RE: Cases when one CAN disobey Assemblies

[janine]

This is a totally hypothetical situation. When such an occasion arises, I will decide what to do based on my study of the Bahai writings, my prayers and meditations and the guidance of the other administrative bodies in the Bahai faith.       From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of David Friedman Sent: 27 April 2006 12:50 To: Baha'i Studies Subject: Cases when one CAN disobey Assemblies   You have all probably heard that 'Abdu'l-Baha said if the local assembly decided to kill Him then those in the community should go along with it.  Thinking about this now it doesn't make sense to me.  As far as how Baha'is are to act, the Universal House of Justice sum it up:    "...Baha'is obey the laws, Federal or state, unless submission to these laws amounts to a denial of their Faith.  (Multiple Authors:  Lights of Guidance, Page: 450) This being the case if the local assembly had decided to kill 'Abdu'l-Baha, shouldn't the other members of the community, instead of going along with it, make effort to prevent it from happening?  To kill 'Abdu'l-Baha would have been against the law, and Baha'is are to submit to laws unless they amount to a denial of their Faith.  Even if an assembly decision were regarded as Baha'i law, that would be subordinate to civil law.  Hence, I don't think one should obey assemblies even if the ask someone to break the law.  So why did 'Abdu'l-Baha say that?  Was He just trying to make a point about the authority of assemblies, figuring few people would notice that what He said wouldn't actually be what Baha'is are supposed to do?  I don't think a Baha'i has to murder an innocent man just because the assembly tells them to! Become a fitness fanatic with XtraMSN Health & Fitness!     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:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu 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/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 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:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu 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/bahai-st@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu