Point of life: Eternity and on earth.
| 2 years ago :: Apr 08, 2008 - 9:52PM #1 | |
beforHim
Posts: 34
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Eternity examples:
Islam, Judaism, and Christianity- to live in the glory of God for eternity. Hinduism and Buddhism- Leave reincarnation cycle and become part of the "divine onness" . Athiesm- There is none as we simply cease to exist. On Earth examples: Islam- Submission to Allah through peace Judaism and Christianity- Love Him and others Hinduism- Get more good karma, shed more bad karma Buddhism- Cesation from desires via the eightfold path Athiesm- Most athiests will say "create your own". I agree that those are VERY simplified, but they need not be elaborate for purposes of this question. So what is Baha'i's point to life, here and in eternity? This has really been on my mind lately, the question "what do religions have to offer". We must choose only what's true no matter what we get from it, but this is still something I'd like to know. Thx! |
| 2 years ago :: Apr 09, 2008 - 3:03AM #2 | |
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avoran
Posts: 121
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And all of the variants given by beforHim in the first post (except for the atheist ones) can be seen as different symbolic ways of describing the same thing :)
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| 2 years ago :: Apr 09, 2008 - 9:20AM #3 | |
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beforHim
Posts: 34
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[QUOTE=avoran;419392]And all of the variants given by beforHim in the first post (except for the atheist ones) can be seen as different symbolic ways of describing the same thing :)[/QUOTE]
Sorry, not to sound argumentative, but if World Citizen is indeed correct about nearness and distance from God, then no, none of the above examples are symbols describing what WC said. They say either you are in the presence of God or you aren't, in the afterlife. Or am I missing something? I bet if we got more specefic, then maybe I'd understand. Thx for the posts, friends! Edit: or did you mean different symbolic meanings all syaing the same thign as each other, not what WC said? If that's true, then I can see that, but only until we get more specefic. Apology given(if one is needed) for stating that I think you're incorrect. I certainly don't want any debates or hurt feelings, just want to understand. |
| 2 years ago :: Apr 09, 2008 - 9:51AM #4 | |
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avoran
Posts: 121
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Sorry if I wasn't clear. :) I don't have time for the full answer this deserves - in fact, the full answer is probably everything Baha'u'llah says in the Book of Certitude (Kitab-i-Iqan). But perhaps it would help to reflect that things like "the glory of God" or "divine oneness" or "nearness to God" are abstract expressions for things that can't really be expressed in the concrete words of a physical world. That makes it easier to see that the spiritual state these different images illustrate might in fact be one and the same.
Hmmm... that doesn't sound very "concrete". Let me try it another way: What do all those expressions actually mean? What do we picture in our minds when we say/read them? Are we focused on the physical position of our body - which doesn't exist in the next life? On physical sensations (sight, sound, etc.)? Or on what we experience in the soul? Similarly our "on earth" task can be described in different ways but however you slice it the job boils down to doing what is right and noble rather than what is selfish and destructive. I do think the different ways that task is expressed in various religions and traditions can help to provide a fuller picture of what is meant. Because what is meant is something incredibly rich and multi-layered and beautiful. |
| 2 years ago :: Apr 09, 2008 - 9:56AM #5 | |
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beforHim
Posts: 34
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Thx for the explination! I'll be thinking this through.
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| 2 years ago :: Apr 09, 2008 - 9:58AM #6 | |
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avoran
Posts: 121
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That was fast! Just FYI I wasn't totally happy with my original post and edited it at the same time, it seems, as you were reading it. ;)
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| 2 years ago :: Apr 09, 2008 - 11:53AM #7 | |
IreneAdler
Posts: 1554
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So what is Baha'i's point to life, here and in eternity?
Okay, let me add this to really confuse things: Short Obligatory Prayer 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 And one could argue that this implies acquiring spiritual qualities/atrtributes as mentioned earlier. Irene.
A sense of responsibility is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children.
-TMarie |
| 2 years ago :: Apr 10, 2008 - 8:54AM #8 | |
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beforHim
Posts: 34
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Wait- there's an obligatory prayer in the Baha'i faith? So does that mean we have to work for our salvation?
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| 2 years ago :: Apr 11, 2008 - 3:38AM #9 | |
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avoran
Posts: 121
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Mmmm.... BeforHim, I'm not sure what you mean or why you would ask that... care to explain? :)
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| 2 years ago :: Apr 11, 2008 - 9:16AM #10 | |
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Yodalady_AA
Posts: 291
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before
ah, yeah, we do..check it out.. Anna |
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