How come none of you have ever converted to Baha'i?

A religions is not very anti-religious.

quote:Originally posted by Tyrant:

How come none of you have ever converted to Baha'i?

Most haven't taken the time to study it, if even take a quick glance at it.

quote:Originally posted by Tyrant:

How come none of you have ever converted to Baha'i?

Because its a relgion?

That would be why not for secular humanists, as for "theistic" humanists, I don't really know.

Its a nice idea, but with all the religious conflicts in the past, and mutually exclusive belief systems, its sorta hard to be believe that all of them were divinely inspired. Unless of course, we are God's entertainment.

quote:Originally posted by aTribeCalledSean:

Most haven't taken the time to study it, if even take a quick glance at it.

I did.

Maybe you wanna take this oppurtunity to expound upon the subject.

You might pique some peoples interest.

Because they believe in a god. It doesn't make sense, is impractical, and is too inhumane in comparison with Humanism. I'd rather convert to being a liberal quaker.

Really, I'm not sure why you are suggesting Baha'i is a good religion for the target audience. Perhaps you could explain your reasoning.

quote:Originally posted by aTribeCalledSean:

Maybe you wanna take this oppurtunity to expound upon the subject.

You might pique some peoples interest.

Me or Tyrant?

quote:Originally posted by Tyrant:

How come none of you have ever converted to Baha'i?

If I don't buy the inconsistancies of any one religion, why would asking me to just accept all of them as true convert me?

/\ Because recognizing a common root in different religions can help weed out the circumstantial inconsistencies. Plus, what I read of Baha'i seems to be in conjunction with most beliefs I've read on Totse.

For those who do not know what Baha'i is...

1. There is oneness of the entire human race. This is the pivotal principle and fundamental doctrine of the faith and is essential to Baha'i. It is the basis for most of its teachings and practices.

2. There must be an independent search after truth, unfettered by superstition or tradition. Anyone who wishes to be a Baha'i must be willing to search out the truth of God without relying on the prophets and traditions of the past. "The freedom of man from superstition and imitation, so that he may discern the manifestations of God with the eye of Oneness, and consider all affairs with keen sight..." is one of the basic teachings of Baha'i.

3. There is a basic unity of all religions. Baha'i teaches that all religions essentially preach the same message. This is not to say that differences do not exist among the religions of the world, but Baha'i doctrine states that the basic message of every religion is the same and that all minor differences should be ignored. "That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that hte bonds of affections and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled... these strifes and this bloodshed and discord must cease, and all men be as one kindred and one family.

4. All forms of prejudice, whether religious, racial, class related, or national, are condemned. "Religion should unite all hearts and cause wars and disputes to vanish from the face of the earth; it should give birth to spirituality, and bring light and life to every soul. If religion becomes a cuase of dislike, hatred and division, it would be better to be without it... Any religion which is not a cause of love and unity is no religion."

5. Harmony must exist between religion and science. Baha'i arose in the nineteenth century, when great battles were fought between the established religions and the newly emerging sciences. These two forces must be harmonized. "That which is in conformity with science is also in conformity with religion. Whatever the intelligence of man cannot understand, religion ought not to accept. Religion and science walk hand in hand, and any religion contrary to science is not the truth."

6. There is equality of men and women. "Humanity is like a bird with its two wings - the one is male, the other female. Unless both wings are strong and impelled by some common force, the bird cannot fly heavenward. According to the spirit of this age, women must advance and fulfill their mission in all departments of life, becoming equal to men."

7. Compulsory education must prevail.

8. There should be a universal language.

9. Extremes of wealth and poverty should be abolished.

10. A world tribunal for the adjudication of disputes among nations should be instituted.

11. Work performed in the spirit of service should be exalted to the rank of worship. "It is enjoined on every one of you to engage in some occupation - some art, trade, or the like. We have made this - your occupation - identical with the worship of God, the true One."

12. Justice should be glorified as the ruling principle in human society and religion for the protection of all peoples and nations.

13. The establishment of a permanent and universal peace should be the supreme goal of humankind.

I have to go to work, I'll expand on the last one later.

quote:Originally posted by Tyrant:

How come none of you have ever converted to Baha'i?

Too long, didn't read.

Faithfully Submitted,

Cesare de Borgia

Most of those seem like general good ideas, and I agree with them. The problem arises in that I have yet to see a reason to believe in any God. Congratulations, all the invisable men in the sky are really the same one. It's kind of a moot point if that one isn't real either.

What do you need to do in that religion? Are there temples and services or do you just try to live your life acoarding to the teachings?

From what I've read about it, this religion seems to just be an organized version of 1960s hippy philosophy. AKA pure shit.

Humans don't need or want peace or unity; we want strife and hatred because they're the two things left in life that allow us to appreciate the good things.

Baha'i has been around for longer than that- it emerged as an off-shoot from one of the branches of Islam. One of the Comparitive Religion lecturers at my uni is a Baha'i (-ish).

quote:Originally posted by inquisitor_11:

Baha'i has been around for longer than that- it emerged as an off-shoot from one of the branches of Islam. One of the Comparitive Religion lecturers at my uni is a Baha'i (-ish).

Its about 200 or so years old if I remember correctly. certainly not a "new age hippy relgion"

I'm still waiting for any reason why Baha'i is any good, and for the issues to be adressed.

quote:Originally posted by dearestnight_falcon:

Its about 200 or so years old if I remember correctly. certainly not a "new age hippy relgion"

It may be older than the hippies, but it's still the same philosophy.

As a Buddhist, Baha'i has always interested me. But I disagree with a few of their points.

8. There should be a universal language.

Diversity may be what causes humanitiy's problems, but I don't think I could live in a world were everyone's culture was the same. Too boring.

12. Justice should be glorified as the ruling principle in human society and religion for the protection of all peoples and nations.

What is justice? The term is too ambiguous.

Overall, I like the idea. Like Hemingway said, "Isn't it pretty to think so?"

quote:Originally posted by Optimus Prime:

It may be older than the hippies, but it's still the same philosophy.

Yeah, minus the drugs, and the long hair... and hopefully the smell. http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif (http://www.totse.com/bbs/smile.gif)

Baha'i doesn't actually offer any solutions. It is just assuming people are naturally good, and if we find similiarities between us, we will all be well... which is bullshit. You may have 1 thing in common with someone, but that won't change the fact you have ten far more important things you disagree with intensely.

quote:10. A world tribunal for the adjudication of disputes among nations should be instituted.

I don't like this one either. This would be like the Int'l Criminal Court wouldn't it? I'm not too fond of the idea that a foreign body would be able to accuse me of a crime, charge me, put me on trial and finally sentence me. A trial by a jury of my peers is what I would want, and a bunch of foreigners sure as hell ain't my peers.

quote:Originally posted by CesareBorgia:

Too long, didn't read.

Faithfully Submitted,

Cesare de Borgia

Brilliant!