On Sun, 16 Jan 2005 03:29:23 -0600, Mark A. Foster <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Gilberto: > >>Have you looked at what I posted on Christian prophets (that was in the > >>subject).<< Mark: > If you mean the quotation by somebody from one of the Orthodox churches - > yes, I read the entire piece. Just as there are a minority of Christians who > believe in future prophets, there are a minority of Muslims (Qadiani Ahmadis) > who believe the same. Gilberto: So in what sense are you using the term prophet and applying it to both religions? In terms of the above, there is a huge difference between how the issue is played out in this case. In the case of Qadianis, there is a strong consensus that they actually aren't Muslim, specifically for the reason that they say Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was a prophet. The issue is important enough and central enough in Islam, that there is another group of Lahori Ahmadis who distance themselves from the first group and make a point of being careful not to say Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was a prophet. Finality of prophethood, simply is not that clear, central, or as important an idea in Christianity. And the group which accepts different forms of prophethood is more prevalent and varied in Christianity. The Mormons say Joseph Smith was a prophet. Seventh Day Adventists have Ellen G. White. Quakers say everyone has access to the inner light. Pentecostals have a strong ongoing belief in the activity of the Holy Spirit. Catholics and Orthodox Christians clearly talk about individuals in the present day receive special revelations from God with a clear commission to deliver the message to others. That's not just some isolated, localized minority of Christians. > Don't Sufis and Ismailis also believe in people after Muhammad coming with > revelation? I'm not superfamiliar with the Ismailis. Sufis make a point of saying that whatever miracles or powers they might attribute to saints, that it is different from being a prophet. The kashf and ilham attributed to saints is sometimes described as unveiling or intuition. Some might say it would be enhanced, or becomes possible after much dhikr, and spiritual practice, its something that you might develop or work at. I don't think the same could necessarily be said about prophetic revelation (wahy). Peace Gilberto "My people are hydroponic" __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[email protected] 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:[email protected] 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/[email protected] New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
