The Baha'i Faith

Hello lovely people.

I’ll tell you first, in the interests of objectivity, that I am Baha’i.

Secondly I’ll tell you that I am posting this thread to stimulate conversation about the Baha’i Faith, in the interests of explaining my religion to others, and in the hope of deepening my own knowledge.

‘Knowledge is like unto wings for the being (of man) and is like a ladder for ascending. To acquire knowledge is incumbent upon all, but of those sciences which may profit the people of the earth, and not such sciences as being in mere words and end in mere words. The possessors of sciences and arts have a great right among the people of the world. Indeed, the real treasury of man is his knowledge. Knowledge is the means of honor, prosperity, joy, gladness, happiness and exaltation.—Tablet of Tajallíyát.’

reference.bahai.org/en/t/o/BNE/b … hlight#gr2

Unless other wise noted by the use of quotation marks and citing, all things I write are my own interpretations of the Baha’i Faith. My own interpretations of the Baha’i writings are not necessarily representative of the official stance of the Religion. I am just a Baha’i, I am not the Baha’i Faith. When quoting I will quote information from more ‘official’ sources.

So in the interests of explanation (etc), here goes!

'Basic Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh

Bahá’u’lláh taught that there is one God whose successive revelations of His will to humanity have been the chief civilizing force in history. The agents of this process have been the Divine Messengers whom people have seen chiefly as the founders of separate religious systems but whose common purpose has been to bring the human race to spiritual and moral maturity.

Humanity is now coming of age. It is this that makes possible the unification of the human family and the building of a peaceful, global society. Among the principles which the Bahá’í Faith promotes as vital to the achievement of this goal are

the abandonment of all forms of prejudice
assurance to women of full equality of opportunity with men
recognition of the unity and relativity of religious truth
the elimination of extremes of poverty and wealth
the realization of universal education
the responsibility of each person to independently search for truth
the establishment of a global commonwealth of nations
recognition that true religion is in harmony with reason and the pursuit of scientific knowledge’

info.bahai.org/bahaullah-basic-teachings.html

I hope we can have a nice debate and that after reaading this thread can leave with a good feeling rather than a bad one.

Thanks, I look forward to talking to you all!

Well ,hello, I have a dear friend that is of your belief. She is a very very good person.

Now there is one little thing that may set off some controversy here if its true. I personally do not think it is, but, she says it is so.
Your religion only allows for procreative sex not sex for pleasure, is that correct?

I don’t know your friend or her personal views. So I can’t say anything about her or them. Not that I would even if I knew of both.

I will however answer your own personal question, ‘Your religion only allows for procreative sex not sex for pleasure, is that correct?’, from my own point of view, through quotation and personal interpretations of official Baha’i sources.

‘On the question of sex the Bahá’ís are, in most of their fundamental views, in full agreement with the upholders of traditional morality. Bahá’u’lláh, like all the other Prophets and Messengers of God, preaches abstinence, and 435 condemns, in vehement language, all forms of sexual laxity, unbridled licence and lust. The Bahá’í standard of sex morality is thus very high, but it is by no means unreasonably rigid. While free love is condemned, yet marriage is considered as a holy act which every human being should be encouraged, though not forced, to perform. Sex instinct, like all other human instincts, is not necessarily evil. It is a power which, if properly directed, can bring joy and satisfaction to the individual. If misused or abused it brings, of course, incalculable harm not only to the individual but also to the society in which he lives. While the Bahá’ís condemn asceticism and all extreme forms of self-mortification they at the same time view with disfavour the current theories of sex ethics which cannot but bring ruin to human society. In the Bahá’í Cause marriage has been encouraged, but made somewhat difficult, conditioned as it is upon the consent of the four parents. Divorce, on the other hand, has been made relatively easy, and the sociologists are just beginning to realise the importance of this law….’

