Hi, Gilberto, At 01:38 PM 12/12/2004, you wrote: >>Especially given the other kinds of differences which Bahais seek to try to >>reconcile, could it be the distinction you are trying to make here is more >>along the lines of Po-tay-to, Po-tah-to?<<
However, your premise is incorrect. Accents can only be evaluated in the context of geography. The correctness of one is not negated by the correctness of the other. Similarly, not all Baha'is seek to reconcile differences. If one assumes that "truths" can only be evaluated in the context of a particular divine Revelation, or paradigm, such attempts at reconciliation would be pointless. >>I just meant to suggest the possibility that God let's us see according to >>our own paradigms.<< I would say that is more than a possibility. Doesn't the diversity of conceptions make it true by definition? >>That religious diversity is ordained in some sense. There is an interesting >>hadith where God says "I am as My servant thinks I am".<< As a sociologist of religion, I respect religious diversity. However, I have no desire to see Baha'i views imposed on the doctrines of other religions, and to then call it "diversity." >>I think there is a level where I think all religions (except for maybe the >>Hale-Bopp followin'-poison-kool-aid-drinking-gun-stockpilin' death cults) >>are all positve in that they all tend to reinforce and affirm the basic >>minimal standards of Earthling morality.<< Minimal standards are subjective, and much depends on which religious movements would be included in one's definition. The problem with broad, generalizing statements is that they tend to simple restatements, or projections, of the views of the speaker or writer. For instance, if I were to point out religions which conflict with other religions on certain moral issues, someone could come back and reject them as "religions" or argue that the ethical differences are not significant. >>And then in some narrower sense, the Abrahamic religions have alot more >>common ground.<< Which branches of the Abrahamic religions? >>And then there is a sense in which I would say Islam is true and other >>religions are less true, but I would be willing to concede that I'm operating >>from a particular paradigm and that at the end of things when we hopefully >>can see things more clearly we'll all be able to laugh and say "Oh, so THAT's >>what an elephant looks like"<< What I would suggest is that each religion presents us with a new elephant. Spiritual "blindness" can only be evaluated in relation to it. >>I'm talking about religious matters now. Spirituality, theology.<< However, what does it mean to discuss "religious matters"? In effect, one is discussing movements which conform to one's definition. >>Yes, so that would be a decent example of what I"m talking about. The >>civilizational/cultural split seems is rather salient even in the "same" >>religion.<< In the Buddhisms, the Sino-Japanese variants are syncretisms are the Buddha Dharma with teachings from Taoism and Confucianism. Mark A. Foster * http://markfoster.net "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:[EMAIL PROTECTED] 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
