The Baha'i Studies Listserv On 28 Dec 2010 at 4:51, Gilberto Simpson wrote:
> The Baha'i Studies Listserv > So is Shoghi Effendi saying that when the previous religions are > reborn they remain recognizably distinct or is he saying they are all > reborn as the Bahai Faith? Shoghi Effendi grew up and lived in the multi-religious Middle East, the thought that the coming of a new religion meant the end of all the previous ones would never have entered his mind. If someone had mentioned it to him, he would have thought "barmy!" and gone on to more important things. The rise of Christianity did not bring about the end of Judaism, but was part of its reformation, from a religion centring on the cultus in the temple in Jerusalem to one centring on the text and the synagogue (and homes) where the text was taught and studied. The impact of the Islamic theology on synagogue Judaism redefined it again, via Maimonides in particular. A similar story could be told of Zoroastrianism (not a strange world to the young Shoghi, since many of the farmers in Galillee whom Abdu'l-Baha had partnerships with, were Zoroastrians). Religions do not last "about one thousand years" - but they are remade, even more often than that, and emerge transformed. Abdu'l-Baha says: "...the breezes of Christ are still blowing; His light is still shining; His melody is still resounding; His standard is still waving; His armies are still fighting; His heavenly voice is still sweetly melodious; His clouds are still showering gems; His lightning is still flashing; His reflection is still clear and brilliant; His splendor is still radiating and luminous; and it is the same with those souls who are under His protection and are shining with His light. (Abdu´l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, pp. 152-3) and Shoghi Effendi: The indwelling Spirit of God which, in the Apostolic Age of the Church, animated its members, the pristine purity of its teachings, the primitive brilliancy of its light, will, no doubt, be reborn and revived as the inevitable consequences of this redefinition of its fundamental verities, and the clarification of its original purpose. For the Faith of Baha´u'llah - if we would faithfully appraise it - can never, and in no aspect of its teachings, be at variance, much less conflict, with the purpose animating, or the authority invested in, the Faith of Jesus Christ. (The World Order of Baha´u'llah, 185) in the field of religion ... we have lately witnessed widespread and organized attempts to broaden and simplify the basis of man´s faith, to achieve unity in Christendom and restore the regenerating vigor of Islam (Baha´i Administration, 145) On my blog see : http://senmcglinn.wordpress.com/2009/04/18/ecumenicism/ http://senmcglinn.wordpress.com/2009/01/25/morning-in-shiraz/ http://senmcglinn.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/future-of-religions/ Sen ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Sen McGlinn http://senmcglinn.wordpress.com Happy are those who spend their days in gaining knowledge, in discovering the secrets of nature, and in penetrating the subtleties of pure truth! Woe to those who are contented with ignorance, whose hearts are gladdened by thoughtless imitation, ... who have wasted their lives!"(~Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions p.137) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -- __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[email protected] Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:leave-549048-27401.54f46e81b66496c9909bcdc2f7987...@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]
