All things are subject to reformation
- From: "diamondsouled" <rowe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 11 Jul 2006 16:31:09 CST
Howdy all,
I am in total agreement with what Abdu'l-Baha' says in the following
quote. I believe that such wisdom applies equally to Baha'is as it does
to all religionists.
As Abdu'l-Baha' himself says: " all things are subject to reformation
". " Shall man gifted with the power of reason unthinkingly follow and
adhere to dogma, creeds and hereditary beliefs which will not bear the
analysis of reason in this century of effulgent reality? Unquestionably
this will not satisfy men of science, for when they find premise or
conclusion contrary to present standards of proof and without real
foundation, they reject that which has been formerly accepted as
standard and correct and move forward from new foundations."
Clearly, in order to follow and fulfil this teaching of Abdu'l-Baha's
it is necessary to reject unthinking adherance to: "dogma, creeds and
hereditary beliefs which will not bear the analysis of reason in this
century of effulgent reality." as well as to: "reject that which has
been formerly accepted as standard and correct and move forward from
new foundations". when past premises or conclusions are found to be
contrary to present standards of proof and without real foundation.
Yours
Larry Rowe
"Religion is the outer expression of the divine reality. Therefore it
must be living, vitalized, moving and progressive. If it be without
motion and non-progressive it is without the divine life; it is dead.
The divine institutes are continuously active and evolutionary;
therefore the revelation of them must be progressive and continuous.
All things are subject to re-formation. This is a century of life and
renewal. Sciences and arts, industry and invention have been reformed.
Law and ethics have been reconstituted, reorganized. The world of
thought has been regenerated. Sciences of former ages and philosophies
of the past are useless today. Present exigencies demand new methods of
solution; world problems are without precedent. Old ideas and modes of
thought are fast becoming obsolete. Ancient laws and archaic ethical
systems will not meet the requirements of modern conditions, for this
is clearly the century of a new life, the century of the revelation of
the reality and therefore the greatest of all centuries. Consider how
the scientific developments of fifty years have surpassed and eclipsed
the knowledge and achievements of all the former ages combined. Would
the announcements and theories of ancient astronomers explain our
present knowledge of the sun-worlds and planetary systems? Would the
mask of obscurity which beclouded mediaeval centuries meet the demand
for clear-eyed vision and understanding which characterizes the world
today? Will the despotism of former governments answer the call for
freedom which has risen from the heart of humanity in this cycle of
illumination? It is evident that no vital results are now forthcoming
from the customs, institutions and standpoints of the past. In view of
this, shall blind imitations of ancestral forms and theological
interpretations continue to guide and control the religious life and
spiritual development of humanity today? Shall man gifted with the
power of reason unthinkingly follow and adhere to dogma, creeds and
hereditary beliefs which will not bear the analysis of reason in this
century of effulgent reality? Unquestionably this will not satisfy men
of science, for when they find premise or conclusion contrary to
present standards of proof and without real foundation, they reject
that which has been formerly accepted as standard and correct and move
forward from new foundations."
(Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 224)
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