Existentialism

[Postmaster]

Yeah I understand your point but to me existentialism is a generic word and can be used to describe anything. Isn't the Independent investigation of truth what leads people to the Baha'i faith in the first place? And isn't this made possible made by the freedoms found in western politics?

[Postmaster]

By the way I'm not patronising the Baha'i faith I'm in favor of it, I'm only seeking dialogue.

[arthra]

Isn't the Independent investigation of truth what leads people to the Baha'i faith in the first place? And isn't this made possible made by the freedoms found in western politics..

I think independent investigation is compatible with many freedoms people have in Western countries.. but you'll undertsand that it goes deeper than that.. rather than looking on the situation as maybe East versus West.. We would stress maybe it is a natural and human right and it isn't necessarily restricted to Western countries..

The "politics" of the West could be even more removed from our Baha'i principles.

- Art

[Postmaster]

true true I agree.. The Baha'i faith is a divine religion.

[Netti-Netti]

The starting point for an existential response to the human condition is the here and now. Heidegger's term Befindlichkeit covers it. We orient ourselves to this place and time.

This present circumstance. which is the point of departure. If we genuinely wish to hear the Truth, then we know we are being called to respond to this world of "negation and falsehood" and the challenge of transcending our own nature, which is subject to the "defilements of earthly vanities."

Arguably, the act of turning toward G-d and the decision to obey is the most fundamental existential choice. The choice is made in passionate commitment, which is substantially different from intellectual assent to ideology. In fact, ideology is thought to comprise "grievous veils" that must be eliminated in order to gain true knowledge:

We have driven from the human heart all else but Him Who is the Desire of the world, and glory therein. We cleave to no knowledge but His Knowledge, and set our hearts on naught save the effulgent glories of His light.

~Baha'u'llah, Kitab-i-Iqan
Kitab-i-Iqan (Book of Certitude)

[Postmaster]

that really is amazing stuff.

[Netti-Netti]

The concept of Shelter is very common in Baha'u'llah's writings. I did a search on the online texts and it came up hundreds of times.

I ask because a key existential concept is Heidegger's "throwness" (Geworfenheit), which I see as the absence of a shelter amidst chaos of environmental complexities that we can't account for and don't really understand. When he is talking about Shelter, it's as though Baha'u'llah is talking about uncovering a divine organization underlying the chaos.

[Postmaster]

Nice find netti thats interesting.