Retributive Calamities

[TransmutingSoul]

This is a topic that many see as challenging.

Yet I now see it is an intrinsic part of all God given Religions. It is about Justice for the actions we take as individuals and collectively as Nations.

It seems to be about cause and effect, or neglect of the Cause becomes the calamities we face.

Now all God given Faiths offer a path for us to follow, with the required Laws. We are inform of the bounty this will give on a personal level and to all humanity. Then they also record the calamities that will be faced when that path is either neglected or rejected.

Baha'u'llah made it clear to us what the neglect of a God given Message will reek upon mankind in this age, in a very precise verse.

"O ye peoples of the world! Know, verily, that an unforeseen calamity is following you, and that grievous retribution awaiteth you. Think not the deeds ye have committed have been blotted from My sight. By My beauty! All your doings hath My Pen graven with open characters upon tablets of chrysolite."

I know the Bible and Quran carry such warnings. I have not pursued this topic in other Scriptures in any great detail, yet I am positive we will find warnings about neglect of following the right path and the results of that neglect.

The Baha'i writings have many, many warnings for this age, so I see it is a relevant topic to discuss. Yet the intent of this is not about a 'DOOMSDAY mentality, it is about the hope and promise of change.

If we can acknowledge that guidance has been given, that we have been warned what neglect of that guidance will result in, then we can consider the required change in our own lives and advocate for a better future.

From a Baha'i perspective we have this advice.

If Bahá’ís Fail They Are Partly Responsible for Agony of Mankind

"There is so much suffering, such a great and desperate need for a true remedy and the Bahá’ís should realize their sacred obligation is to deliver the Message to their fellowmen at once, and on as large a scale as possible. If they fail to do so, they are really partly responsible for prolonging the agony of humanity." (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, December 18, 1943)

This link is some quotes on this topic.

Lights of Guidance/Calamities and Crisis - Bahaiworks, a library of works about the Bahá’í Faith

There is a small compilation called Crisis and Victory that also has a fee quotes from the Baha'i Writings.

Crisis and Victory | Bahá’í Reference Library

So lets discuss this is a proactive manner. Post the warnings you see that have been given and offer how you see we need to change so that warning can be heeded.

Remember this is not a debate, it is a proactive OP focused on looking for answers as to how to become a united humanity.



Peace and love to all. Regards Tony

 

[TransmutingSoul]

This was advice given in the mid to late 1800's.

".. Lay not aside the fear of God, O kings of the earth, and beware that ye transgress not the bounds which the Almighty hath fixed. Observe the injunctions laid upon you in His Book, and take good heed not to overstep their limits. Be vigilant, that ye may not do injustice to anyone, be it to the extent of a grain of mustard seed. Tread ye the path of justice, for this, verily, is the straight path.

Compose your differences, and reduce your armaments, that the burden of your expenditures may be lightened, and that your minds and hearts may be tranquillized. Heal the dissensions that divide you, and ye will no longer be in need of any armaments except what the protection of your cities and territories demandeth. Fear ye God, and take heed not to outstrip the bounds of moderation, and be numbered among the extravagant.

We have learned that you are increasing your outlay every year, and are laying the burden thereof on your subjects. This, verily, is more than they can bear, and is a grievous injustice..." – Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, pp. 250-251.

In that passage, I see the calamities we face today, of not following that advice, is now clearly apparent for all to see.

Regards Tony

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Then there is the promise of what we can achieve in this day, I see passages in the Bible reflect that this promise would unfold.

"...This is the Day in which God's most excellent favors have been poured out upon men, the Day in which His most mighty grace hath been infused into all created things. It is incumbent upon all the peoples of the world to reconcile their differences, and, with perfect unity and peace, abide beneath the shadow of the Tree of His care and loving-kindness. It behoveth them to cleave to whatsoever will, in this Day, be conducive to the exaltation of their stations, and to the promotion of their best interests." (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 6)

Regards Tony

 

[TransmutingSoul]

This is from the Bible.

Deuteronomy 32:35
"To me [belongeth] vengeance, and recompense; their foot shall slide in [due] time: for the day of their calamity [is] at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste."

I see that passage offers that the recompense is a result of our actions.

Others may see it differently?

Regards Tony

 

[Ella S.]

If there is a Creator God and he wishes to guide us, then he has written that guide book upon our very genetic codes.

Some people might equate evolutionary ethics with Social Darwinism, under the impression that "survival of the fittest" refers to some form of competition for selfish benefits. This is not the case.

As social creatures, humanity has evolved the complex social emotions of empathy, compassion, and fairness. Despite being rather weak animals, we were capable of much more when we worked together. Ancient cave paintings tell us that the earliest humans hunted large game in groups.

I would posit that cooperation and reciprocal altruism are clearly a part of God's plans for us, if God were to exist at all, and that we can surmise this through our own capacity to reason by examining the fingerprints left by God in the natural world. If all of the world's religious texts were to be suppressed, our DNA would continue to preach the words of harmony.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

If there is a Creator God and he wishes to guide us, then he has written that guide book upon our very genetic codes.