Unfolding Destiny
Author: Shoghi EffendiSource: UK Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1981 edition Pages: 490

reference.bahai.org/en/t/se/UD/u … ight#pg435

‘Regarding your questions: by holiness in our Bahá’í teachings is meant attachment to God, His Precepts and His Will. We are not ascetics in any sense of the word. On the contrary, Bahá’u’lláh says God has created all the good things in the world for us to enjoy and partake of. But we must not become attached to them and put them before the spiritual things. Chastity in the strict sense means not to have sexual intercourse, or sexual intimacies, before marriage. In the general sense it means not to be licentious. This does not mean we Bahá’ís believe sexual relations to be impure or wrong. On the contrary they are natural and should be considered one of God’s many blessings. He does not know anything about whether albumen and delicious food affect sex; this is a medical question. Sex is a very individual matter, some people are more passionate by nature than others, and might consequently suffer more if forced to be continent. But when the world becomes more spiritual there will not be such an exaggerated emphasis on sex, as there is today, and consequently it will be easier for young people to be chaste and control their passions. A man of noble character and strong willpower, could certainly remain faithful to his wife during a long absence!’

The Light of Divine Guidance (Volume 2)
Author: Shoghi Effendi

reference.bahai.org/en/t/se/LDG2 … hlight#gr2

So from my interpretation sex for pleasure is something spiritual under certain conditions and is permitted.

Hi Unity1,

Would you say there are correlations between the Baha’i Faith and Christianity? I personally haven’t heard Baha’i religion and am interested of it’s tenets or any writings it may have. What you have described as some of the affectations of the Baha’i Faith seem admirable. By the way, the Bible of the Christian faith has different interpretations from person to person.

Hi

Ultimately Baha’is believe there is one God and all of God’s religions are one.

We believe the essence of God’s religions are one. The outward differences of God’s religions lie in the fact that they were revealed to humanity at different stages in human history, in differing social circumstances. The difference is a question of practicality. As a social component of God’s plan for humanity, the religions have been relative to the social conditions in which they have operated.

We believe each religion brings a progressed revelation of God’s unified purpose to humanity.

‘The purpose of the one true God, exalted be His glory, hath been to bring forth the Mystic Gems out of the mine of man’.

Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
Author: Bahá’u’lláh

reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/ESW/e … light#gr17

So the relationship between the Baha’i Faith and Christianity, from a Baha’i perspective, is a particularly beautiful one.

Baha’is believe, ‘the Reality of Christ was a clear and polished mirror of the greatest purity and fineness’, and that Baha’u’llah continues his revelation with absolute equality to Christ.

The following passage covers some aspects of the realtionship in more depth:

(Please excuse the apparently random numbers, this was a cut and paste from an e-book)

'In Isaiah, chapter 11, verses 1 to 10, it is said: “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”

This rod out of the stem of Jesse might be correctly applied to Christ, for Joseph was of the descendants of 63 Jesse, the father of David; but as Christ found existence through the Spirit of God, He called Himself the Son of God. If He had not done so, this description would refer to Him. Besides this, the events which he indicated as coming to pass in the days of that rod, if interpreted symbolically, were in part fulfilled in the day of Christ, but not all; and if not interpreted, then decidedly none of these signs happened. For example, the leopard and the lamb, the lion and the calf, the child and the asp, are metaphors and symbols for various nations, peoples, antagonistic sects and hostile races, who are as opposite and inimical as the wolf and lamb. We say that by the breath of the spirit of Christ they found concord and harmony, they were vivified, and they associated together.

But “they shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” These conditions did not prevail in the time of the manifestation of Christ; for until today various and antagonistic nations exist in the world: very few acknowledge the God of Israel, and the greater number are without the knowledge of God. In the same way, universal peace did not come into existence in the time of Christ—that is to say, between the antagonistic and hostile nations there was neither peace nor concord, disputes and disagreements did not cease, and reconciliation and sincerity did not appear. So, even at this day, among the Christian sects and nations themselves, enmity, hatred and the most violent hostility are met with.

