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If God exists, why does He allow suffering?

Trailblazer

Veteran Member
I don't know his plan, but do you really believe that God would send someone to bring World Peace, and have it not be achieved in that person's lifetime
It could have been achieved during His lifetime, or at least by now, if all the kings and rulers had recognized Baha'u'llah and followed His plan for the Most Great Peace, but instead they all rejected Him and His plan. After that, He wrote:
“Now that ye have refused the Most Great Peace, hold ye fast unto this, the Lesser Peace, that haply ye may in some degree better your own condition and that of your dependents.” Gleanings. p. 254
The Lesser peace is a political peace but not a complete end to war.
That may be ok as a plan to keep around, as a backup, but you really should be looking for something that will happen right now. Are you not paying attention to the insane risk mankind is at right now? Mankind could literally become extinct by any of multiple reasons, in a very sort time.
That is true, so what do you think is going to be the solution? The fact that all the religions continue to disagree and fight is not helping matters at all.
There is no where near enough progress made on that plan, since 1863, to qualify as a realistic plan to save mankind. If mankind survives another 20 years, without achieving World Peace, I will be truly amazed!!!
Well, the plan cannot work if not enough people on board. Not only was Baha'u'llah rejected back when He was alive, He continues to be rejected by most people now, and the primary reason is because most people have another religion they believe in. But people of all religions could work together, they do not have to recognize Baha'u'llah in order for the plan to move forward.
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
World Peace requires a new system of society. One which utilizes love, rather than selfishness, to motivate people. Jesus' Apostles demonstrated a prototype of this, but I believe they did not fully understand what was needed. Belief in God is not necessary. All can be accomplished, through belief in love.

People get confused when they try to worship God. They assume that God wants things like praise, which no truly intelligent being cares about. Even an intelligent human has no interest in praise from non-intelligent humans, and for God to want praise from humans is like humans wanting praise from ants. It is totally illogical. Idiots tend to praise idiots, that is how we get the presidents we get. Truly intelligent people, usually have very few people who like them, or like their ideas.

Unfortunately, this is also true of ideas for World Peace. The ideas that will work, are the ones, which no one listens to. The ideas that are to complicated for simple minds to understand. This is why we were told that God would send us a Savior. A person who would know what to do. I believe that is me, but no one will listen, until I can start showing proof. Until I start to actually save mankind. So, I have to do unbelievably amazing things, with a few thousand dollars of my own money, because no one wants to help, or cares about saving mankind.

I could focus my time on begging for money, to save mankind, from which I make about... $0.001 per hour for my time, or I can focus my time on trying to change my plan to something I can accomplish with my own money. What I find really funny, is people will spend $2 on a lottery ticket, with a one in a billion chance of winning, which if they win will more likely destroy their lives than help, but I can't get them to give $2 on a plan that will save their life, and the lives of 7 billion people, and literally create Heaven on Earth. The odds of success can't be calculated, but I am confident it will work. I put the odds at around between 5% and 70% depending on how I feel. I put the odds at me being the Savior that God has chosen, at 90%, but the odds that it is possible to save these humans is what I don't have so much confidence in.

The problem with our current system of society, is that money changes people. The money system creates poverty in some, and wealth and absolute uncaring in others. To fix this problem, we need to prevent money from changing people. I made a video which tells how we can begin the process of fixing this, in a way that at least some people seem to understand.


There is also information about my plan on my web sites. I've got several websites. There's one listed below, and you can follow the links to the others.
Just a question out of curiosity, why would you want money for saving people when spiritual practice is free for everyone to do? Did Jesus or Buddha for that matter ask for a fee to teach the truth?
 

Trailblazer

Veteran Member
World Peace requires a new system of society. One which utilizes love, rather than selfishness, to motivate people. Jesus' Apostles demonstrated a prototype of this, but I believe they did not fully understand what was needed. Belief in God is not necessary. All can be accomplished, through belief in love.

