The Baha'i Faith & Religious Freedom of Conscience

From:         Ron House <house@usq.edu.au>
Date:         1998/01/19
Message-ID:   <34C2E206.19EB0753@usq.edu.au>
Newsgroups:   news.groups
Chris wrote:
 
> In a message which I read on news.groups, Rick Schaut
&gt; &lt;<A
HREF="/profile.xp?author=richs@microsoft.NOSPAMcom&ST=PS">richs@microsoft.NOSPA
Mcom</A>&gt; wrote
&gt; &gt;I agree entirely that Baha'is will have to work out an appropriate response
&gt; &gt;amongst ourselves.  What concerns me is the fact that the proponents of this
&gt; &gt;newsgroup have not taken the lead in beginning some effort along these
&gt; &gt;lines.  Indeed, one of the proponents seems to not want any consultation on
&gt; &gt;this matter at all (though I'm absolutely at a loss as to understand why).
Well I for one will discuss anything with (almost) anyone,
anytime. You tell us what worries you, and I'll do my
best to respond. What I WON'T do, though, is solve your
problem for you. You may be worried that criticisms of
the Faith will be posted; well, you answer them. You
may be concerned that covenant breakers will use the
newsgroup; well, can you defend your religion or can't you?
(You don't have to engage the CBers to do this, you
merely have to explain to the rest of us why the CBer is
wrong.) You might be worried that (GOD FORBID!!!) someone
will be impolite - well, can you show us reasoned,
polite, loving discussion and show us the right way to
do it, or can't you?
In short (and don't take this the wrong way, please)
do you have the GUTS to expose your religion to the
independent search for truth of those people who
will not engage in discussion under the censored
regime of soc.religion.bahai? Will you, as Baha'u'llah
did, challenge the metaphorical clerics to take their
best shot? (He asked them to name ANY miracle, and
if he did not do it, he would be exposed as a
charlatan.) Can you defend your Faith in the kind
of forum you must surely be aware the modern world
demands: an open one where no view is prohibited?
Or isn't your faith in Baha'u'llah strong enough?
Well, go on back to soc.religion.bahai and conduct
tame little discussions with the already-converted,
and leave the tough stuff to Baha'is with better mettle.
I apologise if you don't like the TONE of this
article, or if you use its TONE to refuse to discuss
the subject or to vote no or to tell us people
aren't being polite enough, but I am getting a
little sick of hearing that the objections have
not been answered, and I am also getting sick of
listening to this stuff about how the proponents
should solve the Baha'is' problems for them. In case
you missed it, the proponents want a newsgroup
where ANY civil discussion about the Baha'i Faith
is permitted - for or against. If you are a
committed supporter of the Faith, then YOU make
sure the newsgroup becomes a source of positive
information about the Faith and by your own
example, show us how Baha'is embody the teachings
of Baha'u'llah in their lives.
For the love of Mike, Baha'is are always talking
at feasts about how to get opportunities to teach
the faith, and here is a proposal to create a
huge electronic 'public fireside' where anyone
can ask their questions. Ye gods, what I wouldn't
have done for an opportunity like this when I was
still an active Baha'i! And yes, I am sure there
must be some CBers somewhere who also are straining
at the leash, just waiting for their chance to
corrupt your faith, and some assorted other enemies
waiting their chance to present all their arguments
against Baha'u'llah. Well, do you have the faith
and courage to confront these priests of Baal, or is
all the stirring stuff you hear (and probably yourself
say) at feasts and teaching conferences merely bluster?
Quite frankly, my personal belief is that only
a LACK of faith could possibly cause any Baha'i
to vote against this proposal. Sorry if this
frank article and opinion offends you.
-- 
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, &quot;Space&quot;

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