But these verses apply word for word to Bahá’u’lláh. Likewise in this marvelous cycle the earth will be transformed, and the world of humanity arrayed in tranquillity and beauty. Disputes, quarrels and murders will be replaced by peace, truth and concord; among the nations, peoples, races and countries, love and amity will appear. Cooperation and union will be established, and finally war 64 will be entirely suppressed. When the laws of the Most Holy Book are enforced, contentions and disputes will find a final sentence of absolute justice before a general tribunal of the nations and kingdoms, and the difficulties that appear will be solved. The five continents of the world will form but one, the numerous nations will become one, the surface of the earth will become one land, and mankind will be a single community. The relations between the countries—the mingling, union and friendship of the peoples and communities—will reach to such a degree that the human race will be like one family and kindred. The light of heavenly love will shine, and the darkness of enmity and hatred will be dispelled from the world. Universal peace will raise its tent in the center of the earth, and the blessed Tree of Life will grow and spread to such an extent that it will overshadow the East and the West. Strong and weak, rich and poor, antagonistic sects and hostile nations—which are like the wolf and the lamb, the leopard and kid, the lion and the calf—will act toward each other with the most complete love, friendship, justice and equity. The world will be filled with science, with the knowledge of the reality of the mysteries of beings, and with the knowledge of God.

Now consider, in this great century which is the cycle of Bahá’u’lláh, what progress science and knowledge have made, how many secrets of existence have been discovered, how many great inventions have been brought to light and are day by day multiplying in number. Before long, material science and learning, as well as the knowledge of God, will make such progress and will show forth such wonders that the beholders will be amazed. Then the mystery of this verse in Isaiah, “For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord,” will be completely evident.

Reflect also that in the short time since Bahá’u’lláh has appeared, people from all countries, nations and races 65 have entered under the shadow of this Cause. Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Buddhists, Hindus and Persians all associate together with the greatest friendship and love, as if indeed these people had been related and connected together, they and theirs, for a thousand years; for they are like father and child, mother and daughter, sister and brother. This is one of the meanings of the companionship of the wolf and the lamb, the leopard and the kid, and the lion and the calf.

One of the great events which is to occur in the Day of the manifestation of that Incomparable Branch (Bahá’u’lláh) is the hoisting of the Standard of God among all nations. By this is meant that all nations and kindreds will be gathered together under the shadow of this Divine Banner, which is no other than the Lordly Branch itself, and will become a single nation. Religious and sectarian antagonism, the hostility of races and peoples, and differences among nations, will be eliminated. All men will adhere to one religion, will have one common faith, will be blended into one race, and become a single people. All will dwell in one common fatherland, which is the planet itself. Universal peace and concord will be realized between all the nations, and that Incomparable Branch will gather together all Israel, signifying that in this cycle Israel will be gathered in the Holy Land, and that the Jewish people who are scattered to the East and West, South and North, will be assembled together.

Now see: these events did not take place in the Christian cycle, for the nations did not come under the One Standard which is the Divine Branch. But in this cycle of the Lord of Hosts all the nations and peoples will enter under the shadow of this Flag. In the same way, Israel, scattered all over the world, was not reassembled in the Holy Land in the Christian cycle; but in the beginning of the cycle of Bahá’u’lláh this divine promise, as is clearly 66 stated in all the Books of the Prophets, has begun to be manifest. You can see that from all the parts of the world tribes of Jews are coming to the Holy Land; they live in villages and lands which they make their own, and day by day they are increasing to such an extent that all Palestine will become their home.’

Some Answered Questions
Author: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/SAQ/saq-12.html

I take it as a compliment that you noticed that my Faith is admirable.

The Bible does indeed have different interpretations.

Thanks for your questions.

The Baha’i Reference Library has access to many Baha’i works and can be found here:

reference.bahai.org/en/

Thank you Unity1 for your post. I will read and reread both of your posts and the links you have displayed for further analysis.

If I may ask, what country you reside in right now? I will not be offended if you’d rather not say.

Thank you and God Bless.

Well actually the Bahai faith is a false doctrine introduced into Iran by imperialist Britain :wink:
I think you’ll find the majority of members on this board do not like proselytizing. Maybe you should take a moment to read through some of the more interesting topics about religion as a whole before seeking converts. It might at least make you rethink some unquestioned beliefs.

“We believe each religion brings a progressed revelation of God’s unified purpose to humanity.”
How does that explain scientology :wink:

I’m glad you replied to my post, thanks very much for that.

Baha’is believe the Baha’i Faith is the true religion of God for this age of mankind.

What do you mean by ‘religion as a whole’? What is this ‘whole’ in your view?

Baha’is don’t believe that Scientology is one of God’s religions, but I’m sure I believe that it has a purpose in God’s plan, as Baha’is believe that everything happens because of God.

Thanks again for your post and I truly hope everything is going well for you.

