HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: Frank Vahid <vahid@thoth.ICS.UCI.EDU>
Subject: What was the inspiration of the NT's authors?
Organization: Sun Microsystems of Canada, Inc.
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 19:59:09 GMT

 
There has been discussion on another group lately on symbolic
versus literal interpretations of the Bible.  It brought to mind a 
question which I would like to put forward.

Each of the four gospels (Mark, Luke, Matthew, and John) reads
like a story that highlights Christ's life and his sayings.
For example, in each we find accounts of the resurrection.
Each disciple seems to be summarizing what he saw Jesus do and what
he heard Jesus say.  

Many believe that certain events, such as the resurrection, have a symbolic 
rather than a literal interpretation.  Now to assume that things such as 
the resurrection are to be interpreted symbolically rather than literally, 
we have to assume that the gospels are NOT what they appear to be; i.e. they 
are NOT summaries of what the disciples saw Jesus do.  If this is the case, 
then each disciple must have been inspired somehow to tell a story that 
appears on the surface to be literal, and I means *really* appears to be 
literal, but is actually symbolic.  
 
Is this essentially the same conclusion others have come to?  If so,
is there any information in the Baha'i Writings pertaining to this 
inspiration?

Frank
Newsgroups: soc.religion.bahai
From: Tim Nolan <TBNJ@CORNELLA.cit.cornell.edu>
Subject: How Baha'u'llah's Writings received their names
Organization: Sun Microsystems of Canada, Inc.
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 20:59:06 GMT



I have a question about how various documents of the Baha'i sacred
Writings got their names.

First,
    Why are many of Baha'u'llah's writings called "Tablets" instead
   of "Letters"?  Many documents that Baha'u'llah wrote are actually
   letters written to answer the questions of individual believers.
   Is the term "Tablet" used to emphasize the exalted nature of these
   documents, or is  there another reason?

Second,
    Why are some documents called by the term "Surih", and others are
   called by the term "Lawh"? For example, Surih-i-Vafa,  Lawh-i-Aqdas.
   What is the distinction between Surih and Lawh?

Third,
   How did the various documents written by Baha'u'llah receive the
 names by which they are known today?  Did He name them, or was the name
  given by someone else and simply accepted by the Baha'is? For example
  the Hidden Words. Did Baha'u'llah Himself assign this name, or did
  someone else? What about the Tablet of Wisdom, the Epistle to the
  Son of the Wolf, The Fire Tablet, and so forth?

I have read the four volumes by Adib Taherzadeh, concerning the
Revelation of Baha'u'llah, but I don't recall that he treated these
specific questions.

                              Hoping to be enlightened,
                              Tim Nolan
From: chai@m.cs.uiuc.edu (Ian Chai)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.bahai
Subject: Questions about Baha'i from a non-Baha'i
Date: 2 Sep 92 16:08:24 GMT
Organization: University of Illinois, Dept. of Comp. Sci., Urbana, IL

[Corrected spelling of Baha'i and Baha'u'llah--mmt]

Hi. I'm told that Baha'is believe that all religions are true and just
different dispensations from God -- that Gilgamesh, Abraham,
Confucius, Lao Tze, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammed, and finally
Baha'u'llah are all true prophets of God and that their teachings were
true teachings for their time.

Is this true?

(Uhh, I might not get back to this group for a while so you might wanna
email me -- chai@cs.uiuc.edu -- thanks.)

Ian
Newsgroups: soc.religion.bahai
From: xxbrent@convx1.lerc.nasa.gov (Brent Anderson)
Subject: quotes from Christ and Baha'u'llah
Organization: Sun Microsystems of Canada, Inc.
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 15:44:14 GMT



"I have no will but Thy will, O my Lord, and cherish no desire
except Thy desire.  From my pen floweth only the summons which
Thine own exalted pen hath voiced, and my tongue uttereth naught
save what the Most Great Spirit hath itself proclaimed in the
kingdom of Thine eternity." 
        - Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations, p. 108


"I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my
judgement is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the
will of the Father which hath sent me."
        - Christ, John 5:30


--
Brent Anderson
xxbrent@convx1.lerc.nasa.gov



Newsgroups: soc.religion.bahai
From: uunet!athena!ederveen@nwnexus.wa.com (Ederveen D.)
Subject: Cours Gratuit d'Esperanto (regula posxtajxo / postage re'gulier)
Reply-To: D.N.M.Ederveen@research.ptt.nl
Organization: PTT Research
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 09:39:27 GMT


Postage re'gulier sur le                                Regula pos^taj^o pri la
                            COURS GRATUIT D'ESPERANTO

Quoi ?					Kio ?
Un cours d'Espe'ranto sur le re'seau,	Reta Esperanto-kurso, havebla en ambau~
disponible en anglais et en francais.	la angla kaj la franca lingvoj. G^i
Base' sur le Cours Gratuit par Corres-	bazig^as sur la Cours Gratuit par
pondance de la Socie'te' Que'becoise	Correspondance de la Esperanto-Asocio
d'Espe'ranto. Nous espe'rons le fournir	de Kebekio. Ni esperas aldoni kursojn
prochainement dans d'autres langues.	en aliaj lingvoj estonte.

