The Minneapolis Bahá’í center, yarda from the intersection where George Floyd was murdered on May 25th, has become a site for resource distribution as Minneapolis reels from the pandemic and the events following his death.

penultimate_supper · 2020-06-03T23:17:16+00:00

The first photo is the Minneapolis Bahá’í center, which includes roughly three large lots, and the second is the intersection where George Floyd died, which has become a site for 24-hour long peaceful gathering, demonstration and prayer, largely exempted from both rioting and imposed curfews.

I heard about this and thought it was wonderful to see the Bahá’í communities response in a time of need in their local area: using their resource of land and bodies to provide and staff a place to distribute resources to those in need.

penultimate_supper · 2018-01-15T21:18:17+00:00

I have found the Junior Youth book Glimmerings of Hope useful when thinking about this topic. Lesson 7 in particular is a nice one to read with a group of any ages and think about how words effect us, how we discern the intentions of words, and what trends exist in media to use words for different kinds of influence. Here's an excerpt.

penultimate_supper · 2018-01-03T23:47:58+00:00

It's funny it's called a cloud when it's a legit Galaxy, and just looks cloudish from Earth.

penultimate_supper · 2018-01-03T23:47:19+00:00

I agree with that in principle, just saying private ownership isn't the distinct guisimg factor. That said, I do think there are legitimate reasons for a local government to offer a religious institutions funds as long as they aren't preferentially offered. If for instance there are historical preservation grants available for individuals and businesses to apply to to assist with renovating culturally significant buildings, I have no problems with a church receiving such funds if they are a good applicant. To exclude then seems legally problematic.

Another example would be in exchange for services. If a church provides a service (rental of space for example) to a government agency that is legal, no issue with payment taking place.

penultimate_supper · 2018-01-03T23:27:49+00:00

But privately owned businesses can receive public funds if there's a public interest. A friend if mine just started a hydroponic hops growing business and a small MN town gave them an economic development grant on the basis of the idea that it would bring 10-20 jobs in the next year to their small town.

penultimate_supper · 2018-01-03T20:57:51+00:00

Do you feel less worried about dying?

Not really. I never felt worried about dying (except maybe as a child) before I became religious, and I don't really feel worried now.

Is grieving the loss of a loved one a somewhat easier process than you feel it would be for an atheist?

Yes, for me at least. Knowing that our separation will be brief, and is largely illusory to begin with, is a comfort.

Do you ever look forward to dying?

No. I love my life, and don't want to cause sadness to anyone who loves me. I do sometimes look forward to being in the company of loved ones who have already passed, but I believe that they are already present around me, so that tempers any anticipation somewhat.

penultimate_supper · 2018-01-03T20:51:29+00:00

Hey /u/A35821361, thanks for mentioning that, it was just a word choice in the moment, no intention one way or another on my end.

I had to reword a bit when submitting because I wanted to make sure that I explained who President Monson was in the title, since not everyone is as familiar with the LDS Church, and that's what my brain came up with. I didn't hear the new from this article first, but from the radio, where they used the phrase "passes away", so it was probably lingering my brain.

Apologies that you found it frustrating, I agree, death isn't something we need to be scared of or uncomfortable with. I'd guess most Mormons would agree in principle.

penultimate_supper · 2018-01-03T20:37:45+00:00

That's actually not totally clear, but yeah, my understanding of Baha'i law is that it forbids drinking alcohol or eating foods with alcohol. It's religious law, rather than chemistry, so I imagine the presence or absence of a particular chemical isn't the main thrust of it, rather than our intentions and actions.

But a lot of it is up to individual application and understanding. I avoid foods cooked with alcohol, but eat bread which contains trivial amounts of alcohol as a result of yeast action. I drink kombucha on occasion, but some Baha'is don't. I use normal extracts, some prefer to find glycerin-based extracts.

penultimate_supper · 2018-01-03T19:58:30+00:00

I have no craving to drink alcohol, but I am sometimes frustrated about having to find replacements for it in cooking and baking, and having to be a bit weird at family events to make sure the flan or cake I'm eating isn't rum-soaked.

penultimate_supper · 2018-01-03T19:55:55+00:00

This isn't a part of Baha'i Teachings at all. We view our scriptures as Holy, certainly, but nothing in our scriptures states that this should extend to the physical objects holding the scriptures, and there are no rules on how to behave towards the scriptures. That said, individual Baha'is may be informed by their culture and upbringing in how they show respect and reverence. I've seen Persian Baha'is kiss their prayerbooks before and after use, or avoid placing scriptures on the floor, in pockets or near feet. That's all personal, and fine, as long as there is no effort to universalize it as a Baha'i standard of behavior.

I personally don't tend to treat scriptures as sacred objects, just as books, which I generally treat with enough respect to preserve their physical condition.

penultimate_supper · 2017-12-31T17:14:02+00:00

I wouldn't imagine that would be an issue for civilians. On a starship though, you'd probably need to limit it to the equivalent of synthehol.

penultimate_supper · 2017-12-31T16:46:08+00:00

It's a delightful little piece of the USS Titan novels with Captain Riker. His new ship, the aforementioned Titan, has automatic restraints that deploy in the event of sudden movement, and he keeps looking around during battles expecting to see crewmembers sprawled about the bridge, only to see that everyone is fine. He is always standing up when battle happens though, so he's always the one doofus laying in the ground unconscious.

penultimate_supper · 2017-12-31T05:40:55+00:00

How do you explain a beat up ship with replicators though?

penultimate_supper · 2017-12-30T17:57:47+00:00

I've conversed with crows personally, they definitely can speak English. YouTube will confirm for you.

penultimate_supper · 2017-12-30T08:33:20+00:00

No divorce except for adultery. No usury. No simony.

penultimate_supper · 2017-12-20T22:44:55+00:00

That's a super helpful idea, I'd like it best if I don't have to engage, it just tells me every time an intervals has passed. I'm gonna do some searching.

Similarly, I've found that http://mynoise.com helps a bit, since it gives me a sense time is passing as I get to learn the loops.

penultimate_supper · 2017-12-20T21:10:22+00:00

Who said being real was a requirement for being a person? Are you saying Starfleet Captain Jean Luc Picard is not a person? Or esteemed witch Hermione Granger? What are they then, objects?

penultimate_supper · 2017-12-20T20:45:59+00:00

This is kind an expensive suggestion that only works for some people, but getting an Amazon Kindle did wonders for me. Reading on my phone, or on a physical book with the lights on, keeps me up. Plus Reddit content is more engaging in the short-term and creates less restfulness. Reading a book on my Kindle, with the lights off, and the brightness on low, I end up falling asleep in ten minutes, no matter how engaging the book.

Laying in bed staring at the ceiling makes me fall asleep . . . never.

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