As the only resident Baha'i on this board (that I'm aware of) I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the Baha'i Faith.
Do you believe that Jesus Christ was crucified?
What do you think of Baha'i Faith?
by Eyebrow2 36 Replies latest jw experiences
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hooberus
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scotsman
I can't speak of their doctrines but can say that the temple and gardens of their HQ in Haifa, Israel are beautiful. I seem to recall there being some notion that when their landscaping went from the temple to the Med, that the End would come. It was halfway there in '94!
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Carmel
hooberus, answer to your question, yes!
Scotsman,
Regarding the suggested prophecy about the constuction of the gardens on Mt. Carmel in Haifa, there is no such idea as Baha'is do not define the "end" as your reference infers.
Carmel
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jws
I knew 2 Baha'i followers. Strangely enough, both with the same first name, Tahirih. When I met the second one and pronounced her name correctly, she was surprised and I told her I knew another Tahirih. She gave me 2 choices, Tahirih XXX or Tahirih YYY. Turns out they knew each other from the Baha'i faith.
I don't remember whether it was in talking to them or elsewhere (if elsewhere, I can't imagine where). But the impression I got was that whenever the Baha'i faith had a new leader, he basically defined or redefined the religion. So, one day you could believe one thing and then some new spiritual leader takes over, decides something else and you have to start following that. I suppose that's no different than the Pope or the Governing Body. But, I got the impression things tended to change more drastically from leader to leader in the Baha'i faith.
I also know they do a fast once a year that lasts several days. Just another tidbit.
By the way, both were very nice people. I caught no hint of extremism. They seemed peaceful.
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Carmel
jws,
Your impression of the Baha'i belief in the succession of one spiritual teacher after another is accurate as long as you apply it correctly. Certainly most Christians would agree that Jesus annuled some of the teachings of the Jews (Mosaic Law). For Muslims, Muhammed established new laws (social teachings), etc. So the succession of which you speak is a central theme of Baha'i belief that a new revelation begets new social law. It is termed "progressive revelation". For Baha'is, the revelation of Baha'u'llah is accepted as a furtherance of this concept.
carmel
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hooberus
hooberus, answer to your question, yes!
If you believe that Jesus was crucified then how can you accept Mohammad as a prophet since he taught that jesus was not crucified?
http://trisagionseraph.tripod.com/contradictions.html
Was Jesus Crucified?
The Koran
Was Jesus crucified in fact or in semblance? The Koran says, semblance: "And for their saying, 'Verily we have slain the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, an Apostle of God.' Yet they slew him not, and they crucified him not, but they had only his likeness. And they who differed about him were in doubt concerning him: No sure knowledge had they about him, but followed only an opinion, and they did not really slay him, but God took him up to Himself. And God is Mighty, Wise!" (Sura 4:156).
The Bible
The Bible says, fact. The Bible is quite convinced it was Jesus who died upon that cross, then rose again:
"Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole." (Acts 4:10);
"But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water." (John 19:33-34);
"I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." (Revelation 1:18);
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures..." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4);
"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it." (Acts 2:22-24);
"And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice...And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost." (Mark 16:34-37, Matthew 27:46-50).
This is not a negotiable issue for the Bible: "The other disciples therefore said to him, 'We have seen the Lord.' So he said to them, 'Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.' And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, 'Peace to you!' Then He said to Thomas, 'Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.' And Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!'" (John 20:25-28).
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Robdar
Carmel,
I used to work with a guy who converted from Bahai to Baptist. He took to fundamentalism like a fish to water, btw.
He one time told me that the Bahai believe that there should be inter-racial marriages. In fact, they were encouraged to intermarry in order to mix all races into one so that there will be no more hatred or prejudice. Is this true?
Thanks,
Rob
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Carmel
It is definately true that prejudice for any reason, be it racial or otherwise, is contrary to Baha'i teachings. Interracial marriage was specifically encouraged when Abdul'Baha visited America circa 1912, as a way for the races to become tolerant and accepting of one another. I would guess that the same principal would apply anywhere that racial intolerance is rife.
carmel
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Carmel
hooberus,
The answer is quite easy. Baha'is beleive that Jesus was crucified and agree with the more liberal Koranic scholars (Muslims) that see the text to mean that Jesus was killed but the "Christ" lived on and could not be destroyed. Once you separate the "station of Jesus" as the "Christ" from the physical reality, there is a consistant and logical theology.
carmel
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amac
Neon -
That's why I have such a problem with the postmodern maxim, "It's OK to believe that you're right, but it's wrong to believe that others are wrong."
The correct statement people should consider is "It's OK to believe that you're right, as long as you realize that it is simply your belief and not a fact."