Combien ?				Kiom ?
Gratuit! 10 lec,ons.			Senpaga! 10 lecionojn.

Comment ?				Kiel ?
Les correcteurs du re'seau vous		Instruantoj en retlando helpos vin,
aideront, corrigeront vos exercices et	korektos viajn ekzercojn, kaj sendos al
enverront les suivants.			vi sekvajn lecionojn.

Pourquoi ?				Kial ?
Pour apprendre l'Espe'ranto, bien su^r!	Por lerni Esperanton, kompreneble!

Qui ?					Kiu ?
Pour vous!				Por vi!

Ou` ?					Kie ?
Envoyez-moi votre adresse e'lectronique	Sendu e-pos^ton al mi (adreso: vd.
(voir plus bas) et je vous enverrai la	sube) kaj mi sendos al vi la unuan
premie`re lec,on et l'adresse de votre	lecionon, kune kun la retadreso de via
correcteur. Veuillez pre'ciser la	propra instruanto. Bonvolu indiki la
langue (Eng/Fra).			anglan au~ la francan.

Quand ?					Kiam ?
Maintenant, si vous le de'sirez.	Nun, se vi volas.

Et alors ?				Kia ?
De`s la premie`re lec,on vous pourrez	Ekde la unua leciono, vi povos skribi
e'crire en Espe'ranto et a` la fin du	en Esperanto, kaj fininte la kurson, vi
cours comprendre presque n'importe quel	povos kompreni preskau~ c^iun
texte (avec un dictionnnaire) et	Esperanto-tekston, (helpe de vortaro),
e'crire des textes simples.		kaj skribi simplajn tekstojn.

J'attends votre re'ponse!		Mi atendas vian pos^taj^on!

salutations / salutojn,
Derk Ederveen                        internet: D.N.M.Ederveen@research.ptt.nl
                                               earn:  ederveen@hlsdnl5.bitnet
(pas de re'ponse automatique a` ce message)    uucp: ..!hp4nl!dnlunx!ederveen
(ne uzu au~tomatan respondon al c^i-mesag^o)   decnet:        dnlts::ederveen

Newsgroups: soc.religion.bahai
From: Steven.Kolins@lambada.oit.unc.edu
Subject: Re: Baha'i Burial
Organization: -
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1992 03:32:59 GMT

Teri - here's something to help i hope

>From the Family Life Compilation, (and the Compilation of Compilations
Vol I, pp. 386-7.)  [The former is a topical compilation of Baha'i
Writings, the latter a bound volume in which a number of topical
compilations have been reprinted. --rdt]

"Say, O My people!  Show honour to your parents and pay homage to
them.  This will cause blessings to descend upon you from the clouds
of the bounty of your Lord, the Exalted, the Great....Beware lest ye
commit that which would sadden the hearts of your fathers and mothers.
Follow ye the path of Truth which indeed is a straight path.  Should
anyone give you a choice between the opportunity to render a service
to Me and a service to them, choose ye to serve them, and let such a
service be a path leading you to Me.  This is my exhortation and
command unto thee...."

While i don't think this justifies blind obedience to a parent's
wishes, there is a definite bias there.  And God is fully capable of
granting wider mercy than any harm we may do.  Indeed, from the same
compilation:

"One of the distinguished characteristics of this most great
Dispensation is that the kin of such as have recognized and embraced
the truth of this Revelation and have, in the glory of His name, the
Sovereign Lord, quaffed the choice, sealed wine from the chalice of
the love of the one true God, will, upon their death, if they are
outwardly non-believers, be graciously invested with divine
forgiveness and partake of the ocean of His mercy.  This bounty,
however, will be vouchsafed only onto such souls as have inflicted no
harm upon Him Who is the Sovereign Truth nor upon His loved ones...."

thanks
Steven
From: maton@jester.USask.ca (Terry Maton)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.bahai
Subject: Reading for August 28th
Date: 28 Aug 92 15:13:29 GMT
Article-I.D.: qiclab.1992Aug30.070653.9557
Organization: University of Saskatchewan

The purpose of justice is the appearance of unity among men.  The
ocean of divine wisdom surgeth within this exalted word, while the
books of the world cannot contain its inner significance.  Were
mankind to be adorned with this raiment, they would behold the
day-star of the utterance, "On that day God will satisfy everyone out
of His abundance", shining resplendent above the horizon of the world.

Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, pp. 66-67
-- 
Terry Maton
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada

INTERNET:   maton@sask.usask.ca   or   maton@herald.usask.ca
From: trhan@milton.u.washington.edu (Teri Rhan)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.bahai
Subject: Re: Baha'i Burial
Date: 27 Aug 92 16:11:50 GMT
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle

In article <1992Aug17.224122.17573@qiclab.scn.rain.com>
trowe@uwspmail.uwsp.edu (Thomas Rowe Psychology) writes:

>A short while ago someone brought up the issue of Baha'i burial laws.
>There are three laws currently binding on the American Baha'i
>community for burial.  I should note in passing that the Universal
>House of Justice (UHJ), the supreme governing body in the Baha'i
>faith, has the power to decide which laws are binding in various parts
>of the world and which are not yet binding.  We are heading for a time
>when all laws are binding on believers everywhere, but with the
>current differences in culture, the UHJ is allowing a grace period in
>some cases.

>The first law is that the body must be buried, not cremated.
>According to Abdu'l-Baha, there is still some connection, however
>tenuous, between the soul and the body following death and the
>destruction of the body, which used to be the throne of the soul, is a
>shock to the soul.  In keeping with that, the body is to be treated
>with respect and dignity befitting with the station of the earthly
>home of the soul.  Abdu'l-Baha also wrote:

My very good friend and mother-in-law has been battling cancer for 
very long time.  She is weeks if not days away from passing into the 
Abha Kingdom.  I am a Baha'i and I understand that these burial laws are 
binding for Baha'is only. She is not a Baha'i and has expressed the 
desire to be cremated.  I want to respect her wishes yet in light of 
this previous paragraph, I have difficulty within myself not wanting to 
following thru with her request.  There really is no one else she can
turn to and now she is on so much pain medication, I fear I waited too
long to discuss this with her. 

Can anyone recommend something from the Baha'i writings that may provide 
some guidance?

-Teri Rhan
From: bro@cs.rice.edu (Douglas Monk)
Subject: RE: aqeedah
Summary: "heart == blood pump" is oversimplification
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Originator: Mughal@Romeo.Caltech.Edu (Asim Mughal -Moderator)
Organization: California Institute of Technology
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1992 23:24:00 GMT


[Postmarked: 20 Aug '92]

In article <26108@life.ai.mit.edu> ekrem@vlsivie.tuwien.ac.at (Ekrem Saban) writes:
>[...]
>A hadith can't be considered or relied upon like an Ayat. There are
>hadith' which are sahih, but could be better formulated or are even
>wrongly formulated. [..]
>As an example for such a [wrongly formulated] hadith, take the one which
>says that there is a piece of flesh inside man; if this piece of flesh
>is good, all the body is good, anc vice versa, thus attributing
>(directly or indirectly, I can't remember the exact words now- but it
>is from Kutub-u Sitta) that the heart is more than a blood pump. [...]
>However, we know today that this piece of
>flesh has NO OTHER duty then to pump the blood, as you can cut out the
>heart and REPLACE it by a pump.

Not to belabor the point unecessarily, but this is an extreme
oversimplification of both the nature and the function of the human
heart organ. It does not only consist of muscle fibers, but contains
other tissues, including neural fibers, and its own vascular system.
The primary function of the heart appears to be to pump blood
throughout the body, but it is far from certain that we know *every*
function that it may actually perform at this point in medicinal
science. For all we know, it may release endocrine secretions we have
never detected, or be more integral in the neural system than we
suspect, etc. The fact that attempts to replace the heart with a
simple mechanical pump may have larger implications other than that
it is simply hard to do: we may have missed some subtle function that
it also needs to perform.

Doug Monk (bro@rice.edu)



-- 
Doug Monk (bro@rice.edu)

Disclaimer: These views are mine, not necessarily my organization's.
From: ekrem@vlsivie.tuwien.ac.at (Ekrem Saban)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: RE: Bosnian Muslims
Date: 23 Aug 92 23:10:00 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41
Originator: Mughal@Romeo.Caltech.Edu (Asim Mughal -Moderator)


[Postmarked: Aug 19 '92 ]

In article <26444@life.ai.mit.edu> mmasood@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Mohammed A Masood) writes:

   Salaam,
	   Muslims men, women, children, old all are calling to help
	   them out of the sufferings they are going thru in Bosnia.
	   When Kuwait was invaded the whole world cried out for help,
	   but now in the case of Bosnia the so-called world leaders
	   want to calculate all the equations before even taking any
	   firm steps for aiding them humanitarian basis, on the other
	   hand they were in Saudi Arabia within 1 week.

