The Baha'i Studies Listserv Dear Matt, Gilberto I for one appreciate your presence here. You demonstrate the best ecumenical spirit, which does not involve soft-pedalling one's own beliefs, but engaging in dialogue based on person to person respect. Two of the Bahai members on this list have not shown that spirit, and this is to be regretted. I am very glad to know that you understand that this does not reflect anything of the Bahai teachings, but rather bitterness and defensiveness for which there are historical reasons, amplified by the enormous volume of anti-Islam material that is now available and which, by simple repetition, comes to appear factual.
Sen On 31 Dec 2010 at 4:04, Matt Haase wrote: > I have been meditating on our heated discussions for the last couple > of hours, and have considered my possible role in the conflict. At the > moment, I am unsure if I should leave this list as I don't want to be > a reason for contention among Baha'is. When Susan said that she wanted > to shut this list down, I got very sad, and felt guilty like I was > part of the problem. As a Muslim, I don't want to be a cause of grief > for Baha'is. For the last seven years, I have tried my best to show > Baha'is that not all Muslims have to hate the Baha'i Faith, or > disparage them. I have befriended many, and most of my best friends > are Baha'is, not Muslim. I understand that some Baha'is have had > traumatic experiences at the hands of Muslims, and this can cause > bitterness and psychological defense mechanisms for some. I often try > to remember that, and be forgiving because I don't think it is "them" > that is reacting that way, but the pain screaming out. But sometimes I > don't, and I get offended like a human being does, and then I get > defensive. I usually try to be as objective and "sin-covering" as > possible. I try not to look to the worst possible interpretation of > something, but the best possible interpretation of something. There > was a time when I looked through the Baha'i Writings with detective > eyes, trying to find a quote here or there that spoke ill of Islam or > Muslims. I found them. I found dozens. But something strange happened > years later. After reading those same texts, I couldn't find those > passages anymore. Surely, these are the same books, but why couldn't I > find them? Because I wasn't looking for them. There is a proverb which > states that a person finds whatever they are looking for in religion. > If they are looking for hate, they find hate. If they look for love, > they find love. If they are looking for "superstitions" that proves > how stupid religion is, they find superstitions, etc. My path is not > the path of justice, but mercy. > > __________________________________________________ > You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:sen.so...@casema.nl > Unsubscribe: send a blank email to > mailto:leave-549433-722276.e949cd65ee3832db6e13381842c92...@list.jccc. > edu Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to > ly...@list.jccc.edu Or 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 (on-campus only) - > news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Old Public - > http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net New Public - > http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:arch...@mail-archive.com Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:leave-549446-27401.54f46e81b66496c9909bcdc2f7987...@list.jccc.edu Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to ly...@list.jccc.edu Or 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 (on-campus only) - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu
