Re: Revival and Decline
In my personal view, the moral corruption in America is accelerating. In the last 2 or 3 years the lack of moral conscience related to sexuality among many of the young, and the increasing number of people who have no conscience when it comes to murder and other acts for selfish reasons, has dramatically increased. I can hardly watch any TV shows any more; I feel completely alienated for what passes for music and entertainment in my culture these days. I think it has not anywhere near reached bottom. It is not only in these areas as reflected on TV, but Michael Josephson who heads up an ethics foundation has also stated that people admit in anonymous surveys to a decrease in personal honesty. There are ways in which America maintains integrity, but I think that the immorality and the secularism are going to reach a critical mass and that this society is going to create a lot of moral monsters. Only then will it begin to awaken to the damage it has done by excising God, religion, and spirituality out of public life, and by elevating tolerance as the only virtue, and to excess. Brent -- 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)
An interesting article in the London Times of September the 3rd on the Bahai Faith
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7-801456,00.html Times 2 - features September 03, 2003 Faith, peace and tolerance in Monterey By Chris Ayres and James Bone Four years ago David Kelly made a personal odyssey to the Californian resort of Monterey. He was there, not to visit its military installations or its tourist boutiques but to convert to the Baha'i Faith http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7-801455,00.html Times 2 - features September 03, 2003 Humanity is one single race that will soon be unified in one global society JUST AS BUDDHISM came on to the world scene out of a Hindu context and Christianity out of Judaism, the Bahai faith emerged in Persia in the 19th century from an Islamic background. Like all these faiths, once it was established it quickly became a thriving, independent and international religion in its own right. It is now the second-most widespread of the worlds independent religions, with five million members in 235 countries, including 6,000 followers in Britain. The central theme of the Bahai faith is that humanity is one single race and will soon be unified in one global society. Bahais unreservedly accept the validity of the other great faiths, believing that Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Krishna, Jesus and Muhammad were all equally authentic messengers of one God. They believe the teachings of all these prophets constitute paths to salvation and contribute to the carrying forward of an ever-advancing civilisation. ... RUTH GLEDHILL http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7-801454,00.html -- 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)
RE: An interesting article in the London Times of September the 3rd on the Bahai Faith
Khazeh, Would you be able to share the entire article with us. It is not accessible online to those of us outside the UK without purchasing a subscription. Susan Dr. Susan B. Brill de Ramirez, Professor of English Bradley University, Peoria, IL 61625 [EMAIL PROTECTED]; (309) 677-3888; fax (309) 677-2330 -Original Message- From: Khazeh Fananapazir [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:14 AM To: Baha'i Studies Subject: An interesting article in the London Times of September the 3rd on the Bahai Faith http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7-801456,00.html Times 2 - features September 03, 2003 Faith, peace and tolerance in Monterey By Chris Ayres and James Bone Four years ago David Kelly made a personal odyssey to the Californian resort of Monterey. He was there, not to visit its military installations or its tourist boutiques but to convert to the Baha'i Faith http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7-801455,00.html Times 2 - features September 03, 2003 Humanity is one single race that will soon be unified in one global society JUST AS BUDDHISM came on to the world scene out of a Hindu context and Christianity out of Judaism, the Baha'i faith emerged in Persia in the 19th century from an Islamic background. Like all these faiths, once it was established it quickly became a thriving, independent and international religion in its own right. It is now the second-most widespread of the world's independent religions, with five million members in 235 countries, including 6,000 followers in Britain. The central theme of the Baha'i faith is that humanity is one single race and will soon be unified in one global society. Baha'is unreservedly accept the validity of the other great faiths, believing that Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Krishna, Jesus and Muhammad were all equally authentic messengers of one God. They believe the teachings of all these prophets constitute paths to salvation and contribute to the carrying forward of an ever-advancing civilisation. ... RUTH GLEDHILL http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7-801454,00.html -- 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) -- 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)
Re: Revival and Decline
On 9/3/03 8:34 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: In a message dated 9/2/03 11:15:19 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: In the last 2 or 3 years the lack of moral conscience related to sexuality among many of the young, and the increasing number of people who have no conscience when it comes to murder and other acts for selfish reasons, has dramatically increased. Dear Brent, Do you have any evidence for this? It is my understanding that the crime rate is actually down. Yes, but the question is whether it is statistically significant or not. For the last 20 years, the average crime rate nation-wide has been 5500 victims per 100,000 with a variation of about 500 over this period. We are currently in a trough, but we've been here before. It remains to be seen whether this recent trend actually continues with the rate getting below 5000 and staying there. This needs to be taken in context, however. Compared to 1960, the current crime rate is about 3 times what it was then. And in New Mexico, the violent crime rate is actually still *10 times* what it was in 1960, tho down about 10% from its peak in the late 90's. Brent perception of what's going on in his area is correct. To check on your area, go to http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/ Don C - - - - - He who believes himself spiritual proves he is not. -- 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)
