A Question Regarding Unity

['Amir Alzzalam]

I have a question regarding the Baha'i faith. Its goal (I think), as stated in another thread, is to recognize the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people/religions.

My question then is; How would a Bahá'í reconcile Satanism, Luciferianism, and Left Hand Path beliefs in general?

 

[Aupmanyav]

Or Hinduism with its multiple deities and Buddhism with none to worship?
I suppose we will have to change our views for the fear of Bahai militia.

 

[RJM]

The problem can be false equivalence: I eat apples, you also eat apples = we're the same?

 

['Amir Alzzalam]

The problem can be false equivalence: I eat apples, you also eat apples = we're the same?

Meaning?

 

[RJM]

Meaning?

Jesus had a beard, Baha'u'llah had a beard, therefore Baha'u'llah = Jesus

 

[Aupmanyav]

Krishna Buddha did not have beards. They are the odd-one's in the company of Zoroaster, Moses, Jesus, Mohammad, Bahaollah, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and the umpteen prophets.
So, perhaps the difference between monotheists and others boils down to whether those who propagated them kept a beard or not.

 

[Cino]

My question then is; How would a Bahá'í reconcile Satanism, Luciferianism, and Left Hand Path beliefs in general?

That's a valid question.

 

['Amir Alzzalam]

Krishna Buddha did not have beards. They are the odd-one's in the company of Zoroaster, Moses, Jesus, Mohammad, Bahaollah, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and the umpteen prophets.
So, perhaps the difference between monotheists and others boils down to whether those who propagated them kept a beard or not.

More like if Krishna is the only God without a beard, then perhaps He is not really a God

 

[arthra]

I have a question regarding the Baha'i faith. Its goal (I think), as stated in another thread, is to recognize the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people/religions.

My question then is; How would a Bahá'í reconcile Satanism, Luciferianism, and Left Hand Path beliefs in general?

Thanks for your question 'Amir...

Regarding your question....

On Satanism:

The reality underlying this question is that the evil spirit, Satan or whatever is interpreted as evil, refers to the lower nature in man. This baser nature is symbolized in various ways. In man there are two expressions, one is the expression of nature, the other the expression of the spiritual realm. The world of nature is defective. Look at it clearly, casting aside all superstition and imagination. .... God has never created an evil spirit; all such ideas and nomenclature are symbols expressing the mere human or earthly nature of man. It is an essential condition of the soil of earth that thorns, weeds and fruitless trees may grow from it. Relatively speaking, this is evil; it is simply the lower state and baser product of nature.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, p. 77

 

[arthra]

Regarding Left Hand Path beliefs in general?

I quote from the Universal House of Justice:

The House of Justice affirms that the influence of these supernatural phenomena is dependent on the conviction, even on a subconscious level, that other people can influence a person's mind, and it attests that it is within the power of the individual to free himself from subjugation to these forces. By deepening themselves in the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, Bahá’ís will come to recognize the lack of any true reality in such negative forces. Furthermore, Spiritual Assemblies are called upon gradually to wean the believers away from the illusions and practices that are potentially destructive to their spiritual and material well-being, by encouraging them to avoid involvement in such practices and by deepening their trust in the protective power of the Bahá’í Faith.

The Universal House of Justice, 1998 Dec 16

 

[arthra]

Or Hinduism with its multiple deities and Buddhism with none to worship?

Thanks for your question Aupmanyav

Regarding Hinduism...

I quote from an article by Tom Tai-Seale:

"To be sure there are representations of many gods in Hinduism, but is it fair to speak of modern Hinduism as polytheistic? The Hindu God Brahman of the Vedas is, like the God of the Semitic religions, depicted as high above us. The Vedas say: “Brahman is He Whom speech cannot express, and from Whom the mind, unable to reach Him, comes away baffled.” And yet the Hindu scriptures say He is in the heart of all, essentially no different than the monotheistic God of Judaism, Christianity and Islam."

https://bahaiteachings.org/how-bahais-view-hindus-krishna-and-monotheism/

 

['Amir Alzzalam]

Thanks for your question 'Amir...

Regarding your question....

On Satanism:

The reality underlying this question is that the evil spirit, Satan or whatever is interpreted as evil, refers to the lower nature in man. This baser nature is symbolized in various ways. In man there are two expressions, one is the expression of nature, the other the expression of the spiritual realm. The world of nature is defective. Look at it clearly, casting aside all superstition and imagination. .... God has never created an evil spirit; all such ideas and nomenclature are symbols expressing the mere human or earthly nature of man. It is an essential condition of the soil of earth that thorns, weeds and fruitless trees may grow from it. Relatively speaking, this is evil; it is simply the lower state and baser product of nature.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, p. 77

This is not Satanism, this is Abrahamism.

Satanism represents rebellious individuality and non-conformity, a process of externalizing your True-Self. A celebration rather than a condemnation of his humanity, a seemingly non-stop lust for imagination, exploration, and creativity. Satan, whether an archetype or a corporeal being, is seen as an exemplary model of the human condition. Satanism is a self-liberating philosophy that teaches you to embrace the carnal parts of yourself that you have been taught to be ashamed of. To carve your own path by your own Will instead of servitude. To find the truth that isn't always beautiful.

