[net.religion] Radical Sect of Baha'i

walker@noscvax.UUCP (Janet M. Walker) (12/10/84)

>>The official national leaders of the Ba'hai have censured  Jensen
>>for  his radically insane ideas.  

  CORRECT.  NO MATTER WHAT MR. JENSEN WOULD LIKE TO CALL HIMSELF, YOU
  MAY BE ASSURED HE IS NOT CONSIDERED A BAHA'I AT THIS TIME!!

>>just want to point out that  there  is  always  the  danger  of  false
>>prophets  rising  up in any faith or creed.  We must stay alert to the
>>more dangerous cults so as to prevent another tragedy  like  Jonestown
>>from happening again.

  I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE!!!

  There are several proofs of prophethood which are given in the Bible
  and  in other religion's holy books.  Unless they are all fulfilled,
  a person claiming to be sent by God is a fraud.  It is incumbent  on
  everyone   who   becomes   aware   of   such  a  person  to  examine
  dispassionately, objectively, and without bias that  person's  claim
  in the light of these criteria.

  1) Are  their  moral  teachings  consistent  with  those  that  are
     generally  associated  with  religious teachings. (i.e. - do they
     advocate honesty as opposed to dishonesty,  love  as  opposed  to
     hate, etc.)

  2) Do they live in STRICT accordance with their own teachings.  (NOT
     "do as I say, but not as I do")

  3) Have the prophecies which they have made come true and when  they
     said they would.

  Not only should we do this when we suspect  that  someone  has  been
  making  false  claims, but we all owe it to ourselves to investigate
  FOR OURSELVES any time such a claim is made.  In many cases  we  can
  very  quickly  weed  out the frauds.  Unfortunately, there is a long
  history of power hungry people in the world.  But also don't  forget
  that  Christianity  was not generally accepted and 'mainstream' 1900
  years ago, nor Islam 1100 years ago, nor Judiasm in its early years.
  Now,  however, we have whole societies built upon the foundations of
  these religions... which leads to a 4th criterium:

  4) "By their fruits ye shall know them." Does the religion appear to
     have the power to ACTUALLY change its adherents to better people.
-- 
  Janet M. Walker                              MILNET/ARPANET: walker@nosc
  UUCP: [ihnp4,akgua,decvax,dcdwest,ucbvax]!sdcsvax!noscvax!walker
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  "O Friend!  In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love."
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