Date: 11 Jan 93 23:39:07
Distribution: world
From: Brian T. Schellenberger <bts@unx.sas.com>
Newsgroups: soc.religion.bahai
Organization: <none>
Subject: Re: Your article to soc.religion.bahai

(The following response it quickly composed, and entirely inadequate.
 However, a full response will take quite a while to develop, and I
 think that a quick response of some sort--however inadequate--would
 be helpful.  Plus quickly-composed responses are more likely to be
 all wrong, which will generate more traffic.  And this group could
 certainly use some more traffic.)  :-)

Peter Kahn writes:

> 1. What exactly is the Baha'i view on people and technology.  I
> realize that the way in which we communicate with other has been
> changed and that relationships are not what they used to be, but I
> am curious as to how we adjust either the technology or ourselves to
> this change.

I'm not sure that I understand the question, but the Baha'i Faith
explicitly recognizes the harmony of science and religion as two
different ways of understanding different aspects of a single truth.
It also holds that humans are not merely material bodies, but also
spiritual beings, and that both aspects of humanity must be recognized
and addressed if we are to solve our problems.  At this point, the
technology (material) realm has outstripped our spiritual progress.
Addressing the issue is precisely the problem that the Baha'i Faith
claims to uniquely solve.

> 2.  What is the Baha'i view on animal rights, reproductive rights,
> women's rights and gay rights?

Well, as anybody who's been in this group knows, the last two issues
alone could easily take up many weeks of discussion, but _very_
briefly:

- Animals are recognized as being entitled to protection from cruelty.
  It is stated that "in the future" humanity will cease to eat meat,
  but vegetarianism is not required of Baha'is (or widely practiced).
  
- The Faith teaches that human life begins at conception.  Given this,
  Baha'is are free to make their own decisions about abortion in
  "gray" areas where there may be some medical reason involved.
  However, abortion simply to prevent the birth of an unwanted child
  is prohibited to Baha'is.

  However, the Baha'i Faith itself deliberately avoids taking an
  official position on the very divisive "Pro-choice/Pro-life"
  (legality) issue.  This debate is a source of division, and we are
  working for unity.  God will in any case have mercy on the souls of
  the unborn.
  
  As for non-abortificant methods of birth control, the Baha'i Faith
  takes no position on them.  Baha'is are not, however, supposed to
  enter marriage with the explicit intention of using birth control to
  ensure that there are no children at all, as this is against the
  spirit of marriage.
  
- The equality of men and women is a one of the fundamental teachings
  of Baha'u'llah (the founder of the Baha'i Faith).
  
- Baha'is are not allowed to practice sex except within the context of
  monogamous heterosexual marriage, although this is not considered
  nearly so important as prohibitions against, for example,
  backbiting.

> 3.  What is the Baha'i view of Baha'u'llah, Jesus, Moses, and
> Mohammed?  Where they divinely inspired or where they divine?

Baha'u'llah, Jesus, Moses, and Mohammed are considered to be
"Manifestations of God".  These are beings who are specially chosen by
God to reflect his light as a mirror reflects the light of the sun.

The are neither God nor man, really.  (If you really want to know the
gory theological details, they are at the end of this message.)

> 4.  In Islam there are the five pillars, does the Baha'i Faith have a
> similar structure, if so what is it?

No.  Baha'u'llah has revealed a number of laws which are considered
binding on Baha'is, and has enunciated numerous principles for living,
but there is no single, simple list of "pillars" of the Faith.

> 5. What are the rules of Baha'i regarding the family?

The family is based on, as I noted above, a monogamous (heterosexual)
marriage.  In this marriage both are partners; neither the husband nor
the wife is "in charge."  If there are children, the first priority in
education is to be given to the girls.  Universal education is
required whenever possible.  Unity of the family is the most important
principle.  In order to foster unity, the permission of the both the
bride and grooms' parents is required before marriage.  Divorce is
strongly discouraged, but is permitted (after a waiting period of one
year) if irreconcilable antipathy exists between the partners.

These are some random observations on how the Holy Writings say that
Baha'i families should be conducted, as filtered by me (as is all of
this, of course).  As with the earlier question about pillars, there
is no single, simple list of rules and guidelines.

> If I have offended anyone by my phrasing of these questions, I am
> deeply sorry.

I can't imagine that these questions would be offensive.  Indeed, the
individual search for truth is one of the fundamental principles of
the Faith.  Even if your questions were more pointed, it would be
unlikely to offend Baha'is, since it says in the Baha'i writings that
"out of the clash of differing opinions the shining spark of truth
shall come forth."  So don't be shy about asking us questions.

The only offense that could possibly be caused would be if you made
personal (or group) slurs.
---
Brian, the Man from Babble-on.  (Brian T. Schellenberger)   
                                (SAS Institute, Inc.    )
bts@unx.sas.com                 (Cary, NC            USA)
===================================================================
Intense theological stuff coming . . . of interest to few

God is omniscient, omnibenevolent, and omnipotent.  He is infinite,
and cannot be contained with anything, least of all a human body.  He
has always existed, and always will continue to exist.  ("He" is just
an English convention; God of course has no gender, and "She" or "It"
would be equally accurate--and equally insufficient.)

Ordinary mortals have a soul which is created by God at the moment of
conception.  Once created, the soul endures forever.

Manifestations of God have a pre-existant soul like God, and have all
the *attributes*, but not the *essence* of God.  They are like perfect
mirrors reflecting God's full light.  But only the "rays" of the sun,
and not the "hydrogen" that generates those rays is present in the
Manifestations.  All the Manifestations are in fact the same Soul,
eternally at "God's right hand," but not an actual component part of
God.
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