Re: Baha'is need a new strategy




Kent Johnson wrote:
> "Matt Menge" <mspmenge@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:1138237906.680529.309900@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> >Did you know that Baha'is are actually supposed to quote from the Writings
> >when they merely talk about the Faith to non-Baha'is?
>
> As to whether or not it is God's Will that those who have signed a Baha'i
> card are directed to quote Baha'u'llah when merely talking to anyone who has
> not signed a card, well, I will have to bow to your supperior knowledge of
> the subject. Seems silly to me to even discuss it.

Kent,

Are you even bothering to hear what he said. He didn't say we should
quote the Writings everytime we say anything to a non-Baha'i. He said
when we are talking about the *Faith.* I'm guessing he has in mind this
statement:

"The sanctified souls should ponder and meditate in their hearts
regarding the methods of teaching. From the texts of the wondrous,
heavenly Scriptures they should memorize phrases and passages bearing
on various instances, so that in the course of their speech they may
recite divine verses whenever the occasion demandeth it, inasmuch as
these holy verses are the most potent elixir, the greatest and
mightiest talisman. So potent is their influence that the hearer will
have no cause for vacillation. I swear by My life! This Revelation is
endowed with such a power that it will act as the lodestone for all
nations and kindreds of the earth. Should one pause to meditate
attentively he would recognize that no place is there, nor can there
be, for anyone to flee to."

(Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 200)

> I do care that Baha'is and non-Baha'is alike talk to each other, group to
> group, person to person, person to group. And that talking should involve a
> plan of action, a way to uplift and serve people, to make the world a better
> place. I would rather discuss that.

Great. Then why give so much attention to what you think Baha'is ought
not to be doing? That isn't exactly encouraging!

warmest, Susan

.



Relevant Pages

  • Re: Bahais need a new strategy
    ... Where did I say we shouldn't be quoting the writings? ... > Kent Johnson wrote: ... >> card are directed to quote Baha'u'llah when merely talking to anyone who ... Then why give so much attention to what you think Baha'is ought ...
    (soc.religion.bahai)
  • Re: Talk on the Faith: Advice?
    ... quote that entire thread of messages and I am sorry if that confuses you, ... All of the central figures of my Faith say unity, love, study, following the ... who tell eveyone to quote the writings, ... It is not a mistake to make a mistake if it is made with love." ...
    (soc.religion.bahai)
  • What is fundamentalism?
    ... we don't need to make a quote ... sense, but because it is in the Writings, a belief like that comes ... dangerously close to blind faith. ... which in my opinion is fundamentalism. ...
    (soc.religion.bahai)
  • Re: Bahais need a new strategy
    ... >Did you know that Baha'is are actually supposed to quote from the Writings ... >when they merely talk about the Faith to non-Baha'is? ... > In our perspective there is only one religion, ...
    (soc.religion.bahai)
  • Re: How is Bahai Different?
    ... But if I believed the Baha'i Faith were ... I don't believe as you believe, and you ask me to explain a quote. ... broken themselves and dashed their hopes on the rock of the Covenant. ... accept the station of 'Abdu'l-Baha and the Guardians. ...
    (soc.religion.bahai)