Michigander with questions

bsbowman · 12-05-2009, 12:13 AM

Hi all. I'm a Catholic from Michigan who has recently begun investigation into the Baha'i faith. I may as well say straight out that I'm also an unapologetic socialist. As such the Baha'i teaching on economics was one of the things that attracted me to learn more about the faith.

After browsing a good portion of a (very long) thread on a Catholic forum about the Baha'i faith, I was left curious and unsatisfied. Unfortunately the thread was closed suddenly and without explanation (...) before I could post. I thought that taking my questions directly to a Baha'i forum would net me some meaningful answers while avoiding some of the unfortunate hecklers who managed rather successfully to hijack that other forum. Imagine my surprise and pleasure to see that Art, one of the main posters over there, is over here, too!

I also want to say that although I am not of the Baha'i faith I have a deep respect for your faith and that I have no intention to discredit your perfectly valid beliefs and opinions. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer me.

--Brad

arthra · 12-06-2009, 03:31 AM

Welcome Brad..

I'm sorry we were unable to converse at the other Forum..but any way did you have a question?

Baha'i Faith does favor profit sharing and maybe what one would call communal sharing in future Baha'i communities.. Voluntary sharing of wealth is approved of as well as graduated income tax.

We are essentially non-partisan however and as such we would not say belong to a partisan group such as a Socialist Party...

- Art

JoeWalshe · 12-06-2009, 04:13 PM

Welcome Brad.
I'm a Baha'i in Ireland with an amateur interest in Economics.

I've been following the accerating decline in the World's economy for some time and could write many verses on the subject but these arguments are well covered in other forums. There is no shortage of negative sentiment.

Briefly, my own feelings are that the econmic system is bound to fail in it's present stae and much suffering will ensue, indeed many are suffering as we speak. But, as the system is unjust, it must go and a new better system must take it's place. A system based on fairness and justice which will benefit all. The World has no shortage of resources, technology, skills for all of us to live.
I am not enjoying the current economic demise but look forward to a better World for my children and my children's children.

arthra · 12-06-2009, 05:16 PM

Joe,

Allah'u'Abha!

Thanks for your post and it's great to correspond with someone from Eire!

Yeah.. I too have been following events from my part of the world and locally the area where I live has been taking some pretty hard hits.. notably some shopping malls closing and auto dealers closing.. quite a few actually..

Thousands of homes were repossessed by the banks as well. It's been a real "Shake Down" in my view. A few people I knew lost their homes and committed suicide.

I have one son that's been unemployed since last January and there's not much out there for work.. He works for my sister a day a week at a Warehouse and the small amount he receives makes him ineligible for unemployment benefits. I pay for his health insurance. Every time he goes to the doctor it covers about half the costs .. I pick up the rest.

We used to talk about the collapse of the old world order but now that it's happening it can be quite personal as well.

- Art :wink

12-05-2009, 12:13 AM	#1
bsbowman Junior Member Joined: Dec 2009 From: Michigan Posts: 5	Michigander with questions Hi all. I'm a Catholic from Michigan who has recently begun investigation into the Baha'i faith. I may as well say straight out that I'm also an unapologetic socialist. As such the Baha'i teaching on economics was one of the things that attracted me to learn more about the faith. After browsing a good portion of a (very long) thread on a Catholic forum about the Baha'i faith, I was left curious and unsatisfied. Unfortunately the thread was closed suddenly and without explanation (...) before I could post. I thought that taking my questions directly to a Baha'i forum would net me some meaningful answers while avoiding some of the unfortunate hecklers who managed rather successfully to hijack that other forum. Imagine my surprise and pleasure to see that Art, one of the main posters over there, is over here, too! I also want to say that although I am not of the Baha'i faith I have a deep respect for your faith and that I have no intention to discredit your perfectly valid beliefs and opinions. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer me. --Brad

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12-06-2009, 03:31 AM	#2
arthra Senior Member Joined: Jun 2006 From: California Posts: 2,794	Welcome Brad.. I'm sorry we were unable to converse at the other Forum..but any way did you have a question? Baha'i Faith does favor profit sharing and maybe what one would call communal sharing in future Baha'i communities.. Voluntary sharing of wealth is approved of as well as graduated income tax. We are essentially non-partisan however and as such we would not say belong to a partisan group such as a Socialist Party... - Art

12-06-2009, 04:13 PM	#3
JoeWalshe Junior Member Joined: Jul 2009 From: Ireland Posts: 24	Welcome Brad. I'm a Baha'i in Ireland with an amateur interest in Economics. I've been following the accerating decline in the World's economy for some time and could write many verses on the subject but these arguments are well covered in other forums. There is no shortage of negative sentiment. Briefly, my own feelings are that the econmic system is bound to fail in it's present stae and much suffering will ensue, indeed many are suffering as we speak. But, as the system is unjust, it must go and a new better system must take it's place. A system based on fairness and justice which will benefit all. The World has no shortage of resources, technology, skills for all of us to live. I am not enjoying the current economic demise but look forward to a better World for my children and my children's children.

12-06-2009, 05:16 PM	#4
arthra Senior Member Joined: Jun 2006 From: California Posts: 2,794	Joe, Allah'u'Abha! Thanks for your post and it's great to correspond with someone from Eire! Yeah.. I too have been following events from my part of the world and locally the area where I live has been taking some pretty hard hits.. notably some shopping malls closing and auto dealers closing.. quite a few actually.. Thousands of homes were repossessed by the banks as well. It's been a real "Shake Down" in my view. A few people I knew lost their homes and committed suicide. I have one son that's been unemployed since last January and there's not much out there for work.. He works for my sister a day a week at a Warehouse and the small amount he receives makes him ineligible for unemployment benefits. I pay for his health insurance. Every time he goes to the doctor it covers about half the costs .. I pick up the rest. We used to talk about the collapse of the old world order but now that it's happening it can be quite personal as well. - Art :wink