People get confused when they try to worship God. They assume that God wants things like praise, which no truly intelligent being cares about. Even an intelligent human has no interest in praise from non-intelligent humans, and for God to want praise from humans is like humans wanting praise from ants. It is totally illogical. Idiots tend to praise idiots, that is how we get the presidents we get. Truly intelligent people, usually have very few people who like them, or like their ideas.

Unfortunately, this is also true of ideas for World Peace. The ideas that will work, are the ones, which no one listens to. The ideas that are to complicated for simple minds to understand. This is why we were told that God would send us a Savior. A person who would know what to do. I believe that is me, but no one will listen, until I can start showing proof. Until I start to actually save mankind. So, I have to do unbelievably amazing things, with a few thousand dollars of my own money, because no one wants to help, or cares about saving mankind.

I could focus my time on begging for money, to save mankind, from which I make about... $0.001 per hour for my time, or I can focus my time on trying to change my plan to something I can accomplish with my own money. What I find really funny, is people will spend $2 on a lottery ticket, with a one in a billion chance of winning, which if they win will more likely destroy their lives than help, but I can't get them to give $2 on a plan that will save their life, and the lives of 7 billion people, and literally create Heaven on Earth. The odds of success can't be calculated, but I am confident it will work. I put the odds at around between 5% and 70% depending on how I feel. I put the odds at me being the Savior that God has chosen, at 90%, but the odds that it is possible to save these humans is what I don't have so much confidence in.

The problem with our current system of society, is that money changes people. The money system creates poverty in some, and wealth and absolute uncaring in others. To fix this problem, we need to prevent money from changing people. I made a video which tells how we can begin the process of fixing this, in a way that at least some people seem to understand.


There is also information about my plan on my web sites. I've got several websites. There's one listed below, and you can follow the links to the others.
it sounds like we are on the same page.
I am off to bed as it is very late here...
I will watch your video and catch you tomorrow. ;)
 

Conceivia

Working to save mankind
You said when hatred gets bad you have to fight hatred with hatred. Well, Jesus on the cross didn't fight hatred with hatred. Forgiveness makes a difference because Jesus didn't hate them back. Love won in his heart. And yes, they killed his body but they didn't kill him. "Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it."



Jesus didn't say: I won because I will make you destroy each other. That would be hate and revenge not love. What you're teaching is negative philosophy. Jesus ont the contrary taught to love your enemies, bless them, pray for them ... All who follow him are to be one ... "Whoever does not gather with me scatters." He didn't make governing people and forces of darkness to fight each other. He didn't have to. They alone are prone to entropy. Political divisions in the the pursuit of power were always there in human history. It's not the work of Jesus. What he brought is not political. It's primarily a spiritual light. A religious renewal. That caused a different division. You are interpreting "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" out of context. Intertextuality shows a different meaning: "If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." We know what happened to prophets, Jesus and his followers ... Spiritual light makes no division because it's enlightening every man. What makes separation is that some accept light and some still like darkness more. If light is increased the resistance against light is also big. If someone is reveling real truth and real good he is also disclosing fake truth and fake good. So such man becomes a thorn in others flesh. Before there will be global peace there will be tension and a cataclysm.



Thanks, I watched it. I agree that in the future kingdom of peace God will be the highest authority of all. Man's kingdoms will come to an end. However I don't agree Roman and Orthodox churches belong to secular governments although in history there was some degeneration. I already argued for Jesus as peacemaker. Who is in your opnion the peacemaker that came after Jesus? The promised Comforter in the Bible is the Holy Spirit, that just continues the work of Jesus. It's the same peacemaking work.

You seem to be focused on making things fit your belief system. True understanding comes from humility. That is, being willing to forget what you know, and start over. Thinking you know, is arrogance. When you think you know, you can no longer learn. Only when you don't think you know, can you accept new information.

Jesus did not say "I won..." at all. What he did say, is that he came to bring division/a sword. This means he came to bring war and hatred. That was his purpose in God's plan. It is not in revenge for them killing him. They killed him, because that was part of God's plan. Jesus' mother was told at his birth, words to the effect that they would kill him.

