Comments on: A Passing Moment, A Perfect Moment

By: patricia ellis

patricia ellis — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:41:25 +0000

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By: Stephen

Stephen — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:30:10 +0000

I think that all this depends on your definition of God.

If you consider that God represents the highest ideal of all humans – that we are A PART of God as opposed to being APART from God, quite literally “created in his image” then this would be completely false.

If, on the other hand you believe that man is quintessentially imperfect and can never attain the perfection of Godhead, that there is a chasm that can never be fully bridged, then this kind of thinking is perfect.

There are many adherents to both views sprinkled through most (if not all) religions – even different branches of Christianity differ on this most fundamental point.

Until you address this fundamental dichotomy and feel comfortable with your personal interpretation, nothing else will truly make sense.

Although my own philosophy is strongly (though not completely) in the direction of atheism – an extreme agnostic if you will – it has always struck me that being a part of God is infinitely more challenging than being an entity apart from God. I consider that latter approach a philosophical and personal cop-out. It makes even the smallest failure acceptable as we already know that we cannot ever succeed.

Failure isn’t just an option, it’s inevitable.

Why would you live that way?

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:14:03 +0000

Thanks for the comments Leila, they are greatly appreciated, and give me pause for thought.

By: Leila

Leila — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:36:24 +0000

Hi Mike,
Sorry to carry on – but I’ve just found that quotation and it’s not from Baha’u'llah or Abdu’l-Baha, it’s from an early Baha’i. This is such an important point because otherwise distortions can occur – only what B and A write (and grandson Shoghi Effendi) can be taken as a true representation of what the Faith stands for – everything else is someones interpretation according to where they are in their life and what culture they are in. To me we all come from different angles in life and what inspires/hits home to one person is different to someone else. Humility amongst Iranians is a big big deal, self efacement and utter lowliness is greatly prized. Therefore I see that passage as reflecting the angle from which that 19th Century early Baha’i came from. Of course, humility is one of the qualities we have to develop (and I’m sure plently of us 21st Century folk need much more than we’ve have right now!)and is a extremely important theme but if you read the writings of Baha’u'llah and Abdu’l-Baha the glorious and overpowering greatness that we as human beings inherently possess is constantly being reiterated. Baha’u'llah says ‘Noble I created thee’, ‘I have created thee rich and have bountifully shed my favour upon thee’ etc etc etc!

Hope you aren’t feeling hounded my me – just trying to help!

By: Leila

Leila — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:16:16 +0000

Hi Mike,
Oh dear! I’m going to look up that quotation cos I don’t think I’ve ever read that. To my understanding the Faith emphasises entirely the opposite – human beings are the pinnacle of God’s creation, endowed with all the signs and attributes such as love, honesty, beauty, courage etc. Like an amazing song or piece of art that a creator creates out of joy, love, inspiration and passion, God has created us. Yep we have 2 natures, cos we have an animal body with animal desires, but our human nature/soul/spirit that everyone has regardless of their belief in God is indescribably glorious. Baha’u'llah says’ Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Lack of a proper education hath however deprived him of what he doth inherently possess’. Everyone inherently is like a mine full of jewels, education enables them to come out – education is knowledge, awareness, understanding of who we are, why we are here and all the amazing possibilities that life throws at us. Of course God is at the top but human beings are just amazing!!!!!!! So of course we can be good without God – but what does that actually mean. To a Baha’i all good comes from God whether we recognize it or not. Take a piece of coal, dug out from deep within the earth and giving off it’s wonderful qualities of heat and light – to anyone who doesn’t know anything about coal if they we told that it’s origins were with the sun they would think it was ridiculous – however reality is that it does, through a long process, have it’s origins in the sun. Similarly, people say that they have no religion and that they are good people – but where have there morals come from – usually passed down through the generations from ancestors who followed the teachings of a Messenger from God, therefore from God. In the UK, however secular our country loves to be all our laws and institutions come from Christianity, therefore from God.

Feel free, if you have time or the inclination, to argue back! I just felt bothered at what you had experienced because that’s not my understanding of what the Faith is all about. This is probably not important (but maybe helpful) – I’m definately no expert but me and my husband have both been brought up as Baha’is, investigated everything ourselves, and have been intimately involved in the Faith all our lives – so I don’t think I’m giving you any wrong info.
Hope that’s helpful.
Leila