From: Ron House <house@usq.edu.au>
Date: 1998/02/06
Message-ID: <34DA9359.7B663B43@usq.edu.au>
Newsgroups: news.groups,alt.religion.bahai
Donald Zhang Osborn wrote:
> To me the reposts seem rather to be an attempt to link the t.r.b. vote
> with the notion that there's some kind of censorship problem in the
> Faith.
The rejection of TRB last time by 591 votes (which I have
demonstrated exhaustively to be highly suspicious (article
will be reposted on request)) happened precisely because
there was a huge panic that covenant breakers might gain
a place to make their views known. I think that's pretty
clear evidence that there is a censorship problem in the
faith. Yes, I agree this is not the institutions doing this,
but that huge glut of believers rushing to apply censorship
is certainly a 'problem', given Baha'u'llah's views on
independent search for truth.
I admit Fred has reposted a few articles too many, but in
his defence, it is clearly his right to show the kinds of
things that have no mainstream outlet available now. If
seeing them on news.groups is annoying anyone, their best
course of action is to vote yes for a newsgroup they really
do belong on.
As for the remark that this will put Baha'is off from
wanting to support TRB, I am reminded of an incident that
happened when I was a Baha'i youth and still enthusiastic.
An arrangement was made for a youth meeting with the local
Mormon church. The Brisbane LSA sent the youth to the meeeting
with the words "have a good time!" When we arrived, the
Mormon youth were there, accompanied by their elders!
I remember commenting afterwards that the faith of the
Brisbane LSA was in sharp contrast with the lack of
faith of the Mormon elders. I know exactly what my
reaction then would have been if I could have been told
about a world-wide, free, open electronic network where
you can say anything you like about the Baha'i faith:
"Bring on the critics! Bring on the enquirers! Let me
at 'em!"
The pusilanimity of the Baha'is here now using Fred's
irascibility as an excuse to vote no is a sad, sorry
contrast to the faith displayed by the Brisbane LSA
25 years ago.
--
Ron House
house@usq.edu.au
An age is called Dark not because the light fails to shine, but
because people refuse to see it. -- James Michener, "Space"</pre>
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