bravado

I have read in more than one place where it is said that there are certain sins that God cannot forgive. One of them is in Teherzadeh's 3rd volume of "Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh". It states: "'Abdu'l-Bahá in one of His Tablets(4) states that if the parents fail in the proper upbringing of their children, they have committed a sin that God cannot forgive."
This sounds terribly hopeless for those may feel guilty of this. Is there any elaboration of this somewhere in the Writings?

ahanu

A sin God can't forgive? That's a new one! I haven't ever read that in Abdu'l-Baha's writings.

BruceDLimber

I'm not familiar with the passage mentioned above, but I do know that Some Answered Questions has a chapter explaining Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and stating it's the only unforgiveable sin.

Peace, :-)

Bruce

ahanu

Oh, yeah, I forgot about that.

Essence of GOD

ive seen "All-Forgiving" in many bahai and non-bahai text.
plus, if god does what he wills, then....

bravado

Well, you wouldn't have seen it in English, as a footnote states that this is recorded in the untranslated "Makatib-i-'Abdu'l-Bahá, vol. 3, p. 333". I was just wondering if there was anyone else noticed this and had any thoughts.

Rani

For myself, I have not read that this is something that is unforgivable.. But I was aware of this passage below:

It is for this reason that, in this New Cycle, education and training are recorded in the Book of God as obligatory and not voluntary. That is, it is enjoined upon the father and mother, as a duty, to strive with all effort to train the daughter and the son, to nurse them from the breast of knowledge and to rear them in the bosom of sciences and arts. Should they neglect this matter, they shall be held responsible and worthy of reproach in the presence of the stern Lord.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 398)

'Worthy of reproach' is not the same thing as something being unforgivable.

When it comes to sins that God doesn't forgive, I thought I read that He doesn't forgive disbelief in Himself, -but I'd have to try to find that.

Rani

Bear ye allegiance unto this resplendent light wherewith God hath graciously invested Me through the power of infallible Truth, and walk not in the footsteps of the Evil One,[1] inasmuch as he prompteth you to disbelieve in God, your Lord, and verily God will not forgive disbelief in Himself, though He will forgive other sins to whomsoever He pleaseth.[2] Indeed His knowledge embraceth all things... Chapter XVII.
[1 cf. ibid. 2:204 ]

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 48)

Sen McGlinn

I checked that book: there is no reference to parents or to an unforgivable sin on that page, or in that tablet. The tablet Addressed to a George Anzaleen in Holland, dated 1919) says that in this age, everything is renewed, and religion too: Baha'u'llah has given many teachings, and then he lists 9 principles, and explains some of them briefly:

Independent investigation
the oneness of humanity
religion should be the cause of love
religion and reason should be in accordance with one another
rights and justice & the abolition of prejudices
universal peace and a supra-government
divine freedom (not liberty, but freedom from the animal self)
the equality of men and women
religion is the foundation of society: material and spiritual civilization go hand in hand

arthra

This is from the Synopsis and Codification quoted by Taherzadeh on the same page as the quote above:

"He that putteth
away that which is commanded unto him, the Trustees are
then to take from him that which is required for their
instruction, if he be wealthy, and if not the matter devolveth
upon the House of Justice. Verily, have We made it a shelter
for the poor and needy."

(Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah v 3, p. 326)

So the seriousness of someone neglecting their responsibility to educate their children is very great...Note that if they are wealthy the House of Justice is empowered

"to take from him that which is required for their instruction"

I'm sure though that should Baha'i communities become sufficiently evolved to deal with this situation in the future that there will be guidance provided by the House of Justice.

bravado

Well, that is strange. I've always found Taherzadeh's books to be a great source of historical fact and profound insight while his sources being wide, often unique and well researched. I doubt if this quote came from nowhere. I don't know, maybe a typo. Still it is a much heavier condemnation than simply being very serious, requiring institutional intervention, and it does trouble me.

Rani

Well I punched in the words 'fail in the proper upbringing' in Ocean, and the sentence you cited came up as being on p. 326 or 327 of Volume 3 of the said book, not p. 333.

What does seem strange is that no other books came up in the search as containing that sentence. -Not Selections from Abdu-l-Baha, or one of his Tablets, so without it being backed up by an authoritative reference I'd try not to worry too much.

You could always write to the House of Justice and ask for clarification, but that would take a while for an answer.

I think we should and can always be hopeful of the mercy of God. Do not be hopeless.
What's more, we can always look to improve our relationships and if there is anything to have regret about we can try to make amends. How many parents do a perfect job? I think intention is paramount as is doing our best.

Rani

Also it's important to remember that the Writings say that God's mercy exceeds His justice..

Of course we should love God - but we must fear Him in the sense of a child fearing the righteous anger and chastisement of a parent; not cringe before Him as before a tyrant, but know His Mercy exceeds His Justice!

(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 238)

Oh! put your faith in the Almighty, for He faileth not and His goodness endureth for ever! His Sun giveth Light continually, and the Clouds of His Mercy are full of the Waters of Compassion with which He waters the hearts of all who trust in Him.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 108)

mat

Thou art the Powerful, the Able, the Knower, the Seer; and, verily, Thou art the Generous, and, verily, Thou art the All-Merciful, and, verily, Thou art the Ever-Forgiving, He to Whom repentance is due, He Who forgiveth even the most grievous of sins. Abdul'-baha

What more grevious sin than that of Mirza Yahya, who is the anti-christ!!!! However,
Bahá'u'lláh, was to write in the Kitab-i-Aqdas, “fear not because of thy deeds … return unto God, humble, submissive and lowly … He will put away thy sins … thy Lord is the Forgiving, theMighty, the All-Merciful”

Noa

Wow that sounds so loving