YoursTrue
Faith-confidence in what we hope for (Hebrews 11)
That is why we have the Bible, Tony. God tells us what is good and what is bad. Of course we don't have to listen to or believe it, though.
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Religious Faith and life beyond this mortal realm
- Thread starter Dawnofhope
- Start date
But we choose to interpret it, in a way God may not have intended it.
Thus is it our will, or is its God's will we choose follow?
Regards Tony
Trailblazer
Veteran Member
What’s this about ego?
I do not mind being a servant of God.
Take that up with Baha’u’llah and God (We). They are the ones who are keeping the nature of the afterlife a secret, and I am no happier about that than you are.
“Death proffereth unto every confident believer the cup that is life indeed. It bestoweth joy, and is the bearer of gladness. It conferreth the gift of everlasting life.
As to those that have tasted of the fruit of man’s earthly existence, which is the recognition of the one true God, exalted be His glory, their life hereafter is such as We are unable to describe. The knowledge thereof is with God, alone, the Lord of all worlds.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 345-346
Great, everlasting life, what’s that?
That aside, Baha’u’llah and Shoghi Effendi explained why we are not told more about the afterlife:
“Know thou that every hearing ear, if kept pure and undefiled, must, at all times and from every direction, hearken to the voice that uttereth these holy words: “Verily, we are God’s, and to Him shall we return.” The mysteries of man’s physical death and of his return have not been divulged, and still remain unread. By the righteousness of God! Were they to be revealed, they would evoke such fear and sorrow that some would perish, while others would be so filled with gladness as to wish for death, and beseech, with unceasing longing, the one true God—exalted be His glory—to hasten their end.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 345
"Bahá'u'lláh says that were we to have the proper vision to see the blessings of the other world we would not bear to endure one more hour of existence upon the earth. The reason why we are deprived of that vision is because otherwise no one would care to remain and the whole fabric of society will be destroyed.”
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, October 22, 1932) http://bahai-library.com/hornby_lights_guidance_2.html&chapter=1
Trailblazer
Veteran Member
What I meant when I said “it is not about what we want” is that if there is an afterlife and God destined every soul to exist forever in another world, it won’t be a choice whether we want to go there are not. What we believe or disbelieve has no bearing upon reality. It is what it is, whatever it is.
I do not pretend to know what will happen in the afterlife, I just believe it exists. I do not spend much time thinking about it until someone posts a thread or unless someone posts to me with questions about it. It is not as if I am looking forward to living forever in some strange dimension. I barely even travel inside or outside my city anymore.
Trailblazer
Veteran Member
The good news is that we gravitate towards people who are on our same level, people we are comfortable with.
Whatever gave you the idea it would be like that? You are describing a material world, but the afterlife is a spiritual world. It will be completely different from this world.
There will be no worries about loved ones because nobody can get sick or die, and there will be no trying to make money by working since there won’t be any need for money since everything will be supplied, but there will be plenty to do and there will be challenges if we want them. How do you think we could advance without challenges?
What makes you think it will be boring? That would be hell, not heaven.
Yes, this life is what we should be focused on. That is why Prophets did not reveal much about the afterlife. If we knew what it was like, it would take our focus off this world and the entire fabric of society would be destroyed.
Trailblazer
Veteran Member
I heard it through mediums who have communicated with spirits on the other side. They actually know because they are experiencing the spiritual world.
Abdu'l-Baha said there is some kind of time in the spiritual world but it is not time as we know it in this world.
“A friend asked: “How should one look forward to death?”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá answered: “How does one look forward to the goal of any journey? With hope and with expectation. It is even so with the end of this earthly journey. In the next world, man will find himself freed from many of the disabilities under which he now suffers. Those who have passed on through death, have a sphere of their own. It is not removed from ours; their work, the work of the Kingdom, is ours; but it is sanctified from what we call ‘time and place.’ Time with us is measured by the sun. When there is no more sunrise, and no more sunset, that kind of time does not exist for man. Those who have ascended have different attributes from those who are still on earth, yet there is no real separation.” Abdu’l-Bahá in London, pp. 95-96
The reason why we live for eternity in the spiritual world is because the soul is eternal, it cannot die.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
You are not being the servant of any God, you are a servant of Bahaullah, and that is what he wanted. That is 'ego'.I do not mind being a servant of God.
