The Bab

[BruceDLimber]

Greetings redux! :-)

Originally Posted by Postmaster

Most religious books were made after a prophets/Messiahs life; anyway, did they have authority to write sacred writings?

But this doesn't apply to the Baha'i Faith, whose scriptures are not only the most reliable of any religion's because we have the original manuscripts of every one (anything for which we don't isn't considered Baha'i scripture), but because these were either written by our Central Figures themselves or dictated and then approved after having been taken down by a secretary. (BTW, our scriptures amount to fully 200 volumes.)

And IOV, yes: They most assuredly did have Divine Authority to write these things down! In the case of 'Abdu'l-Baha, the third of these figures, Baha'u'llah so authorized him in writing (in one of these volumes); this explicit appointment of a successor/interpreter is a first in religious history.

Please feel free to read and evaluate them for yourself! You can find them at:

• Bahá'í Library Online (click "Baha'i Writings),
• Baha'i Reference Library (this site is multilingual), and
• The Bahá'í Study Center (this site also has videos and talking books).

Oh--and as to reincarnation, the eastern traditions may be largely later human additions given the general unreliability of the texts. In any case, not only does the Baha'i Faith explicitly reject reincarnation, but goes on to explain in detail why; you can see this at the sites above in 'Abdu'l-Baha's Some Answered Questions, where this topic occupies an entire chapter!

Best regards, and good hunting! :-)

Bruce

[Postmaster]

Oh--and as to reincarnation, the eastern traditions may be largely later human additions given the general unreliability of the texts. In any case, not only does the Baha'i Faith explicitly reject reincarnation, but goes on to explain in detail why; you can see this at the sites above in 'Abdu'l-Baha's Some Answered Questions, where this topic occupies an entire chapter!

Personally I'm convinced my soul will carry on in a next life and also hope for others. But I still do not ignore the possibility of reincarnation, I would say people have and do reincarnate. I do however believe that eventually this tradition will die out, the monotheist Abrahamic view of the after life is more dominant, attractive? Compared to eastern religion, also it’s probably Gods will for us to all return and spread this idea. But if one wishes to reincarnate that is a choice he has taken, his path, it can't be too bad as eastern religions tend to be more passive in teaching and practise.

[Mick]

Originally Posted by Postmaster

Personally I'm convinced my soul will carry on in a next life and also hope for others. But I still do not ignore the possibility of reincarnation, I would say people have and do reincarnate. I do however believe that eventually this tradition will die out, the monotheist Abrahamic view of the after life is more dominant, attractive? Compared to eastern religion, also it’s probably Gods will for us to all return and spread this idea. But if one wishes to reincarnate that is a choice he has taken, his path, it can't be too bad as eastern religions tend to be more passive in teaching and practise.

Please clarify for me. Are you saying we,as individuals, may chose whether we reincarnate or pass on? When do we make this decision? How do we make this decision? I have to admit, this statement fascinates me.

[Postmaster]

It’s a long shot, but as it was said before on this thread no one really knows what happens after death and is left to speculation. So I'am personally happy with the idea of both a paradise and reincarnation taking place after death, why not?? I can't really tell you when or how people choose. I guess that is left to the mysteries of God. But it’s clear it’s his will for us to go towards his presence after we die.

[Postmaster]

It seems to me the Baha'i awareness website has been suspended by the hosting company. Wonder why.

[arthra]

Originally Posted by Postmaster

It’s a long shot, but as it was said before on this thread no one really knows what happens after death and is left to speculation. So I'am personally happy with the idea of both a paradise and reincarnation taking place after death, why not?? I can't really tell you when or how people choose. I guess that is left to the mysteries of God. But it’s clear it’s his will for us to go towards his presence after we die.

For Baha'is life after death is emerging to a new plane(s) of existence or "world of God" and is as different from this world as this world is different from the world of the womb.

Here is a pretty fair selection of the Baha'i Writings on life after death:

http://bahai-library.com/index.php5?...wick_life_soul

- Art

[Postmaster]

What you quoted above could be Gods wish, aim and will. But reincarnation is regarded very seriously by a large part of the worlds population. Would it be sinfull to recognise what they consider important? Or would it be a sinfull in supressing such idea? I would say both but the latter is more sinful. Or do billions of people have a wrong view of the afterlife, which in my view is tragic. We should be firm but aloof just as God is with us.

[arthra]

Hello my good friend Postmaster!

Well just so you know that Baha'is do not accept reincarnation that will have to suffice for now...

