Magi728

I See the Baha'i Movement .. Not so much as a New religion, but as a Spiritual awakening with-in the Hearts of humanity.

And the 4 cornerstones of the faith as the manifestation of the sons of the Elohim.

1 John 3:2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.


Magi.......

Iconodule

The bahai is a religion, lets not mince words or lighten it. It carrys doctrines, theology and beliefs and practices. There is no other way to define it.

And that verse is talking to Christians not to Bahai.

tonyfish58

Magi - Thank you for the kind words - this is one principal of Baha'u'llah, to have a Kindly Heart.

I think you are quite correct in your statement "I See the Baha'i Movement .. Not so much as a New religion, but as a Spiritual awakening with-in the Hearts of humanity".

Just as the Sun gives us dawn of a new day, God also gives us the dawn of a new Spiritual awakening of Mankind.

Just as the sun rises each can be called by a new name, God sends His Manifestations each and all called by a New Name.

I like the Bible passage posted, it is a powerful passage

Regards Tony

Rani

Welcome Magi, and nice post.

If I can offer, I am worried about what appears to be a very popular disdain for the world 'religion' these days in general society. For Baha'u'llah has written highly of religion. I think we need to stop it from being regarded as a dirty word.
I'm quite sure that the Central Figures of the Faith and its Institutions have never attempted to deny that the Baha'i Faith is a religion.

They that are possessed of wealth and invested with authority and power must show the profoundest regard for religion. In truth, religion is a radiant light and an impregnable stronghold for the protection and welfare of the peoples of the world, for the fear of God impelleth man to hold fast to that which is good, and shun all evil. Should the lamp of religion be obscured, chaos and confusion will ensue, and the lights of fairness and justice, of tranquillity and peace cease to shine. Unto this will bear witness every man of true understanding.

(Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 125)


"Chaos and confusion are daily increasing in the world. They will attain such intensity as to render the frame of mankind unable to bear them. Then will men be awakened and become aware that religion is impregnable stronghold and the manifest light of the world, and its laws, exhortations and teachings the source of life on earth...'

(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the Iranian believers resident in various countries throughout the would, February 10, 1980)
(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 126)

Rani

'..whereas religion is for the unification of mankind. True religion is the source of love and agreement amongst men, the cause of the development of praiseworthy qualities; but the people are holding to the counterfeit and imitation, negligent of the reality which unifies; so they are bereft and deprived of the radiance of religion. They follow superstitions inherited from their fathers and ancestors. To such an extent has this prevailed that they have taken away the heavenly light of divine truth and sit in the darkness of imitations and imaginations. That which was meant to be conducive to life has become the cause of death; that which should have been an evidence of knowledge is now a proof of ignorance; that which was a factor in the sublimity of human nature has proved to be its degradation. Therefore the realm of the religionist has gradually narrowed and darkened and the sphere of the materialist has widened and advanced; for the religionist has held to imitation and counterfeit, neglecting and discarding holiness and the sacred reality of religion. When the sun sets it is the time for bats to fly. They come forth because they are creatures of the night. When the lights of religion become darkened the materialists appear. They are the bats of night. The decline of religion is their time of activity; they seek the shadows when the world is darkened and clouds have spread over it.

His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh has risen from the eastern horizon. Like the glory of the sun He has come into the world. He has reflected the reality of divine religion, dispelled the darkness of imitations, laid the foundation of new teachings and resuscitated the world.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 237)

Magi728

Good Points All....But...

Religion should unite all hearts and cause wars and disputes to vanish from the face of the earth, give birth to spirituality, and bring life and light to each heart.

[ If religion becomes a cause of dislike, hatred and division, it were better to be without it, and to withdraw from such a religion would be a truly religious act. ]

‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Paris Talks...Pages 127-134




Magi....... If religion becomes a cause of dislike, hatred and division, it were better to be without it....

Magi728

I See that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá .... States the logical reasons for the cause of true religion.... in which I think begins with-in our hearts...



With Love...



Magi.......to bring life and light to each heart

Magi728

[ And that verse is talking to Christians not to Bahai ]


Hello ... Icon..


