Well we went to the second book of the faith in the study last night. I´ḿ thinking about dropping out. thought it was on teaching the children and teens the faith.
It was partly but it was also about talking to your family members and teaching friends and neighbors in the community. I said "what is this ya all are converting people because your religion is the best?¨
They said no we don convert people, we just believe in the laws of God we have already studied that it can be shared with the community about community and how to improve our world with folks from other religions. We can talk together on our faith without converting and just teaching what we learned.
Before it was through I was getting a creepy feeling that they wanted me to convert people although they won´t word it that way. Perhaps I am wrong. Do the Bahaís here want to weigh in on this?
I am not involved in my Baha'i community and haven't been involved for years, and now since Covid-19, all their meetings are on Zoom so I could not attend activities even of I wanted to.
It is not that I do not "like" the Baha'is, so why I do not attend is all about me. For one thing, I have never been very social and I do not like groups, and for another thing I do not feel like I have much in common with the other Baha'is since to be quite frank, I do not like or trust God that much. I believe that Baha'u'llah was the Manifestation of God for this age and that God exists, that's why I am a Baha'i. I cannot disbelieve in Bahaullah because of the evidence, as I am all about evidence, not emotions. If i followed my emotions I would have dropped out of the Baha'i Faith a long, long time ago.
As for Baha'i teaching activities, I have no idea how the Baha'is go about those, except on the forums I have been on, mainly this forum, and on RF I see many different attitudes and behaviors of various Bahais since we all have different personalities. I try to follow what Baha'u'llah has enjoined us to do, and I may as well tell you what that is so you and everyone else reading on this thread will know what that is:
“Consort with all men, O people of Bahá, in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship. If ye be aware of a certain truth, if ye possess a jewel, of which others are deprived, share it with them in a language of utmost kindliness and good-will. If it be accepted, if it fulfil its purpose, your object is attained. If anyone should refuse it, leave him unto himself, and beseech God to guide him. Beware lest ye deal unkindly with him. A kindly tongue is the lodestone of the hearts of men. It is the bread of the spirit, it clotheth the words with meaning, it is the fountain of the light of wisdom and understanding….” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 289
“Through each and every one of the verses which the Pen of the Most High hath revealed, the doors of love and unity have been unlocked and flung open to the face of men. We have erewhile declared—and Our Word is the truth—: “Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship.” Whatsoever hath led the children of men to shun one another, and hath caused dissensions and divisions amongst them, hath, through the revelation of these words, been nullified and abolished. From the heaven of God’s Will, and for the purpose of ennobling the world of being and of elevating the minds and souls of men, hath been sent down that which is the most effective instrument for the education of the whole human race.”
Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 95
“The second Taráz is to consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship, to proclaim that which the Speaker on Sinai hath set forth and to observe fairness in all matters.
They that are endued with sincerity and faithfulness should associate with all the peoples and kindreds of the earth with joy and radiance, inasmuch as consorting with people hath promoted and will continue to promote unity and concord, which in turn are conducive to the maintenance of order in the world and to the regeneration of nations. Blessed are such as hold fast to the cord of kindliness and tender mercy and are free from animosity and hatred.” Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 35-36
I never ran with the crowd. I have always been a free spirit and a Trailblazer, so I never pattern my behavior after what other Baha'is do. I also do not care what non-Baha'is on this forum "believe" my motives are because I have good personal boundaries, so I well know what my motives are, adn what they are not.
When I first came to RF it might have been different, I might have wanted to share the Baha'i Faith a lot, but I have changed a lot in three years. Now I am not mainly on RF to talk about Baha'u'llah or the Baha'i Faith, but I will talk about it if it comes up in a thread or if someone asks me point blank what the evidence is for Baha'u'llah, or why I believe in God. I will also engage in dialogues with other religious people, mainly Christians, but only if they want to engage in dialogues with me.
It is not as if I look for people to post to about Baha'i, I normally only respond to posts posted to me or I respond when someone starts a thread about the Baha'i Faith, as you did. I feel an obligation to respond and explain the Baha'i position, because I am a Baha'i. I also feel an obligation to defend Baha'u'llah or the Bahai Faith, if I see false information being posted about it. I have been a Baha'i for 50 years so I think I am qualified to correct false information posted by people who know very little or who have been misinformed.