Some people might equate evolutionary ethics with Social Darwinism, under the impression that "survival of the fittest" refers to some form of competition for selfish benefits. This is not the case.

As social creatures, humanity has evolved the complex social emotions of empathy, compassion, and fairness. Despite being rather weak animals, we were capable of much more when we worked together. Ancient cave paintings tell us that the earliest humans hunted large game in groups.

I would posit that cooperation and reciprocal altruism are clearly a part of God's plans for us, if God were to exist at all, and that we can surmise this through our own capacity to reason by examining the fingerprints left by God in the natural world. If all of the world's religious texts were to be suppressed, our DNA would continue to preach the words of harmony.

I see it takes a very special person to be able to read all those instructions that are implanted within us. Personally I am in need of instructions.

Regards Tony

 

[Ella S.]

I see it takes a very special person to be able to read all those instructions that are implanted within us. Personally I am in need of instructions.

Regards Tony

Well, I can't deny that a little clarification can certainly help quite a bit

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Well, I can't deny that a little clarification can certainly help quite a bit

I wish you all the best in finding a way through the events we face in this age.

Personally I see there is many clarifications available, which to me is a great help.

I will post some more in this OP

Regards Tony

 

[TransmutingSoul]

I am actually surprised of how many documents there is on this topic! It was a wow moment for me.

This was interesting for me.

"A fairly large number of Bahá'u'lláh's writings bear directly or indirectly upon the theme of latter-day "catastrophe". It is stated that various of his revelatory "Tablets" (alwáh) as expressions of the creative Word are tantamount encapsulations of end-time, catastrophic "trumpet blasts" precipitating revolutionary "terror" and calamitous change. Certain of his major Tablets to the Kings, for example, were accorded suggestive qur'ánic rooted titles by Bahá'u'lláh himself. In a Tablet to Nabíl [-i Zarandi?], which at one point dwells on the theme of his revelations in the light of end-time "judgement" or "catastrophe", he states that,
Each one of them [the "Tablets to the Kings"] hath been designated by a special name. The first hath been named "The Rumbling [Shout]" [al-Sáyha, Q. 54:31... etc], the second "The [Catastrophic] Blow" [al-Qári'a, Q. 101] the third "The Inevitable [Calamity]" [al-Háqqah, Q. 69], the fourth, "The Plain" [al-Sáhirah, Q. 79:14], the fifth "The Catastrophe" [al-Támmah, Q. 79:34] and the others, "The Stunning Trumpet Blast," [al-Sákhkhah, Q. 80:33] "The Near Event," [al-zulfah, Q. 67:27] "The Great Terror," [al-faza' al-akbar, Q. 21:103] "The Trumpet," [al-Súr, Q. 6:73...] "The Bugle," [al-Náqúr, Q. 74:8] and their like..."

Catastrophe, Armageddon and Millennium

Lots to read indeed!

I am beginning to understand why not many will respond to this OP, as that may be paramount to acknowledging there was fair warning given for this age, by God!

That is of course IMHO.

Regards Tony

 

[TransmutingSoul]

The way to Avoid the Calamities was offered by Baha'u'llah in many ways, this is one passage.

"We pray God—exalted be His glory—and cherish the hope that He may graciously assist the manifestations of affluence and power and the daysprings of sovereignty and glory, the kings of the earth—may God aid them through His strengthening grace—to establish the Lesser Peace. This, indeed, is the greatest means for insuring the tranquillity of the nations. It is incumbent upon the Sovereigns of the world—may God assist them—unitedly to hold fast unto this Peace, which is the chief instrument for the protection of all mankind. It is Our hope that they will arise to achieve what will be conducive to the well-being of man. It is their duty to convene an all-inclusive assembly, which either they themselves or their ministers will attend, and to enforce whatever measures are required to establish unity and concord amongst men. They must put away the weapons of war, and turn to the instruments of universal reconstruction. Should one king rise up against another, all the other kings must arise to deter him. Arms and armaments will, then, be no more needed beyond that which is necessary to insure the internal security of their respective countries. If they attain unto this all-surpassing blessing, the people of each nation will pursue, with tranquillity and contentment, their own occupations, and the groanings and lamentations of most men would be silenced."

Abdul'baha brought that Message to America and explained what Baha'u'llah offered in this quote.

"True civilization will unfurl its banner in the midmost heart of the world whenever a certain number of its distinguished and high-minded sovereigns—the shining exemplars of devotion and determination—shall, for the good and happiness of all mankind, arise, with firm resolve and clear vision, to establish the Cause of Universal Peace. They must make the Cause of Peace the object of general consultation, and seek by every means in their power to establish a Union of the nations of the world. They must conclude a binding treaty and establish a covenant, the provisions of which shall be sound, inviolable and definite. They must proclaim it to all the world and obtain for it the sanction of all the human race. This supreme and noble undertaking—the real source of the peace and well-being of all the world—should be regarded as sacred by all that dwell on earth. All the forces of humanity must be mobilized to ensure the stability and permanence of this Most Great Covenant. In this all-embracing Pact the limits and frontiers of each and every nation should be clearly fixed, the principles underlying the relations of governments towards one another definitely laid down, and all international agreements and obligations ascertained. In like manner, the size of the armaments of every government should be strictly limited, for if the preparations for war and the military forces of any nation should be allowed to increase, they will arouse the suspicion of others. The fundamental principle underlying this solemn Pact should be so fixed that if any government later violate any one of its provisions, all the governments on earth should arise to reduce it to utter submission, nay the human race as a whole should resolve, with every power at its disposal, to destroy that government. Should this greatest of all remedies be applied to the sick body of the world, it will assuredly recover from its ills and will remain eternally safe and secure."

