Many people have asked me, "What's your religion?" I answer, "I'm a baha'i?" "What's that?" they ask.
If you have that same question, or you're just curious here are the basics.
A Baha'i believes in the Unity of Mankind, Religion, and God. We believe that all religions is from the same God, and we learn something from every messenger beforehand, and whenever mankind needs guidance, God sends a Manifestation to remind Man of God (examples of Manifestations are Moses, Buddha, Christ, Muhammad, and Baha'u'llah). baha'u'llah is the founder of the Baha'i Faith, and we believe he is the Promised One of All Ages (known to many as the Messiah, or the Return of Christ). I can't give a perfect history of the Baha'i Faith, but if you want to know more about the Baha'i Faith, click this link: http://info.bahai.org/
Please reply if you have questions or responses
Last edited by Dallsiph on Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
GetBert wrote:I had a teacher who was Baha'i, nice enough chap. Isn't it illegal/persecuted in some countries?
It's persecuted in Iran, because they do not allow any religions besides Shiite Islam. It's also slightly persecuted or frowned upon in other Muslim countries, but I don't exactly know why. It doesn't have anything that threatens anything, or illegal in the Baha'i Faith.
Lord-General Drache wrote:Are you just going to continue to spout things without ever giving reliable data to support it when asked?
Probably.
All Boredom wrote:actually i know someone who lived in alaska for a while and she tells me that most eskimos are actually pretty mean. dirty eskimos, you deserve what you get!
KiloMikeAlpha wrote:Umm hmm.... mind if I siggy that as a reminder to those who think that it is cool to shove their bat-shit crazy atheist beliefs on those of us who actually have a clue?
Even a man who has nothing can still offer his life. Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori Obliti privatorum, publica curate In civitate libera linguam mentemque liberas esse debere
There is no inherent worth in life. We may be valuable to ourselves, our friends and family, but assuming that life is somehow valuable in a world overflowing with it is simply foolish.
New Kereptica wrote:How does Baha'i explain polytheistic religions?
What do you mean by "explain"?
Well, you said the Baha'i claims that "all religions is from the same God". How does Baha'i explain the many, many religions that have more than one god?
Lord-General Drache wrote:Are you just going to continue to spout things without ever giving reliable data to support it when asked?
Probably.
All Boredom wrote:actually i know someone who lived in alaska for a while and she tells me that most eskimos are actually pretty mean. dirty eskimos, you deserve what you get!
KiloMikeAlpha wrote:Umm hmm.... mind if I siggy that as a reminder to those who think that it is cool to shove their bat-shit crazy atheist beliefs on those of us who actually have a clue?
Conserative Morality wrote:Why is this god making his followers fight amongst each other, then?
He doesn't. Mankind does. It's Mankind's interpretation of religion that makes them fight. God never said anything about fighting other religions. That was mankind who did that. In fact, we believe God is trying to tell mankind to stop fighting, and see each other as one human family.
Dallsiph wrote:He doesn't. Mankind does. It's Mankind's interpretation of religion that makes them fight. God never said anything about fighting other religions. That was mankind who did that. In fact, we believe God is trying to tell mankind to stop fighting, and see each other as one human family.
If that's so, the god you worship is powerless or non-existent if he can't even keep his own holy texts from being corrupted by mankind. Which are, as we know, the basis for most major religions. Either that or he actually doesn't care, despite claims to the contrary.
Even a man who has nothing can still offer his life. Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori Obliti privatorum, publica curate In civitate libera linguam mentemque liberas esse debere
There is no inherent worth in life. We may be valuable to ourselves, our friends and family, but assuming that life is somehow valuable in a world overflowing with it is simply foolish.
New Kereptica wrote:How does Baha'i explain polytheistic religions?
What do you mean by "explain"?
Well, you said the Baha'i claims that "all religions is from the same God". How does Baha'i explain the many, many religions that have more than one god?
I'm not positive about all, but we do see Hinduism as a religion. i guess if it has a moral center we believe it's a religion, but I am not sure. I guess you should look it up. I'll try to get an answer to you about that if you can't find out. The website I posted might have an answer. Start looking there
Dallsiph wrote:He doesn't. Mankind does. It's Mankind's interpretation of religion that makes them fight. God never said anything about fighting other religions. That was mankind who did that. In fact, we believe God is trying to tell mankind to stop fighting, and see each other as one human family.
If that's so, the god you worship is powerless or non-existent if he can't even keep his own holy texts from being corrupted by mankind. Which are, as we know, the basis for most major religions. Either that or he actually doesn't care, despite claims to the contrary.
We have a holy text, and our faith's teachings cannot be contradicted so easily. Before Baha'u'llah passed away, he put the power of the Faith to his son, Abdul Baha, the perfect interpreter of his texts. After that, it was put in the power of Abdul Baha's grandson, Shoghi Effendi. After that, the Universal house of Justice (that you can look up).
