Hello (mystic, followers, evolution, Revelation, scriptures)

[waqse'i]

Have been journeying - across religious divides - against mountain rangers I glide - through sun and sleet - while all the time thinking will I ever arrive.

Perhaps.

My own journey has cemented the idea that we all do worship the One G-d - that each religion possesses shards of Light - that none can know the complete answer. Which all culminated in a recent book I picked up - The Quiet Revolution; The emergence of Interfaith consciousness. But what if there was a religion that already possessed these qualities?

From what I have read thus far, and I have access to some remarkable sites, (and I prowled this board) it seems that's exactly what the Baha'i faith practice. So I am very new to the concept and will be engaging you in the hope of greater understanding.

[BruceDLimber]

Hi, and welcome to the neighborhood! :-)

I'm very glad you've dropped in, and we'll be eager to see your questions!

As you may already know, they're most welcome, too: we LOVE 'em! :-)

For starters, you may want to review our web sites at:

The Bahá'ís and

Bahai Faith | Baha'i Faith | United States Official Website

You can also find a lot of information about us (including our scriptures, under "Writings") at:

www.bahai-library.org

Good hunting, and we look forward to further conversation with you soon! :-)

Best,

Bruce

[arthra]

Welcome to the Baha'i Forum Waqse'i!

Feel at home..

- Art

[Comet]

UHHHHH????

Welcome to the Forums that is....

Good to see another Buddhist around here

Why did you go to the Baha'i faith?

[Comet]

Sorry to jump in on this thread but, I do have questions for you all as well....

I've talked to a few of you briefly, but not to great extent. So, if I may ask:

What "holy books" do you have/follow?

And I'd also like to know how you view the UU's?

Thanks,
Brian

[arthra]

Originally Posted by Comet

Sorry to jump in on this thread but, I do have questions for you all as well....

I've talked to a few of you briefly, but not to great extent. So, if I may ask:

What "holy books" do you have/follow?

And I'd also like to know how you view the UU's?

Thanks,
Brian

Hello Brian!

Thanks for posting...

Baha'is recognize what we call "Baha'i Writings" and these are inclusive of the Writings of Baha'u'llah, the Bab and Abdul-Baha. The writings of Shoghi Effendi are authoritative for us but are not actually included as are the Writings of the Central Figures of our Faith, i.e., Baha'u'llah, the Bab and Abdul-Baha. Many of the above Writings are still in process of being translated into English:

The Baha'i Writings

Having authoritative Writings is very important to us as are having the original documents well preserved for future generations.

By "UU's" I take it to mean you are asking how Baha'is "view" Unitarian/ Universalists. I don't think there's an official policy or proscribed view on that... We Baha'is are friendly to people of other religions and believe we should "consort" with the followers of other religions. In the past and even today in some countries ...some religions forbid contact with people of other religions but there are no such restrictions in our Faith:

It is permitted that the peoples and kindreds of the world associate with one another with joy and radiance. O people! Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship. Thus hath the day-star of His sanction and authority shone forth above the horizon of the decree of God, the Lord of the worlds.

[BruceDLimber]

Hi, Comet; welcome to the neighborhood! :-)

Please don't apologize for "jumping in"; we're most happy to have you here with us! :-)

And your questions and comments are most welcome!

As to the Baha'i scriptures, there are about 200 volumes of these, and roughly half were written by Baha'u'llah Himself.

We have a bunch of them in English already, with more being translated all the time: every year or two we get one or two more volumes.

Our scriptures run the spectrum and are in several styles addressing various topics in different ways: some are mystical, some poetic, some give laws, some are history, some are inspirational, etc..

Here's a partial list, with brief descriptions:

• The Book of Certitude (aka Kitab-i-Iqan) is or foremost theological work. IT explains the nature of divine revelation and reviews the founding of some of the great religions of the past. (It was written in answer to specific questions asked of Baha'u'llah <our Founder>.)
• The Hidden Words is a short, poetic book that recaps the religious teachings of the earlier religions.
• The Seven Valleys and The Four Valleys are mystical works that describe the progress of the soul.
• The Book of Laws (aka Kitab-i-Aqdas) lists the laws of the Baha'i Revelation.
• Gleanings is a compilation of many different tablets on various topics.
• Prayers and Meditaions contains a collection of some of these, written by Baha'u'llah.
• Epistle to the Son of the Wolf is Baha'u'llah's letter to an enemy of the Faith and contains, among other things, a history of His own ministry.
• Some Answered Questions is by 'Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'u'llah's son and appointed successor/interpreter. It contains answers to many questons he was asked about various topics.

(There are other volumes, too, but I hope this will give you an impression of some of them.)

You can find these at:

• www.bahai-library.org(click "Writings" for our scriptures),
• www.reference.bahai.org(this site is multilingual), and
• www.bahaistudy.org(this site also has videos and talking books).

Oh--and do keep the questions coming!

Best, :-)

Bruce

[waqse'i]

Comet wrote -

Why did you go to the Baha'i faith?

I don't know if I have gone over to the Baha'i faith - well, not as yet.

What I have found interesting is the move towards an interfaith consciousness - a recognition that we all worship the same G-d - just working from different translations. As Baha'i acknowledges this aspect it seems that the faith has something to offer. I am exploring.

[waqse'i]

All - thank you for the links. I have found many of them already and have been reading the texts.

[Popeyesays]

My suggestion is to start with The Arabic hidden Words, then try the Kitab'i Iqan. They deal with the nature of God and man pretty directly.

Then take your questions and look through Some Answered Questions, by Abdu'l Baha and see if your questions are addressed.

Regards,

Scott