should I stay or should I go?

[Dawud]

Originally Posted by Alex P

I don't.

At least it's a little bit organized that way. It can be hard to keep track of everything... I don't try to keep track of everything... not in every forum anyway. I do stay on top of this one

[Dawud]

Originally Posted by Faithfulservant

I feel your pain.. lol

Because I cant go "home" ... for awhile (Christianity forum being my home.)

I just take a break from CR completely. I find myself getting upset by all the attacks on my faith pretty easily so I usually handle it a month before I have to leave.. If I dont leave I usually get myself in trouble by attacking back

You can make the Baha'i forum your home and talk about Christianity here if you like.

[Dawud]

Originally Posted by Ciel

Dawud,

I always appreciate your posts. You bring gentleness and humility.
Please feel free to float your feathered wings in freedom of being and rise in positive aspiration knowing you have every right to speak your truth.

love - c -

Thank you so much!

I would reply to everyone, but I'd pretty much say the same thing. Thanks!

[Dream]

Hello, Dawud! I just found your thread and remember my question to you in many paths to the city; one location. The reason I haven't started a new thread in the Baha'i section to discuss my question is I'm not a great student, so I've got no ability to discuss the Baha'i beliefs except with regards to how Christianity would view them. As for the prophletic who started the thread, I don't agree with his approach to conversation.

[Dawud]

Originally Posted by Dream

Hello, Dawud! I just found your thread and remember my question to you in many paths to the city; one location. The reason I haven't started a new thread in the Baha'i section to discuss my question is I'm not a great student, so I've got no ability to discuss the Baha'i beliefs except with regards to how Christianity would view them. As for the prophletic who started the thread, I don't agree with his approach to conversation.

Hi Dream! Are you willing to continue the conversation here?

Originally Posted by Dream

My way or the Baha'i way?

For the last century or so many people have said religion is a neurotic self medicating activity -- like an addiction sort of. To them religion is a vine parasite which has weakened, yet somehow upheld the humanity tree in symbiosis. Others have always said it is a destructive meme. All of these new religions have surprised me: Baha'i, Neopagan, & Theosophist. They all have a world peace ethic in common, however their sudden appearance leaves me with a strange feeling. I do not count them all as the same thing -- its just I heard about them all at once, so tend to associate them with each other. Its like meeting a room full of people at once, then remembering their names and family histories.

So Baha'i's are interested in world peace, democracy, peace, etc. That's nice. What other reasons are there to believe in Baha'U'llah ? I know he attempts to meet several humanistic needs, thus appealing to the tempest tossed yearning to breathe free. That's all well and good for the easy-going types. What about the geek and well-meaning anal-retentive? What about me?

I'm not sure how you define geek, so I'm not sure how to answer that. Is a geek someone who reads a lot? I read a lot and there a lots of things to read as a Baha'i. The Baha'i Faith isn't just for one kind of personality, there's something for everyone. Baha'is are a very diverse group when it comes to personalities, and also a very diverse group when it comes to ethnicity and nationality. We come from many backgrounds, every religious background you can think of. I think I could help you more if I knew more about what you're looking for. The Baha'i Faith is both very mystical and very intellectual. You can be a mystic and find a lot of mysticism in the Writings of Baha'u'llah. You can also be very intellectual like me and find a lot of deep thinking in the Writing of Baha'u'llah.

[Dream]

Ok, I'm not a true geek, because I daydream rather than read a lot and am more of a religion escape artist than a religionist. Mysticism doesn't have much attraction for me, however I believe in God and admit God's plan is good. Some of the comparative reading I've done here has been helpful, however everything that is outside of my focus is only gathered ecclectically. I prayed and began to understand Scripture and must continue to focus on it. I can ask some respectful questions about Baha'is, however there are only so many things that I can think about at one time.

Originally Posted by Ecclesiastes 1:4-11

4-7 Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again.

8-9 All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

10-11 Is there anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow.

[17th Angel]

Originally Posted by Dawud

At least it's a little bit organized that way. It can be hard to keep track of everything... I don't try to keep track of everything... not in every forum anyway. I do stay on top of this one

Granted organisation, that be good.. But restricting others to enter certain areas because they don't match up to the criteria... Dunno, that bothers me. Say you want to learn about another religion if you make it so the abc's can only go in here and the def's can't, that be no good

Don't get meh wrong I like the idea of sub sections for faith, just not the idea that those that are not of that faith aren't welcome in their threads. :|

[arthra]

To me the reason for the different forums is that it allows anyone to ask questions of a given religion but not to use the forum for their own agenda say to promote their own religion.. there are still say comparative religion areas where people of various religions can compare and contrast..but ask Brian as he is the adminiostrator.

