Gilberto wrote
But still, in terms of the earlier discussion, it is not clear why
saying non-prophets are sinless should be considered shirk.
There are many ways, I believe, that the issue can be approached. I offer
one.
Only the Manifestations of God have the two stations. The rest of us are
men, and, ipso facto are sinful, i.e. not protected from error.
Manifestations of God are protected from error by God. Those appointed by
the Manifestations to specifically be protected ( Ishmael, Aaron, Joshua,
Peter, he Imams, Abdu'l-Baha, the Guardian) are so, and to the extent of
that conferred infallibility or protection are sinless.
This relates to "setting up partners with God" as well as the relativity of
religious truth. There is nothing which has intrinsic value. All things of
value are of value, if at all, are so because God has invested them with
value and has defined the manner in which that value is to be conveyed. He
does this at the moment of His Revelation. This imbuing with value occurs
with each Manifestation of His Self. In the time of Muhammad shirk referred
to the worship of physical idols and the insistence upon the fantasy that
they were (God forbid) rivals of God.
In this day, in my opinion, setting up partners with God, or idolatry can be
any thought or practice that is offered up and practiced as being equal to
God. Therefore, if one believes, for example, that a prophet is not a
servant of God; but has independent and intrinsic status or station, or that
the prophet has status or station for which there is no Authority; that
belief could be considered shirk.
Richard.
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