Re: How to use the writings of Baha'u'llah, Abdu'l-Baha, Shoghi Effendi, and the Universal House of Justice

On May 27, 12:59 am, jimhabeg...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
A few days ago I started wondering if the distinctions I've been
making between the writings of Baha'u'llah, Abdu'l-Baha, Shoghi
Effendi, and the Universal House of Justice, have any practical
significance or consequences. Generally, I've imagined that I was
using the writings of Abdu'l-Baha, Shoghi Effendi, and the Universal
House of Justice, to help me better understand and serve Baha'u'llah's
purposes, and better understand and apply His prescriptions.

Sometimes in online discussions, I've made a distinction between what
I considered authorized interpretations, and other writings. Now I'm
wondering if that has any practical significance or consequences.

I eagerly devour every message from the Universal House of Justice,
and read it again and again, trying to learn as much as I can from it,
and do as much as I can about it. If anything seems wrong to me, I
reconsider my views, and my understanding of what it says, looking for
some way to agree with it.

I do the same with the writings of Baha'u'llah.

When I'm searching for answers to questions, or ideas about what to do
and how to do it, I use the writings of all them.

I'm not sure there's any consequential difference in the way I process
their writings, mentally. I do see a difference in the way I look at
them and feel about them. I imagine that makes a difference in how
they affect me.

Jim

I see some differences between the way I use the writings of the
Faith, and the way some other people use them, that come up repeatedly
in my disagreements with them.

For example:

1. I don't treat every unfavorable comment as a prohibition. No matter
how much or in what terms some action or practice appears in an
unfavorable light, if I don't see a prohibition against it, I don't
presume it's always wrong.
3. I treat advice in letters to individuals or individual
institutions, about their specific situations, differently from the
way I treat other writings.
4. I don't presume that all the words are being used the same way they
are commonly used in everyday conversation, or in legal circles, or in
religious circles, or in any other part of society. When questions
arise about meanings of key words, I search through the words of God,
to see how He uses them.

Jim

.

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