It is true religion of God for you and my friend and others of your faith. Everyone’s religion is true for them. Any god that demands holding to one ideal or faith is not a loving God, nor a patient caring intelligent one. A god is supposed to be wise. Wisdom shows that difference is good.
That is if you believe in a god. Me, I see any such entity as just a superior sentient being fallible like any other living entity.

Everyone sees truth in different things. This is faith. The fact you don’t see truth in what you think is the Baha’i Faith illustrates your lack of faith in it.

In reality Baha’is are open to all religions. Unity in diversity is at the core of the Baha’i teachings.

Baha’is don’t have a problem with the diversity of religions.

In fact they embrace it.

Baha’is see unity in diversity, and diversity in unity. They do not see the two as as mutually exclusive, linear, or two-dimensional.

God is loving, God is patient, God is caring, God is intelligent.

In fact Baha’is believe the only reason these adjectives exist is to describe God.

God is indeed wise and this is the only reason difference exists.

Baha’is believe there are many paths to God.

Each of the major world religions would offer a different path to God.

What is the nature of the superior beings you believe in? Where did they come from? What is their purpose to be?

Why must there be a purpose? If such creatures exist why would I care to know its purpose? Why must a God have a purpose? Why not have a whim, a desire a want or just play a jest to humor its bored self? Purpose is a human desire in following. Humans follow the herd . We project that need to follow onto Gods. We in general need to believe that what path we follow has a purpose. Why? if we follow a path then enjoy the path why project a need onto it? Live learn and enjoy. Purpose is the wind that blows past us. It is part of the process and purpose changes as wind changes direction and speed. The Baha’i assimilate others by accepting others for what they believe. Through gatherings ideas and beliefs are changed in a gentle forceful manner, iron fist in kid gloves manner. That is a main difference of the Baha’i from other religions. It holds that every path is right but, here is the diversity that comes to a path, a single path of diversity. It leads all into one. It just handles the indoctrination process differntly then most other religions.

  1. It is part of the fundamental nature of reality. Why would reality exist if there wasn’t a purpose for it to exist?

Do you truly feel you have no purpose?

If you do, I sympathise with you.

  1. I assumed that when you entered the conversation that you were doing so because you wanted to converse. Feel free to leave at any time.

  2. God doesn’t need a purpose, or actually anything, He is often referred to in the Baha’i writings as Self-Subsistent.

However:

‘There is a well-known Islamic tradition concerning God and His creation: I was a Hidden Treasure. I wished to be made known, and thus I called creation into being in order that I might be known.’

and,

‘O Son of Man! I loved thy creation, hence I created thee. Wherefore, do thou love Me, that I may name thy name and fill thy soul with the spirit of life.’

The Kitáb-i-Aqdas
Author: Bahá’u’lláh

reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/KA/ka … hlight#gr5

So God wanted us to know Him and He loved us so He gaves us a purpose.

'I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to worship Thee. I testify, at this moment, to my powerlessness and to Thy might, to my poverty and to Thy wealth.

There is none other God but Thee, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.’

Bahá’u’lláh

bahaiprayers.org/obligshort.htm

  1. God is Omnipotent, and He can do whatever He wants/desires. He doesn’t need a human purpose, so I supppose you could say His purpose is His whim.

  2. Baha’is believe purpose is a desire of God as mentioned. Humans desire purpose because God whims it.

  3. I certainly don’t follow any human heard. I follow God’s will to the best of my ability, which is high. Do not think for one instant that I follow God because I am weak and pathetic. I would lay down mine and my own families life for God in the blink of an eye. Do not underestimate the power of the faith I have in the Lord of the Worlds.

  4. The only reason I have any faith in humanity is because I have faith in God. I have very little need for humanity in comparison with the need I have for God. God wills I need have faith in humanity therefore I do. Without God (God forbid) it could be a completely different story.

  5. I agree we need to believe we have a purpose, we need to have faith. We need faith in God and faith in ourselves. Luckily I have great faith in myself because God rewards me with it for having faith in Him.

  6. Every path by its very nature has a direction and an end (a purpose) therefore to say we are 'project’ing a purpose is logically incorrect. The end is there whether we recognise it or not. The use of ‘project’ suggests a misunderstanding of the nature of paths and ultimately of reality itself. You can’t see the wood for the trees.

