The Christian who wrote the list is from the USA, Protestant conservative background. A very nice person and in some respects may reflect Christian attitudes in the USA rather than what I grew up with going to the Scottish/Irish inspired Presbyterian church. I have ancestors that are hardline protestant in Northern Ireland. Bad blood between those Protestants and Catholics so hard to know where the love of Christ was with all the animosity. It used to be said there would never be peace in Ireland. To know some members of my family is to appreciate why that might be true, and I have little inclination to return to the Christian fold.
I could analyse my friends list from many angles, perhaps sometime soon. For me, Jesus and His Teachings are just as much a cornerstone of my Faith as Baha'u'llah. I know that doesn't sit comfortably with you and many other people besides, but that is who I am and what I believe in.
As an aside I met up with a Christian Chaplain who joined the Baha'is celebrate our anniversary occasion over the weekend. He is part of the interfaith group we have in town, so I'm investigatng joining. That would be nice. Interfaith discussion where we can see each other's smiles.
Anyone can believe in christ teachings (his virtues and abstract values) and not be christin-part of the body of christ. When you say you have "christian beliefs" we assume you believe in the core tenants of the christian faith which includes those Bahai disagree with. It would be less confusion if you said you believed in christ's teachings instead. In America, even that, people will think you are christian
not Bahai.
Take me, for example. I believe that the spirit of christ exists. This spirit is in all christians (the people who make up christ's body with similar core beliefs) together at Mass. Some people come to Mass say Christmas and they are not christians. They and The Church believe they experience christ love, compassion, and all other virtues. Anyone can believe that. The body of christ (christians) have specific teachings for salvation that because of those differences, Bahai are not apart of.
That is okay. You can be part of the body of humanity of love without being part of the body of christ in his life, death, and resurrection.
In America, when you say you believe in christ's teachings, everyone automatically assumes you are christian. Then when you say you believe the resurrection is symbolic and spiritual they look at you funny because if you believe in christ teachings you should believe in the cornerstone of the christian faith. Christians cannot separate the two.
In Buddhism, you can believe The Buddha's teachings to some extent. A lot of nonbuddhist do. However, if you want to stop rebirth or end samsara for yourself, The Buddha has specific practices (not teachings) for that, that does not fit with bahai (nor hindu even) teachings.
Same as christianity. Salvation, christ divinity, resurrection, redemption, and reconciliation are parts of what you need "to be saved." The body of christ comes together because of their need for salvation, to live the life of christ, die in their inherited or temptation to sin as christ's flesh/cross, and be literally resurrected back to god. When you use spiritual, that does not mean it's symbolic. It is a spiritual event. Christians, though, believe this spiritual event is literal not symbolic. In other words spiritual does not mean symbolic.
I've said throughout this thread that there is nothing wrong with Bahai beliefs in and of themselves. Muslims belief in christ. That's their belief as interpreted by the Quran. Once a Muslim says they are saved by the blood of christ by christ's teachings, there is a problem. But if you want to achieve Moksha, be enlightened,
or be saved, it goes beyond christ's teachings and interpretations of them.
Its good you are able to express your thoughts and reflect well on this thread. Some bahai have really improved in that because the consideration of understanding thinks of the other person to not oneself. That is also christ teachings. Doesnt mean one is part of the body, just means you love others as christ.
Being part of the body of christ is the central theme of christ's teachings. It's not humanity, it's specific christians who hold the same cornerstone belief and ideally supposed to worship together as one body. Humanity isn't the body of christ.
That is why what Bahai say here does not add up. I don't see christ's teachings separate from the body of christ (being christian). I don't know about there, but in America, a lot of heads will turn when you say you believe in christ teachings and are bahai without.
I mean, if the body of christ is symbolic therefore the Eucharist would be symbolic, do you take the Eucharist if you go to Mass?