Re: Revival and Decline
And in New Mexico, the violent crime rate is actually still *10 times* what it was in 1960, tho down about 10% from its peak in the late 90's. Brent perception of what's going on in his area is correct. Dear Don, But Brent it talking about an increase in the last two or three years. You are documenting and increase in the last forty years. warmest, Susan -- 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)
Re: Revival and Decline
Dear Brent, Do you have any evidence for this? It is my understanding that the crime rate is actually down. I've been fortunate in that I have not been touched much by crime in my life, so it is not based on that kind of personal experience. Nor is it because crimes now are more heinous, though there is some of that. It is the lack of conscience, a phenomenon Shoghi Effendi predicted (WOB 187). As far as evidence, this reminds me of what a dear friend said, a Jewish attorney who died a couple of years ago, to whom I referred all the friends for their wills. We were talking about ethical issues in the practice of law and he said, Ask yourself, 'Does it pass the smell test?' That cut through all the tomes and canons and brought it down to a level anybody can work with. And these days, TV doesn't pass the smell test. What passes for garments for teenagers these days don't, either. Evidence? It's all around. My former consitutional law professor, Justice Anthony Kennedy now on the US Supreme Court (then on the 9th Circuit with Dorothy Nelson), a devoted Catholic, a man highly sensitive to the impact of a statement of a justice in a formal opinion, has just opened the door to homosexual marriages, in the name of unity. I live in a relatively tame place, Las Cruces, New Mexico. I know it's relatively tame because I recently took out an attorney ad, sight unseen, in a major newspaper in the Denver area 700 miles to the north. After my ad came out and a copy of the newspaper was sent to me, I discovered that lawyer comes right after lapdancer in their classified advertising. Yessir, a photo of me and my ad, on the page after Madame Trixi and her whip. Anyway, we don't have that kind of thing here in little ol Las Cruces. Which brings me to a statement Baha'u'llah makes about society's corruption, which the Guardian quotes towards the end of the same letter I refer to above (WOB 201). But first: I read in yesterday's wire services about an asteroid: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3200019.stm Asteroid danger in 2014 downplayed. Astronomers monitoring near-Earth objects are playing down the chances of a newly discovered asteroid hitting Earth in 2014. Asteroids may have brought life-forming chemicals to the early Earth They say that there is a one in 909,000 chance of asteroid 2003 QQ47 impacting our planet. The chances of a catastrophe are likely to become even slimmer once more measurements of the asteroid's orbit have been made. The current odds are based on 51 observations made since the giant rock was spotted by a US programme in New Mexico on 24 August. 2003 QQ47 has been ranked one on the Torino scale. Zero on the scale is for objects where the chances of collision with Earth are virtually nil. The top of the scale, 10, is reserved for certain collisions capable of causing a global climatic catastrophe. 2003 QQ47 is likely to drop down to zero on the Torino scale once more observations have been made. Torino scale one objects are deemed worthy of careful monitoring. The BBC's science correspondent Christine McGourty says that 2003 QQ47 merits observation due to its sheer size and velocity. The rock is said to measure approximately 1.2 kilometres (less than a mile) across - only one tenth of the size of the impactor thought to have wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. It is travelling at a speed of about 30 km (approximately 20 miles) per second. 'In theory such an asteroid could cause devastation across an entire continent,' Christine McGourty says. The odds are very, very low... We have to keep some kind of perspective It's my personal opinion that Baha'u'llah is speaking of an asteroid when He writes: O ye that are bereft of understandiing! A severe trial pursueth you, and will suddenly overtake you. Bestir yourselves, that haply it may pass and inflict no harm upon you. (Gleanings LXXV p. 169) And: The world is in travail, and its agitation waxeth day by day. Its face is turned towards waywardness and unbelief. Such shall be its plight, that to disclose it now would not be meet and seemly. its perversity will long continue. And when the appointed hour is come, there shall suddenly appear that which shall cause the limbs of mankind to quake. Then, and only then, will the Divine Standrd be unfurled, and the Nightingale of Paradise warble its melody. (Gleanings LXI p. 118) I was once told that Mildred Mottahedeh had asked Shoghi Effendi how we would know when the calamity comes, and he responded, You will read about it in the newspapers. Anyway, the part about mankind's perversity long continuing resonates when I see the increased tolerance for swearing on TV (basic cable) along with everything else. I feel like a frog being cooked. But I think that in my lifetime I will see the turnaround the Guardian foretold. Brent -- You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
