In a recent comment on this blog Anonymous observed the following. -gw
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From what I've read (on this blog and elsewhere), Baha'is seem to take a whole heck of a lot on faith. Is there no room for curiosity, questioning, doubt in your religion?
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http://bahaiviews.blogspot.com/2007/09/on-god-of-buddha-respect-for-bahai.html
One of my favorite things to note about the Baha'i Calendar is that there is a month of "Questions," but no month of "Answers." -gw
The 15th month of the Baha’i Calendar called Masa’il (Questions) starts December 11th at sundown. The Baha’i (Badi) Calendar months are named after attributes or qualities of God.
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http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art38017.asp
Having a questioning mind is extoled in the Baha'i Writings. Doubt and uncertainty, however, characterize our age. It strikes a chord in us that even a Mother Theresa doubted. Doubt is a part of the human condition and affects Baha'is as well, of course. After all, are we not all finite beings? Becoming a believer involves a leap of Faith. God gives us much reassurance. We say our prayers. Steadfastness in the face of doubt is admirable.
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I remember one of my Baha'i teachers telling me many years ago, "The Baha'i Faith is the best thing I've come across so far." I have been saying that myself ever since then. Here are a few excerpts to mark the beginning of a discussion. -gw
It is always through questioning and mature thought that we can arrive at the root of everything .
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The Light of Divine Guidance (Volume 2)
Author: Shoghi Effendi
Source: Bahá’í Publishing Trust of Germany (Bahá’í-Verlag), 1985 edition
Abrogation of specific laws and ordinances of previous Dispensations, which prescribed:
... f. Prohibition on questioning the Founder of the Faith
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The Kitáb-i-Aqdas
Author: Bahá’u’lláh
Source: Bahá’í World Centre, 1992 edition
Whenever thou art desiring to talk and answer questions, turn thy face toward the Kingdom of Abha and beseech for assistance; then loosen thy tongue. Thou wilt behold at that time how thou art able to answer all the questions!
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Tablets of Abdul-Baha Abbas
Author: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Source: Bahá’í Publishing Committee, 1909 edition
The Independent Investigation of Truth: Baha'u'llah emphasizes the fundamental obligation of human beings to acquire knowledge with their "own eyes and not through the eyes of others." One of the main sources of conflict in the world today is the fact that many people blindly and uncritically follow various traditions, movements, and opinions. God has given each human being a mind and the capacity to differentiate truth from falsehood. If individuals fail to use their reasoning capacities and choose instead to accept without question certain opinions and ideas, either out of admiration for or fear of those who hold them, then they are neglecting their basic moral responsibility as human beings.
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http://info.bahai.org/article-1-3-2-17.html
Eventually, as an ever-evolving civilization exhausts its spiritual sources, a process of disintegration sets in, as it does throughout the phenomenal world. Turning again to analogies offered by nature, Bahá’u’lláh compares this hiatus in the development of civilization to the onset of winter. Moral vitality diminishes, as does social cohesion. Challenges which would have been overcome at an earlier age, or been turned into opportunities for exploration and achievement, become insuperable barriers. Religion loses its relevance, and experimentation becomes increasingly fragmented, further deepening social divisions. Increasingly, uncertainty about the meaning and value of life generates anxiety and confusion. Speaking about this condition in our own age Bahá’u’lláh says:
We can well perceive how the whole human race is encompassed with great, with incalculable afflictions. We see it languishing on its bed of sickness, sore-tried and disillusioned. They that are intoxicated by self-conceit have interposed themselves between it and the Divine and infallible Physician. Witness how they have entangled all men, themselves included, in the mesh of their devices. They can neither discover the cause of the disease, nor have they any knowledge of the remedy. They have conceived the straight to be crooked, and have imagined their friend an enemy.
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Bahá’u’lláh
Author: Bahá’í International Community
Today I went to the center rushing to get there by 11 because I was under the impression that the Baha'i Cluster reflection meeting was starting promptly at that time, and saw but a splattering of devotees waiting to say some morning prayers together. Bewildered and lost I stumbled into the devotional to learn that the reflection meeting was next week. Goodness. I got into my prayer mode and we had an amazing time. And one seeker was just so spiritually on tap it was amazing - I really enjoyed talking with her.