Why do you think that God's work is not political? Does God not all people to have a decent life? Does God not want poverty and suffering to be eliminated? Does God not want the sex slave market to be eliminated. Ether you are for these things, or you are against them. Either God is for these things, or God is against them. There is no in between. When you take no action to stop them, than you are for them. Likewise, if God takes no action to stop them, than God is for them. I say God has taken action to stop them, but for that action to manifest, it requires us to believe. God's actions take place through us humans, so if we do not believe... If we distort God's love in our minds, with mental pollution, than it is that mental pollution that manifests itself.

God knew that you people would not listen, so God had to wait till one would come, that you people would listen to.

Why do you think the Holy Spirit is not a person? Do you people really think you are so much better than Athiests, Muslims, and others, that your brain works differently? This line of thinking, is what leads to wars. This is division thinking. Your brain is no different than anyone else's. You do not have something special from God, than God has not given to everyone else in the world. Everyone has a conscience. Everyone has the capability of inner peace.
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
You seem to be focused on making things fit your belief system. True understanding comes from humility. That is, being willing to forget what you know, and start over. Thinking you know, is arrogance. When you think you know, you can no longer learn. Only when you don't think you know, can you accept new information.

Jesus did not say "I won..." at all. What he did say, is that he came to bring division/a sword. This means he came to bring war and hatred. That was his purpose in God's plan. It is not in revenge for them killing him. They killed him, because that was part of God's plan. Jesus' mother was told at his birth, words to the effect that they would kill him.

Why do you think that God's work is not political? Does God not all people to have a decent life? Does God not want poverty and suffering to be eliminated? Does God not want the sex slave market to be eliminated. Ether you are for these things, or you are against them. Either God is for these things, or God is against them. There is no in between. When you take no action to stop them, than you are for them. Likewise, if God takes no action to stop them, than God is for them. I say God has taken action to stop them, but for that action to manifest, it requires us to believe. God's actions take place through us humans, so if we do not believe... If we distort God's love in our minds, with mental pollution, than it is that mental pollution that manifests itself.

God knew that you people would not listen, so God had to wait till one would come, that you people would listen to.

Why do you think the Holy Spirit is not a person? Do you people really think you are so much better than Athiests, Muslims, and others, that your brain works differently? This line of thinking, is what leads to wars. This is division thinking. Your brain is no different than anyone else's. You do not have something special from God, than God has not given to everyone else in the world. Everyone has a conscience. Everyone has the capability of inner peace.
Are you better then everyone else, since you accuse other people of being less wise then you? What make you think you know Gods will better then others?
Have you been cultivating a spiritual path up to enlightenment so you see the full truth of our existence? And if you have cultivated your mind and body, How many years did you cultivate?
 

Conceivia

Working to save mankind
Just a question out of curiosity, why would you want money for saving people when spiritual practice is free for everyone to do? Did Jesus or Buddha for that matter ask for a fee to teach the truth?

Is spiritual practice going to save you from nuclear war? If you stand by and do nothing, when you could save the lives of 7 billion people, are you a good person? If spiritual practice does not make you a better person, what is the use of it?

Money is used to get people to do things, they do not want to do. It is not possible to get people to do something they do not fully understand is necessary, without money. If it was so easy to get people to simply understand what they need to do, Jesus would have done it 2000 years ago, and we would have World Peace and paradise on earth right now. Jesus did not do so, because it is not that easy. Money is therefore required, to get people to give it a try. People must try it, before they can understand.

Anyway, what is your objection to asking for money? If Jesus asked for money, would you give it to him? Or would you tell yourself it can't be Jesus if he's asking for money? Money is just paper. If you understood anything about God and what is important in life, you would understand that money is just paper. It does not make you happy. You therefore should not be so afraid to lose it.
 

Conceivia

Working to save mankind

It could have been achieved during His lifetime, or at least by now, if all the kings and rulers had recognized Baha'u'llah and followed His plan for the Most Great Peace, but instead they all rejected Him and His plan. After that, He wrote:
“Now that ye have refused the Most Great Peace, hold ye fast unto this, the Lesser Peace, that haply ye may in some degree better your own condition and that of your dependents.” Gleanings. p. 254
The Lesser peace is a political peace but not a complete end to war.

That is true, so what do you think is going to be the solution? The fact that all the religions continue to disagree and fight is not helping matters at all.

Well, the plan cannot work if not enough people on board. Not only was Baha'u'llah rejected back when He was alive, He continues to be rejected by most people now, and the primary reason is because most people have another religion they believe in. But people of all religions could work together, they do not have to recognize Baha'u'llah in order for the plan to move forward.

People seem to think religion is what determines their actions. Religion has only a very small effect. What determines peoples actions, is money, mostly. Family and kids plays a part of some, but usually money plays a bigger part. Financial stress, fear of losing everything, etc. People do not go to work, because of their religion. They go to work, because of money.

Money is therefore the most powerful of all religions in the world. Money is what makes our decisions and rules our lives. Money is our god and our master.

We will not solve the problems of mankind by simply changing what we call our "religions". We will only make change, by changing what controls us, the true religions that define us, which is mostly money. There are many other religions, besides money, as well.

We need to change the way we live and what we consider important, our priorities. This is where the real change will come from.

When God said not to put any other gods before him, what he was talking about, is money, sex, power, eternal life, etc. All these are gods, and they must have lower priority to us than God. Or for those who don't believe in God, they must have lower priority than all life on Earth. The needs of the many, must outweigh the needs of the few or the one. All the problems of mankind, come from our disobeying this simple rule.
 

Conceivia

Working to save mankind
Are you better then everyone else, since you accuse other people of being less wise then you? What make you think you know Gods will better then others?
Have you been cultivating a spiritual path up to enlightenment so you see the full truth of our existence? And if you have cultivated your mind and body, How many years did you cultivate?

Do you ask this question of everyone who opens his mouth? There is not a single person on Earth, who does not assume himself to be wiser than everyone else on many occasions.

Cultivating mind and body is what every child does, from the moment of birth, until the day of death. Those who claim to be doing it, are experimenting and nothing more. Some people accept information about God, only when it comes from the Bible. I accept it from any source I am exposed to. I can watch a movie about a satanic cult, and find information from God, even in their satanic rituals. If God wants to communicate with me, God will provide me the information, in whatever source I happen to be exposed to at the time. Enlightenment does not come from the Bible, it comes from thinking and having your mind open and willing to receive information. A person does not know God because he reads the Bible 16 hours a day for his whole life. Such a person is a fool. A person knows God, from allowing God's information to be received.
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
Is spiritual practice going to save you from nuclear war? If you stand by and do nothing, when you could save the lives of 7 billion people, are you a good person? If spiritual practice does not make you a better person, what is the use of it?

Money is used to get people to do things, they do not want to do. It is not possible to get people to do something they do not fully understand is necessary, without money. If it was so easy to get people to simply understand what they need to do, Jesus would have done it 2000 years ago, and we would have World Peace and paradise on earth right now. Jesus did not do so, because it is not that easy. Money is therefore required, to get people to give it a try. People must try it, before they can understand.

Anyway, what is your objection to asking for money? If Jesus asked for money, would you give it to him? Or would you tell yourself it can't be Jesus if he's asking for money? Money is just paper. If you understood anything about God and what is important in life, you would understand that money is just paper. It does not make you happy. You, therefore, should not be so afraid to lose it.
Spiritual practice is to get away from human existence because we are here to learn to become spiritual beings again. We are in this dense realm of the physical body because of our own downfall. Human morality is on a very low level and all spiritual practice of cultivation is teaching to heighten our morality and gain virtue. The only aspect of life that truly saves us is the enlightenment that is needed to escape this human realm. The physical death of our body does not make our escape, except for a short space of time.

Money is only something we have here on earth, so I pay little attention to it. and if someone asked of me to teach them about spiritual practice, I do that for free. Because wisdom has no price.
If someone is begging for money on the street i give them what change i have at that given moment. if they ask for food I would feed them.

