On 7/13/06, Tim Nolan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hi Gilberto,
>This is a part of what makes me think that the Bahais value unity more
>than truth. Its as if the important thing is to bring people together
>under the Administrative Order by saying what they want to hear.
[The Baha'i writings] do instruct us to speak
kindly, to use mild words at first,
and not to state things - at first - which are too challenging to people.
I've read at least a few accounts of that process in different places
which definitely cross the line, and I think certain omissions are
definitely the moral equivalent of lying.
For example when Jamal Effendi spread the Bahai faith in some Muslim
parts of Asia, he gave people the impression that Bahaullah was just a
Muslim Sufi Shaykh and it wasn't until later that he explained that he
thought the Islamic dispensation was finished.
Of course, if a person expresses belief in Baha'u'llah and wants to join the
Baha'i community, then there are certain basic principles they must accept.
But there is no need to challenge people too severely in the beginning of a
relationship.
But "challenge" gives the impression that you are talking about an
issue of difficulty. If a Muslim preacher waited to explain Wahdat
al-Wujud that would be "not challenging" or if a Christian waited to
explain the difference between transubstantiation and
consubstantiation that would be "not challenging". In the Bahai case
we are talking about Bahai preacher not telling their audience that
they were a different religion.
Abdu'l Baha is our perfect exemplar of how to teach the Baha'i Faith. When
He traveled in North America, in 1912, he told a synagogue full of Jews that
they ought to accept the truth of Jesus and of Muhammad. Do you think that
is what the Jewish people wanted to hear?
Perhaps I misspoke. There have definitely been some occasions where
Bahais are willing to challenge society with their beliefs. But there
are also a number of situations where a member of a different faith
would take a more "activist" or uncompromising approach where a Bahai
would strive to fit in and obey.
G
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