From: McKenny Michael <bn872@FreeNet.Carleton.CA>
Subject: Re: All Baha'is are Pseudo-Baha'is
Date: Monday, February 01, 1999 10:13 AM
Greetings, Susan.
One of the fundamental principles of the Baha'i Faith is the agreement
of faith and reason, the harmony of the heart and the mind, the accord of
intellect and belief.
To interpret the emphatic language in Baha'i scripture concerning the
legitimacy of the Universal House of Justice and its right to the loyalty
of the believers in a fundamentalist and literalist manner, as expressing
the necessity of each individual to comply in silence with anything at all
that may be decided is contrary to this principle of the harmony of faith
and reason, along with any other principles said decision may violate.
The Constitution of Canada makes it quite clear that the federal
parliament has legitimacy and is entitled to the full respect of the people.
This is also true in other countries, where the details of authority are set
out. However, this designation of power, along with the responsibility of
the citizens to obey the laws of their governments, requires something of
these governments, that such laws are according to reason and morality.
There is no distinction in the Baha'i Faith, except that in a religion,
in an ethical and spiritual movement, the responsibility of the leadership,
the legitimate leadership, to base its decisions of ethics, morality and
spiritual principle is all the more important.
This word Covenant means contract. On the one hand individuals are to
acknowledge and show loyalty to the legitimate leadership. On the other
hand the legitimate leadership has the responsibility to provide that
ethical, moral and spiritual guidance based on the fundamental principles
of the faith, such guidance as alone is endowed with the spiritual
energy essential for the well-being of the faith.
Michael McKenny ceaselessly acknowledged the legitimacy of the
Universal House of Justice, and he constantly demonstrated his loyalty to
the Universal House of Justice, in full accord with the fundamental
principles of the Baha'i Faith, by drawing attention to the consequences
of the departure of the leadership of the Baha'i Faith from fundamental
Baha'i principle, by providing as clearly expressed as he could the
reasoning (faith and reason agree) permitting the practise of principle,
and by calling on the legitimate leaders of the Baha'i Faith to perform
those actions that would most foster the esteem and authority of these
leaders.
To define the Baha'i Faith and its Covenant (agreement concerning
responsibilities of individuals and legitimate leaders in the Baha'i
Faith) so that only the fundamentalist and the literalist minded, only
those who place an extreme weight on faith and ignore reason may accept it,
is to redefine the Baha'i Faith as a cult instead of a world religion, and,
surely by abandoning the fundamental principles of what was intended to be
the Baha'i World Faith, one has asserted leadership over an entity other
than the Baha'i Faith, whatever said entity may be called.
Although, it might be fully understandable were I to say something
else, still I say that I think the easiest and best way out of this mess
is for the legitimate leaders of the Baha'i Faith to act in accordance
with Baha'i principles.
May this find you very well, and may each of the days to come be
better than the one it succeeds.
To the Future,
Michael
Smaneck (smaneck@aol.com) writes:
> Dear Steve,
>
> In both Michael and Darrick's case the issue was not interpretation of the
> teachings but continous opposition to the stated policies of the Universal
> House of Justice. Such behaviour is clearly prohibited in the Will and
> Testament by 'Abdul-Baha.
--
"My name's McKenny, Mike McKenny, Warrant Officer, Solar Guard."
(Tom Corbett #1 STAND BY FOR MARS p2)
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