When it comes to teaching others about spiritual life and its teachings, we do not need other than our voice and our own understanding of what the chosen scripture says.
To teach others is not about ourselves self it is about giving the clearest and truthful answer to their questions.

Only when a spiritual teacher has reached enlightenment can they give the truest teaching up to the level they have enlightened to.
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
Do you ask this question of everyone who opens his mouth? There is not a single person on Earth, who does not assume himself to be wiser than everyone else on many occasions.

Cultivating mind and body is what every child does, from the moment of birth, until the day of death. Those who claim to be doing it, are experimenting and nothing more. Some people accept information about God, only when it comes from the Bible. I accept it from any source I am exposed to. I can watch a movie about a satanic cult, and find information from God, even in their satanic rituals. If God wants to communicate with me, God will provide me the information, in whatever source I happen to be exposed to at the time. Enlightenment does not come from the Bible, it comes from thinking and having your mind open and willing to receive information. A person does not know God because he reads the Bible 16 hours a day for his whole life. Such a person is a fool. A person knows God, from allowing God's information to be received.
I was a Buddhist for more than 20 years when I understood I could no longer receive higher wisdom or understanding in the cultivation from the suttas, i chose to follow Li Hongzhi and Falun Gong, the current spiritual cultivation path I am on at the moment. I do not mix any of my past teachings into falun gong, So I see it as important to only follow one teaching at the time.

I do ask questions often to others, but also to my self when it comes to spiritual practice.
I take spiritual practice very seriously, and of course, if I offended you by my questions i would say i am sorry for offending you.
 

Conceivia

Working to save mankind
Hate can never create peace one earth because human beings have become extremely selfish, so if we hate someone (we should not) they would give back the same hate, and then our own anger and hate again rise to a new level, and the spiral goes toward war. the only way to create peace on earth is to speak truthfully, have compassion for all living beings and have forbearance for those who try to harm us.

Who is claiming to know more now? Jesus told us that his purpose was to bring division/the sword. That is hatred and war. Divide the people, turn them against each other. That was Jesus' purpose. You are assuming that will not bring about World Peace. You do not know better than God or Jesus.

The world is not black and white. There are times when peace and love are the worst things you can do, and there are times when peace and love are the best things. There are times when you fight fire with water, and there are times when water is the worst thing to throw on a fire.

2000 years ago, was a time when it was necessary to divide the people, so that they would not unite into one super power government that would enslave us all.

In general, you are correct that hatred will lead to more hate, and creates a spiral that goes towards war. 2000 years ago, however, it was necessary to keep those war spirals going, until the time comes when we can create World Peace.
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
Who is claiming to know more now? Jesus told us that his purpose was to bring division/the sword. That is hatred and war. Divide the people, turn them against each other. That was Jesus' purpose. You are assuming that will not bring about World Peace. You do not know better than God or Jesus.

The world is not black and white. There are times when peace and love are the worst things you can do, and there are times when peace and love are the best things. There are times when you fight fire with water, and there are times when water is the worst thing to throw on a fire.

2000 years ago, was a time when it was necessary to divide the people, so that they would not unite into one super power government that would enslave us all.

In general, you are correct that hatred will lead to more hate, and creates a spiral that goes towards war. 2000 years ago, however, it was necessary to keep those war spirals going, until the time comes when we can create World Peace.
I do not say i know or understand everything about every religion or every scripture :) But spiritual practice have been a part of my life for more then 20 years where i more or less every day have cultivated the teaching, so i do have some understanding, but there are of course many who understand more then i do.
Spiritual cultivation should not be influenced by any political party or government, so even 2000 years ago most of the spiritual people did keep away from society in general, but when they was teaching, yes they went in to town to speak with people.
Again i would say, war does not lead to peace, it only lead to suffering and hate
 

PearlSeeker

Well-Known Member
You seem to be focused on making things fit your belief system. True understanding comes from humility. That is, being willing to forget what you know, and start over. Thinking you know, is arrogance. When you think you know, you can no longer learn. Only when you don't think you know, can you accept new information.