  7. I am deeply happier than any person I currently know.

  8. Purpose is the supreme guiding force that stimulates my very being and sets my blood on fire.

  9. LOL!!! You make us sound so evil. We love you, don’t be afraid of us.

If you think the Baha’i Faith is a conspiracy then look again. Everything we do is entirely open and you are free to choose whichever path seems best to you.

With love and best wishes.

Why is what I said making your faith look so evil? There is no such thing as good or evil just processess of living.

I’m curious.

Can you describe all attributes of your god in the order of priority or importance (if any) ?

What is the attitude of you religion toward logical thinking?

Is monotheism better than non-theism, bi-theism, multi-theism, pan-theism, etc in some way? If so, why?

And where is the main organization/church/temple/shrine/pagoda/office located?

Your use of the word ‘assimilate’.

Baha’is believe the only true reality is God who is infinitely good.

Baha’is believe it is not possible for a human to fully comprehend God.

It is not possible for humans to describe all of the attributes of God because He is sanctified from human understanding.

The only way to know God is through His Manifestations, i.e. Moses, Muhammed, Jesus, Baha’u’llah, etc.

The following quote covers this well (once again please excuse the numbers, their relevance is minimal):

'THE SOURCE OF UNITY

What is real unity? When we observe the human world we find various collective expressions of unity therein. For instance, man is distinguished from the animal by his degree or kingdom. This comprehensive distinction includes all the posterity of Adam and constitutes one great household or human family which may be considered the fundamental or physical unity of mankind. Furthermore, a distinction exists between various groups of humankind according to lineage, each group forming a racial unity separate from the others. There is also the unity of tongue among those who use the same language as a means of communication; national unity where various peoples live under one form of government such as French, German, British, etc.; and political unity which conserves the civil rights of parties or factions of the same government. All these unities are imaginary and without real foundation, for no real result proceeds from them. The purpose of true unity is real and divine outcomes. From these limited unities mentioned only limited outcomes proceed whereas unlimited unity produces unlimited result. For instance, from the limited unity of race or nationality the results at most are limited. It is like a family living alone and solitary; there are no unlimited or universal outcomes from it.

The unity which is productive of unlimited results is first a unity of mankind which recognizes that all are sheltered beneath the overshadowing glory of the All-Glorious; that all are servants of one God; for all breathe the same atmosphere, live upon the same earth, move beneath the same heavens, receive effulgence 258 from the same sun and are under the protection of one God. This is the most great unity, and its results are lasting if humanity adheres to it; but mankind has hitherto violated it, adhering to sectarian or other limited unities such as racial, patriotic or unity of self-interests; therefore no great results have been forthcoming. Nevertheless it is certain that the radiance and favors of God are encompassing, minds have developed, perceptions have become acute, sciences and arts are widespread and capacity exists for the proclamation and promulgation of the real and ultimate unity of mankind which will bring forth marvelous results. It will reconcile all religions, make warring nations loving, cause hostile kings to become friendly and bring peace and happiness to the human world. It will cement together the Orient and Occident, remove forever the foundations of war and upraise the ensign of the Most Great Peace. These limited unities are therefore signs of that great unity which will make all the human family one by being productive of the attractions of conscience in mankind.
Another unity is the spiritual unity which emanates from the breaths of the Holy Spirit. This is greater than the unity of mankind. Human unity or solidarity may be likened to the body whereas unity from the breaths of the Holy Spirit is the spirit animating the body. This is a perfect unity. It creates such a condition in mankind that each one will make sacrifices for the other and the utmost desire will be to forfeit life and all that pertains to it in behalf of another’s good. This is the unity which existed among the disciples of His Holiness Jesus Christ and bound together the prophets and holy souls of the past. It is the unity which through the influence of the divine spirit is permeating the Bahá’ís so that each offers his life for the other and strives with all sincerity to attain his good-pleasure. This is the unity which caused twenty thousand people in Írán to give their lives in love and devotion to it. It made the Báb the target of a thousand arrows and caused Bahá’u’lláh to suffer exile and imprisonment forty years. This unity is the very spirit of the body of the world. It is impossible for the body of the world to become quickened with life without its vivification. His Holiness Jesus Christ—may my life be a sacrifice to Him!—promulgated this unity among mankind. 259 Every soul who believed in Jesus Christ became revivified and resuscitated through this spirit, attained to the zenith of eternal glory, realized the life everlasting, experienced the second birth and rose to the acme of good fortune.

