Re: Baha'i as the "best religion" ?

Hi Doug, thanks for chiming in. I do hope your difficulties posting
are solved soon. I am using Google Groups myself this time because of
trouble reading your message with the Outlook Express news reader.

"... but yet how do we reconcile or apply the following quotes to this
issue?"

The first one tells us to be thankful for recognizing God's Cause. I
think the non-Baha'is we are talking about have also recognized God's
cause, though they have not recognized God's name as we have. And
that is the point.

"As to those who have remained deprived of such a blessing, their acts
alone have hindered them from recognising
the truth of this Revelation."

I would assert that such deprived people might also be declared
Baha'is.

"May your deeds proclaim your faith and enable you to lead the erring
into the paths of eternal salvation."

Regardless of the name you use to call God.

"I would think then that anyone who lives a distinguished life and
recognizes God would have committed such acts enabling them to
recognize Baha'u'llah, wouldn't they?"

Unless they have not been fittingly introduced to Baha'u'llah. In
that case, they may easily reject Him out of ignorance, and through no
fault of their own.

"And in this second quote we see what is needed to gain favor I think-
"

You quote the Aqdas and the reference to the "twin duties" that I have
mentioned several times already. If a non-Baha'i performs Baha'i like
deeds for God's sake, what is the difference in God's eyes between
this non-Baha'i and the Baha'i who performs similar deeds for God's
sake?

I say no difference.

"So it would seem that one must have been presented and accepted
Baha'u'llah and has striven to obey His commands in order to not go
astray. "

Those commands are to distinguish oneself for loving humanity, for
unity, wisdom, love, justice, mercy, perfection... All the attributes
Baha'u'llah wants us to acquire. If someone who is not a declared
Baha'i acquires those attributes, that person is following the Baha'i
teachings, and is realizing the distinction from the remainder of
humanity that Baha'u'llah wants us to realize.

There is no harm in that.

Thanks for writing. --Kent


On Oct 25, 6:11 pm, Douglas McAdam <douglasmca...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Secondly, those who do live such a distinguished life for the sake of
God
and follow to the best of their abilities the teachings of God that
they
understand... Now I am talking about reasonable people who love God
and
humanity and don't get caught up on the silly stuff of zealots and
phobes,
who see people for the content of their character and love them for
God's
sake alone...

Those who live such a life are distinguished in this life and the next
regardless the name of their religion.

I know what you mean and in a way I agree but yet how do we reconcile
or apply the following quotes to this issue?

This one is about how and why were we able to recognize.
"Be thankful to God for having enabled you to recognise His Cause.
Whoever has received this blessing must, prior to his acceptance, have
performed some deed which, though he himself was unaware of its
character, was ordained by God as a means whereby he has been guided to
find and embrace the Truth. As to those who have remained deprived of
such a blessing, their acts alone have hindered them from recognising
the truth of this Revelation. We cherish the hope that you, who have
attained to this light, will exert your utmost to banish the darkness
of superstition and unbelief from the midst of the people. May your
deeds proclaim your faith and enable you to lead the erring into the
paths of eternal salvation. The memory of this night will never be
forgotten. May it never be effaced by the passage of time, and may its
mention linger for ever on the lips of men."
Dawn Breaker, p.586

I would think then that anyone who lives a distinguished life and
recognizes God would have committed such acts enabling them to
recognize Baha'u'llah, wouldn't they?

And in this second quote we see what is needed to gain favor I think-

"The first duty prescribed by God for His servants is the recognition
of Him Who is the Dayspring of His Revelation and the Fountain of His
laws, Who representeth the Godhead in both the Kingdom of His Cause and
the world of creation. Whoso achieveth this duty hath attained unto all
good; and whoso is deprived thereof hath gone astray, though he be the
author of every righteous deed. It behoveth every one who reacheth this
most sublime station, this summit of transcendent glory, to observe
every ordinance of Him Who is the Desire of the world. These twin
duties are inseparable. Neither is acceptable without the other. Thus
hath it been decreed by Him Who is the Source of Divine inspiration." 2
....The Kitab-i-Aqdas, Pages 19-34: gr1

So it would seem that one must have been presented and accepted
Baha'u'llah and has striven to obey His commands in order to not go
astray.

regards,
doug




.

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