Gilberto: Maybe it's just me, but from my perspective,
humanity's biggest problem isn't ignorance as much as
forgetfulness. As human beings, to a large degree I think we
know what we ought to be doing. We know we shouldn't steal and
murder. We know we shouldn't exploit and take advantage of
other people. We know we should try to get along better with
our fellow man. We know we should be more generous and fight
less. We know we shouldn't lie. What we need is to figure out
how to do the things we already know we are supposed to be
doing. And I'm not persuaded that we need a new revelation in
order to accomplish that.
The contingent world is the source of imperfections: God is
the origin of perfections. The imperfections of the contingent
world are in themselves a proof of the perfections of God.
For example, when you look at man, you see that he is weak.
This very weakness of the creature is a proof of the power of
the Eternal Almighty One, because, if there were no power,
weakness could not be imagined. Then the weakness of the
creature is a proof of the power of God; for if there were no
power, there could be no weakness; so from this weakness it
becomes evident that there is power in the world. Again, in
the contingent world there is poverty; then necessarily wealth
exists, since poverty is apparent in the world. In the
contingent world there is ignorance; necessarily knowledge
exists, because ignorance is found; for if there were no
knowledge, neither would there be ignorance. Ignorance is the
nonexistence of knowledge, and if there were no existence,
nonexistence could not be realized. (Abdu'l-Baha, Some
Answered Questions, p. 5)
Dear Gilberto,
One cannot forget what they never knew. ; ) Literacy is an
essential prerequisite in this Day.
O SON OF SPIRIT!
The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn
not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not
that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with
thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt
know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of
thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee
to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My
loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes. (Baha'u'llah,
The Arabic Hidden Words)
Lovingly, Sandra
__
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:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu
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
