On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 20:50:55 -0600, Mark A. Foster <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Gilberto, > At 08:33 PM 1/24/2005, you wrote: > >>Personally I don't see the above issues as requiring or suggesting > >>relativism. In the case of Moses one could argue that the death was in > >>self-defense. The issue of Muhammad and Aishah might be addressed by > >>pointing out that marrying a young woman, while atypical, is ultimately not > >>a moral issue.<< > It would certainly be a moral issue if someone tried to do it here in Kansas > in > 2005. It would even be a moral issue in my hometown, New York City. It was > not > a moral issue in 7th century C.E Arabia. That's relativism, isn't it?
I would probably prefer to discuss this point with an issue that wasn't so emotionally charged because because it can be sensitive for alot of folks. But I would say, no. I think that tastes and expectations can change over the years, norms of behavior. But that doesn't make them moral issues, no. I think there is a difference between saying something is immoral and saying that something is popularly perceived to be wrong or disgusting. Maybe a decent example would be the kind of stuff people do on Fear Factor. It's basically a game show where part of the competition might include dares to eat some kind of disgusting substance. Even though most people are on a very visceral level disgusted by the act of eating bugs or horse intestine or whatever, it's not clear that its a moral question. > >>That seems sort of odd.<< > > My relationship with Baha'u'llah is not dependent on my understanding of His > character. However, since 'Abdu'l-Baha is regarded as the perfect Baha'i > Exemplar, I *do* reflect on His character, > >>How do you access the soul and spirit if not through the historical > >>personality? > Through it (and through prayer), not in it. So, if someone unearthed persuasive evidence which proved that Bahaullah had been involved in certain kinds of unsavory and conventionally immoral behavior it wouldn't play a role in or affect whether you believed in him? 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]
