Have you ever seriously consider the Baha'i Faith?
Thnk about it, it doesn't separate people too much like most religion do. I have been Christain all my life [Babtised Catholic] and I like and respect people in my church in fact I would possibly be dead or tore up with out them, but I do see all the isms and factions to be a problem. How many do we really need...???
what Else is good or bad about Baha'i Ito?
I been considering for some time
http://www.bahai.org/faq/facts/bahai_faith
Im no saying I'm going to change but why can't Christains just UNITE instead of INFIGHT?
It's debilitating.
i think that once you accept that the word of God can change, all options are equal, including the Bahai faith. the one problem is that the word of God is eternal, so all faiths based on or stemming from Judaism, apart from Judaism itself, are, in my humble opinion, totally illogical.
Catholicism can trace its heritage back to Jesus and the Apostles. You're interested in a community of faith founded only in the last 160 years (May 23, 1844)? Its religious background is in Shi'a Islam....certainly no offense to Islam -- but like Islam has no foundation dating itself to Jesus and the Apostles.
I have studied a lot of different faiths, not that one though.
Let me get this Straight though, all Bahalists are perfect?
Seems you are leaving the Catholic faith because of imperfections of it's members, are you running to another group that has imperfect members?
If it is made up of humans, it is imperfect.
The difference with the Catholic faith is that you have the faith itself that is preserved to guide us (even though we are not perfect) to the end of time.
In the words of former Catholic and well-known actress Anne Hathaway: "The whole family converted to Episcopalianism after my elder brother came out. Why should I support an organization that has a limited view of my beloved brother?"
Both the Tarb?yat Bah??? Community and the Unitarian (Muwahhid?n) Bah??? Fellowship welcome gay men and lesbians (both singles and couples) as members regardless of same-sex practices; these faith communities do not attempt to micromanage the lives of gays and lesbians through "counseling" or "sanctioning" (dis enrolling) them.
See:
http://unitarianbahai.org/
"We find community in the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) ... the Unitarian Bahai Fellowship welcomes openly gay and lesbian people."
No excuses, rationalizations, justifications, explanations, qualifications, rebuttals, quibbles, or spiritual window dressing: they openly accept single and partnered gay men and lesbians. That's it, period. There is no separation.
All *accredited* American medical and psychological institutions agree there's no medical, psychological, or social reason to? believe that sexual conduct between persons of the same sex is immoral or unhealthy. That includes the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychoanalytic Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the National Association of Social Workers to name only a few. Only religious dogmatists think it immoral.
As a Jehovahs Witness, I have had the chance to speak to many who are Baha'i and each person (who was willing to say anything) had different understandings and none explained what it is they believe.
It was very confusing and some have just refer ed me to their local 'education/information' center.
They seem almost secretive about their faith . . when I see a Baha'i church that has happy. smiling congregants out the front or a member who is willing to help me see the error of my ways . .I am keen to listen to them. So far they remain silent.
I am a Baha'i. Our Lord Jesus Christ loved all and was inclusive of ALL. Men separate.
Baha'is Faith teaches that God is One. The religions are one. There is physical evolution and spiritual evolution. Notice that each new Manifestation praises the last: Moses praised Abraham. Jesus praised Moses and Abraham. Muhammad praised Jesus, and Moses and Abraham. And so on.
If we stop for a moment and view God in a truly metaphysical light we see that IF we accept all the 'givens' of God: that God is All-Knowing, All-Powerful, All-Merciful, All-Loving, etc. If we believe that God created all of existence... If God is the Most-Logical, the Most-Raitonal (and God would have to be - since God is the Possessor of all positive attributes.... If we believe this of God, can we really believe God would be so petty as to leave out some humans and raise up others? What loving Father would do this? Indeed, is there anything in the life or teachings of Jesus that has ever hinted at such an irrational behavior in the Lord on High?
Baha'is believe that Baha'u'llah is the Return of the Christ-like Spirit. ALL Manifestations are from God. All taught the Golden Rule. All taught Their followers to love.
The small differences that do exist - as Jesus Himself so wonderfully pointed out - too often have to do with temporary 'social' teachings of the Manifestations - dietary laws, marriage laws, inheritance, etc. The spiritual laws are always the same - and indeed call on each new group of followers to advance more in spiritual strength.
Thus, you have Jesus teaching to 'love thine enemy' a RADICALLY new concept. Indeed, the coming of Jesus is seen, from the Baha'i perspective, as a HUGE leap in the spiritual evolution of humanity.
I hope this helps. Feel free to email me at any time.
Have you ever seriously consider the Baha'i Faith?
