RE: The meaning the Guardian attached to the word "mutilation"

[Ian Kluge]

“But other Baha'i verses emphatically state that there is only one religion ('Submission to God'), that all the Prophets are one, and that religious truth is relative.  None of them should be looked at in exclusion of the other statements.” Ian: Agreed – but Baha’u’llah nonetheless did make this ‘triumphalistic’ statement – and it, too, must be taken into account.     To reconcile these quotes we can take a Hegelian view. If we look at them in the context of progressive revelation we see that  in a process each phase/dispensation makes its contributions to its successors – and in this sense all are equal because all contribute equally to the process. However, the *current* phase is always the summation and consummation of its predecessors. In this sense the Faith is somewhat Hegelian insofar as predecessors are dissolved and yet preserved at a higher, more complete level in an endless line of new syntheses/dispensations.   Thus Baha’u’llah’s  revelation is – for the moment – the consummate/superior revelation for this stage of human development. When a later Manifestation arrives this will no longer be the case.   Best wishes,   Ian Kluge       From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of JS Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2005 7:09 AM To: Baha'i Studies Subject: RE: The meaning the Guardian attached to the word "mutilation"   How does this understanding tie in with the following: Verily I say, in this most mighty Revelation, all the Dispensations of the past have attained their highest, their final consummation? (Gleanings, 340) JS:  Yes, if this verse it look at in a vacuum, then one is let to a triumphalistic conclusion.  But other Baha'i verses emphatically state that there is only one religion ('Submission to God'), that all the Prophets are one, and that religious truth is relative.  None of them should be looked at in exclusion of the other statements.  (1) Jesus says that He is the only way to the Father.  (2) The Qur'an states that it is the complete Book of God.  (3) Muhammad states that He is the Last Prophet.  (4) The Baha'i version is that the Baha'i Revelation is the 'most mighty Revelation' in which all other religions reach their 'final consummation'. All 4 statement above are correct and valid.  It does not mean that any one of them is superior in essence. Just as the previous views (about Jesus, Qur'an, Muhammad) were not absolute, just as they did not establish the essential superiority of their Prophet or Book (since Revelation continued), so too is the Baha'i view not absolute.  There is only one Absolute, and that is God.  Meditate on 'Progressive Revelation'.  Another Revelation will come in the future, another Manifestation may bring new Laws. Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Search presents - Jib Jab's 'Second Term' __________________________________________________ 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: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 __________________________________________________ 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