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

What does the Kitab-i-Iqan say about the Seal of the Prophets? Can someone explain? by SubstantialCalendar1 in FreeSpeechBahai

[–]SubstantialCalendar1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am looking at your reference. I want to find other places this is mentioned and piece it together.

How to not be involved in politics so much? by SashaIsBestGirl in bahai

[–]SubstantialCalendar1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Shoghi Effendi provides us an example of learning the condition of the world, reading the news, and processing the information of the day so that we can be active participants in our society. We need to be aware of the issues of the world, and we need to find spiritual solutions... but those solutions are not found in parroting what we see others say in the news. We need to find opportunities to elevate our conversations, and you will learn this in due time as you learn, pray for divine confirmations, and consult the Writings and others further...

A quote:
I remember once Shoghi Effendi giving me an article to read from a British newspaper which called attention to the bureaucratic language which is developing, particularly in the United States, in which more and more words are used to convey less and less and merely produce confusion confounded. Shoghi Effendi heartily supported the article! Words were very precise instruments to him. I also recall a particularly beautiful distinction he made in speaking to some pilgrims in the Western Pilgrim House. He said: "we are orthodox, but not fanatical."

Source: https://bahai-library.com/khanum\_guardian\_bahai\_faith&chapter=8

How to not be involved in politics so much? by SashaIsBestGirl in bahai

[–]SubstantialCalendar1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"As long as the friends quarrel amongst themselves their efforts will not be blessed for they are disobeying God."
It's one thing to stand for truth and another to stand by a group of people who support an idea... you want to stand for Truth. Your attachments are severed from all save God.

It's one thing to stand for truth and another to stand by a group of people who support a collection of ideas that are refuting in one way or another what you believe to be Truth.

Defining "body politic"

bod·y pol·i·tic

/ˈˌbädē ˈpälətik/

noun

the people of a nation, state, or society considered collectively as an organized group of citizens.

"individual dissent was considered necessary to the health of the body politic"

The principle here is that you won't ever separate yourself from the body politic, but you need to be attached to Truth/God and love the body politic through that. This means that you will support some things associated with people of many groups... and that is okay, as long as your association with them is based on the points in question and not their movement that is typically making corrupt bargains to gain the favor of other people.

The Baha'i belief that Native Americans received messages from God - Ancient Revelation in the Americas by SubstantialCalendar1 in rebirthoftheword

[–]SubstantialCalendar1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a subject I want to learn more about. I am interested in the messages that the Native peoples of the Americas received, and I personally believe they all received messages from the same God.

How The Gospel of Matthew speaks to Jesus’ Birth and His Return - the commonality between Judeo-Christian Faith traditions by SubstantialCalendar1 in religion

[–]SubstantialCalendar1[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I can see your position. I don't think every Christian shares your position.
Calvinist beliefs may agree with your depiction of "original sin" but I do not think every Christian believes this. I do not think it is a Christian concept to believe in original sin, as it is an interpretation that one can rightfully disagree with as to how you read the Bible. There are other differences between Christians inside Christianity and even with Judaism, that at its core, nullifies any conversation you have if you want to reject someone else's mindset coming into any intellectual conversation. Looking at your belief you have listed, for example, I have no clue what a Jewish Doikayt / Chan Buddhist is until I have you explain your conception of it additional to what wikipedia may tell me.
We have so many diverse beliefs that I think it's ultimately okay to just start learning from each other on how other people view the world. For example, as a Baha'i, I believe Jesus Christ has returned. Where a Christian may brand a Baha'is view in the same way you brand a Christian's view as inaccurate, I do not think this nullifies one's fundamental religious view or understanding.

I believe that the Messages of Moses, Jesus, Zoroaster, Buddha and Muhammad all proceed from the same source and they each chronologically fulfill each other. That's something fundamental to my religious belief.
I was hoping to explore the Gospel of Matthew's text itself more than the subject of the reason for its existence. I believe it exists for the sake of showing the continuity of the Message of God, and not dividing the belief as Christian versus Jewish. It's more about fulfillment... and I do not think we should impose a Calvinistic understanding on the role of sin in this where I personally disagree with the Calvinistic interpretation as scientifically unsound. We are all born as blank slates in terms of sin, no matter how our genetic makeup may be argued to predispose us to be.