From: McKenny Michael <bn872@FreeNet.Carleton.CA>
Subject: Re: To UHJ July 24, 1998
Date: Monday, January 25, 1999 1:03 PM
Greetings, Ron, from Ottawa.
You wrote:
>
> Normally I would agree, but here we have a case where people are
> actually dying, being murdered, and saving their lives by concerted
> action is the first priority.
I have not been following the news. Maybe you could provide the date
of the most recent Baha'i murdered by fundamentalists in Iran.
All such opposition to freedom of thought and expression demonstrates
the insecurity of those performing the opposition. Let it be conveyed very
clearly that the influence of Muhammad to produce a society worthy of
being inhabited can be called into question as a consequence of the extent
to which humans are decently treated by those claiming to be following the
Prophet.
Let there be no mistake. The Baha'i Faith originated in Iran. It was
born in Shi'ite Islam. It was engendered from the identical location both
geographically and metaphorically which has provided us with the spectacle
of current intolerance on the part of some Iranian authorities.
Literalist sensitivities as to the understanding of terms such as "Seal
of the Prophets" correspond very closely with sensitivities by Baha'i
leaders with terms such as "the men of Baha" and both sets of
fundamentalists seem equally unpleased that there are explanations and
perceptions of such terms which others find convincing.
The only difference I have noticed in previous authoritative action
is that one set of fundamentalist leaders possessed the capacity of the
modern state to further its intent to silence such explanations and the
other set of fundamentalist leaders, lacking this capacity, utilized the
means available seeking to keep the Baha'i world ignorant of such
explanations and perceptions through censorship, interrogation and
harrassment. Why in the world would anyone aware of the results of the
laboratory of human experience expect that Baha'i authorities, more
concerned with literalist understandings about silent compliance with
any command soever than with acting in accord with the principles of
their own religion, would distinguish themselves in any way from the
fundamentalists in Iran had they but the capacity to do so?
Yes, indeed, there are lives at stake, maybe quite a lot of them.
Shoghi Effendi stated that in the fullness of time the Baha'i World
Order will have replaced current religious and political structures
and this Universal House of Justice insisting on silent compliance with
any unprincipled command soever is understood by Baha'i fundamentalists
as being expected to rule the entire planet. History has shown that
right or wrong such an expectation is not impossible. Monotheistic
Islam and monotheistic Christianity both triumphed and thrust up such
intolerance as spirituality had never before produced, though thankfully
such atrocities were limited in time and geographic extent. Why, then, is
it impossible for this to occur again?
This is one reason to get your act together, to proceed now along
the road of freedom of thought and expression, to cease discriminating
against women, to cease insisting that only a fundamentalist and
literalist reading of scripture on the issue of authority may be
tolerated. Prove to the whole world that you are different from what
happened in the past, that if it were to occur that you assume some
significant role in the future this would be beneficial.
And may Deity loving humans touch the minds and the hearts of all
leader, so that tolerance and understanding be gifts unrestricted.
Thrive Ever,
Michael
--
"My name's McKenny, Mike McKenny, Warrant Officer, Solar Guard."
(Tom Corbett #1 STAND BY FOR MARS p2)
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