They are the ones who are keeping the nature of the afterlife a secret, and I am no happier about that than you are.
People want to keep their lies and sins secret. That is no brainer. An honest person will place all his cards on the table.
"IF" is not a reality, it is imagination, superstition, guesswork or pure hoodwinking.
In this 21st Century, you want us to believe that?
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Historians are generally agreed Krishna was a real person. Clearly he’s been mythologised. I agree the Gita was first written over two thousand years ago. To what extent this work represents actual history or complete mythology or more likely mythologised history is an important question.
I agree Hindus claiming Buddha as their own m was a brilliant move.
Proof resides in the power of religion to transform individuals and communities for the better. That may be no proof to you but it is sufficient to me. Especially when its influence endures for millennia. Miracles such as turning water into wine is really a metaphor for the change that can happen in the human heart.
Aupmanyav
Be your own guru
Religion does not transform most individuals. It is what we Hindus call the 'Samskaras' (bringing up, education, life experience) which transforms one. Percentage-wise in population, there are more Christians in jails as compared to atheists.
ecco
Veteran Member
How does this "John" know what Jesus said? Was he an eyewitness? Did he take shorthand?
ecco
Veteran Member
You really are not a follower of the son-of-God AKA Christ. You do not believe Christ is a son-of-god nor do you believe that he is a portion of god. Hence, your comment that you are a follower of Christ is intentionally misleading.
ecco
Veteran Member
Uh huh
RE:
For in certain passages of the Sacred Scriptures where women are mentioned, the intended meaning is the human self.
What "certain passages of the Sacred Scriptures"? Do you know? Did Abdul'baha specify the passages or are you just taking the word of whoever wrote the translation?
RE:
By “the tree of good and evil” is meant the material world.
Says who, where, what Sacred Scriptures? What convoluted translations?
RE:
The meaning of the serpent is attachment to the material world
Same questions as above.
ecco
Veteran Member
You should take note of your own writings...
I haven't really fact-checked - All or almost all people go to an afterlife
If you haven't fact-checked, then why do you suppose it is true?
ecco
Veteran Member
Yeah. Eternity is a really hard concept.
ecco
Veteran Member
No hope for what? Why do you need to believe in an "afterlife" to enjoy this life?
ecco
Veteran Member
Let's add a few more variables to your equation. Your Biblical interpretation process is filtered through the writings of Bahais.
Thus is it your will, or is it God's will or is it Ballulah's will you choose to follow?
Ultimately it is God who decides who is a follower of Christ and who is not (Matthew 7:1-4). Beyond that its up to each of us to declare what we believe and don’t ( Matthew 5:15). Baha’is believe in the Divinity of Christ and His being the Son of God.
As to the position of Christianity, let it be stated without any hesitation or equivocation that its divine origin is unconditionally acknowledged, that the Sonship and Divinity of Jesus Christ are fearlessly asserted, that the divine inspiration of the Gospel is fully recognized, that the reality of the mystery of the Immaculacy of the Virgin Mary is confessed, and the primacy of Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, is upheld and defended.
Bahá'í Reference Library - The Promised Day Is Come, Pages 108-113
You would need to provide a citation in regards the proportion of Christians and atheists who make up prison populations and where.
Applying what is learnt in life through education and life experiences certainly does transform lives. So too does having Faith in a Divine Educator such as Christ, Buddha or Krishna AND applying their Teachings to one’s life. Faith alone is insufficient.
That is entirly for you to consider. That explanation, for a Baha'i, is the same as reading the Word of God as recorded in the Bible. That is a different topic.
It is that Word from God, that takes us from this life, in to the spiritual worlds of God.
Regards Tony