Sboyce

I live in United States, underground, thrash-kid new punk culture. All my friends have ears gauged to above half an inch and tattoos and the like. I don't, never appealed to me. I was just wondering if there is a Baha'i stance on these things. Or if moderation and cultural/social circumstance help determine this? Thanks in advanced

Or a Baha'i thought on music to a Baha'i who plays in death metal bands... (I like the rigorousness of the music, and it helps me release anger)

cire perdue

I think it is a proof of the Faith that you are in it. You are part of the diversity. I think it is an individual decision as to how to live a Baha'i life. Baha'is are to consider all things in moderation, tatoos, music, et al. My take is that we should not become the "playthings of fashion". One might also consider that we live in a decadent society that to me after just reading Shoghi Effendi's words in THE COMPREHENSIVE DEEPENING PROGRAM which proceeded Ruhi Courses, that it is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. We all start somewhere when we come into the Faith. By even considering your thinking about things shows you have a Baha'i perspective, that you are conscioulsy attempting to evaluate and decide about how you want to live your life. FEW do that, so very few.

I have been watching Andy Grammer's rise to popularity and fame with interest. It seems he is living a Baha'i life but quietly. It appears he is trying to become established before he mentions the Faith. He is working incredibly hard and has done so for years. Check out his schedule sometime.

There have been issues for me that years ago I could not even consider, in fact I got worse if I even thought about those goals. However years down the road I have reached them. I think it is a mistake to expect too much of one's self as a Baha'i. I think it is enough to have a better morning than evening, and a better afternoon than morning. "Kam Kam, Ruz bih ruz," Abdul'baha told us, "Little by little, day by day." I do NOT believe in fast change, because I don't think it lasts. No matter how long it takes, do not stop wanting, WANTING to reach more spirituality.

I think it is important to set goals one can reach such as working toward reading from Baha'i writings twice a day and saying the obligatory prayer as goals, plural, goals. Start with that. When you reach that, set new goals. Goals can be not to go places that set me up for mistakes until I am past those mistakes, then I tend not to want to go to those places anyway. I have a goal not to argue with a sibling. It is stupid to do so, as it is like wrestling with a pig in the mud, they love it. When I argue then I am not being powerless over other people, getting out of the way, and letting God run the world His way. My way is kind of beside the point.

Sorry if this was too long.....

Sboyce

Actually, that touched some other things that I needed to hear personally. Ya Baha-u'l-abha

MAWillsey

To me, tattoo for religious reasons I'mcertain would be against the teachings, but to me, imho, tattoo for artistic reasons and some do tats to memoralize family or mark special occaisons, thats another issue, imho

aidan

CP is there a link for Comprehensive Deepening Programme?

aidan

Sboyce brother,some anger is appropriate such as anger at evil and social injustice.Other anger is a maignancy which devours us.I have set myself the task of trying to avoid malignant anger through use of coping mechanisms