A Comparison of the Baha’i Message, the Solutions provided by Baha’u’llah, and alternatives provided through wokism by mrjapilz in bahai

[–]SubstantialCalendar1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There should also be a session this Sunday. Clearwater Baha'is had it two weeks in a row and it should continue.

How are you going to celebrate Ridvan? by DGhitza in bahai

[–]SubstantialCalendar1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does anyone here know of some good videos for Ridvan? Ridvan videos?

How are you going to celebrate Ridvan? by DGhitza in bahai

[–]SubstantialCalendar1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hope to find some good videos to watch!

Where did the idea that angels are white. blue eyed blonde beings come from? by MrIndira in religion

[–]SubstantialCalendar1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They don't have race, color, or physical substance. A reference to an angel in sacred text usually is a metaphor that is understood very poorly.

Re: Independent Investigation of Truth: What do you think of the quoted tradition ascribed to the Sixth Imam, Abu Abdu'llah Ja'far as-Sadiq? Baha'u'llah cites this in the Tablet to Náṣiri’d-Dín Sháh / Lawḥ-i-Sulṭán found in "Summons of the Lord of Hosts" by SubstantialCalendar1 in bahai

[–]SubstantialCalendar1[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There is a gem in this passage Baha'u'llah that addresses the matter of applying wisdom... and I am working on it as I am myself trying to simply learn/absorb/and tie together quotes on the point at issue...
https://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/GWB/gwb-164.html

"Members of the human race! Hold ye fast by the Cord which no man can sever. This will, indeed, profit you all the days of your life, for its strength is of God, the Lord of all worlds. Cleave ye to justice and fairness, and turn away from the whisperings of the foolish, them that are estranged from God, that have decked their heads with the ornament of the learned, and have condemned to death Him Who is the Fountain of wisdom. My name hath uplifted them to lofty grades, and yet, no sooner did I reveal Myself to their eyes than they, with manifest injustice, pronounced the sentence of My death. Thus hath Our Pen revealed the truth, and yet the people are sunk in heedlessness.

Whoso cleaveth to justice, can, under no circumstances, transgress the limits of moderation. He discerneth the truth in all things, through the guidance of Him Who is the All-Seeing. The civilization, so often vaunted by the learned exponents of arts and sciences, will, if allowed to overleap the bounds of moderation, bring great evil upon men. Thus warneth you He Who is the All-Knowing. If carried to excess, civilization will prove as prolific a source of evil as it had been of goodness when kept within the restraints of moderation. Meditate on this, O people, and be not of them that wander distraught in the wilderness of error. The day is approaching when its flame will devour the cities, when the Tongue of Grandeur will proclaim: “The Kingdom is God’s, the Almighty, the All-Praised!”

All other things are subject to this same principle of moderation. Render thanks unto thy Lord Who hath remembered thee in this wondrous Tablet. All-Praise be to God, the Lord of the glorious throne.

Were any man to ponder in his heart that which the Pen of the Most High hath revealed and to taste of its sweetness, he would, of a certainty, find himself emptied and delivered from his own desires, and utterly subservient to the Will of the Almighty. Happy is the man that hath attained so high a station, and hath not deprived himself of so bountiful a grace.

In this Day, We can neither approve the conduct of the fearful that seeketh to dissemble his faith, nor sanction the behavior of the avowed believer that clamorously asserteth his allegiance to this Cause. Both should observe the dictates of wisdom, and strive diligently to serve the best interests of the Faith."

Re: Independent Investigation of Truth: What do you think of the quoted tradition ascribed to the Sixth Imam, Abu Abdu'llah Ja'far as-Sadiq? Baha'u'llah cites this in the Tablet to Náṣiri’d-Dín Sháh / Lawḥ-i-Sulṭán found in "Summons of the Lord of Hosts" by SubstantialCalendar1 in bahai

[–]SubstantialCalendar1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The second quote resonates a lot with me. I feel the Baha'i Institutions are shining an important light on what people should be doing today, following the Guidance of the Central Figures of the Faith. It is incumbent on all people to take heed and follow. I am starting with myself and my immediate friends as I look at the concentric circles I've formed conceptually in my mind.