The verse Speaks to All Creation....



Magi.......

Rani

Sure. But I don't think this will or can ever mean that it is desirable for religion in its entirety to cease to exist. When we look at all of the Writings, that is.
I think the passage above regarding if it becomes a cause of dislike-'tis better to be without it, is when it applies to individuals or groups, but I have to believe that God has always provided a revelation that will provide light and guidance and spiritual progress for man.
Also there are passages in the Writings that refer to religion having been made new (again).


'Should the lamp of religion be obscured, chaos and confusion will ensue, and the lights of fairness and justice, of tranquillity and peace cease to shine. Unto this will bear witness every man of true understanding.'

(Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 125)

Magi728

Yes Good Point ...Rani...

It is not My Intent to abolish religion....I Just see that In that Passage in Paris Talks....It gives us the guidance in what to look for in true religion....which I See Begins with-in the awakened heart....



Magi.......

Magi728

Only when.... the lamp of search, of earnest striving, of longing desire, of passionate devotion, of fervid love, of rapture, and ecstasy, is kindled within the seeker’s heart,

And the breeze of His loving-kindness is wafted upon his soul, will the darkness of error be dispelled, the mists of doubts and misgivings be dissipated, and the lights of knowledge and certitude envelop his being.

Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh




Magi.......

Rani

'..Briefly, it is demonstrable that in this life, both outwardly and inwardly the mightiest of structures, the most solidly established, the most enduring, standing guard over the world, assuring both the spiritual and the material perfections of mankind, and protecting the happiness and the civilization of society -- is religion.

It is true that there are foolish individuals who have never properly examined the fundamentals of the Divine religions, who have taken as their criterion the behavior of a few religious hypocrites and measured all religious persons by that yardstick, and have on this account concluded that religions are an obstacle to progress, a divisive factor and a cause of malevolence and enmity among peoples. They have not even observed this much, that the principles of the Divine religions can hardly be evaluated by the acts of those who only claim to follow them. For every excellent thing, peerless though it may be, can still be diverted to the wrong ends. A lighted lamp in the hands of an ignorant child or of the blind will not dispel the surrounding darkness nor light up the house -- it will set both the bearer and the house on fire. Can we, in such an instance, blame the lamp? No, by the Lord God! To the seeing, a lamp is a guide and will show him his path; but it is a disaster to the blind.'

(Abdu'l-Baha, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 71)

In a nutshell, this passage by Abdu'l-Baha is saying that we shouldn't blame or denigrate religion because of the bad actions of some who but claim to follow it.
It's a deep shame that it is sometimes used in this way, but I think we should blame some of human nature.. It's not the religion itself that is at fault.

Magi728

Yes I Agree...Its Not the Founders of Any Religion..

But What is in the Heart of the Seekers....That Reflect outwardly...the Light of Divine Guidance.....Or.... the Remoteness from that Light...


Good Point Rani...



Magi.......

tonyfish58

Magi - Good observations posted above.

I like the Hidden Words - Link - Bahá'í Reference Library - The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh

It is introduced as such -

Preamble

HE IS THE GLORY OF GLORIES

This is that which hath descended from the realm of glory, uttered by the tongue of power and might, and revealed unto the Prophets of old. We have taken the inner essence thereof and clothed it in the garment of brevity, as a token of grace unto the righteous, that they may stand faithful unto the Covenant of God, may fulfill in their lives His trust, and in the realm of spirit obtain the gem of Divine virtue.

I like the first two as it sets the direction that mankind must take

“1: O SON OF SPIRIT! My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and…”
O SON OF SPIRIT! My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and everlasting.

“2: O SON OF SPIRIT! The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice;…”
O SON OF SPIRIT! The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.

Regards Tony

Iconodule

No, it is not speaking to the pagans. it is speaking to teh Christians whom John specifically wrote to. Bahai like to anachronise a meaning onto the scriptures that fits in with their worldview, but its simply not true and deceptive to continue saying this.

Magi728

Thank you ...Tony... for the Kind Words and the links.....





Magi.......