Bigotry and Hatred are Spiritual Diseases

Thank you, Dr. Bowers, for a succinct statement on the need for a recognition of the fundamental oneness of humanity. This oneness is a biological fact. We must choose by an act of will to conduct ourselves in accord with that oneness. Too much of what is posted in response to your essays and those of other On Faith contributors is tainted by prejudice and ill intent. We have a long way to go to implement God's will for humanity.

CCNL1 continues to post the same bizarre distorted list against the Baha'is as a response to almost every thoughtful essay in On Faith. He has lifted his list from an anti-Baha'i site. The truth: 10. Sex is a gift from God that is considered sacred within marriage between a man and a women. Many people would agree with that. 9. Very few people I know of have "fun" with alcohol, which robs humanity of mind and spirit. Baha'is do not drink alcohol. 8. Baha'is do not join political parties. That is actually pretty healthy, in my view. But they do speak out on issues of principle having to do with human rights and social development. 7. Sacrifice for one's faith is salutary, but I more often hear Baha'is going on about joy. 6. The Baha'i feast has a balance of prayer, consultation, and fellowship. They don't go on all night. They are not a venue for personal arguments. 5. The annual election at Ridvan does not go on all night. 4. If elected to a post in the Baha'i Faith, one serves in it to the best of one's ability. The Treasurer is forbidden from "haranguing" Baha'is for funds. 3. Meetings of the democratically elected council, called the Local Spiritual Assembly, do not go on all night and may not even be held every week. But they are held as needed to handle the spiritual needs of the Baha'i community. 2. A Baha'i who bankrupted himself for his faith would be thought unbalanced. The financial needs of the community are made known and then it is up to individuals to choose to give. 1. The Baha'i teachings extol the intellect and the power of reason. Science and religion are considered two complementary means to investigate reality. Revelation provides principles and guidance, but does not give prescriptions for every life challenge. Baha'is believe that any religion not in accord with established science is superstition.

What does CCNL1 mean by "Babs"? The Bab (the Gate) was the title of the forerunner of Baha'u'llah (the Manifestation of God for this age). There was only one Bab. The Bab and Baha'u'llah are two of several Manifestations of God who appeared throughout history to reveal God's will.

CCNL1's ignorance is showing.

I think it's pretty clear, CCNL, what your fixations are. You spend enough time spamming us with them. Even if people are trying to come together around refusing to hate, which in general I've found the Baha'i pretty darn good at.

As for my Gods, never did find They needed naming in a place like this, never mind embellishment.

And I know it burns you up that you can't touch em.

Reduce them ...like you've done to your own God ...to a bundle of arguments and 'flaws...' Till you never ever have to accept the world is bigger than you and there's other people in it.

Cause, like the shooter, you have no faith, only cowardice and a vain desire for control, no matter how ugly you have to try and the world to do it.

You've reduced yourself to some Pavlovian response of 'non-Christian appears, post nast.'

Sad, sad man.

And what "hateful" fixations might that be?? Simply reiterating the conclusions of contemporary OT, NT and koranic exegetes is not hate.

Some people simply cannot handle the truth about their mythical and embellished religion to include pagans with their foundations based on a horned god and/or a triple goddess.

At least they don't share your hateful fixations, CCNL.

Hopefully the Baha'ists are equally vocal in their condemnation of religions controlled by only males!!!!