That was a very compelling and morally forceful article. Thank you very much for that...
Maybe you could offer it to/at http://www.iranpresswatch.org/
best wishes,
Brett
Search found 1375 matches
- Sat Apr 10, 2010 12:25 pm
- Forum: News
- Topic: Date set for seven Baha'i leaders' next court session
- Replies: 2
- Views: 25791
- Wed Mar 31, 2010 1:26 am
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: INFALLIBILITY?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 28010
Re: INFALLIBILITY?
Yes, it stands to reason, even if it is not directly stated--I was just clarifying for the sake of others here really...
Brett
Brett
- Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:33 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: INFALLIBILITY?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 28010
Re: INFALLIBILITY?
Hi Brent and all, The phrase "sin against the common weal" was written about acts of individual House members who could potentially make such acts (and subsequently be voted out of the body), so I think it might confuse things here to use that terminology (even if we can make the assumptio...
- Tue Mar 30, 2010 10:27 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: UHJ Letter in regards to non believers at 19 day feasts
- Replies: 13
- Views: 39268
Re: UHJ Letter in regards to non believers at 19 day feasts
In that case, that is particularly interesting... Maybe it also gives signs on how a Baha'i government of the future might work. Remember that the (unique) purpose of the Feast (as opposed to devotional gatherings) is really for being able to make proposals to the Local Assembly: The main purpose of...
- Sun Mar 21, 2010 10:44 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: INFALLIBILITY?
- Replies: 8
- Views: 28010
Re: INFALLIBILITY?
Many of the Baha'is have told me that 'Abdu'l-Baha was "infallible". But He was not. The Universal House of Justice, which is described by 'Abdu'l-Baha as "the House of Justice which God hath ordained as the source of all good and freed from all error", in response to this quest...
- Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:19 am
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: UHJ Letter in regards to non believers at 19 day feasts
- Replies: 13
- Views: 39268
Re: UHJ Letter in regards to non believers at 19 day feasts
I thought the policy was for everyone to fold their arms and frown at the intruder.
No, but that might happen if someone shows up to delay the Naw Ruz fast breaking dinner...
Brett
- Tue Mar 16, 2010 8:08 am
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: UHJ Letter in regards to non believers at 19 day feasts
- Replies: 13
- Views: 39268
Re: UHJ Letter in regards to non believers at 19 day feasts
I'd like to see the letter. I doubt Baha'is are encouraged to invite non-Baha'is to Feast, since that is the one occasion where Baha'is can discuss administrative matters and make recommendations to the Assembly. Maybe what changed was that if someone did invite non-Baha'is or they showed up, they c...
- Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:02 am
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: UHJ Letter in regards to non believers at 19 day feasts
- Replies: 13
- Views: 39268
Re: UHJ Letter in regards to non believers at 19 day feasts
Was this a change? I thought that was always the policy...
Brett
Brett
- Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:48 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: How did Adam enter our world? Was He born or not?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 29470
Re: How did Adam enter our world? Was He born or not?
I was told that there is a new translation of 'Some Answered Questions' being made. If so, that will help with questions of terminology. Interesting...Just came across this again last night: Among the utterances of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, foremost is the compilation of His immortal talks entitled "Some ...
- Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:24 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: How did Adam enter our world? Was He born or not?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 29470
Re: How did Adam enter our world? Was He born or not?
To add a little to my last post just now, I also found a few others out there particularly concerned about this passage: * http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net/msg00884.html (interestingly questions whether Bijou Straun, who made the notes for both one of the talks about the Pentateuch...
- Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:06 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: How did Adam enter our world? Was He born or not?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 29470
Re: How did Adam enter our world? Was He born or not?
Thank you, Brett; What a fascinating subject. I don't think Adam, as representing the first man on earth, and Adam, as the first Manifestation in the Adamic cycle, are the same person. Yes, and I believe the quotations support this. My only point was that it could still be possible from a Baha'i po...
- Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:57 am
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: How did Adam enter our world? Was He born or not?
- Replies: 9
- Views: 29470
Re: How did Adam enter our world? Was He born or not?
Hello Peter, I know that there has always been a creation, and that it depends on God for its life. On the plane of time and space, there can be beginnings, such as the first intelligent life on a given planet, but on the timeless plane the principles underlying all things exist eternally and are ac...
- Fri Mar 12, 2010 2:44 am
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: House members to increase?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 26425
Re: House members to increase?
"The Lord hath ordained that in every city a House of Justice be established wherein shall gather counsellors to the number of Bahá, and should it exceed this number it doth not matter." (Kitáb-i-Aqdas, paragraph 30 ) and its note: "The abjad numerical equivalent of "Bahá" ...
- Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:53 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Friendship with the "ungodly"
- Replies: 10
- Views: 44715
Re: Friendship with the "ungodly"
While I did agree with Brent on a number of his general points, I'd really like to suggest, particularly with his/your mention of Adam Carolla, I do not think that celebrity status means that we as Baha'is should put down other people, even if we strongly disagree with their views or actions. Even a...
- Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:27 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Does anyone know what this story means?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 14174
Re: Does anyone know what this story means?
Robert, We need to establish our proofs with authoritative Writings. The story you provided is not authoritative, and even if it were completely accurate, it does not mean that the girl's dream meant that He was literally Jesus returned, so what I said was speculation on what a Baha'i perspective mi...
- Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:33 am
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Friendship with the "ungodly"
- Replies: 10
- Views: 44715
Re: Friendship with the "ungodly"
Ok, that's fair enough. But bahai9.com doesn't allow comments in general though, if you meant making them there. It's aimed as a closely Writings-focused compendium, like Lights of Guidance (or Research Department-style bulleted summaries linking to quotations), though it does link to other resource...
- Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:37 am
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Friendship with the "ungodly"
- Replies: 10
- Views: 44715
Re: Friendship with the "ungodly"
Hello and welcome back Brent! Thank you for the helpful sampling of quotations. Before I look at them more carefully, can I ask you to consider adding some to the bahai9.com wiki page that I mentioned earlier in the thread? It would be great if we could better collaborate and work together in order ...
- Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:42 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Does anyone know what this story means?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 14174
Re: Does anyone know what this story means?
Hello Robert and all, While this is not an authoritative text, I think it does suggest that the girl had been inspired to recognize that the Faith of Jesus was most perfectly animated at that time by 'Abdu'l-Baha. It does not, however, mean that 'Abdu'l-Baha was of the same station as Jesus since He...
- Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:17 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: "SERVANT OF GLORY" film as way to produce entry-by-troops
- Replies: 11
- Views: 32445
Re: "SERVANT OF GLORY" film as way to produce entry-by-troops
Hello Robert, While a secretary may have prepared the words, according to http://bahai-library.com/uhj/authenticity.texts.html , such letters sent out have all been authorized by the Universal House of Justice, with at least a majority of the members initialing and with all letters sent from the Dep...
- Sat Feb 27, 2010 1:29 am
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: "SERVANT OF GLORY" film as way to produce entry-by-troops
- Replies: 11
- Views: 32445
Re: "SERVANT OF GLORY" film as way to produce entry-by-troops
I wish you extremely well in your endeavors, but if, as it seems you might be wishing to do, we are not to portray 'Abdu'l-Baha or even the Guardian (or other members of the Holy Household as I also recall reading) in art: ...an examination of the letters of the beloved Guardian makes it absolutely ...
- Mon Feb 15, 2010 1:19 am
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: The word 'Bahai' in Sign Language
- Replies: 1
- Views: 10486
Re: The word 'Bahai' in Sign Language
That sounds really cool, BB... FYI, my mother scanned in the original book on Gestuno at http://brett-zamir.me/gestuno/ , though the language is now known more as International Sign . This was a language used at the Deaflympics and meant to serve as a kind of universal auxiliary communication medium...
