What about the vision quests and dancing after taking some magical herb and going into trances? Back in the 60's I thought I saw God. But then when the mushrooms wore off, I'm not so sure.
What is it that was said about the 60s? If you can remember it, you probably weren't part of it. Your experience is a reminder that we can all have epiphanies and mystical experiences to some extent. That is an important aspect of the Baha'i Faith, to have a better developed consciousness of God in our lives. That experience comes in many varied ways. For Baha'is it is through prayer, meditation, and living the life.
But about being inspired by God, I don't think so, because they had many gods and like the Aztecs, many had human sacrificing. I know you have to think so, because Baha'u'llah said so. But then you have to explain why they had those beliefs of many gods that required sacrifices.
Mozart had musical epiphanies that could be considered inspired from the spiritual realm of God. Just because it wasn't about the essential nature of God, doesn't mean to say it wasn't from the heavenly realm.
All early belief systems seem to begin with spirits tied in with the natural world and develop from there. Just because we are aware of more advanced belief systems doesn't negate God's influence on less developed cultures. I'm wondering if you are limiting God's influence and powers?
You know I was in New Mexico at a Rain Dance ceremony. And it rained. Later I found out it rains almost every afternoon in the summer. So you really think a manifestation came to each tribe and brought them dances and rituals to bring rain or to defeat an enemy or for a successful hunt?
That's why we need both science and religion as a foundation to human knowledge. One without the other leads to materialism or superstition.
But I know you do have stories of tribal people that were expecting Baha'is, so let's hear 'em. Oh, I do know a little about the Hopi prophecies. But, as I recall, they came from tribal leaders, not manifestations.
I'd be interested to hear what you know of the prophecies of the Hopi people. T W Ratana was the prophet of the Maori Ratana Church and evidently predicted a universal religious teacher and one of the apostles of his church became a Baha'i. The Baha'i who introduced these Maori of Ratana lineage was eventually murdered as a result of his teaching efforts becoming New Zealand's first Baha'i Martyr. We now have annual race unity speeches held throughout the country sponsored by the New Zealand police force and Baha'is supported by the Hedi Moani charitable trust.
T. W. Ratana - Wikipedia
Insanity finding in Moani murder trial - National - NZ Herald News
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