Two Baha’i publications have won awards from the Religion Communicators Council (RCC), an interfaith association at work in print and electronic communication, marketing, and public relations.
Brilliant Star, a magazine for children and junior youth published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States, won an Award of Excellence — and a Best of Class Award — in the category for national magazines.
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The caption on this magazines just cracks me up. I didn’t know anything about Bahá’í beliefs so I looked this up.
The Bahá’í religion may be unique in the way that it accepts all other faiths as true and valid. Bahá’ís accept the divine nature of the missions of Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, the Buddha, Jesus and the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). They believe each one was a further stage in the revelation of God. Other prophets and Manifestations are also accepted.
That’s a pretty good definition of syncretism.
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Yes, or Indifferentism. Seems to be the same thing, or at least a close cousin.
Yes, or Indifferentism, syncretism’s close cousin.
Oops, sorry!
When my son went through confirmation in the Methodist Church, our Pastor took us on a tour of temples in Chicago. We went to the Baha’i temple and spoke with them for awhile. The whole Baha’i religion creeps me out, as did their Mosque-looking temple.
They said that Moses and Jesus were just a valid as Mohammed and whoever their own fellow is. I asked them how many of the prophets they believed in had been crucified for what they believed in… our guide didn’t know.
and a great definition of malarkey.
I have a close friend who is a Baha’i. The religion is not syncretistic. What they do with other religions is more like what the New Agers do with Jesus, or the Bhudda. “Yes Jesus was a relevation of the Devine, which was perfected and completed by Abdullah Baha.” In other words, they subsume all other religions into theirs by making Baha’i the evolutionary apex of all religion, or what DeChardin would have called the Cosmic Christ. Their contention is that their prophet, Abdullah Baha, is really what the early Christians meant by the Second Coming, as well as the Moslem Last Prophet of Allah, etc, etc.
Baha’i was founded by Abdullah Baha in southern Iran during the 19th century. It promises peace on earth after man sheds himself of all racial and ethnic bigotry and prejudice. Abdullah Baha was of course not appreciated by the Islamic powers in Iran or the Ottoman Empire. He was imprisoned and tortured in Jerusalem, where the Baha’is have built a huge temple and retreat house near the Mount of Olives. Periodically, the Iranis will hold a progrom and kill dozens or hundreds of Baha’is, most recently during the Iran-Iraq war.
My overall impression is that Baha’is are a pathetic lot, whose founder, in spite of his prolific writings (thousands and thousands of pages) never actually made any sense in a philosophical way. His only argument is from authority (this is true because I said so), much like a Hindu Guru.
Seals and Crofts are Baha’i. Their songs include “Summer Breze” “Diamond Girl” and “We May Never Pass This Way Again”.
Eutychus Fell I asked them how many of the prophets they believed in had been crucified for what they believed in… our guide didn’t know.
So you are saying that a �prophet� is only worth listening to if someone eventually crucified them?
Was Moses crucified?
Dan Baker: Baha’i was founded by Abdullah Baha � It promises peace on earth after man sheds himself of all racial and ethnic bigotry and prejudice.
How is that inconsistent with Christianity?
Dan Baker: His [Abdullah Baha�s] only argument is from authority (this is true because I said so).
A lot of people would say that the same is true for Christianity.
In other words, This is true because the Bible says so.
You aren�t throwing stones at a glass house by any chance?
� and for the record, I am not a Baha’i.
Serpent,
Where did you get the idea I was “throwing stones” at Baha’ism? I was explaining an unfamiliar, third-tier religion for people who were obviously unfamiliar with it. In fact, I was defending it from charges of Syncretism.
Dan Baker: Baha’i was founded by Abdullah Baha � It promises peace on earth after man sheds himself of all racial and ethnic bigotry and prejudice.
The Serpent:How is that inconsistent with Christianity?
Christianity promises heavenly peace and eternal joy for those who repent of their sins and seek the forgiveness of Christ, Who has already borne the punishment we deserve for our sins. Bigotry and prejudice are not even really sins in the Christian understanding. Rather they are near occasions of sin. Eliminating both will not make the world one bit more paradaisical, so long as fallen humans run the place.
Regarding argument from authority, The fact that some make this argument does not mean the Christianity has no other arguments. For further on this line, see Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica. If a man is going to write dozens of books with a theological basis about how people should behave, at least he could throw in some reasoning.
The Bahai temple in Chicago (actually, I think it’s in Wilmette, on Sheridan Rd.) is one of those things you have to see if you are in the area. Strange, but interesting. Sort of one of the architectural wonders/curiosities of the United States. Like the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD…..)
Dan Baker: Where did you get the idea I was “throwing stones” at Baha’ism?
I apologize if you feel that I mischaracterized your views Mr. Baker. That certainly was not my intention.
Dan Baker: [Baha’I inconsistent with Christianity?] Christianity promises heavenly peace and eternal joy for those who repent of their sins and seek the forgiveness of Christ, Who has already borne the punishment we deserve for our sins.
So someone else is paying the price for my sins?
That would seem to be inconsistent with the notion of personal responsibility for one�s own actions, which would seem to be a fundamentally anti-Christian stance in my assessment.
Are you responsible for the crimes of your father?
Dan Baker: Bigotry and prejudice are not even really sins in the Christian understanding.
Do you consider Bigotry and Prejudice sins Mr. Baker?
Do you think Jesus would have run around calling black people �Niggers�?
Dan Baker: Rather they are near occasions of sin. Eliminating both will not make the world one bit more paradaisical, so long as fallen humans run the place.
Perhaps one of the traits of �fallen humans� is unwarranted prejudice and unfounded bigotry?
Dan Baker: Regarding argument from authority, The fact that some make this argument does not mean the Christianity has no other arguments. For further on this line, see Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica.
I am very familiar with Aquinas, but I would argue that Aquinas is not equal to Christianity.
Christianity is based on the New Testament of the Bible. Without that text there would be no Christianity � would there? I would also argue that since there are elements of Christianity which cannot be independently and objectively verified that the devotee ultimately must rely on Faith that the Authority of the Christian church speaks Truthfully and accurately.
If I assert that the Moon orbits the Earth you can independently test this �theory� and verify the results for yourself with your own observations.
Conversely if you assert that Jesus Christ was the only son of God, there is no way for me to independently verify this fact. There is no test I can perform or observation I can make to even confirm that Jesus Christ was any more real than Robin Hood, or King Arthur.
Dan Baker: If a man is going to write dozens of books with a theological basis about how people should behave, at least he could throw in some reasoning.
I couldn�t agree more.
Bahaism is a lie which author is a father of lying-satan. Unfortunately many people have already been deceived by it.Jesus Christ is THE ONLY Truth and Way. He is the only who gives a true peace and freedom