Dear Jerry, It's interesting that your friend makes reference to the dictionary:
> Webster's dictionary defines the verb form of manifest as "to make > evident or certain by showing or displaying." I realize that > dictionaries do not always define theological terms correctly. Do you > agree with this definition? If not, then please let me know. As a former Christian, I would like to mention that it was the word "Manifestation" of God that convinced me in a instant of the validity of Baha'u'llah's station and revelation. However, I was hearing the word as a NOUN -an identity. Please note #1 d. below: many Christians believe that Christ WAS God "MATERIALIZED" on Earth. It is understandable that one might assume that is the belief held by Baha'is with regard to Baha'u'llah. But, only if they are thinking "action" (or evident spirituality) rather than "identity" as in relationship to God, the Creator by revealing "station" and "purpose". "Therefore must no stranger find his way into the city of the heart, so that the Incomparable Friend may come unto His own place - that is, the effulgence of His Names and Attributes, not His Essence (exalted is He), for that Peerless King hath been and will be holy for everlasting above ascent or descent." (Abdu'l-Baha, A Traveller's Narrative, p. 63) Each Manifestation has a particular "role" in the spiritual evolution of humankind. Baha'u'llah referred to this as progressive revelation... "The measure of the Revelation with which every one of them [Manifestations] hath been identified had been definitely fore-ordained. This, verily, is a token of Our favor unto them, if ye be of those that comprehend this truth.... And when this process of progressive Revelation culminated in the stage at which His peerless, His most sacred, and exalted Countenance was to be unveiled to men's eyes, He chose to hide His own Self behind a thousand veils, lest profane and mortal eyes discover His glory." (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 74) In combination with the explanation of the uniqueness (and pre-existence) of the Manifestations - which others have mentioned and the above on progressive revelation - perhaps your friend will be enabled to better understand. At this point I think he is really asking you: Was Christ God "materialized" on Earth? >When you call him God, do you mean that He is God in >the same way that the Father is God? It would be fair and accurate, I believe, to say that Christ was the "effulgence of God's Names and Attributes" in the station of the "Son of God" -the revealer of how all humanity should BE -but, not God materialized on Earth. Lovingly, Sandra manifestation Function: noun Date: 15th century 1 a : the act, process, or an instance of manifesting b : something that manifests or is manifest c : one of the forms in which an individual is manifested d : an occult phenomenon; specifically : MATERIALIZATION 2 : a public demonstration of power and purpose manifest Function: transitive verb Date: 14th century : to make evident or certain by showing or displaying synonym see SHOW - manifester noun ---------- You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://list.jccc.net/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=bahai-st news://list.jccc.net/bahai-st http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist (public) http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] (public)