Jesus did not say "I won..." at all. What he did say, is that he came to bring division/a sword. This means he came to bring war and hatred. That was his purpose in God's plan. It is not in revenge for them killing him. They killed him, because that was part of God's plan. Jesus' mother was told at his birth, words to the effect that they would kill him.

Why do you think that God's work is not political? Does God not all people to have a decent life? Does God not want poverty and suffering to be eliminated? Does God not want the sex slave market to be eliminated. Ether you are for these things, or you are against them. Either God is for these things, or God is against them. There is no in between. When you take no action to stop them, than you are for them. Likewise, if God takes no action to stop them, than God is for them. I say God has taken action to stop them, but for that action to manifest, it requires us to believe. God's actions take place through us humans, so if we do not believe... If we distort God's love in our minds, with mental pollution, than it is that mental pollution that manifests itself.

God knew that you people would not listen, so God had to wait till one would come, that you people would listen to.

Why do you think the Holy Spirit is not a person? Do you people really think you are so much better than Athiests, Muslims, and others, that your brain works differently? This line of thinking, is what leads to wars. This is division thinking. Your brain is no different than anyone else's. You do not have something special from God, than God has not given to everyone else in the world. Everyone has a conscience. Everyone has the capability of inner peace.

True understanding comes from humility indeed. But that doesn't mean shutting down my judgment and conscience. I can't just uncritically accept all new information... By reading the Bible I discern that Jesus did cause "sword" because some people were irritated by his religious teachings and they have been prosecuting him and his followers (Christians). This is the meaning.

I believe God's plan is to end suffering. According to prophets and Jesus things will change when the reign of God will fully take place on earth. It's starting with spiritual awakening in the hearts of people. "Clean the cup inside first." This is the action Jesus promoted.
 

sciatica

Notable Member
allow suffering? No he causes it. He is out to get you. You havent been punished properly for those naughty sins you committed a few years back. You thought you would get away with it didnt you..
well tough tortellinis batman...its payback time..now what is a suitable torture? that is the question
 

PureX

Veteran Member
Obviously, we humans don't get to know the answer to such a question, as we are not gods. And yet oddly, we seem to think we should have an answer ... that God owes us one just because we have asked.

We could ask ourselves what purpose suffering serves in our lives, and maybe that would give us some idea why it might be necessary for us to experience it. I think most of us could come up with several significant possibilities by this method of inquirey. But I also think a lot of us don't really want an answer. We just want someone to take the blame.
 

CG Didymus

Veteran Member
It could have been achieved during His lifetime, or at least by now, if all the kings and rulers had recognized Baha'u'llah and followed His plan for the Most Great Peace, but instead they all rejected Him and His plan. After that, He wrote:
“Now that ye have refused the Most Great Peace, hold ye fast unto this, the Lesser Peace, that haply ye may in some degree better your own condition and that of your dependents.” Gleanings. p. 254
The Lesser peace is a political peace but not a complete end to war.
As if God didn't know that the rulers would reject him. I wonder what it would have looked like if the accepted him. "Oh, yeah, let's all surrender our authority to an imprisoned Persian nobleman that claims he is a messenger from God." Then what? "Ok, get rid of all your weapons accept just a few. And no more racial, religious, or gender prejudice...." What was he going to do? Nothing, because he and God knew he would be rejected. The suffering and wars that are happening now, the climate problems, strange new virus... all this was part of his real plan. God wanted this suffering to happen. For what? To prove we can't do it without him? Yes, no compulsion. Just a lot of pain and suffering until we give in. But, will the "perfect" Baha'i world be free from all suffering? Or, will it continue, but we will all thank God for the "test"? Sorry, but it seems a little crazy to me. But a little peace and harmony are better than what we have now. But what can Baha'is do without all, or at least a majority, of the people behind them?
 