Dallsiph wrote:We have a holy text, and our faith's teachings cannot be contradicted so easily. Before Baha'u'llah passed away, he put the power of the Faith to his son, Abdul Baha, the perfect interpreter of his texts. After that, it was put in the power of Abdul Baha's grandson, Shoghi Effendi. After that, the Universal house of Justice (that you can look up).
Actually, they can, and have been, for thousands of years. Mankind is killing each other in the name of their religions, and holy texts. And your god hasn't been doing much, if anything, to stop it, assuming he exists.
Even a man who has nothing can still offer his life. Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori Obliti privatorum, publica curate In civitate libera linguam mentemque liberas esse debere
There is no inherent worth in life. We may be valuable to ourselves, our friends and family, but assuming that life is somehow valuable in a world overflowing with it is simply foolish.
Was it ever so prominent that it was considered a major religion, like Christianity and Islam are considered today?
When did it first form, and who was at the head of it?
EDIT: Sorry if that's a tad much to put on your plate, you don't have to answer all three if you wish to respond to others. They were just the first three that came to mind.
Last edited by Rhodmhire on Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:40 am, edited 1 time in total.
As the petal falls A helot to its own weight Let it kiss the wind
GetBert wrote:I had a teacher who was Baha'i, nice enough chap. Isn't it illegal/persecuted in some countries?
It's persecuted in Iran, because they do not allow any religions besides Shiite Islam. It's also slightly persecuted or frowned upon in other Muslim countries, but I don't exactly know why. It doesn't have anything that threatens anything, or illegal in the Baha'i Faith.
Actually they allow other religions... just not yours
Capital: Avignon Leader: King Henri IV Territories of Hobit: Lower Weston Independent Dependencies: Veyska Economic Left/Right: -2.75 Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -1.23
Even a man who has nothing can still offer his life. Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori Obliti privatorum, publica curate In civitate libera linguam mentemque liberas esse debere
There is no inherent worth in life. We may be valuable to ourselves, our friends and family, but assuming that life is somehow valuable in a world overflowing with it is simply foolish.
Rhodmhire wrote:How prominent is it in modern society?
Was it ever so prominent that it was considered a major religion, like Christianity and Islam are considered today?
When did it first form, and who was at the head of it?
Our numbers are not so high, but it is the 2nd most widespread religion in the world (members in every country). The Baha'i was founded in 1863, so it's just beginning. Baha'u'llah (means Glory of God) was the founder of the Baha'i Faith, who we believe is the Promised One of All Ages. He founded it in 1863 after he was exiled for following the Bab, who was to prepare mankind for the Promised One. Did I answer your question?
Last edited by Dallsiph on Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
Rhodmhire wrote:How prominent is it in modern society?
Was it ever so prominent that it was considered a major religion, like Christianity and Islam are considered today?
When did it first form, and who was at the head of it?
Our numbers are not so high, but it is the 2nd most widespread religion in the world (members in every country). The Baha'i was founded in 1863, so it's just beginning. Baha'u'llah (means Glory of God) was the founder of the Baha'i Faith, who we believe is the Promised One of All Ages. He founded it in 1863 after he was exiled for following the Bab, who was to prepare mankind for the Promised One. Did I answer your question?
Yes you did.
As the petal falls A helot to its own weight Let it kiss the wind
GetBert wrote:I had a teacher who was Baha'i, nice enough chap. Isn't it illegal/persecuted in some countries?
It's persecuted in Iran, because they do not allow any religions besides Shiite Islam. It's also slightly persecuted or frowned upon in other Muslim countries, but I don't exactly know why. It doesn't have anything that threatens anything, or illegal in the Baha'i Faith.
Actually they allow other religions... just not yours
GetBert wrote:I had a teacher who was Baha'i, nice enough chap. Isn't it illegal/persecuted in some countries?
It's persecuted in Iran, because they do not allow any religions besides Shiite Islam. It's also slightly persecuted or frowned upon in other Muslim countries, but I don't exactly know why. It doesn't have anything that threatens anything, or illegal in the Baha'i Faith.
Actually they allow other religions... just not yours
And atheism, though it isn't a religion.
Well, that depends on whether you believe that athiesm is completely true or not.
Lord-General Drache wrote:Are you just going to continue to spout things without ever giving reliable data to support it when asked?
Probably.
All Boredom wrote:actually i know someone who lived in alaska for a while and she tells me that most eskimos are actually pretty mean. dirty eskimos, you deserve what you get!
KiloMikeAlpha wrote:Umm hmm.... mind if I siggy that as a reminder to those who think that it is cool to shove their bat-shit crazy atheist beliefs on those of us who actually have a clue?
GetBert wrote:I had a teacher who was Baha'i, nice enough chap. Isn't it illegal/persecuted in some countries?
It's persecuted in Iran, because they do not allow any religions besides Shiite Islam. It's also slightly persecuted or frowned upon in other Muslim countries, but I don't exactly know why. It doesn't have anything that threatens anything, or illegal in the Baha'i Faith.
Actually they allow other religions... just not yours
And atheism, though it isn't a religion.
Well, that depends on whether you believe that athiesm is completely true or not.
