Rich, At 08:03 PM 9/9/2005, you wrote: >>My point was that the Gilberto made a statement about how Baha'is react to or >>regard covenant breakers. While I can respect your methodology, I think in >>the case given I think it muddied the picture rather than making it clearer.<<
It is clear that Baha'is, out of obedience to the Universal House of Justice, do not associate with Covenant-breakers. In fact, I mentioned that point in one of my postings. As a Baha'i, I do not consider such people to be Baha'is. However, both as a sociologist and an individual, I take a person's religious identity on face value. IMO, this approach both affirms the Baha'i Covenant and respects the freedom of conscience of those with whom I may personally disagree. >>I guess, what troubles me is that appears that there is a willingness to >>ignore or shuffle off the Faith when we put on our academic hats.<< I don't ignore either "hat." However, I believe that subjects can be simultaneously approached from different perspectives. >>Non Baha'is on the list, at least to me, seem to be asking for Baha'i >>responses not academic responses. While I believe that scholarship can indeed >>help the Faith, it's job is to help us understand the teachings, not relace >>them. I with Aquinas, where Revelation and Reason collide, Revelation is >>correct.<< IMO, contradictory standpoints can be correct - even when they collide (or seem to). >>Again, I'm sorry if I offended you Mark, I hold you in the greatest respect. >>I just don't agree with you here.<< Thanks for saying that. Via moderna, Mark A. Foster . http://markfoster.net ... since [a] word is said to be common, it can be called a universal. - Wm. of Ockham, Summa Logicae, part I Structurization Tech: http://tech.structurization.com The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments thereto ("e-mail") is sent by the Johnson County Community College ("JCCC") and is intended to be confidential and for the use of only the individual or entity named above. The information may be protected by federal and state privacy and disclosures acts or other legal rules. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are notified that retention, dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error please immediately notify JCCC by email reply and immediately and permanently delete this e-mail message and any attachments thereto. Thank you. __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:archive@mail-archive.com Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 - 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
