Re: A job for life and source of income

On 11/23/05, Suzanne Gerstner <sb.gerstner@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Gilberto wrote:

> > And in any case, there is a larger question in the background here
> > which you aren't really discussing. Yes there are certain problems
> > which exist in "Muslim countries" but there are also the same problems
> > in non-Muslim communities in Middle Eastern countries.

> Dear Gilberto,

> Certainly the sort of problems which exist in the Muslim world now existed
> in the extreme before the coming of Muhammad. I imagine by now that you've
> read all the Baha'i texts around Muhammad and Islam, but here's a quote for
> those who may not have:

Gilberto:
Suzanne, thanks for that passage. I don't know if I've read ALL the
Bahai texts around Muhammad and Islam, but I've read alot of them, and
I've read the one quoted below as well. I guess my concern would that
even though the passage is very positive, I actually don't see it as
being about Islam. It has more to do with the accomplishments of
Arab-Perso-Middle Eastern-North African civilization.

I mean it makes sense that a Bahai would emphasize that component more
so than the spiritual-religious-theological aspects of Islam. But the
latter component is the part which is more essential and central.


-Gilberto


> "The Arabians were in the utmost state of degradation. They were
> blood-thirsty and barbarous, so savage and degraded that the Arabian father
> often buried his own daughter alive. Consider, could any barbarian be lower
> than this? The nation consisted of warring, hostile tribal peoples
> inhabiting the vast Arabian peninsula, and their business consisted in
> fighting and pillaging each other, making captive women and children,
> killing each other. Muhammad appeared among such a people. He educated and
> unified these barbarous tribes, put an end to their shedding of blood.
> Through his education they reached such a degree of civilization that they
> subdued and governed continents and nations. What a great civilization was
> established in Spain by the Muhammadans! What a marvelous civilization was
> founded in Morocco by the Moors! What a powerful caliphate or successorship
> was set up in Baghdad! How much Islam served and furthered the cause of
> science! Why then should we deny Muhammad? If we deny him we awaken enmity
> and hatred. By our prejudice we become the cause of war and bloodshed; for
> prejudice was the cause of the tremendous storm which swept through human
> history for thirteen hundred years and still continues. Even now in the
> Balkans a commotion is apparent, reflecting it.
> The Christian people number nearly three hundred millions and the
> Muhammadans about the same. It is no small task to do away with such
> numbers. And furthermore why should they be obliterated? For these are all
> servants of the one God. Let us strive to establish peace between
> Christians and Muhammadans. Is it not better?
> (`Abdu'l-Baha: Japan Will Turn Ablaze*, Pages: 45-46)


> I left the last bit, because you can see that it is not the aim of the
> Baha'i Faith to eliminate any other religion.

I don't think all Bahais feel the same way.

> All are servants of the same
> God. And certainly, I don't think you would find any Baha'i who would
> disparage Muhammad and the Faith He taught.

I think I've seen that in these forums. And as I was alluding to, the
above, strictly speaking isn't so much about the faith which Muhammad
taught, it's about the civilization which Arabs and others put
together in his wake.

Peace

Gilberto

.

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