate prophets and think about sinlessness. I would say that there is a certain minimal core morality which is more fundamental and you could in principle use that the judge prophets. Mark seemed to say it was

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-26 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 20:20:03 -0600, Mark A. Foster [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Gilberto, There is, IMO, a difference between virtues, which are divine structurizations, and morals (norms and values), which are human structurizations. Through the Will of God (virtues) or through the wills of

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-26 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 18:25:25 -0800, Elaine Crowell [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: That is true. However The house of Sa'ud entered into an alliance with the Wahhabis and subsequent to attaining control of Arabia, they exported Wahhabism through the funding of religious schools throughout the

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-26 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 18:29:01 -0800 (PST), JS [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Mark seemed to say it was reversed and that within their dispensation prophets could do anything and almost by definition it would be correct. -- Hi Gilberto, I think the idea is based on the following verses of

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-26 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 20:38:28 -0600, Mark A. Foster [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Gilberto, At 08:01 PM 1/26/2005, you wrote: The original point was how do you evaluate prophets and think about sinlessness. I would say that there is a certain minimal core morality which is more fundamental and

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-26 Thread Firouz Anaraki
Gilberto addressing Mark: It seems like you are reading it correctly. I just don't think I would agree with it. The Quran actually invites people to examine itself for contradictions. Dares people to try to come up with verses like it. In other places the Quran also calls itself the Criterion but

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-26 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 12:30:04 +0700, Firouz Anaraki [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Gilberto addressing Mark: It seems like you are reading it correctly. I just don't think I would agree with it. The Quran actually invites people to examine itself for contradictions. Dares people to try to come up

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-26 Thread Smaneck
In a message dated 1/26/2005 11:30:40 P.M. Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Baha'u'llah also challenges people to come up a verse like what Baha'u'llah has revealed and goes further and allows them to assist each other:" O people, if ye deny these verses, by what proof

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-26 Thread Smaneck
In a message dated 1/26/2005 8:21:55 P.M. Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: One also might note British encouragement of the sect as well as by favouring Ibn Sa'ud over the Sharif of Mecca. Dear Elainna, Where does your information that the British favoured

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-26 Thread Firouz Anaraki
Dear Firouz, I never read that passage that way. I thought He was asking them to come up with proof they believed in God, not come up with better verses. warmest, Susan Dear Susan, I remember long long time back when I was living in Dubaiwe had a deepening class about Tablet of Ahmad,

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-25 Thread Mark A. Foster
Scott, At 08:40 PM 1/24/2005, you wrote: Mark seems to have come into the faith the same way I did, through the written words of Baha`u'llah. When truth sings in your heart, you are carried away. Baha`u'llah's words reveal His character. Abdu'l Baha's words reveal Baha`u'llah's character. That

RE: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-25 Thread Mark A. Foster
Hi, Susan, At 08:11 AM 1/25/2005, you wrote: I didn't see any big problem with that book aside from the fact it had never gone through review. Gaver imported a lot of popular Baha'isms, urban legends, or kitab-i-hearsays, into the book. I would need to go back and find them. However, overall,

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-25 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 07:29:38 -0600, Mark A. Foster [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Gilberto, At 09:25 PM 1/24/2005, you wrote: I would probably prefer to discuss this point with an issue that wasn't so emotionally charged because because it can be sensitive for alot of folks. But I would say,

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-25 Thread Smaneck
In a message dated 1/25/2005 8:37:34 A.M. Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Gaver imported a lot of popular "Baha'isms," urban legends, or "kitab-i-hearsays," into the book. Dear Mark, I suppose at the time I read that book I took those things for granted. warmest,

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-25 Thread Smaneck
In a message dated 1/25/2005 8:33:56 A.M. Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: However, some other things have been much greater concerns to me recently, especially Ruhi. Well, if it is any comfort, Baha'u'llah didn't do that. ;-}

RE: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-25 Thread Mark A. Foster
Susan, At 08:11 AM 1/25/2005, you wrote: Aisha, not Khadija. Yep. ;-) I think of circumstances where it might for me. For instance if Baha'u'llah had authorized anything similiar to the massacre of the Banu Qurayza I doubt if I could recognize Him as having the remedy we need for this day.