- Thu Feb 04, 2010 10:24 pm
- Forum: Non-Baha'i issues
- Topic: A nice poem by William Stafford
- Replies: 1
- Views: 22196
Re: A nice poem by William Stafford
That is nice...Thanks for sharing with us...
Brett
Brett
- Thu Feb 04, 2010 9:42 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Friendship with the "ungodly"
- Replies: 10
- Views: 44715
Re: Friendship with the "ungodly"
I think Loren hit the nail on the head. This has nothing to do with any kind of prejudice, but some people may indeed drain us, and at least, it may be incumbent on us to better prioritize our time. I started a wiki page at http://bahai9.com/wiki/Ungodly (and also one about the http://bahai9.com/wik...
- Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:04 am
- Forum: Commercial
- Topic: Shameless self promotion
- Replies: 5
- Views: 33348
Re: Shameless self promotion
The page might not have updated for a while, but I really wouldn't be surprised if the mailing list had a greater longevity. I think we Baha'is, like most people, probably have too great of an interest in food! Food is a big part of many Baha'i gatherings... Of course there may always be room for im...
- Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:41 pm
- Forum: Commercial
- Topic: Shameless self promotion
- Replies: 5
- Views: 33348
Re: Shameless self promotion
Hello Dame, There are a couple of quotes here too: http://bahai-library.com/?file=hornby_lights_guidance_2.html&chapter=4#Agriculture Though you got it pretty close, "Baha'u'llah" is transliterated in the Baha'i Writings with an extra apostrophe. It actually should be "Bahá'u'lláh...
- Sun Jan 17, 2010 9:22 pm
- Forum: About Baha'i Library
- Topic: Note to moderator(s)
- Replies: 7
- Views: 38584
Re: Note to moderator(s)
Hello and again, welcome Pina! Glad to hear you like the forums here! I think most of the frequent contributors here are unfortunately a bit busy to manage a round-the-clock chat room, but you might also find the chat rooms (and forums) associated with http://www.planetbahai.org/ good at filling thi...
- Sun Jan 17, 2010 9:19 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: photograph of Baha'u'llah on youtube
- Replies: 2
- Views: 12000
Re: photograph of Baha'u'llah on youtube
And if you were interested, there's also this statement in general about use of the photographs of Baha'u'llah (though not related to others posting them):
http://bahai-library.com/uhj/cbreakers. ... hotographs
http://bahai-library.com/uhj/cbreakers. ... hotographs
- Sun Jan 17, 2010 9:17 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: photograph of Baha'u'llah on youtube
- Replies: 2
- Views: 12000
Re: photograph of Baha'u'llah on youtube
Hello and welcome to the forum Pina! From http://bahai-library.com/uhj/photo.bahaullah.html : "...it is indeed disturbing to Baha'is to have the image of Baha'u'llah treated in such a disrespectful way. However, as the creator of the site is not a Baha'i, there is little, if anything, that can ...
- Sat Jan 16, 2010 8:50 pm
- Forum: About Baha'i Library
- Topic: Note to moderator(s)
- Replies: 7
- Views: 38584
Re: Note to moderator(s)
Dear Dame, As BritishBaha'i suggested, feel free to private message any of us. But I wouldn't worry too much about it. As far as citations, since we are in an online setting, I think the most helpful thing is to make links, where possible, to particular online copies of the sources. We're certainly ...
- Fri Jan 15, 2010 2:49 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: The Carrot, the Stick, the Maiden, and the Fire...
- Replies: 5
- Views: 19271
Re: The Carrot, the Stick, the Maiden, and the Fire...
Hello all, I happen to be planning a program touching on reward and punishment and thought it would be an opportune time to also share some quotations in this thread as I suggested earlier. I think the sad occasion of the earthquake in Haiti may also poignantly drive home the necessity of the theme ...
