Susan, Some more thoughts on the subject:
I have looked at some more statements by the House of Justice, and I am wondering whether the House sees its primary function as an elucidation of the Texts and the interpretations of the Guardian, not as legislation per se. Rulings on legislation (praxis), in addition to "all problems which have caused difference, questions that are obscure and matters that are not expressly recorded in the Book," would then be functions of the House's authority to elucidate. Personally, I am still inclined to believe that `Abdu'l-Baha, in His Will and Testament, was referring to legislation (praxis), not doctrine. However, it looks as though the House may read it differently. If this understanding is correct, rather than speaking of the "legislative magisterium" of the House (a term I coined, of course), would it be more correct to speak of the House's "elucidative magisterum"? (I hope not. "Elucidative" is difficult to pronounce. <grin>) Regards, Mark A. Foster � http://markfoster.net � [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Sacred cows make the tastiest hamburger." ---- Abbie Hoffman __________________________________________________ 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]
