The Baha'i Studies Listserv Dear Gilberto and Matt: On Wed, Nov 3, 2010 at 2:28 AM, Gilberto Simpson <[email protected] > wrote:
> The Baha'i Studies Listserv > Yes, I think we understand one another. > > On Wed, Nov 3, 2010 at 1:46 AM, Matt Haase <[email protected]> > wrote: > > The Baha'i Studies Listserv > > > > "Sure, and the same is true of Islam... both in terms of how Muslims > > understand Islamic general roles, or, in this case, how non-Muslims at > > times go too far in attributing problematic gender roles to Islam per > > se. As I've said to you before, if you really believe that God is > > merciful and just, and if you really believe that the Quran comes from > > God, then it should be possible to follow the Quran and be > > compassionate and just to women." > > > > As a Muslim, I agree with you. But I think I understand where Susan > > is coming from in regards to her own religion's view. The Baha'i Faith > (in > > my understanding) is a Dispensationalist religion - whereby it is > believed > > that God sort of "took" His/Her Spirit away from the most previous > > revelation (Islam), and placed it in the hands of the Baha'i Faith. > > Therefore, all spiritual progress that has since been made by other > > religions is to really be credited to the Baha'i Faith for being the kind > of > > "command center" of the religious universe, that is sending out > inspiration > > to the rest of the religious world. Hence, progress made in other > religions > > is not to be credited to those religions themselves, but to the Baha'i > > Faith. That is why some Baha'is tend to gloss over the changes and > reforms > > that other religions are going under, because it is believed that a true > > practice of older religions would ultimately lead to very bad things. > > > > You can also look at it like a business owner. The Baha'i Faith would be > a > > very kind business executive who wishes for his competitors success in > their > > endeavors, but will still compete for buying customers nonetheless. > > Therefore, he/she can't excessively praise their competition to the point > > that people may go to their competitors. I personally have no problem in > > saying that the Baha'i Faith has brought some progressive teachings to > the > > world of religion, such as an universal auxiliary language, encouragement > of > > developing skills in the arts and sciences, promoting reading and writing > > intelligence, the equality of the sexes, the universality of human > beings, > > the promotion of concord between religions. What irks me, though, is when > > some Baha'is say that none of the other religions have these teachings, > > which seems to contradict the whole idea of promoting concord between the > > religions - because it's basically saying "let's get along everyone. I'm > > better than all of you", in my view. But maybe that is an emotional > rather > > than rational view of mine. > > > > Salam > > > > > > > I'd agree with Sen's comments and explanations. Let me ask you this: At the end of the day and in the final analysis, you decide to be Muslims (and not atheist, Jewish, Buddhist, Zoroastrian, Christian, Babi, or Baha'i) for a reason or reasons. What is/are those reasons? I think I can tell you that I'm a Baha'i (and not a Muslim, Jewish, atheist, etc.) pretty much for the same reasons more or less. If it irks you, so be it; you irk atheists, Jews, Christians, Buddhists, etc. And please don't tell me that those other religions don't have the true or authentic scripture nonsense. That's just bull. Best regards, Iskandar __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[email protected] Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:leave-537193-27401.54f46e81b66496c9909bcdc2f7987...@list.jccc.edu Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [email protected] Or 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 (on-campus only) - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