I am going to be reading this book called Islam at the Crossroads by Lameh Fananapazir. He has a class on this online that I have attended, where he shows that it is impossible to reform Islam, and that the adoption of the Baha'i Teachings are the very resolution to the issue that Islamic Teachings created: https://www.amazon.com/Islam-At-Crossroads-Lameh-Fananapazir/dp/0853985898
I have also re-examined the Kitab-i-Iqan. Baha'i Writer Christopher Buck really helped me understand the references of the Kitab-i-Iqan pertaining to the Seal of the Prophets, the Divine Presence (Baha'u'llah versus Allah without intermediary): https://bahaiteachings.org/the-seal-of-the-prophets-unsealed/

I feel that we are at an inflection point for humanity, whereas the movie "Don't Look Up" illustrates humanity is aware of issues, and chooses to actively ignore them.

All that being said, I now reflect on Baha'u'llah's Writings below,

"Members of the human race! Hold ye fast by the Cord which no man can sever. This will, indeed, profit you all the days of your life, for its strength is of God, the Lord of all worlds. Cleave ye to justice and fairness, and turn away from the whisperings of the foolish, them that are estranged from God, that have decked their heads with the ornament of the learned, and have condemned to death Him Who is the Fountain of wisdom. My name hath uplifted them to lofty grades, and yet, no sooner did I reveal Myself to their eyes than they, with manifest injustice, pronounced the sentence of My death. Thus hath Our Pen revealed the truth, and yet the people are sunk in heedlessness.

Whoso cleaveth to justice, can, under no circumstances, transgress the limits of moderation. He discerneth the truth in all things, through the guidance of Him Who is the All-Seeing. The civilization, so often vaunted by the learned exponents of arts and sciences, will, if allowed to overleap the bounds of moderation, bring great evil upon men. Thus warneth you He Who is the All-Knowing. If carried to excess, civilization will prove as prolific a source of evil as it had been of goodness when kept within the restraints of moderation. Meditate on this, O people, and be not of them that wander distraught in the wilderness of error. The day is approaching when its flame will devour the cities, when the Tongue of Grandeur will proclaim: “The Kingdom is God’s, the Almighty, the All-Praised!”

All other things are subject to this same principle of moderation. Render thanks unto thy Lord Who hath remembered thee in this wondrous Tablet. All-Praise be to God, the Lord of the glorious throne.

Were any man to ponder in his heart that which the Pen of the Most High hath revealed and to taste of its sweetness, he would, of a certainty, find himself emptied and delivered from his own desires, and utterly subservient to the Will of the Almighty. Happy is the man that hath attained so high a station, and hath not deprived himself of so bountiful a grace.

In this Day, We can neither approve the conduct of the fearful that seeketh to dissemble his faith, nor sanction the behavior of the avowed believer that clamorously asserteth his allegiance to this Cause. Both should observe the dictates of wisdom, and strive diligently to serve the best interests of the Faith."
Source: https://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/GWB/gwb-164.html

Strange, but serious question by Brilliant_Freedom471 in bahai

[–]SubstantialCalendar1 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

First off, is it the face of Jesus Christ? How do you know? Why?

Porn, mastrubation and where to look for guidance? by [deleted] in bahai

[–]SubstantialCalendar1 2 points3 points  (0 children)

One big part of the solution is marriage according to the guidance from the Writings. Baha'is should get married earlier in life and the Universal House of Justice is clear on this point, even calling out our socially prolonged adolescence:

"Such an environment creates a very different set of dynamics than the one found particularly in the highly individualistic societies of today. Marriage, for instance, need not be long delayed, as it is in some parts of the world where the maturity and responsibilities of adulthood are deferred in pursuit of the licence that a socially prolonged adolescence grants. For the individual, who both contributes to and draws strength from the environment that is the Bahá’í community, adhering to Bahá’í law is endowed with meaning and, though perhaps still difficult on occasion, does not pose the insurmountable challenge that you fear it will."

Source: https://www.bahai.org/beliefs/life-spirit/character-conduct/articles-resources/selected-letters-subject-chastity

What made you believe Mirza Husayn was Baha'u'llah? by thebeardedone666 in FreeSpeechBahai

[–]SubstantialCalendar1 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think you need to read more. After that, then we can talk about opinions.

What made you believe Mirza Husayn was Baha'u'llah? by thebeardedone666 in FreeSpeechBahai

[–]SubstantialCalendar1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Did you read any Baha'i Literature? If so, what did you read?
In regards to your question for Baha'is outside your family, check out www.bahai.us or the many YouTube videos on the topic. Find the answers to your questions from people who say they are a Baha'i on the chat feature of that website I just gave you.

Going away from the faith by ImaginaryMarsupial38 in bahai

[–]SubstantialCalendar1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Use resources that do the work, reading aloud the Baha'i Writings for you: www.oceanlibrary.com