Here is a reference:

'The Bahá'í view of 'reincarnation' is essentially different from the Hindu conception. The Bahá'ís believe in the return of the attributes and qualities, but maintain that the essence or the reality of things cannot be made to return. Every being keeps its own individuality, but some of his qualities can be transmitted. The doctrine of metempsychosis upheld by the Hindus is fallacious.'

- Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Baha'i Faith

(From a letter to an individual believer, March 27, 1938)

Sincerely,

- Art

[Popeyesays]

When the Baha`i writings clearly say something it can't be right to soft-pedal it, just to gain converts who when they learned what was being hidden from them would simply drop out anyway.

Besides the fastest growing Baha`i population is India where belief in reincarnation is widely accepted. The growth rate has been over 100,000 each year to the point there are 2,000,000 Indian Baha`i's right now.

Regards,
Scott

[Postmaster]

Like I pointed out such a system of rebirth on earth again after already living a previous life and only a very limited part of your remaining could be a system which happens, science can't explain it its a mystical one at the moment. But one of which lacks a certain type love, personally I can't imagine never seeing my family or friends again or even losing my sense of self. Maybe it's this desire I have that will grant me what I want.

[Mick]

Originally Posted by Postmaster

Like I pointed out such a system of rebirth on earth again after already living a previous life and only a very limited part of your remaining could be a system which happens, science can't explain it its a mystical one at the moment. But one of which lacks a certain type love, personally I can't imagine never seeing my family or friends again or even losing my sense of self. Maybe it's this desire I have that will grant me what I want.

As I asked you in message #78, are you suggesting that God simply is giving us a choice in what comes next? Such as...

when you die you may choose one of the following:

1. Go to Heaven
2. Go to Nirvana
3. Continue the spiritual journey we are on.
4. Reincarnate
5. Nothing
6. (per your above suggestion) Do what you may desire.

What an unusual concept of God's Directions. You are suggesting that God just wants us to be comfortable so we can simply pick and choose whatever we want when it comes to His laws and commandants.

Simply put, what you want or can conceive may have little meaning when compared to the Word of God. Same goes for me. It is our duty to search for the Truths of God and then to incorporate them into our lives and belief system. Baha'is do not suggest that all the Religions incorporate all truth. That can confuse the issue if people perceive this. We are saying that all the Religions have a basis of truth, and within the belief system, one may find Truths of God. Simply because millions of people conceive reincarnation as a truth does not make it a Truth of God.

We use a standard that is simple and I offer it to you, Postmaster.

"If it is logical, then it is of God. If it is illogical, then it is of man."

As I read your statements and questions, I would suggest that if you applied this standard to many of them before you posted, many of your posts simply wouldn't have been made.

warmly,

Mick

[Postmaster]

But I don’t want to suppress someone else’s views, especially if they are important and not causing anyone else harm.

[Mick]

Originally Posted by Postmaster

But I don’t want to suppress someone else’s views, especially if they are fundamental, important and not causing anyone else harm. And it still won’t stop me from trying to convince people that we carry on to a next life in heaven and is the right way.

We can do what we choose though, we are given the option of doing wrong or right, we can be the cause of great love or the cause of great destruction and pain. We all have that ability to do what we choose. You can impose it must come from intuition.

I agree with you with qualifications, but that isn't answering the question I asked you? In fact, you have went to a totally different topic. The question I was asking you concerned what happens after our body dies and I repeated what it seemed you were saying, twice. I then asked you if that was what you were trying to get across. Sometimes I find your posts to be a little spiraling and difficult for me to follow. I am only asking here for clarification. Are you suggesting that at the time of death we have a choice, similar to the one I described in the above post?

Forever wondering,

Mick

[Postmaster]

My replies can go off course if I don’t understand your question so sorry.

Yeah I think we do have a choice of what the out come of our life will be. And I think sometimes we might not. I think ancestral past (heritage), virtue, ambitions could all be factors of what the outcome of someone’s life could be in the after life. I do think its a very just system though. Who knows!

[Popeyesays]

Originally Posted by Postmaster

Like I pointed out such a system of rebirth on earth again after already living a previous life and only a very limited part of your remaining could be a system which happens, science can't explain it its a mystical one at the moment. But one of which lacks a certain type love, personally I can't imagine never seeing my family or friends again or even losing my sense of self. Maybe it's this desire I have that will grant me what I want.

I don't believe we would have individual souls if we were going to lose our sense of self. I do think our perception of everything will change-including our perception of self. Yes, I do believe we will be in the presence of our loved ones.

Regards,
Scott