Most Christians recognise there was more to Moses than being just a prophet.
More than Just a prophet, what would that be? Certainly no Christians believe that Moses was
equivalent to Jesus.
The Bible is quite unique in that it provides the life and Teachings of at least two Manifestations of God. Then there’s Adam, Noah and Abraham.
And Christians have FAILED to recognize
any of them for who they actually were.
There’s quite a few Christians who recognise there is something extraordinary about the life and Teachings of Muhammad and Buddha.
So what? They STILL believe that Jesus is the Only Way.
Why not look for points of agreement of which there are many? You have at least as much in common with Christians as you do atheists. If you are adversarial and emphasise differences it often won’t feel like a spirit of love and fellowship for either party.
I do look for points of agreement, all the time and I am not adversarial. Telling them that I disagree with the basic Christian doctrines is not being adversarial, it is just being honest.
Sometimes sacrifices are made for the greater good. The beloved of all things in the Sight of God is Justice is it not?
Why not just answer directly with a “yes?” Why beat around the bush? I do not consider that justice but then I am not God am I? However, I am not going to just accept what the Bible says God said or did because it is not verifiable. These are just stories. They might be true or not, but I am not gullible enough to “just believe” them because they are in the Bible.
Do you believe that everything that was written in the Bible is
literally true? Can you explain to me how whoever wrote the Bible knew what God said to Moses? Moreover, there are lots of other instances where the OT says that God said or did x or y or z. Do you actually believe that God said and did all those things?
Bahá’u’lláh teaches us to see with our own eyes and not through the eyes of others, to know of our own knowledge, not through the knowledge of our neighbours. There is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible firsthand. Remember it is better to read a single verse in a spirit of joy than to wearily read all the scriptures. Eventually it will only take a few minutes to make connections and gain insights. Furthermore an hours reflection is preferable to 70 years of pious worship.
I guess you did not hear what I said? I do not want to read the Bible and it is not a requirement for Baha’is to read the Bible. However, if I see a REASON to read it I surely will, like when I am conversing with Christians and I have to look up verses.
If a Hindu in India becomes a Baha’i, nearly 80% of his countrymen will be Hindus too and only 2% Christian. It’s more important that he can connect Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation with Hinduism in the first instance than Christianity. If we are to have a truly world embracing view that Bahá’u’lláh asks, then we need to connect with other world views too. For me the best way to learn about Christianity is to talk to Christians. If the topic of the Bible comes up then the best way for me to learn about this book is to read it myself and not rely on the opinions of others, even Bahá’u’lláh’s.
I agree that the best way to learn about Christianity is to talk to Christians. However, I do not think that the best way to learn about the Bible is to read it myself; I would be better off taking a class because I am not going to understand what verses mean without guidance from someone who knows more than I do.
If Baha’u’llah interpreted something in the Bible, I certainly would defer to Baha’u’llah’s interpretation rather than my own.
“Know assuredly that just as thou firmly believest that the Word of God, exalted be His glory, endurethfor ever, thou must, likewise, believe with undoubting faith that its meaning can never be exhausted. They who are its appointed interpreters, they whose hearts are the repositories of its secrets, are, however, the only ones who can comprehend its manifold wisdom. Whoso, while reading the Sacred Scriptures, is tempted to choose therefrom whatever may suit him with which to challenge the authority of the Representative of God among men, is, indeed, as one dead, though to outward seeming he may walk and converse with his neighbors, and share with them their food and their drink.”
Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 175-176
It’s strongly implied. One of the fundamental Baha’i principles is the Oneness of religion. That is the Central theme of one common faith. So I no longer see there’s separation but a process of progressive Revelation.
Oneness of religion simply means that all religions came from the SAME Source, God. It does not mean that all the religions are the same or that all religions are pertinent to this new age.
A fundamental principle of the Baha’i Faith is that time marches on and the older religions are no longer pertinent to the new age:
“The All-Knowing Physician hath His finger on the pulse of mankind. He perceiveth the disease, and prescribeth, in His unerring wisdom, the remedy. Every age hath its own problem, and every soul its particular aspiration. The remedy the world needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require. Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.”
Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 213
That is why a new religion is revealed in every age, and THAT religion is the one that humanity is enjoined to follow.
There’s no disconnect between God telling Moses to stone the one who breaks the Sabbath and Bahá’u’lláh commanding to burn the arsonist. Then when Bahá’u’lláh talks about outwardly fire and vengeance, inwardly light and mercy there is peace.
The disconnect is that if we are Baha’is, the Laws of Judaism do not apply to us. Moreover, the Laws of Judaism are no longer pertinent to this age in history.
Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Do you think that homosexuals should be put to death? I cannot see any justice in that. However, I have no problem with an arsonist who killed people in a fire he started being burned because that is just.
I do not see it implied or written
anywherethat we should know all about all the older religions. Regarding older religions, this is what Baha’u’llah says:
“To any one that hath read the book of Jük it is clear and evident how much the accounts given by the various books have differed.
Please God thou wilt turn thine eyes towards the Most Great Revelation, and entirely disregard these conflicting tales and traditions.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 174-175
Conversing with people of other religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship does not require that we learn
all about their religion. It is much more important that we know about the Baha’i Faith than other religions, for obvious logical reasons.
When you talk about having no interest in previous religions it makes as much sense as one who only reads Bahá’u’lláh’s works during Akka but not in Baghdad.
No, that is completely illogical because Baha’u’llah’s Revelation is the Revelation for this age, and Baha’u’llah’s works are Baha’u’llah’s works. They have nothing to do with the works of previous religious dispensations. All the older religious dispensations have been
unconditionally abrogated by the Revelation of Baha’u’llah. NOWHERE did Baha’u’llah tell us to study the older religions. In fact, what He said is to turn towards
His Manifestation, which obviously implies that we do not turn our attention backwards in history.
“This is the Day when the loved ones of God should keep their eyes directed towards His Manifestation, and fasten them upon whatsoever that Manifestation may be pleased to reveal. Certain traditions of bygone ages rest on no foundations whatever, while the notions entertained by past generations, and which they have recorded in their books, have, for the most part, been influenced by the desires of a corrupt inclination. Thou dost witness how most of the commentaries and interpretations of the words of God, now current amongst men, are devoid of truth. Their falsity hath, in some cases, been exposed when the intervening veils were rent asunder. They themselves have acknowledged their failure in apprehending the meaning of any of the words of God.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 171-172
As I see Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation that’s exactly what we’re obligated to do.
We are obligated to proclaim that Baha’u’llah has come and teach the Faith to those who are interested. We are not obligated to learn all about their religions.
It’s much easier for those following the latest Manifestation to enter into the world of those followers of a previous dispensation than the other way round. We’re the ones with the latest guidance after all. If we follow Bahá’u’lláh we will acquire the knowledge and skills to guide and teach others if they are receptive.
We all acquire knowledge and skills to guide and teach others in our own individual ways.There is no reason to think that all Baha’is should teach the Faith in the same way.