- Tue Jan 12, 2010 11:28 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Binaural Beats
- Replies: 1
- Views: 9432
Re: Binaural Beats
I don't know of anything forbidding such stimulation if that's what you mean, unless it could result in addictive or other such behavior. If you mean our Writings describing the phenomenon, I'm not aware of any passages, though this passage might interest you: ...wonderful sounds and tones, melodies...
- Fri Jan 08, 2010 10:40 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Universal House of Justice statement on Gaza Crisis?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 33158
Re: Universal House of Justice statement on Gaza Crisis?
Hello Dame, Sorry, but I don't follow how your comment relates to the discussion here? To respond to your comment though, there is a pilgrim's note I recall reading where Shoghi Effendi was to have said that it was important to note that 'Abdu'l-Baha's Will established both the Guardianship and the ...
- Mon Jan 04, 2010 3:30 am
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Universal House of Justice statement on Gaza Crisis?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 33158
Re: Universal House of Justice statement on Gaza Crisis?
Hello Greg and all, No problem in asking. I just meant that the quotation I cited from Shoghi Effendi (you can verify it for yourself) is that he was praising America's role (and future role), both for the American Baha'i Community and also the nation of a whole; he cited America's submitting a plan...
- Sun Jan 03, 2010 11:58 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Universal House of Justice statement on Gaza Crisis?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 33158
Re: Universal House of Justice statement on Gaza Crisis?
To add a little to my last post just now, there is this quotation: It [the process currently impelling America as a whole forward and "destined to culminate, in the fullness of time, in a single glorious consummation"] acquired added significance through the choice of the City of the Coven...
- Sun Jan 03, 2010 11:18 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Universal House of Justice statement on Gaza Crisis?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 33158
Re: Universal House of Justice statement on Gaza Crisis?
Hello Jamal and all, I don't see any reference to Palestine in the Iqan: http://bahai-library.com/writings/bahaullah/iqan/ . In any case, I don't think we could extrapolate anything anyways because: 1) Baha'is don't get involved in controversial political issues. At most, and in taking the approach ...
- Sun Dec 27, 2009 12:33 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Universal House of Justice statement on Gaza Crisis?
- Replies: 12
- Views: 33158
Re: Universal House of Justice statement on Gaza Crisis?
Hello and welcome Greg! As I've mentioned in the other posts, very much sorry for the delay in post approval--it shouldn't happen any more for you. As far as teaching in Israel, maybe you are speaking about this: http://bahai-library.com/file.php?file=uhj_teaching_in_israel ? You may be interested t...
- Sun Dec 27, 2009 12:05 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Legitimate concerns of a "New World Order"
- Replies: 3
- Views: 13423
Re: Legitimate concerns of a "New World Order"
Thank you for your thoughts Combiz, and welcome! As I mentioned in another recent post, apologies for our getting your post approved so late, but you are now in our list of trusted users and should have no problem in the future (just one of our protections against spam). Your points are all well-tak...
- Sun Dec 27, 2009 11:13 am
- Forum: Bahá'í Writings
- Topic: Tablet of the Holy Mariner
- Replies: 6
- Views: 36938
Re: Tablet of the Holy Mariner
Hello and welcome Daryavahush! As I said to Jamal, our apologies for the delayed approval of your post. Just found there was a little bit of a backlog...Future posts by you (and the others whose posts we approved) should go through without problem any more... The Arabian Youth is a reference to Baha...
- Sun Dec 27, 2009 10:50 am
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: writing Allah in persian
- Replies: 4
- Views: 20917
Re: writing Allah in persian
Hello and welcome Jamal, Sorry for the delayed approval of your post! Just found there was a little bit of a backlog... That is an interesting interpretation of the phrase... While on the one hand, our Writings do very much state texts in the vein you mention: To say that God is a personal Reality d...
- Wed Dec 23, 2009 12:46 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Covenant breakers
- Replies: 6
- Views: 21532
Re: Covenant breakers
The phrase I mentioned comes from a letter on behalf of Shoghi Effendi: The Master uses the term 'the Divine Reality is sanctified from singleness' in order to forcibly impress us with the fact that the Godhead is unknowable and that to define It is impossible; we cannot contain It in such concepts ...
- Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:40 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: can a baha'i woman wear a head scarf?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 24931
Re: can a baha'i woman wear a head scarf?
Hi Emily and all, I just came across this quotation as I was doing some other study and thought I would add it here since we touched on the topic (though it does not speak to the veil issue). "He does not think there is any objection to your teaching in a mission school, as long as it is clearl...
- Sat Dec 05, 2009 8:43 am
- Forum: Bahá'í Writings
- Topic: Promised Day Is Come
- Replies: 2
- Views: 23274
Re: Promised Day Is Come
I did go ahead and add the references myself from Summons of the Lord of Hosts to http://www.bahai9.com/wiki/Promised_Day_is_Come#Original_sources_by_paragraph . But still, if you come across any others feel free to add them to the wiki page (or ask here for help if you'd like to add them but don't ...
- Sat Dec 05, 2009 5:00 am
- Forum: Bahá'í Writings
- Topic: Promised Day Is Come
- Replies: 2
- Views: 23274
Re: Promised Day Is Come
If you want to find study-guides, cross-references, etc. for a given book, a starting point you might consider is http://bahai9.com/Writings . In this case, the above should lead you to http://www.bahai9.com/wiki/Promised_Day_is_Come Unfortunately, in this case, we don't have a formal cross-referenc...
- Thu Dec 03, 2009 10:59 am
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Covenant breakers
- Replies: 6
- Views: 21532
Re: Covenant breakers
I think this is kind of like the puzzle about whether God could create a rock so heavy that even He could not carry it. :) 'Abdu'l-Baha is referring to the damage that can indeed be caused by Covenant-breakers and failing to severe social ties with them, but I believe He is using the technique of &q;...
- Thu Dec 03, 2009 10:47 am
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: burning of books
- Replies: 3
- Views: 13664
Re: burning of books
Note 109 in the Kitab-i-Aqdas addresses this quite thoroughly: "In the Tablet of Ishráqát Bahá'u'lláh, referring to the fact that the Báb had made the laws of the Bayán subject to His sanction, states that He put some of the Báb's laws into effect "by embodying them in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas i...
- Sun Nov 29, 2009 11:40 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Importance of agriculture
- Replies: 2
- Views: 12198
Re: Importance of agriculture
Not sure, nor do I imagine it would be easy to assess... But you might see some convergence at http://www.bcca.org/services/lists/noble-creation/ (specifically http://www.bcca.org/services/lists/noble-creation/nc-subs.htm for joining a mailing list, though I think you may need a Baha'i ID (U.S. list...
- Sat Nov 28, 2009 11:41 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Consequences of materialistic views on evolution
- Replies: 2
- Views: 14181
Consequences of materialistic views on evolution
Hi all, I thought this was a very interesting article: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1942483,00.html?xid=rss-fullhealthsci-yahoo ...particularly this: Most of the world's religions hold that human life is sacred and special in some way. In teaching our common descent with animals, w...
- Sat Nov 14, 2009 3:22 am
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Dream interpretations
- Replies: 2
- Views: 15097
Re: Dream interpretations
Hi Truth, You might check out http://bahai-library.com/?file=hornby_lights_guidance_2.html&chapter=4#PSYCHIC%20PHENOMENA and search down for mention of "dream" or "vision". I think this one summarizes a lot of the issues nicely: "...That truth is often imparted through d...
- Thu Nov 12, 2009 10:29 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Legitimate concerns of a "New World Order"
- Replies: 3
- Views: 13423
Legitimate concerns of a "New World Order"
In an age where people seem to be increasingly coming to distrust their institutions, I think it is incumbent on us as Baha'is to recognize some of the legitimate objections to over-centralization up to the global level, even as we point out all of the potential advantages of a certain managed stren...
- Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:18 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Random pages
- Replies: 6
- Views: 19164
Re: Random pages
Ocean is a nice software package, but I don't think that it's being served from the Baha'i Education office--just a website with the name "bahai-education.org".
best wishes,
Brett
best wishes,
Brett
- Sun Nov 01, 2009 11:17 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Random pages
- Replies: 6
- Views: 19164
Re: Random pages
Truth, I sent you a personal email. Anyone else possibly interested in contributing to a developer's project, let me know. Btw, speaking of daily reminders as at your site, one future project I am very interested to see--is to create an add-on for Firefox and the like to allow one to query a web ser...
- Sun Nov 01, 2009 10:06 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Random pages
- Replies: 6
- Views: 19164
Re: Random pages
Very cool, Truth! The site looks attractive--glad you shared it publicly... I hope that someday we might be able to allow user tagging on the Writings here, so anyone could make their own collections (e.g., as RSS feeds, with a randomizer, etc.), including finding them (or showing them) in the conte...
- Sat Oct 24, 2009 8:59 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Random pages
- Replies: 6
- Views: 19164
Random pages
Hi all, Just letting you know I set up a basic means of getting a random page of the Baha'i Writings or a few other significant/recommended works (e.g., Bahiyyih Khanum, Baha'u'llah and the New Era, and older works like Baha'i World Faith or those with pilgrim's note status like 'Abdu'l-Baha in Lond...
- Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:06 am
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Could there be re-incarnation on other planets ?
- Replies: 2
- Views: 11599
Re: Could there be re-incarnation on other planets ?
No, reincarnation (of whatever kind--except for spiritual "return" as described in the Kitab-i-Iqan--which just means that the same kind of people "return" in each age) is ruled out in a number of places (different proofs are offered in the first item): * http://bahai-library.com...
- Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:07 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: can a baha'i woman wear a head scarf?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 24931
Re: can a baha'i woman wear a head scarf?
Hello Emily, Interesting question... The command of the Bab demonstrated by Tahirih established the principle, but the Bab's revolutionary mission, while breaking the ground so to speak, was intended to be fulfilled in Baha'u'llah less tumultuous and more gradual unfoldment of the teachings. Thus, B...
- Tue Oct 06, 2009 4:58 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Does any sexual activity negatively effect our Afterlife?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 24247
Re: Does any sexual activity negatively effect our Afterlife?
I should clarify that the notes state that it can refer to both in the original Arabic (though the punishment was clarified as being for premarital sex), even though in English "adultery" is only understood as sexual relations between married persons... I've wondered why "fornication&...
- Tue Oct 06, 2009 1:40 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Naming children
- Replies: 2
- Views: 11701
Re: Naming children
Hello and welcome jacqueb, While I can't speak at all to your specific question, you might find this interesting at least: http://bahai-library.com/?file=compilation_naming_babies.html (This one might add a little too: http://bahai-library.com/file.php?file=uhj_reconciliation_apparent_contradictions...
- Sun Oct 04, 2009 7:46 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Does any sexual activity negatively effect our Afterlife?
- Replies: 3
- Views: 24247
Re: Does any sexual activity negatively effect our Afterlife?
Yes, there is. According to the Kitab-i-Aqdas: God hath imposed a fine on every adulterer and adulteress, to be paid to the House of Justice: nine mithqáls of gold, to be doubled if they should repeat the offence. Such is the penalty which He Who is the Lord of Names hath assigned them in this world...
- Wed Sep 30, 2009 5:10 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: How bad does it have to get?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 18053
Re: How bad does it have to get?
I'm sorry for making the mistake in confusing the terms. Thank you for clearing that up, Bruce (though it looks like it is not only Baha'is who make that mistake if the special clarification at Wikipedia is any indication). I think though that saying that everyone is born 'immaculate', while in a se...
- Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:11 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Space craft powered by magnetism??
- Replies: 3
- Views: 13534
Re: Space craft powered by magnetism??