In the Word of God there is still another unity, the oneness of the Manifestations of God, His Holiness Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. This is a unity divine, heavenly, radiant, merciful; the one reality appearing in its successive manifestations. For instance, the sun is one and the same but its points of dawning are various. During the summer season it rises from the northern point of the ecliptic; in winter it appears from the southern point of rising. Each month between it appears from a certain zodiacal position. Although these dawning-points are different, the sun is the same sun which has appeared from them all. The significance is the reality of prophethood which is symbolized by the sun, and the holy Manifestations are the dawning-places or zodiacal points.

There is also the divine unity or entity which is sanctified above all concept of humanity. It cannot be comprehended nor conceived because it is infinite reality and cannot become finite. Human minds are incapable of surrounding that reality because all thoughts and conceptions of it are finite, intellectual creations and not the reality of divine being which alone knows itself. For example, if we form a conception of divinity as a living, almighty, self-subsisting, eternal being, this is only a concept apprehended by a human intellectual reality. It would not be the outward, visible reality which is beyond the power of human mind to conceive or encompass. We ourselves have an external, visible entity but even our concept of it is the product of our own brain and limited comprehension. The reality of divinity is sanctified above this degree of knowing and realization. It has ever been hidden and secluded in its own holiness and sanctity above our comprehending. Although it transcends our realization, its lights, bestowals, traces and virtues have become manifest in the realities of the prophets, even as the sun becomes resplendent in various mirrors. These holy realities are as reflectors, and the reality of divinity is as the sun which although it is reflected from the mirrors, and its 260 virtues and perfections become resplendent therein, does not stoop from its own station of majesty and glory and seek abode in the mirrors; it remains in its heaven of sanctity. At most it is this, that its lights become manifest and evident in its mirrors or manifestations. Therefore its bounty proceeding from them is one bounty but the recipients of that bounty are many. This is the unity of God; this is oneness;—unity of divinity, holy above ascent or descent, embodiment, comprehension or idealization;—divine unity. The prophets are its mirrors; its lights are revealed through them; its virtues become resplendent in them, but the Sun of Reality never descends from its own highest point and station. This is unity, oneness, sanctity; this is glorification whereby we praise and adore God.’

Bahá’í World Faith—Selected Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Section Only)
Author: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

reference.bahai.org/en/t/c/BWF/b … hlight#gr5

My religion fully embraces logical thinking and encourages it.

In fact the respected academic, who happened to be a Baha’i, William Hatcher, in his book, ‘Minimalism’, provides a logical proof for the existence of God, which can be found here:

william.hatcher.org/category/sub … roving_god

His presentation named, ‘A Logical Proof of the Existence of God’, is on the same page.

I have studied logic in some depth myself and speaking critically of his work (with honestly no religious bias) it is very logical.

Baha’is generally don’t think they are ‘better’ than anyone, in fact this would be advised against by Baha’u’llah, who has said we should interact with people of all beliefs in a compassionate and understanding way.

The following quote is both logical and describes why we believe there can only be one God:

