One teaching found in Holy Scripture is the idea of Social Justice.Not only the idea of compassion,kindness and generosity to the poor,but above all Justice.Not merely being nice to the poor,but doing the right thing in our relations with all our fellow humans.
Holy Scripture calls us to a vision of life in community that challenges the politics of the moment,and gives us an ideal of society that we are to strive to build up.
In the Book of Mormon (4Nephi) an ideal society based on Christian principles is described in such beautiful terms.How can those to read the Book of Mormon as Holy Scripture not see this as a call to create a truly just society?
Baha'i Faith calls for the elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty,in line with the teachings of the Bible and the Book of Mormon.The challenge is to translate these teachings into action,and create a world based on peace and social justice and respect for the inherent dignity of every single member of the human family.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Baha'i Faith & Humanism
I think the essential principles of Baha'i Faith have more in common with Humanis than with conventional dogmatic religion.And that is a wonderful thing! More on this theme later...
Monday, August 8, 2011
Baha'i Faith:Love-Peace-Unity
Now I understand Baha'i Faith so much better than I used to,see what it means to be a Baha'i.The essential teachings of Baha'i Faith are basically designed to remove all the barriers that divide people and remove all obstacles to real unity among all people.We are free to reject all forms of prejudice,all religous dogma and practice that is unreasonable or just plain wrong.We are united by a search for truth and understanding,set free from the burdens of the past.
Jesus Christ taught that the supreme Commandment is Love-love for God and love for neighbor.We must be willing to let go of everything that is an obstacle to us truly living a life of love.That is the real meaning of life and the real goal of spirituality,and should be the real purpose of Religion.
Abdu'l-Baha taught that Religion is to be a source of peace and unity,and that if Religion was instead a source of division and hate,the abolition of Religion would be better for us.He also taught that Religion must be reasonable,and submit to Science and Reason,and that any Religion not in harmony with Science and reason is mere superstition.
This is the kind of Religion we all need in the 21st Century!Religous Dogma only divides people,but Science unites us.As others have put it..Doubt unites,but certainty divides.There is only one kind of Science for all mankind,a common search for knowledge and understanding.Science is the process by which we ask questions and seek answeres,which leads to more questions.
The Age of Religous Dogma as an alternative to Science must end.The old answeres of Religion must be examined in the light of our own knowledge and either adjusted or if necessary,discarded.It's the Truth that makes us free,not faith in ancient dogma or ancient stories.
Jesus Christ taught that the supreme Commandment is Love-love for God and love for neighbor.We must be willing to let go of everything that is an obstacle to us truly living a life of love.That is the real meaning of life and the real goal of spirituality,and should be the real purpose of Religion.
Abdu'l-Baha taught that Religion is to be a source of peace and unity,and that if Religion was instead a source of division and hate,the abolition of Religion would be better for us.He also taught that Religion must be reasonable,and submit to Science and Reason,and that any Religion not in harmony with Science and reason is mere superstition.
This is the kind of Religion we all need in the 21st Century!Religous Dogma only divides people,but Science unites us.As others have put it..Doubt unites,but certainty divides.There is only one kind of Science for all mankind,a common search for knowledge and understanding.Science is the process by which we ask questions and seek answeres,which leads to more questions.
The Age of Religous Dogma as an alternative to Science must end.The old answeres of Religion must be examined in the light of our own knowledge and either adjusted or if necessary,discarded.It's the Truth that makes us free,not faith in ancient dogma or ancient stories.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Rich & Poor
At Luke 16:19-31 Jesus teaches the story of Lazarus & the Rich Guy,a story that directly paralells what Jesus had taught at Luke 6:20-21,24-25.It's always fun to hear Christians twist themselves into pretzels trying to prove this has nothing to do with any kind of bias toward the poor and against the rich.Of course not!
Just like it's fun to hear them comment on Luke 18:18-30 where Jesus tells the rich young man that all he now must do is to sell all of his possessions and give the money to the poor,then follow Jesus.Of course,Jesus didn't really mean it.It was just a test of faith or something.Then read Luke 12:32-34,where Jesus had told his disciples the exact same thing.Jesus really meant what he had said.Not just a test...if you're really willing to give up all you have to follow Jesus,then you get to keep it!!No wonder that's such a popular message in capitalist America!!
What do you think?
Just like it's fun to hear them comment on Luke 18:18-30 where Jesus tells the rich young man that all he now must do is to sell all of his possessions and give the money to the poor,then follow Jesus.Of course,Jesus didn't really mean it.It was just a test of faith or something.Then read Luke 12:32-34,where Jesus had told his disciples the exact same thing.Jesus really meant what he had said.Not just a test...if you're really willing to give up all you have to follow Jesus,then you get to keep it!!No wonder that's such a popular message in capitalist America!!
What do you think?
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