Scientists are already discovering such things as teleportation (on a tiny scale), invisibility, and so on. Why not time and space travel? While I'm sure one could think of alternative interpretations (e.g., God can reveal secrets to us across time or space in the course of our acting out of love in...
- Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:09 am
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Importance of agriculture
- Replies: 2
- Views: 12198
Importance of agriculture
Sorry a little late reporting this, but thought it was interesting: "Norman Borlaug, scientist who 'saved 245m lives', dies aged 95" (I've seen other estimates much higher) http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6832878.ece There's also this: http://agriculture.senate.gov/...
- Thu Sep 17, 2009 9:01 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: World currency
- Replies: 29
- Views: 88638
Re: World currency
When I return to the U.S. for visits, I have a hard time remembering what things cost in a different unit. For those of us straddling borders, we can far more easily get used to if there is only one currency in the world to remember. And even one full generation is not really a "long time"...
- Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:22 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: How bad does it have to get?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 18053
Re: How bad does it have to get?
Hello Dame, And welcome to the Baha'i Library Forum... Feel free to let us know how the site/forum came to your attention, if you wish... 1) As far as celibacy being implemented, it seems to have been decreed around 300 A.D. by the Council of Elvira (see http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03481a.htm ),...
- Sun Sep 13, 2009 10:45 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: How bad does it have to get?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 18053
How bad does it have to get?
Just how awful does it have to get before people start to question whether the widespread prevalence of sexual abuse in the clergy is an inherent problem of the system and not a mere "test"? For crimes that are so heinous, that Baha'u'llah wrote "We shrink, for very shame, from treati...
- Thu Sep 10, 2009 11:22 am
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Technocracy
- Replies: 0
- Views: 30779
Technocracy
Interesting article on the inadequacies of a partisan system (it's arguing against the present perceived situation of a "one party democracy" in the U.S. whereas the actual problem is the multi-party democracy which leads to gridlock and sometimes an effectively single-party yet also poten...
- Mon Sep 07, 2009 8:50 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: World currency
- Replies: 29
- Views: 88638
Re: World currency
Howdy all, It just gets better... Now a United Nations agency has recommended a global reserve currency and international monitoring regime as by the IMF... http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/edmundconway/100000833/un-plans-for-new-world-monetary-system-have-come-too-late/ http://www.telegraph.co....
- Sat Aug 01, 2009 10:02 am
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Moses allowed slavery?
- Replies: 2
- Views: 12239
Re: Moses allowed slavery?
The Baha'i scholar Mirza Abu'l-Fadl, whose books were actually recommended to the believers by 'Abdu'l-Baha Himself , said, in speaking of teachings which were new to this Faith (every other previous religion only regulated slavery at most): Among the specific laws clearly laid down in the Cause of ...
- Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:26 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Baha'i Writings and Vision of Race Unity prescience
- Replies: 1
- Views: 9648
Re: Baha'i Writings and Vision of Race Unity prescience
You know, it's interesting to see how even some critics of the current U.S. president, see his "Beer Summit" in a positive light. See http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obama_harvard_scholar_analysis I think this event ought to bring to mind the activity which we've been advised to do since the...
- Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:40 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Timely "coincidences"
- Replies: 2
- Views: 11624
Re: Timely "coincidences"
Interesting, Kevyan, thanks...
The King and Beloved of Martyrs were also martyred in 1879, significant perhaps given the role of the noble Baha'i friends of course in 1979...
The King and Beloved of Martyrs were also martyred in 1879, significant perhaps given the role of the noble Baha'i friends of course in 1979...
- Sat Jul 11, 2009 7:21 pm
- Forum: Discussion
- Topic: Timely "coincidences"
- Replies: 2
- Views: 11624
Timely "coincidences"
Hello all, While it can be taken too far, I'm interested to hear some of the interesting correlations between the Faith's important anniversaries (e.g., centenaries) and important events. Was just reading how the the first programmable computer, was demonstrated in February of 1944, 100 years after ...