'PROOFS AND EVIDENCES OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

One of the proofs and demonstrations of the existence of God is the fact that man did not create himself: nay, his creator and designer is another than himself.
It is certain and indisputable that the creator of man is not like man because a powerless creature cannot create another being. The maker, the creator, has to possess all perfections in order that he may create. Can the creation be perfect and the creator imperfect? Can a picture be a masterpiece and the painter imperfect in his art? For it is his art and his creation. Moreover, the picture cannot be like the painter; otherwise, the painting would have created itself. However perfect the picture may be, in comparison with the painter it is in the utmost degree of imperfection. The contingent world is the source of imperfections: God is the origin of perfections. The imperfections of the contingent world are in themselves a proof of the perfections of God. For example, when you look at man, you see that he is weak. This very weakness of the creature is a proof of the power of the Eternal Almighty One, because, if there were no power, weakness could not be imagined. Then the weakness of the creature is a proof of the power of God; for if there were no power, there could be no weakness; so from this weakness it becomes evident that there is power in the world. Again, in the contingent world there is poverty; then necessarily wealth exists, since poverty is 6 apparent in the world. In the contingent world there is ignorance; necessarily knowledge exists, because ignorance is found; for if there were no knowledge, neither would there be ignorance. Ignorance is the nonexistence of knowledge, and if there were no existence, nonexistence could not be realized. It is certain that the whole contingent world is subjected to a law and rule which it can never disobey; even man is forced to submit to death, to sleep and to other conditions—that is to say, man in certain particulars is governed, and necessarily this state of being governed implies the existence of a governor. Because a characteristic of contingent beings is dependency, and this dependency is an essential necessity, therefore, there must be an independent being whose independence is essential. In the same way it is understood from the man who is sick that there must be one who is in health; for if there were no health, his sickness could not be proved. Therefore, it becomes evident that there is an Eternal Almighty One, Who is the possessor of all perfections, because unless He possessed all perfections He would be like His creation. Throughout the world of existence it is the same; the smallest created thing proves that there is a creator. For instance, this piece of bread proves that it has a maker. Praise be to God! the least change produced in the form of the smallest thing proves the existence of a creator: then can this great universe, which is endless, be self-created and come into existence from the action of matter and the elements? How self-evidently wrong is such a supposition! These obvious arguments are adduced for weak souls; but if the inner perception be open, a hundred thousand clear proofs become visible. Thus, when man feels the indwelling spirit, he is in no need of arguments for its existence; but for those who are deprived of the bounty of the spirit, it is necessary to establish external arguments.’

Some Answered Questions
Author: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/SAQ/saq-2.html

The Universal House of Justice is the supreme governing body of the Baha’i Faith (on Earth) and is located in Israel.

Assimilate is just a word. A word that has no evil intent. when a group accepts another, it assimilates that person into their fold

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/assimilateas·sim·i·late (-sm-lt)
v. as·sim·i·lat·ed, as·sim·i·lat·ing, as·sim·i·lates
v.tr.

  1. Physiology
    a. To consume and incorporate (nutrients) into the body after digestion.
    b. To transform (food) into living tissue by the process of anabolism; metabolize constructively.
  2. To incorporate and absorb into the mind: assimilate knowledge.
  3. To make similar; cause to resemble.
  4. Linguistics To alter (a sound) by assimilation.
  5. To absorb (immigrants or a culturally distinct group) into the prevailing culture.

The definition is just factual about what occurs. If you see evil in the word then you may have doubts about what you believe.

If you believe that your god is %100 percent good then I am sure you will find it so. Enough faith can move mountains.

I think Scientology is the true religion of a being(s) superior to humans. Your religion is false. This I think is the presupposition involved in all conversion processes, and then comes the ‘proof’.

Religion as a whole is meant the institution that is not a particular religion, but the ideology of superior entities that require worship, and may or may not reciprocate this act of gratitude. In a world where rain is a result of condensation and not divine intervention.

Isn’t it a bit weird that the prophet of Baha’ism has allah in his name? Is Bahai’sm just an ‘upgrade’ to islam then? Does islam not say that Muhammad is the ‘messenger’ of god and that he is the last messenger?

I find religion a great social tool. You would probably greet me in a much less pleasant way if you didn’t think that it counted for something.Less than intelligent people put the self before the ‘greater’ picture that ultimately benefits them, and religion helps rectify this problem. On the other hand, religious fundamentalism, proselytizing and zealotry are annoying at best, and dangerous at worst. Of course, everyone finds their religion to be exempt until they realize that ‘incorruptible’ words are easily corrupted. Just putting my thoughts out there.

  1. Lots of things are ‘just words’ that doesn’t mean we think they are nice words.

  2. Whether you had mal-intent or not the connotations were less than good. I won’t waste my time explaining what a connotation is.

  3. The fact that I rejected you would proove your assimilation theory wrong.

  4. pfft - try me.

Actually no it would not prove the assimilation wrong. I have no desire to be accepted nor be a part of it, nor can you willfully force me into it.So assimilation still stands. Your response is not very Baha’i at all. So what is your real game? I already said my words were non aggressive, yet you bristle, not very Baha’i. Let me guess you are a newbie to that faith, correct?