Comments for Year of Faith

Comment on A Satanic Perspective on The Book of Eli by Bob

Bob — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 06:03:42 +0000

“Regardless, the point of this esay is to show that in The Book of Eli are examples and demonstrations of Satanism that I have learned thus far.”

You spelled “essay” wrong.

Comment on Problems with Baha’i by Jane

Jane — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 02:07:33 +0000

Hi, I completely agree with what Tim has said in his blog. I am a Baha’i and I still have a lot to learn. My advise is to perhaps give yourself the opportunity to do the Ruhi books and perhaps they might clear up some confliction you may have with the writings and believes of the Baha’i Faith. It is the one and only faith and we should try and stay clear of people starting their own VERSION of the Faith…as there can only be the one faith to bring the oneness of mankind together.
I sincerely hope this helps and as Tim has said, you should try and gain the support of other Baha’i in your community to clear any questions that you may have.

Comment on They’ll like us when we win by Manjit singh

Manjit singh — Sun, 30 May 2010 00:26:07 +0000

BTW, if I may suggest, find a path and stick with it. Wandering from one to other may be good but you never really get anywhere, if you know what I mean. Wahtever you choose, follow it with heart, whether Chrsitian, Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu, Moslem or whatever else.

Comment on F(l)ailing by Manjit singh

Manjit singh — Sun, 30 May 2010 00:21:14 +0000

You don’t have to call anyone or go to any Gurdwara (Sikh temple)to be a Sikh if you don’t want to. Here are a few websites that may help and especially being from a western background, you may be more comfortable around Sikhs from Western background since many newcomers feel bored or lost in Sikh temples from Indian/Punjabi backgrounds because of cultural and language barriers.

http://www.sikhnet.com
http://www.sikhs.org
http://www.srigranth.org
http://www.allaboutsikhs.com

Comment on Draw Muhammad Day by Stephen

Stephen — Thu, 27 May 2010 22:06:02 +0000

I’m not sure about your comment that this is “not about the beliefs of some bronze agers”. We need to consider not just the beliefs but the behaviors that those beliefs support and encourage. Sharia law is quite unjust and even vicious when it comes to the treatment of women and there are enough examples of the full support of the observance of Sharia Law by so called “enlightened” muslims. I don’t care about their beliefs when the behavior that they engage in and support (implicitly or tacitly) is more bronze age than contemporary.
That said I think that both the South Park bunch and the “Draw Mohammed Day” folks have got it wrong.
In any form of communication it falls to the communicator to consider the natural outcome of a communication; this is especially true of people who communicate via any form of mass media. How will people react to this? How will the people affected react? are questions that they must ask.
Along with freedom of speech comes the responsibility to not use that freedom to abuse others, and in this both these camps failed and revealed a sensibility that belongs in high school or elementary school.

Comment on Draw Muhammad Day by Greenstorm

Greenstorm — Fri, 21 May 2010 14:28:50 +0000

Thank you

Comment on Gradients by Stephen

Stephen — Sat, 08 May 2010 14:27:53 +0000

Very interesting. I know that this certainly echoes my experience with meditation – similarly revealing, relaxing and frustrating.

All the same, if I see you wandering down the street with a gas can there will be an intervention…

Comment on Affirmation by Greenstorm

Greenstorm — Tue, 04 May 2010 15:28:06 +0000

So I guess we shouldn’t judge you.

Comment on One of my Favourite Stories by MarkSpizer

MarkSpizer — Mon, 03 May 2010 10:25:38 +0000

great post as usual!

Comment on Problems with Baha’i by Tim

Tim — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 20:31:59 +0000

(I’m really sorry if the following post is too long, if so just remove it and send me an email – I can post a reduced version instead.)

Hi there, I was really happy to come across your blog, if everyone investigated religions like this I think the world would be a far far better place. Kudos.

Unfortunately I don’t have much time to write a proper reply to this but as a Baha’i I would like to suggest that the word link between the passages of Baha’u'llah above and the interpretation by Shoghi Effendi would be the word “sodomy” and the “subject of boys”, which apparently is a reference to the common practice of that time of older men having sexual relationships with younger boys. Not nice to talk about but I feel it’s necessary in order to see why Shoghi Effendi interpreted it in that way. Also, I think Baha’u'llah is very clear that marriage is between a man and a woman, and that sex is only permitted within the boundaries of marriage.

And about your statement above that the Baha’i Faith will need to accept homosexuals in order to flourish, I’ll give my personal interpretation of that in case it is useful:
I think the fact that homosexuals have been treated with such horrendous and despicable cruelty up to this point has rightly created a very strong counter-movement in society to protect their rights and to make sure they are treated with just as much respect as heterosexuals. I think this is by and large a very good thing, and there are without doubt a huge number of wonderful people who are homosexual – I know a few myself.

However, I think that this cruel oppressive behaviour on the one hand, and on the other hand the strong social reaction against it, have created a false dichotomy, an illusion that there are only two sides to the issue:
a) homosexuality is unnatural and a sin and homosexuals should be shunned and outcast from society, and
b) homosexuality is natural and proper and should be supported.

So when people investigate the Baha’i attitude to this issue, they see that Baha’i law forbids homosexuality, and therefore bundle us together with the first group. However ,the Baha’i view is in fact very different from either of these. According to our writings, Baha’is should love and respect homosexuals in just the same way as we should love all human beings, they are free to become Baha’is as they please, and we should never by any means discriminate against them, in any way.

However, this is not to say that homosexuality is any healthier than drinking alcohol. Both of these things are widely acceptable in society, and yet the Baha’i writings say that we shouldn’t do them, because in the long run, they are harmful to our spiritual health. That’s the essence of the matter I think.

In his Most Holy Book, Baha’u'llah says “think not that We have revealed unto you a mere code of laws”, and in another part says that His laws are the “the lamps of My loving providence among My servants” – they are like lights which illuminate our surroundings and enable us to see clearly, in order that we can make wise decisions which will benefit us and everybody else in the long run. He also describes them as “the keys of My mercy for My creatures”, which has similar implications.

So I don’t think they’re really like the laws of a country, they’re more like natural laws, which we are free to either learn from or ignore – no police will come and get us if we ignore them, but learning about them and working with them is really a lot more beneficial, both for us and for humanity at large.

I meant to write a short reply but I got very enthusiastic and so it’s a lot longer than I expected! Sorry about that, hope it’s not too long.

Anyway, in my experience Baha’is quite frequently get asked this question and will either be very happy to talk about it or will know someone who is. So don’t be scared to bring it up with them, in fact I encourage you to bring up any questions you have at all, I personally find that the times I learn the most about the Faith is normally when I ask the most difficult questions!

That reminds me, in regard to your thoughts on “disrespect to unbelievers”, unfortunately I don’t have time to reply to that, but do ask Baha’is about it, I know some parts of the writings, when viewed in isolation, can give this impressions, but if understood in their proper contexts the overwhelming message is that Baha’is should place themselves _below_ the rest of humanity, to strive to humbly and selflessly serve them without expecting anything in return whatsoever.

So I really wish you all the best on your search and I’m sure it will be very fruitful for you in the long run, regardless of whether you find a religion that you feel is your spiritual home.

Take care, best wishes and Allah’u'abha!