 

[arthra]

Regarding Buddhism:

From an article by Sam Karvonen:

It is all too easy to pinpoint the obvious differences between the modern practices of Buddhism and the Baha’i Faith. But it isn’t all that difficult to draw profound parallels either. After all, Abdu’l-Baha described the Buddha as “the cause of the illumination of the world of humanity”, and for the Baha’is, Buddha was nothing less than an earlier Messenger of God — a notion that will not be quite as easily swallowed by your average Buddhist monk.

Yet it turns out that one can even draw parallels between the lives of these two Manifestations of God. Both the Buddha and Baha’u’llah came from families of nobility, and were guaranteed positions of wealth and power in the societies in which They lived, but Both forfeited the ‘good life’ in order to be among the poor and to share with others Their higher calling.

But there’s more. No two bodies of scripture emphasize detachment from the impermanent as much as the Pali Canon (an ancient collection of suttas or ‘discourses’ attributed to the Buddha) and the Writings of Baha’u’llah.

Thus shall ye think of this fleeting world; a star at dawn, a bubble in a stream, a flash of lightning in a summer cloud, a flickering lamp, a phantom, and a dream.

– The Buddha Gautama, Diamond Sutta

Live then the days of thy life, that are less than a fleeting moment, with thy mind stainless, thy heart unsullied, thy thoughts pure, and thy nature sanctified…

– Baha’u’llah, The Hidden Words

Read more at
https://www.bahaiblog.net/articles/bahai-life/a-brief-look-at-buddhism-and-the-bahai-faith/

 

[Aupmanyav]

More like if Krishna is the only God without a beard, then perhaps He is not really a God

Most Hindu are depicted as having no beard, but some images show a few with beards (Shiva for example).

Painting by Ravi Verma, 1948-1906

 

[Aupmanyav]

The House of Justice affirms that the influence of these supernatural phenomena is dependent on the conviction, even on a subconscious level, that other people can influence a person's mind, and it attests that it is within the power of the individual to free himself from subjugation to these forces. By deepening themselves in the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, Bahá’ís will come to recognize the lack of any true reality in such negative forces. Furthermore, Spiritual Assemblies are called upon gradually to wean the believers away from the illusions and practices that are potentially destructive to their spiritual and material well-being, by encouraging them to avoid involvement in such practices and by deepening their trust in the protective power of the Bahá’í Faith.

Last post in the topic. I did not realize that I was in Bahai forum.
Bahai teachings themselves are based on supernatural. God, soul, messengers, manifestations, prophets, for which there is no proof. How would Bahai teachings help? From the pan to the kettle. Replace one supernatural with another.

And yet the Hindu scriptures say He is in the heart of all, essentially no different than the monotheistic God of Judaism, Christianity and Islam."

Greetings, Arthra. You forced me to reply.
Do all Hindus know about Brahman? Do all Hindus accept Brahman? Do all Hindus consider Brahman to be a God? Do all Hindus worship Brahman only and no other Gods and Goddesses? The answer to all these questions is 'no'.

 

['Amir Alzzalam]

Most Hindu are depicted as having no beard, but some images show a few with beards (Shiva for example).

Painting by Ravi Verma, 1948-1906

I stand corrected . . .

 

['Amir Alzzalam]

Regarding Left Hand Path beliefs in general?

I quote from the Universal House of Justice:

The House of Justice affirms that the influence of these supernatural phenomena is dependent on the conviction, even on a subconscious level, that other people can influence a person's mind, and it attests that it is within the power of the individual to free himself from subjugation to these forces. By deepening themselves in the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, Bahá’ís will come to recognize the lack of any true reality in such negative forces. Furthermore, Spiritual Assemblies are called upon gradually to wean the believers away from the illusions and practices that are potentially destructive to their spiritual and material well-being, by encouraging them to avoid involvement in such practices and by deepening their trust in the protective power of the Bahá’í Faith.

The Universal House of Justice, 1998 Dec 16

So, are you essentially saying that Bahá’ís should eventually drop the negative Judeo-Christian concept of Satan? And that the Left Hand Path understanding of Satan would be acceptable within the Faith?

 

[Ahanu]

I have a question regarding the Baha'i faith. Its goal (I think), as stated in another thread, is to recognize the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people/religions.

My question then is; How would a Bahá'í reconcile Satanism, Luciferianism, and Left Hand Path beliefs in general?

Who is the founder of Satanism?

 

[Aupmanyav]

I suppose Satan. Now, don't say anything against the founder of their religion (just as you would not like hearing something bad about Bahaollah).

 

[Longfellow]

This is not Satanism, this is Abrahamism.

Satanism represents rebellious individuality and non-conformity, a process of externalizing your True-Self. A celebration rather than a condemnation of his humanity, a seemingly non-stop lust for imagination, exploration, and creativity. Satan, whether an archetype or a corporeal being, is seen as an exemplary model of the human condition. Satanism is a self-liberating philosophy that teaches you to embrace the carnal parts of yourself that you have been taught to be ashamed of. To carve your own path by your own Will instead of servitude. To find the truth that isn't always beautiful.

Thank you for that explanation. It answers some questions for me about your views. I like all of that, except possibly for some ways that "carve your own path by your own Will instead of servitude" might be understood. I would need to see what that means in practice. For me, carving my own path by my own Will does not exclude what one of my spiritual teachers calls "servitude," "thralldom," and even "slavery" to a spiritual teacher (not him ), in some translations of his words.