Re: What is the "Cause of God"

Hi Poster.
We have come way off topic.

Really?

Every now and again we all begin discussing what people did and did not say~¤H

as opposed to what they believe.
On this forum we do not allow the people to become the topic and it is very

difficult to avoid our issues about others if people are telling each other

what they did or did not say.
If we can keep to the topic of what people believe, and ask them what they
meant it is more just and fair to everyone, which in my mind is paramount.
I see things very differently from how you do, apparently. A discussion
about how to develop our assemblies seems to me the epitome of wasting time
...

Okay, So has assembly development and maturation ever been a part of
our communities plans or not? I vaguely recall that at one time it
was, but long time since I reviewed it; maybe it's not? Let's ask
Susan.

The establishment and strong growth of Local Spiritual Assemblies is
one of the most fundamental requirements for the spread of the Message
of Bahá'u'lláh, the development of Bahá'í community life and the
emergence of a transformed society.

(The Universal House of Justice, Messages 1963 to 1986, p. 359)


There is absolutely nothing we could do about such an issue unless we were
on the same assembly. Or we could write an assembly development program an
d

I disagree, I like to think we discuss ideas that we can take back to
our respective communities and dare I say, be suggested at feast or at
an assembly.

get it instituted, somehow, but I don't think the two of us could agree on
what any assembly should or shouldn't be doing.

Maybe not; But we do agree that Baha'u'llah is a manifestation of God?
Or do we? I'll try not to presume too much.

If a Baha'i can't get away with entering politics or making political
statements, what makes anyone here believe that an assembly could?
You made several political statements. You have a right to do so, and no
one should stop you.

Okay, you caught me. I did make political statements. I can't lie.
Fair enough. And I hope people know that they are just my opinions not
reflective of our Faith, and I really should not have made them, but
the devil got the better of me. That darned satan, always playing
tricks on people.

So long as you don't associate your view as a Baha'i view you are fine with


Agreed, they do not reflect a Baha'i view; just my own opinion that an
assembly could easily outperform in our current mess.

whatever politics you wish to have. I disagree with every single point you

made, however, so there is wisdom in not discussing politics on this forum.


Fair enough. I'll drop the politics.

Which is why I stick to this issue of what is permitted of Baha'is:
Practically everything permitted by law.
We don't have to "get away with" such things because they are permitted.

Hi Poster. If it were me, I would prefer "Timothy" to "Poster".

Hmm...What about Rambo? You drew First blood not me.

Are you saying that Baha'is are trying to spread our fledgling religion?

I'm sooo confused now, my head is spinning? Can anyone say, 'entry by
troops?' . What has been the goal and orientation of our community for
the last 10 years? I'm not sure what feast letter you're reading; or
if I'm just that ignorant. Who knows maybe there is another way of
understanding what I've been hearing over and over..maybe in bizarro
world? Have we opened a portal?

The basic literature of the Faith must be translated into languages
that are most suitable and in demand for the spread and development of
the Faith in accordance with the goals of the Plan.

(The Universal House of Justice, Messages 1963 to 1986, p. 306)



Because that is exactly what I think we should NOT be doing. We should be
consorting in friendliness and fellowship. Baha'u'llah didn't say to
consort whenever you find yourself, through no fault of your own, in the
midst of others of other religions. No, he issued a command. We are to
find those people and consort with them. Not "spread our fledgling
religion" but rather "friendliness and fellowship".

Are we talking methods or goals? I agree that in order for our faith
to grow we need to consort as you say, but I recognize that our goal
is to spread the Faith.

What the Cause now requires is not so much a group of highly cultured
and intellectual people who can adequately present its Teachings, but
a number of devoted, sincere and loyal supporters who, in utter
disregard of their own weaknesses and limitations, and with hearts
afire with the love of God, forsake their all for the sake of
spreading and establishing His Faith. ..

(The Universal House of Justice, Messages 1963 to 1986, p. 121)


And if you think you know WHY we don't have clergy then you are interpretin
g
the Writings. Each of us needs to find the truth on our own, and what is
obvious to you, that you throw away as an aside (spread our fledgling
religion, for example) is not so obvious to others, like me for instance.

That first half-century of the Formative Age has seen the Bahá'í
Community grow from a few hundred centres in 35 countries in 1921, to
over 46,000 centres in 135 independent states and 182 significant
territories and islands at the present day, has been marked by the
raising throughout the world of the framework of the Administrative
Order, which in its turn has brought recognition of the Faith by many
governments and civil authorities and accreditation in consultative
status to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, and
has witnessed the spread to many parts of the world of that "entry by
troops" promised by the Master and so long and so eagerly anticipated
by the friends.+F228

(The Universal House of Justice, Messages 1963 to 1986, p. 196)

Again, not sure what you're accusing me of here. I didn't just pull
that statement from thin air. It would be fair to say that I
paraphrased based on the above two quotations and many more. Our
mutual goal, like it or not, is to spread our faith.

I would love to discuss with you why you think we don't have clergy, but it

seems to me there might be a million reasons. The most notable is that we

Agreed, there are a million reasons not to have clergy. And I really
think it's unfair to compare our counsellors to clergy or to go a step
further and describe them as clergy. I think it is easy to confuse our
administrative order or parts of it with clergy, but in it's sum total
there really is no single legitimate counterpart.

were told not to have clergy. So far as I can tell, that is the best reaso
n
why that I can imagine.

Good enough, agreed.

Why would you ask such a question? Is there an issue you would like to tal
k
about?

I think I made my point already.

This thread is taking a nasty turn. Are you here to talk about issues
relating to the Baha'i Faith?

Likewise, my points already been made. The transcripts of these posts
are self-evident and archived.

I like Timothy.

I like Rambo.


The final hours of the Nine Year Plan are fast fleeting. Praise be to
God that you have gathered to consult on ways and means of assuring
complete victory so that from these outposts the Teachings may spread
to those nearby lands where teeming millions have not as yet heard of
the advent of this Most Great Dispensation.

(The Universal House of Justice, Messages 1963 to 1986, p. 204)


Still don't think our priority is to spread the faith?

Allah'u'Abha





.

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