On Wed, 5 Jan 2005 15:52:26 -0800 (PST), John Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > G: Saying God CAN'T do something is "tying up his hands" > Saying God CAN do something but in his sovereign authority and > omnipotence chose to do something different is not "typing up his > hands" > J: The statement "tying up his hands" would only make sense if you believe > that Baha'u'llah is true. Because if one believes that he is false and > Muhammad is the Last, then of course God's hands would not by tied up. > J: If one believes in Baha'u'llah, then the folks that say he is a > liar/exaggerator/honest-but-wrong are obviously tying up the hands of God. I think part of the problem with that kind of language in this kind of situation is that it is incredibly provocative and accusatory. Because it's like you are going up to the person who thinks Bahaullah is honest-but-wrong, and basically saying that if they don't accept your claims they are guilty of something akin to blasphemy. It seems like the same mindset as fundamentalists. Just because someone disagrees with you doesn't make them evil.
The Quran says: [2.62] Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve. The above doesn't even insist on being Muslim. It doesn't even insist on being People of the Book. It says "whoever believes in Allah and the Last day and does good". I'm not making any bets but I don't see why this couldn't include Bahais.) So if the Quran doesn't absolutely require that people believe in Muhammad I think you are being narrow, restrictive and closed-minded if you are insisting that everyone on earth recognize Bahaullah. > G: The whole abrogation theory makes me uncomfortable and I'm glad that > there are scholars who minimize its use or find other ways of reading > the Quran. > J: I can see why it makes one uncomfortable because it implies that God's > Will changes over time. It gives the impression of clumsiness if there are commandments in the Quran which were revealed in the time of Muhammad but were only valid for 20 years especially if the Quran is supposed to last from now until judgement day. Peace "My people are hydroponic" __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:archive@mail-archive.com To unsubscribe, send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, use subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu Web - http://list.jccc.edu/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Public - http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu
