In a message dated 12/29/2004 11:03:09 A.M. Central Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Dear Ron,
The existence of a man who inspired such stories would certainly not
violate the physical laws of the universe but wouldn't it take supernatural
knowledge to know if someone actually lived nearly four thousand years ago when
we have no records from that time telling us of them? And it sounds like
anything supernatural is considered by you to be a violation of the
physical laws of the universe. Otherwise there would be no reason to object to
the notion of omniscience. But by the way, what physical law of the universal
does omniscience and infallibility actually violate?
"As usual, there is the question of waht does "omniscient at will"
mean?"
Yes, and that is the real question you ought to be raising.
"I apply to the this statement of the Guardian's secretary the standard
raised by Baha'u'llah when assessing the Books of previous Manifestations: is it credible literally, or does it require spiritual interpretation to make it credible?" I wasn't aware that was the standard He used. There are times when He
discounts an interpretation because it is logically absurd, but that I don't
think He suggests that statements of scripture as a whole be understood
literally or not on the basis of the criteria you state. Perhaps you have a
specific passage in mind?
In any case, the standard I tend to use in interpreting such statements is
whether or not it fits the context. Otherwise I tend to leave 'spiritualized'
interpretations which go far beyond the context, to the Manifestation Himself or
to authorized interpreters.
" is the Guardian's secretary now a
higher authority than the text of teh Quran to which Baha'u'llah applied this standard in teh IqaN? You begin to see how our literal understanding of Infallibility begins to cause absurdities, (as secretary with more Authority than than Muhammad and Baha'u'llah combined)." The Guardian's secretary has no authority whatsoever. It is the Guardian
which has authority and tells his secretaries what to write. And yes, ultimately
it is the authoritative interpretations of the Guardian which determine
Baha'u'llah's intention.
"What are these miracles "associated: with Baha'u'llah? How are they associated?" You will find lots of them mentioned by those around Him.
"Did Baha'u'llah record them Himself?"
Nope. He didn't consider them worthy of mention. But He never denied He
performed them.
"But the miracles I believe in are
spiritual, not violations of natural physical law. God is a law maker, not a law breaker." I tend to think that natural law is nothing more than the way God
customarily does things.
"I agree, Their Divine Nature is completely real, but spiritual, not physical. Their physical natures were human. You do in spiritual realities, do you not?" Yep. I just don't regard them as symbolic.
warmest, Susan
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- Re: Questions about Omniscience and related matters Smaneck
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- re: Questions about Omniscience and related matters Brent Poirier
- Re: Questions about Omniscience and related matters Ron Stephens
- Re: Questions about Omniscience and related matters Ron Stephens
- Re: Questions about Omniscience and related matters Popeyesays
- RE: Questions about Omniscience and related matters Susan Maneck
- Re: Questions about Omniscience and related matters Brent Poirier