- Art

[Dream]

Originally Posted by Alex

Granted organisation, that be good.. But restricting others to enter certain areas because they don't match up to the criteria... Dunno, that bothers me.

You'd effectively be banning Alex. Lots of other people too, and then the forum wouldn't be a forum.

[path_of_one]

That's my interpretation of the walled garden approach too, Art. It isn't that a non-Jew, for example, can't go to the Jewish section. Rather, a non-Jew can't go to the Jewish section and then go on and on about Christianity or attack Judaism.

The walled gardens are for respectful questions and discussion of concepts of a particular religion. Not for attacking that religion. Not for trying to sway people from that religion to your own. Etc. A problem I see is that lately this happens a lot on the Christian forum. Why, I do not know. I guess people are just contentious and they figure Christians are a good target.

So Alex, you're welcome in any forum. We're just trying to prevent a free-for-all attack and convert agenda in people who would otherwise have at it.

[17th Angel]

Originally Posted by Dream

You'd effectively be banning Alex.

lol that thought brought a smile to ya face didn't it

Originally Posted by path_of_one

So Alex, you're welcome in any forum. We're just trying to prevent a free-for-all attack and convert agenda in people who would otherwise have at it.

Aw thanks, I like to have me fingers in many pies. But Just one quick thought to ponder upon... Do we not within the same faith see attacks on same faith and convert attempts on same faith... *nods towards the christian forum while attempting to make it out to just be a twitch.*

[Dawud]

Originally Posted by Dream

Ok, I'm not a true geek, because I daydream rather than read a lot and am more of a religion escape artist than a religionist. Mysticism doesn't have much attraction for me, however I believe in God and admit God's plan is good. Some of the comparative reading I've done here has been helpful, however everything that is outside of my focus is only gathered ecclectically. I prayed and began to understand Scripture and must continue to focus on it. I can ask some respectful questions about Baha'is, however there are only so many things that I can think about at one time.

I like the quote from Ecclesiastes you posted, but when I quoted you, it only quoted what you wrote. Daydreaming is totally fine, and night dreams are great. Do you remember your dreams at night? Last night I had a really good dream, I was sitting and holding someone in my arms. Maybe she was sleeping, I've dreamed she's been asleep before. In fact, I was shown her sleeping in a cabinet one time... hehe.. in a dream of course. Anyway, I encourage you to continue to pray and dream. Keep praying and keep dreaming. I welcome any questions you may have about the Baha'i Faith and I'll answer to the best of my ability.

[Dawud]

Originally Posted by Alex P

Granted organisation, that be good.. But restricting others to enter certain areas because they don't match up to the criteria... Dunno, that bothers me. Say you want to learn about another religion if you make it so the abc's can only go in here and the def's can't, that be no good

Don't get meh wrong I like the idea of sub sections for faith, just not the idea that those that are not of that faith aren't welcome in their threads. :|

You're welcome here. Don't worry about not being a Baha'i. Baha'i Temples are nine-sided for the very purpose of welcoming everyone... nine gates, nine doors... which reminds me there's a Hindu scripture talking about a city with nine gates....a city that may refer to the Baha'i Faith in my opinion. You're welcome here, Alex, no matter your beliefs.

[Dawud]

Originally Posted by arthra

To me the reason for the different forums is that it allows anyone to ask questions of a given religion but not to use the forum for their own agenda say to promote their own religion.. there are still say comparative religion areas where people of various religions can compare and contrast..but ask Brian as he is the adminiostrator.

- Art

Sometimes in another forum I say we can move the conversation into the Baha'i forum... so we can talk about the Baha'i Faith in the Baha'i forum. I go into other forums a lot, but easily lose track of the many, many topics in the whole of CR.

[Dawud]

Originally Posted by Dream

You'd effectively be banning Alex. Lots of other people too, and then the forum wouldn't be a forum.

It is an interfaith forum after all. The walls are more like, um, bushes.... with lots of space to walk through.