Below are some themes I see in "One Common Faith."
Jim
----
Forward
Studying "One Common Faith" can help us develop the deep understanding we need
of "the process by which humanity's spiritual life evolves," so that we can
better respond to the need to free the religious spirit from "the shackles that
have so far prevented it from bringing to bear the healing influence of which
it is capable," in order to realize the momentous possibilities opened up by
the "awakening taking place among people everywhere, regardless of religious
background and indeed among many with no religious leaning." That "awakening"
is the awakening associated with a growing awareness of the failure of
development pursued in a materialistic framework, and a growing interest in
religion and spirituality.
----
1-16
Awakening.
----
5-6
Signs of awakening
----
7-15
Causes of awakening
"The fate of what the world has learned to call social and economic development
has left no doubt that not even the most idealistic motives can correct
materialism's fundamental flaws."
"Through shared discoveries and shared travails, peoples of diverse cultures
are brought face to face with the common humanity lying just beneath the
surface of imagined differences of identity. Whether stubbornly opposed in some
societies or welcomed elsewhere as a release from meaningless and suffocating
limitations, the sense that the earth's inhabitants are indeed 'the leaves of
one tree' is slowly becoming the standard by which humanity's collective
efforts are now judged."
----
17
Religions as primary agents of spiritual development and primary
driving forces of the civilizing process.
----
18-21
"Why, then, does this immensely rich heritage not serve as the central stage
for today's reawakening of spiritual quest?"
----
22
"In order to respond adequately to the spiritual needs of their neighbours,
Bah's will have to gain an in-depth understanding of the issues involved. The
effort of imagination this challenge requires can be appreciated from the
advice that is perhaps the most frequently and urgently reiterated admonition
in the writings of their Faith: to 'meditate', to 'ponder', to 'reflect'."
----
23-30
Meaning of "religion" for Baha'u'llah's purposes.
----
31
Misunderstanding: Differences among the religions.
----
31-35
Differences in practice.
----
36-44
Differences in doctrine.
----
45-49
Misunderstanding: Role of religion in society.
----
50
Adoption of Baha'u'llah's principles as ideals.
----
51-52
Power needed for those principles to be applied: Submission to the
will of God as revealed by Baha'u'llah.
----
53
Principles for healing the ills of modern global society.
----
54-56
Power needed for those principles to be applied: Unity.
----
57-63
The Covenant
----
64-66
Role of Baha'is: Growth plans.
----
67-68
Purpose of teaching and service: Assist all stages of humanity's movement
towards reunion with God.
----
69-73
The Kingdom of God on earth has come: Through the influence of the revelation
of Baha'u'llah, "the stupendous enterprise of laying the foundations of the
Kingdom of God has been set in motion, and the population of the earth has been
endowed with the powers and capacities equal to the task. That Kingdom is a
universal civilization shaped by principles of social justice and enriched by
achievements of the human mind and spirit beyond anything the present age can
conceive." It "has nothing in common with systems of the past," and "only
relatively little relationship with those of today."
The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments thereto ("e-mail")
is sent by the Johnson County Community College ("JCCC") and is intended to be
confidential and for the use of only the individual or entity named above. The
information may be protected by federal and state privacy and disclosures acts
or other legal rules. If the reader of this message is not the intended
recipient, you are notified that retention, dissemination, distribution or
copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail
in error please immediately notify JCCC by email reply and immediately and
permanently delete this e-mail message and any attachments thereto. Thank you.
__________________________________________________
You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[email protected]
Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subscribe: http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=bahai-st
Baha'i Studies is available through the following:
Mail - mailto:[email protected]
Web - http://list.jccc.edu:8080/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]
