Hi, Richard, At 08:40 PM 12/12/2003 -0800, you wrote: >>I cannot find anything in Ocean that gives "All religions are one" as a statement of >>the Faith. I did find "fundamental oneness of religion" in this statement by Shoghi >>Effendi.<<
IMO, that is the basically the same as saying that religions have a "common foundation." "fundamental adj 1: serving as an essential component; 'a cardinal rule'; 'the central cause of the problem'; 'an example that was fundamental to the argument'; 'computers are fundamental to modern industrial structure'" http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=fundamental As I see it, the "central cause" or "cardinal rule" of the oneness of divine religions is their origin in the Will and Mind of God. >>"Religions are many, but the reality of religion is one." >>(Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 126) >>What if a scholar who is not a Baha'i should throw that one at you?<< In my view, that is the basis for unity in diversity. In other words, the oneness of the revealed religions is found in their shared Source, God and His Will, not *necessarily* in their common teachings. If there is a universal template for "religion," in God's Mind and Will, it is found in the reflected appearance of His Own Essence, through His Prophets, as the names and attributes of creation. To my understanding, the expression of these names and attributes in the human soul, sometimes called virtues, constitute the "essential" or spiritual laws and principles taught by all the Prophets. Mark A. Foster * http://MarkFoster.net http://CompuServe.m.foster.name ---------- 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)