Re: Arson

2005-01-25 Thread louise mchenry
In a way. my as to date not completely formed thinking goes along the lines that God is Reality.That compared to God some things have no Reality at all. Yet they do have a reality, for example a cat has a certain reality of its own, and when I am hungry it is a reality of its own as well. But

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-25 Thread Mark A. Foster
Gilberto, At 08:42 AM 1/25/2005, you wrote: But if its not a case of abused and if you are just talking about people getting married at ages atypical for 21st century Kansas, I don't think that's a moral question. I think it would clearly be a moral issue to most Americans for an adult to

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-25 Thread Mark A. Foster
Susan, At 08:46 AM 1/25/2005, you wrote: Well, if it is any comfort, Baha'u'llah didn't do that. ;-} I suppose we can all ask Him about it in the next world. Regards, Mark A. Foster • http://markfoster.net • [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sacred cows make the tastiest hamburger. Abbie Hoffman

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-25 Thread Mark A. Foster
Gilberto, At 10:09 AM 1/25/2005, you wrote: That she was pre-pubescent is an assumption on your part. There are indications otherwise. I know the issue is not decided. However, the author of the article you referenced before on the subject said that, presently, the evidence *did* support that

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-25 Thread Iskandar Hai, M.D.
I'm saying that when a 53-year old male marries a 20-30 year old female, he has married a young woman, and when he marries a female who is barely 18 he then has married a teenager. When a 53-year old male marries a female who has just barely tuned 9 lunar years, it is not accurate to say that he

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-25 Thread JS
I do not take all of the comments here about the marriage between Muhammad and Aisha asevidencethat Muhammad was evil or had ill intentions. As our society changes, there is a need to renew the Revelation of God, which is, after all, written forUS inOUR language based onOUR society.As our

Re: The Bab's wife (was: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson)

2005-01-25 Thread Smaneck
In a message dated 1/25/2005 5:56:38 P.M. Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Why, specifically, was it a violation of the Bab's honor? I can see how it was a violation of the wife's honor; it appears she was simply passed around like a piece of furniture, none of

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-25 Thread Gilberto Simpson
The sources indicate that the nikah didn't occur until after puberty. In Islam, that's when a person becomes an adult. What other definition of woman are you using? Peace Gilberto On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 20:59:53 -0500 (EST), Iskandar Hai, M.D. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'm saying that when a

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-25 Thread louise mchenry
yep I agree with you Gilberto. It could be that at a young age this woman recognised the purity and specialness of the Prophet and was therefore very willing to marry Him. Times and habits and way of thinking and mores were completely different then. Plus, the Prophet was a very special

RE: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-25 Thread Susan Maneck
In Islam, that's when a person becomes an adult. What other definition of woman are you using? Dear Gilberto, So do you think it would be okay today if a mature man married and had intercourse with a ten year old girl so long as she had had her menses? warmest, Susan

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-25 Thread Firouz Anaraki
Janine: It could be that at a young age this woman recognised the purity and specialness of the Prophet and was therefore very willing to marry Him. Should the Prophet marry any girl (no matter what age) who would like to get married to Him? regards, Firouz

Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread louise mchenry
Hi Mark, I am a bit confused as how you mean this. Do you mean to say that discussions of this sort assume that there is something called goodness in people, do you mean to say that goodness changes with each new Manifestation, that each new Manifestation, because of the taxonomies He uses

Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread Mark A. Foster
Hi, Janine, At 07:21 AM 1/24/2005, you wrote: I am a bit confused as how you mean this. Do you mean to say that discussions of this sort assume that there is something called goodness in people, do you mean to say that goodness changes with each new Manifestation, that each new Manifestation,

Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread Popeyesays
In a message dated 1/24/2005 8:33:48 AM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: But that's not even the main issue. The thing I'm having troubleseeing from your perspective is why God would have mandated thepunishment to begin with? Even though I disagree with many of thethings you

Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread Popeyesays
In a message dated 1/24/2005 8:38:50 AM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: But if "good" is worth calling "good" then shouldn't it be independentof the prophet? God is the Source of All BOunty. The manifestation is the Revealer of God's Bounty. I avoid the term Prophet because I

Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread Mark A. Foster
Hi, Gilberto, At 08:38 AM 1/24/2005, you wrote: But if good is worth calling good then shouldn't it be independent of the prophet? I am not sure how something could be worth calling good. I have not been a neo-Platonist for about 5 or 6 years, so I don't see *goodness* as a quality detached

Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread Smaneck
In a message dated 1/15/2005 12:54:24 P.M. Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: It seems that the harshness of this punishment is, at least in part, relatedto and intended to be a deterrent to acts such as the wholesale genocidalburning of homes villages Dear Patti,

Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread louise mchenry
Hi Susan, do you mean to say that Baha'u'llah revealed laws which are meant to last about 1000 years because of certain conditions which were surely temporary conditions in the countries He resided in? I mean it is possible God doeth what He willeth. yet that does not really make sense to

How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 17:57:57 -0600, Mark A. Foster [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Gilberto, At 05:19 PM 1/24/2005, you wrote: I guess one of the things which makes me say what I said, especially with regard to prophets is the notion of sinlessness. However, sinlessness by what standard? Moses

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread Popeyesays
In a message dated 1/24/2005 8:35:53 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Mark I did not accept Baha'u'llah based on His character. In fact, I knew next to nothing about Him when I became a Baha'i in 1970. For whatever *reason*, my heart responded to His claim, and I recognized

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread Mark A. Foster
Gilberto, At 08:33 PM 1/24/2005, you wrote: Personally I don't see the above issues as requiring or suggesting relativism. In the case of Moses one could argue that the death was in self-defense. The issue of Muhammad and Aishah might be addressed by pointing out that marrying a young woman,

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread louise mchenry
Iskandar, why could Aishah not marry again? much love, janine"Iskandar Hai, M.D." [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Mon, 24 Jan 2005, Gilberto Simpson wrote: Gilberto: Personally I don't see the above issues as requiring or suggesting relativism. In the case of Moses one could argue that the death

Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread Popeyesays
In a message dated 1/24/2005 7:25:05 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Dear Patti, That's possible, but in cities like Constantinople at the time of Baha'u'llah a simple act of arson could have catastrophic consequences. As I recall much of the city burnt one year.

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread Smaneck
In a message dated 1/24/2005 9:11:47 P.M. Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: why could Aishah not marry again? Dear John, In the Islamic (and Baha'i) context it is unheard of for someone who was married to prophet to ever marry someone else. That's why Shoghi

Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread Smaneck
In a message dated 1/24/2005 9:24:02 P.M. Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: We also have the example of the Hammurabi Code's punishments. Dear Scott, I'm not sure what you are trying to say here. warmest, Susan __ You

Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread Popeyesays
In a message dated 1/24/2005 9:25:47 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Dear Scott, I'm not sure what you are trying to say here. If a house collapses the builder forfeits his life, for instance. A harsh punishment making sense in a particular society like laws against

Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 10:09:27 EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I think this is descending to petty quibbles. Ok. Let's stop. Peace Gilberto __ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:archive@mail-archive.com To

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 20:50:55 -0600, Mark A. Foster [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Gilberto, At 08:33 PM 1/24/2005, you wrote: Personally I don't see the above issues as requiring or suggesting relativism. In the case of Moses one could argue that the death was in self-defense. The issue of

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread Gilberto Simpson
I'd say a child of around 7 or 9 lunar years of age is a more accurate term than young woman when she marries a person 50 years older than her. She is what she is whether she is married or not. She was barely 18 when she became a widow, and could not marry again

Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread louise mchenry
hmm... maybe you are right... though I find it difficult to imagine, seeing how much has changed here in Europe in 100 years time, and my optimism for the future of the world. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 1/24/2005 7:28:54 P.M. Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