You say Saudi Arabia, and I have a question: does anybody know how
much aid has been sent from Muslim countries till now to B&H?

--

_______  __ ________________________________________________ _ ___________
   /|   |    	A. Ekrem SABAN	       / Technische Universitat Wien
  /_|_  |_  ekrem@vlsivie.tuwien.ac.at/Inst.f. Techn. Informatik, HW & VLSI
 /  |     |    "Nu ninda-a ezateni,  /Address: 1040 Wien, Treitlstr. 3/2
/   |__ __|	vadar ma ekuteni"   /Tel:(43-1)58801/8147, Fax:(43-1)569697 
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
From: ashabana@agsm.ucla.edu (Ahmed Shabana)
Subject: Disposal of unsollicited Islamic litterature
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Originator: Mughal@Romeo.Caltech.Edu (Asim Mughal -Moderator)
Organization: California Institute of Technology
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1992 23:17:00 GMT

[Postmarked: Aug 19, '92]

Al Salaam Alykum.

I have managed to have my name on a number of  mailing lists for Islamic
organizations or causes. My mailbox is now full of their
sollicitations. Because this type of mail contains verses from the Holy
Quraan I am reluctant to dispose of it in the same manner I deal with
similar mailings. Freinds have proposed alternative disposal methods
which are either inconvenient/ dangerous (fire) or expensive 
(paper shredder). Does anyone have more practical alternatives? 

Thanks 

Ahmed 

--
_____________________________________________________________________
Ahmed A. Shabana	         |" Unless otherwise indicated
Anderson Graduate School of Mgmt.| products do not include anchovies"  
U.C.L.A.			 | Fine print in Dell computers brochures. 

Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
From: hareb_s@cubldr.colorado.edu
Subject: Book ----------2nd edition
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Originator: Mughal@Romeo.Caltech.Edu (Asim Mughal -Moderator)
Organization: California Institute of Technology
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1992 23:07:00 GMT



[Postmakred: 19 Aug 92 11:42:14 MST ]



		ANNOUNCING THE SECOND EDITION OF


			PROPHET MUHAMMAD
		The last messenger in the Bible

			written      by:
			 Kais Al Kalby



Written in five parts including:

Part 1:  GOD, THE ONE AND ONLY SAVIOR
Part 2:  SCIENCE IN THE QURAN
Part 3:  PROPHET MUHAMMAD, THE LAST MESSENGER IN THE BIBLE
Part 4:  WHY THEY HAVE CHOSEN ISLAM
Part 5:  GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT ISLAM

Comparison of the English, Hebrew and Arabic Bible with the Quran showing the
references side by side. Over 600 pages -- including maps, pictures, documents
and references. Follow the life and mission of the prophet muhammad through the
Bible from birth until death. Examines Muhammad's prophecies for our day.

A guide to the Islamic religion and practices.

To order please send check or money order for $28 (including postage and
handling) to :

American Muslim Cultural Association
P.O.Box 561
Logan, Utah 84321
USA

If you would like to contact the auther of the book, please call
(801) 753 5787    



=========================================================================
			Excerpts from the book

Isaiah 21:13 The inspiration upon Arabia, in the forest in Arabia shall ye
lodge.

Genesis 15:18 In that same day, the Lord made a covenant with Abraham, saying,
unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the grat
river, the river Eu-phrates.

Daniel 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a
kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to
other poeple, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and
it shall stand forever.

St. Matthew 21:43 (Jesus is saying) Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of 
God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits 
thereof.

-Is it possible that the prophet and the messenger of God (Allah), Muhammad
 (peace be upon him) is mentioned in the Bible by name?
-Who is the [prince of the world] mentioned in the Gospels?
-Why did many christian and jewish religious leaders and scholars become 
 Muslims after they studied the holy scriptures?

The answers for these and many other thought provoking questions are surely
to be found in this uniquely written book.

You may call to ask for a flyer that contains the summary of the book and 
some of the highlights for the price of the postage stamp (same address
above).
From: ekrem@vlsivie.tuwien.ac.at (Ekrem Saban)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Re: "Halal Meat" or "Jew Kosher Meat"
Date: 26 Aug 92 20:06:07 GMT
Organization: Technical University of Vienna


In article <0m7mb731@csv.warwick.ac.uk> esrmp@warwick.ac.uk (Lami Kaya) writes:


   Dear netters,

   I would like to ask your views on a situation which puzzled
   and disturbed me.