PureX

Veteran Member
As if God didn't know that the rulers would reject him. I wonder what it would have looked like if the accepted him. "Oh, yeah, let's all surrender our authority to an imprisoned Persian nobleman that claims he is a messenger from God." Then what? "Ok, get rid of all your weapons accept just a few. And no more racial, religious, or gender prejudice...." What was he going to do? Nothing, because he and God knew he would be rejected. The suffering and wars that are happening now, the climate problems, strange new virus... all this was part of his real plan. God wanted this suffering to happen. For what? To prove we can't do it without him? Yes, no compulsion. Just a lot of pain and suffering until we give in. But, will the "perfect" Baha'i world be free from all suffering? Or, will it continue, but we will all thank God for the "test"? Sorry, but it seems a little crazy to me. But a little peace and harmony are better than what we have now. But what can Baha'is do without all, or at least a majority, of the people behind them?
What God knows or knew about what we'd do is irrelevant, because WE didn't know. And because WE didn't know, we still had a choice. We still could have responded differently, but chose not to. It may have been a pointless exercise from God's perspective to send us a 'redeemer', but it certainly wasn't a pointless exercise from ours. We still have that option of redemption open to us every day of our lives.
 

Trailblazer

Veteran Member
As if God didn't know that the rulers would reject him.
I wonder what it would have looked like if the accepted him.
Nobody knows, and it is a moot point since it was not foreordained by God.
he and God knew he would be rejected. The suffering and wars that are happening now, the climate problems, strange new virus... all this was part of his real plan. God wanted this suffering to happen.
The suffering and wars that are happening now, the climate problems, strange new virus... All are consequences of free will decisions mankind has made, but that does not mean God wanted these things to happen. Some of this could have been /could be avoided if more people got off their duffs and stopped waiting for Jesus to come and "fix" everything for them.
For what? To prove we can't do it without him?
No, I do not think that is the reason.. Imo, the reason is so we would realize we cannot do without Baha'u'llah.

“My object is none other than the betterment of the world and the tranquillity of its peoples. The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established. This unity can never be achieved so long as the counsels which the Pen of the Most High hath revealed are suffered to pass unheeded.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 286
Yes, no compulsion. Just a lot of pain and suffering until we give in.
Yes, I believe this will be the case.
But, will the "perfect" Baha'i world be free from all suffering?
No, of course not, because this material world is a storehouse of suffering... Death, disease, accidents, they will always exist, until we die and enter the spiritual world.

But the world will be 100 times better when people become spiritual and less selfish. Here is a vision for the future...

“In this age humanity has strayed far from the path of truth, and the call of Bahá’u’lláh to recognize Him as the viceregent of God on earth has fallen on deaf ears. But a careful study of His writings leads us to believe that His Revelation, being the culmination of past Revelations and one which has ushered in the Day of God Himself, will exert such a potent influence upon mankind as a whole that eventually all the peoples of the world will recognize His station of their own free will and embrace His cause of their own volition. And this in turn will bring about, in the distant future, the appearance of a new race of men whose noble character and spiritual virtues we, in this age, are unable to visualize.” (AdibTaherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v 3, p. 3)

“With the establishment of the Most Great Peace and the spiritualization of the peoples of the world, man will become a noble being adorned with divine virtues and perfections. This is one of the fruits of the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, promised by Him. The nobility of man and his spiritual development will lead him in the future to such a position that no individual could enjoy eating his food or resting at home while knowing that there was one person somewhere in the world without food or shelter. It is Bahá’u’lláh’s mission to create such a new race of men.” (Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v 3, p. 126)

New Race of Men | Bahá’í Quotes
Or, will it continue, but we will all thank God for the "test"?
No, it will not continue forever, but you and I will not see the change in our lifetimes.
But what can Baha'is do without all, or at least a majority, of the people behind them?
Bahais will keep doing what we are doing, building the New World Order with the small workforce we have until Muslims and Christians recognize Baha'u'llah for who He was, and Christians stop waiting for Jesus. In do not think we will see any significant change till that happens.
 
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