Re: How to pick a prophet? Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread Gilberto Simpson
In the Quran it says: 33.6] The Prophet has a greater claim on the faithful than they have on themselves, and his wives are (as) their mothers; and the possessors of relationship have the better claim in the ordinance of Allah to inheritance, one with respect to another, than (other) believers,

Re: Arson

2005-01-24 Thread Smaneck
In a message dated 1/24/2005 7:21:38 A.M. Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: that each new Manifestation, because of the taxonomies He uses defines anew what goodness is? Dear Janine, Isn't that what this passage implies? "O leaders of religion! Weigh not the Book of

Re: Arson

2005-01-23 Thread Popeyesays
In a message dated 1/23/2005 2:32:15 AM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: And since honest-to-goodness real live Muslim actually do believe thatthe Quran is applicable today then you are actually calling Islam asbased in the Quran "brutal". If the Shariah is enforced in a way to

Re: Arson

2005-01-23 Thread Popeyesays
In a message dated 1/23/2005 2:32:15 AM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I don't believe that the actual nature of what is "brutal" depends onwhat date it is. It may depend on the actual realities of a givensituation but those don't just depend abstractly on the date.

Re: Arson

2005-01-23 Thread Popeyesays
In a message dated 1/23/2005 2:45:25 AM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Personally, I think that it is possible to outline certain featureswhich constitute a "good government" but this should be independentfrom a particular ideology. Which is, of course, a product of western

Re: Arson

2005-01-23 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 21:49:19 -0800 (PST), JS [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: G: Umm... given that prostitution is actually legal in most of the west (so people are actually quite happy to pay money to have it) how exactly is that whole fining process a deterrent? JS: Doubling is the key word

Re: Arson

2005-01-23 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 12:45:11 EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 1/23/2005 2:32:15 AM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: And since honest-to-goodness real live Muslim actually do believe that the Quran is applicable today then you are actually

Re: Arson

2005-01-23 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 12:49:37 EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 1/23/2005 2:45:25 AM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Personally, I think that it is possible to outline certain features which constitute a good government but this should be

Re: Arson

2005-01-23 Thread Popeyesays
In a message dated 1/23/2005 12:11:24 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Gilberto:But then the larger question is whether the present-day conscience" isactually a perfectly reliable guide? Can we even reliably determinewhat "the conscience" is saying to us? I mean, if everyone

Re: Arson

2005-01-23 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 13:22:43 EST, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 1/23/2005 12:11:24 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Gilberto: But then the larger question is whether the present-day conscience is actually a perfectly reliable guide? Can we

Re: Arson

2005-01-23 Thread JS
Gilberto Simpson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 21:49:19 -0800 (PST), JS <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: G: Umm... given that prostitution is actually legal in most of the west (so people are actually quite happy to pay money to have it) how exactly is that whole fining process a

Re: Arson

2005-01-23 Thread Popeyesays
In a message dated 1/23/2005 2:23:42 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: What's the question? That's the answer "pop" is one thing and "society" is another. Regards, Scott __ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as:

Re: Arson

2005-01-23 Thread Gilberto Simpson
On Sun, 23 Jan 2005 15:08:27 -0600, Mark A. Foster [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Gilberto, At 12:10 PM 1/23/2005, you wrote: My present-day conscience tells me that burning people alive is brutal. I also think in the West there are many present-day consciences who would have problems with the

Re: Arson

2005-01-23 Thread Popeyesays
In a message dated 1/23/2005 4:04:38 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I honestly don't understand what you mean. As an individual it seemslike you can have your own sense of right and wrong which might bedifferent from those of people around you. But I don't know what youmean

Re: Arson

2005-01-23 Thread Mark A. Foster
Gilberto, At 03:47 PM 1/23/2005, you wrote: So does that mean that conscience isn't thought of as some sort of internalized sense of right and wrong? To my understanding, the conscience is a person's internalization of socially constructed moral codes. However, there is, in addition, what

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