The calamity unfolds when we do not heed this advice and choose weapons and war instead.

Regards Tony

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Quran 64:11 "No calamity befalls ˹anyone˺ except by Allah’s Will. And whoever has faith in Allah, He will ˹rightly˺ guide their hearts ˹through adversity˺. And Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all things."

Thus, to me, that says that calamity can be seen as a spiritual cleansing, it enables us to obtain unto the true knowledge of our existence.

Regards Tony

 

[TransmutingSoul]

This passage I read this morning tells us how Calamity is a necessary part of our maturity as a human species, well to me anyway.

"Although outwardly cataclysms are hard to understand and to endure, yet there lies a great wisdom behind them which appears later. All the visible material events are inter-related with invisible spiritual forces. The infinite phenomena of creation are as interdependent as the links of a chain. When certain links become rusty, they are broken by unseen forces, to be replaced by newer and better ones. There are certain colossal events which transpire in the world of humanity which are required by the nature of the times. For example, the requirements of winter are cold, snow, hail and rain - but the birds and animals who live for six months, enjoying a short span of life, not realizing the wisdom of winter, chide and make lament and are discontent, saying, "Why this awful frost? Why this hail and storm? Why not the balmy weather? Why not the eternal springtime? Why this injustice on the part of the creator? Why this suffering? What have we done to be meted out with this catastrophe?" However, those souls who have lived many years and have acquired much experience and have weathered many severe winters realize that in order to enjoy the coming spring they must pass through the cold of winter.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy, p. 115

I'm having a great self converstaion Tony, thanks for posting such a great thought provoking OP.

Regards Tony

 

[TransmutingSoul]

This passage I read this morning tells us how Calamity is a necessary part of our maturity as a human species, well to me anyway.

"Although outwardly cataclysms are hard to understand and to endure, yet there lies a great wisdom behind them which appears later. All the visible material events are inter-related with invisible spiritual forces. The infinite phenomena of creation are as interdependent as the links of a chain. When certain links become rusty, they are broken by unseen forces, to be replaced by newer and better ones. There are certain colossal events which transpire in the world of humanity which are required by the nature of the times. For example, the requirements of winter are cold, snow, hail and rain - but the birds and animals who live for six months, enjoying a short span of life, not realizing the wisdom of winter, chide and make lament and are discontent, saying, "Why this awful frost? Why this hail and storm? Why not the balmy weather? Why not the eternal springtime? Why this injustice on the part of the creator? Why this suffering? What have we done to be meted out with this catastrophe?" However, those souls who have lived many years and have acquired much experience and have weathered many severe winters realize that in order to enjoy the coming spring they must pass through the cold of winter.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy, p. 115

I'm having a great self converstaion Tony, thanks for posting such a great thought provoking OP.

Regards Tony

Well thank you Tony, yes indeed. The more one reads the Holy books, the more one sees that the dawn of a Revelation and the subsequent calamity of neglect of that Revelation, go hand in hand. It is about moving from an adolescent human state of being, on to a maturity as a united human species.

This is another example of fair warning given.

"The violent derangement of the world's equilibrium; the trembling that will seize the limbs of mankind; the radical transformation of human society; the rolling up of the present-day Order; the fundamental changes affecting the structure of government; the weakening of the pillars of religion; the rise of dictatorships; the spread of tyranny; the fall of monarchies; the decline of ecclesiastical institutions; the increase of anarchy and chaos; the extension and consolidation of the Movement of the Left; the fanning into flame of the smouldering fire of racial strife; the development of infernal engines of war; the burning of cities; the contamination of the atmosphere of the earth these stand out as the signs and portents that must either herald or accompany the retributive calamity which, as decreed by Him Who is the Judge and Redeemer of mankind, must, sooner or later, afflict a society which, for the most part, and for over a century, has turned a deaf ear to the Voice of God's Messenger in this day a calamity which must purge the human race of the dross of its age-long corruptions, and weld its component parts into a firmly-knit world-embracing Fellowship..."

Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Bahá’í World 1950-1957, p. 103

Well that's about it. Maybe we may awake as a species to work for unity and peace, but it appears not in my lifetime.

So all the best to all peoples, may the days ahead awaken us from our strange sleep, may God's Will become our way of life and the Peace and security of an ever advancing humanity unfold in a Most Great Peace.

Towards the Lesser Peace, and more retubutive calamity, we now stumble on.

Regards Tony