   I have friend here. He seems to be very 'strict' in his diet.
   Such as checking each product if there is any harmful/unlawful
   preservatives and other ingredients (we try to do the same).
   ... and he tries to be a "devout" muslim...
[...]

   He was not buying and eating meat for long time. Despite there are
   many butchers being around, who sell "halal meat". Last night
   when I saw him eating a meal which have mince-meat in it, then the
   discussion started. Then he explained that he found a shop, that sells
   "Jew Kosher(sp?) meat". I hope you got the point...

If they sell Kosher meat, than it must contain a written confirmation
that it was slaughtered by Rabbi such and such and is eatable for a
time of ... So, the point is not a point if it contains this writing.
If not, than how could your friend believe those people selling meat
as kosher?

   Lami

SAVRVB,

--

_______  __ ________________________________________________ _ ___________
   /|   |    	A. Ekrem SABAN	       / Technische Universitat Wien
  /_|_  |_  ekrem@vlsivie.tuwien.ac.at/Inst.f. Techn. Informatik, HW & VLSI
 /  |     |    "Nu ninda-a ezateni,  /Address: 1040 Wien, Treitlstr. 3/2
/   |__ __|	vadar ma ekuteni"   /Tel:(43-1)58801/8147, Fax:(43-1)569697
From: ekrem@vlsivie.tuwien.ac.at (Ekrem Saban)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Muslim.gay
Date: 26 Aug 92 20:15:34 GMT
Organization: Technical University of Vienna


Assalaamu ~alaikum,

There is a new newsgroup now- besides muslim.wanted.men and
muslim.wanted.women, there is a muslim.wanted.gay. This is, to my
opinion, an insult to Islam, as the group name consists of the word 'Muslim'
and the sinful state of gayness, which is strictly prohibited. So, a
Muslim can be a sinner (and perhaps gay), but to appear and say openly
that (s)he is Muslim and gay is a defiance to the Islamic Law. So, I
invite every Muslim who thinks like me to write to this group, trying
to remove it from the net.
--

_______  __ ________________________________________________ _ ___________
   /|   |    	A. Ekrem SABAN	       / Technische Universitat Wien
  /_|_  |_  ekrem@vlsivie.tuwien.ac.at/Inst.f. Techn. Informatik, HW & VLSI
 /  |     |    "Nu ninda-a ezateni,  /Address: 1040 Wien, Treitlstr. 3/2
/   |__ __|	vadar ma ekuteni"   /Tel:(43-1)58801/8147, Fax:(43-1)569697 
Xref: sparky soc.religion.islam:1605 soc.culture.pakistan:14221
From: azhar@duke.cs.duke.edu (D. Salman [Quintessential] Azhar)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam,soc.culture.pakistan
Subject: Re: Interest/Financing cars and homes
Date: 26 Aug 92 20:22:19 GMT
Followup-To: soc.religion.islam
Organization: Duke University Computer Science Dept.; Durham, N.C.

In article <714860240@romeo.cs.duke.edu> cdawkins@axion.bt.co.uk (Abd Al Karim) writes:
>Asalamu Alaikum
>
>When the brother says " I know that I will be paying interest but..."then the question has already been answered..
>
>Interest is dealing in usary and usary is Haram

	   Whereas I agree with almost everything you have to say
hitherto, I must object to equating interest to usury (i.e. riba in
arabic). My understanding is that riba is either

	   * "interest" above market-clearing-price
	   		 OR
	   * "interest" above inflation index

	   It is time that Islamic economic scholars come up with a
unbiased educated view on this matter for this issue is beyond the
our comprehension.

dsqa

-- 
"To have loved and lost is better than to have won.... For, the burden
of victory has to be shouldered throughout life, and all losses rest
easy in the insatiable abyss called grave." 
--- D. Salman [Quintessential] Azhar CS Dept Duke U  azhar@cs.duke.edu
From: hyder@cs.utexas.edu (Syed Irfan Hyder)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: Monitor: Blasphemy  Precise law and conditions
Date: 27 Aug 92 22:08:50 GMT
Organization: U Texas Dept of Computer Sciences, Austin TX
Originator: gwydion@churchy.gnu.ai.mit.edu

In article <1992Aug26.141539@IASTATE.EDU> jakhan@IASTATE.EDU (Javed A Khan) writ
es:
:::
:I was hoping to see someone actually spell out the precise "Islamic" law
:on blasphemy (with the necessary proof obviously :).
: