Hello Gilberto,
I am no scholar, so I can't comment on the Qur'an or the sharia,
but I hope you will not mind if I contribute a layman's view.
Gilberto:
>But if there is one
group which says "Yes, we also believe that all religions are one" but
then also says "but we are the most advanced" or "we are the most
mature" or "We are a new kind of humanity" then that doesn't sound
like they really believe that "all religions are one". <
group which says "Yes, we also believe that all religions are one" but
then also says "but we are the most advanced" or "we are the most
mature" or "We are a new kind of humanity" then that doesn't sound
like they really believe that "all religions are one". <
Tim:
First, I think it is important to distinguish between the teachings
of Baha'u'llah, which Baha'is believe are pure and from God, and the followers
of Baha'u'llah, who have imperfect understanding of those teachings.
The Baha'i Faith is not what the Baha'is say it is. The Baha'i Faith is
what Baha'u'llah and His legitimate successors say it is. That is,
the criterion by which to assess this religion is the teachings of Baha'u'llah,
not necessarily what I say or what any other Baha'i says.
I assume the same principle holds for Islam.
For example, Baha'u'llah has written:
"Show forbearance and benevolence and love to one another. Should any one among you be incapable of grasping a certain truth, or be striving to comprehend it, show forth, when conversing with him, a spirit of extreme kindliness and good-will. Help him to see and recognize the truth, without esteeming yourself to be, in the least, superior to him, or to be possessed of greater endowments."
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 8)
He has also wrote:
"Know thou assuredly that the essence of all the Prophets of God is one and the same. Their unity is absolute. God, the Creator, saith: There is no distinction whatsoever among the Bearers of My Message. They all have but one purpose; their secret is the same secret. To prefer one in honor to another, to exalt certain ones above the rest, is in no wise to be permitted"
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 78)
Gilberto:
>I wouldn't assume that Paul was an accurate and faithful transmitter
of Jesus' teachings so the above isn't a really good example.<
of Jesus' teachings so the above isn't a really good example.<
Tim:
I agree. Jesus did not confer any authority on Paul; Paul's
letters reflect nothing more than the opinions of a man
who was a fervent believer, but also fallible. Paul's
opinion have no more authority than yours or mine. It's
unfortunate that his teachings have come to be regarded
as sacred scripture by most Christian denominations.
Gilberto:
>As a Bahai you almost
NEED to believe that Islam is useless and old because otherwise there
wouldn't have been a NEED for the Bab or Bahaullah.<
NEED to believe that Islam is useless and old because otherwise there
wouldn't have been a NEED for the Bab or Bahaullah.<
Tim:
Do you need to believe that Christianity is useless and old because
otherwise there wouldn't have been any need for Muhammad?
Do you think it is a good idea to tell other people what they need to believe?
Isn't that for them to decide?
In my view, it is not necessary to believe that previous revelations
are useless in order to believe in a more recent Messenger of God.
It is God, not us, Who determines what the need is.
In fact, a belief that Islam is useless would make it impossible for me
to believe in Baha'u'llah. How can a revelation from God ever
be useless? The fact that Islam is good and true does not
mean that God has nothing more to teach us. The revelation
of God is an endless, fathomless ocean, and no Manifestation
-including Baha'u'llah - has ever brought us everything God has to teach us.
God's lessons are revealed gradually, step by step, because that
is how humanity can grasp them.
With good wishes,
Tim Nolan
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