[net.religion] Unanswered questions...

walker@noscvax.UUCP (Janet M. Walker) (03/28/85)

  Because it  has  been  stated  several  times  that  Baha'is  leave  some
  questions  unanswered  and  that they persist in using quotations, I will
  give an explanation.  Much of  that  is  true.  We  will  not  engage  in
  arguments.  If  a  person chosses to reject what we offer, that is his or
  her choice and we accept that.  We are not allowed to proselytize nor  do
  we  seek  to  argue or demean anyone, as that is contrary to our precepts
  which teach us to love and  respect  ALL  people  as  creatures  of  God.
  Baha'u'llah  teaches  the elimination of ALL forms of prejudice - whether
  it be religious, racial, sexual, economic,  social,  etc.  We  cannot  do
  that  and  fail  to respect each person's right to their opinion.  No one
  can ever know what another person's capacity or perceptions might be.  We
  can,  however,  offer  what  we believe to be the Message of God for this
  day.  After that it is  each  person's  responsiblity  to  ascertain  for
  themselves  if  it is true.  And in spite of all of us, if it is true and
  it is of God it WILL endure and bear fruit.

  As for using quotations, that is certainly true.  Their can  be  no  word
  greater  than  the  Creative  Word  of a Manifestation of God.  All other
  words are but pale reflections of that, subject to  human  frailties  and
  personal interpretations.  Therefore, it is those divinely-inspired words
  which we prefer.  Even within the Baha'i Faith,  if  two  Baha'is  should
  argue  then  they  are  both  wrong  and  should  turn immediately to the
  Writings.  We can offer you no less.

  We will be happy to respond  to  sincere  questions  and  will  at  times
  express  our  own  opinions, but preferably on a more intimate basis than
  the general network because they will be just that - our OWN opinions.

              "Consort with the followers of all religions
               in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship"

mrh@cybvax0.UUCP (Mike Huybensz) (03/29/85)

Flame on:

In article <854@noscvax.UUCP> walker@noscvax.UUCP (Janet M. Walker) writes:
>   Because it  has  been  stated  several  times  that  Baha'is  leave  some
>   questions  unanswered  and  that they persist in using quotations, I will
>   give an explanation.  Much of  that  is  true.  We  will  not  engage  in
>   arguments.  If  a  person chosses to reject what we offer, that is his or
>   her choice and we accept that.  We are not allowed to proselytize nor  do
>   we  seek  to  argue or demean anyone, as that is contrary to our precepts
>   which teach us to love and  respect  ALL  people  as  creatures  of  God.

Somehow, the trying to converse with people who merely recite ambiguous
sacred texts in response to questions reminds me strongly of the television
show "The Prisoner".

>   Baha'u'llah  teaches  the elimination of ALL forms of prejudice - whether
>   it be religious, racial, sexual, economic,  social,  etc.  We  cannot  do

"Except for those abominations, the schismatic dogs who also claim to be
Baha'is whom we reject with the fervor any Islamic mullah would direct at
an opponent.  But most of the time we try to pretend they don't exist."
(There is a tiny US-based Baha'i sect independant of the middle-eastern
religious hierarchy.)

>   that  and  fail  to respect each person's right to their opinion.  No one
>   can ever know what another person's capacity or perceptions might be.  We
>   can,  however,  offer  what  we believe to be the Message of God for this
>   day.  After that it is  each  person's  responsiblity  to  ascertain  for
>   themselves  if  it is true.  And in spite of all of us, if it is true and
>   it is of God it WILL endure and bear fruit.

That last sentence is semanticly null gibberish.  You could say the same
about ANY belief, undertaking, etc.  Religious leaders have used that sort
of BS to justify all sorts of tyrannies.

>   As for using quotations, that is certainly true.  Their can  be  no  word
>   greater  than  the  Creative  Word  of a Manifestation of God.  All other
>   words are but pale reflections of that, subject to  human  frailties  and
>   personal interpretations.  Therefore, it is those divinely-inspired words
>   which we prefer.  Even within the Baha'i Faith,  if  two  Baha'is  should
>   argue  then  they  are  both  wrong  and  should  turn immediately to the
>   Writings.  We can offer you no less.

The Baha'i faith is not free of schisms.  Therefore both sides of the schism
are wrong?  Oh, also Baha'is can appeal to the successor of their prophet.
Yup, Baha'is have a "pope".

>   We will be happy to respond  to  sincere  questions  and  will  at  times
>   express  our  own  opinions, but preferably on a more intimate basis than
>   the general network because they will be just that - our OWN opinions.

Because they want to avoid general ridicule of their arguments.
Five people might separately be converted by arguments that a group might
discuss and reject.  A simple application of divide and conquer.
-- 

Mike Huybensz		...decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!cybvax0!mrh