Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!ll-xn!mit-amt!mit-eddie!cybvax0!mrh From: mrh@cybvax0.UUCP (Mike Huybensz) Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc Subject: The Book of Flammage Message-ID: <1169@cybvax0.UUCP> Date: Tue, 30-Sep-86 14:32:38 EDT Article-I.D.: cybvax0.1169 Posted: Tue Sep 30 14:32:38 1986 Date-Received: Thu, 2-Oct-86 19:50:51 EDT References: <11900055@uiucdcsb> Reply-To: mrh@cybvax0.UUCP (Mike Huybensz) Organization: Cybermation, Inc., Cambridge, MA Lines: 141 This is a flame, written for amusement value only. There is just something about certain kinds of dogmatic behavior that kindles derision in me.... In article <11900055@uiucdcsb> wsmith@uiucdcsb.cs.uiuc.edu types in a lengthy passage without any explanation of why this rambling, psychotic raving is relevant to anything. > The Book of Certitude (Baha'u'llah) Or is it the book of platitude? Should believers be certified nuts? Why is it that Bahais in particular tend to quote so very much with so little reference to any particular subject? Are they certain even though they can't explain it? Well, at least they're not beating around the bush: they come right out and say "these irrational maunderings are the absolute truth: look it says so right in the title." > "IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD, THE EXALTED, THE MOST HIGH. This apostrophe is one of the most ludicrous aspects of the Islamic origin of the Bahais. Translated from Platitudese to English, it says "believe this or we'll behead you as an infidel, and then God will get on your case!" > "The essence of these words is this: they that tread the path of faith, they > that thirst for the wine of certitude, must cleanse themselves of all > that is earthly--their ears from idle talk, their minds from vain imaginings, > their heards from worldly affections, theirs from that which perisheth. Here we have a grain of truth. The best way to engender psychosis is to detach yourself from reality. > "Consider the past. How many, both high and low, have, at all times, > yearningly awaited the advent of the Manifestations of God in the sanctified > persons of His chosen Ones. How often have they expected His coming, how > frequently have they prayed that the breeze of divine mercy might blow, and > the promised Beauty step forth from behind the veil of concealment, and be > made manifest to all the world. Pretty often. But that God guy is just TERRIBLE at keeping appointments. > And whensoever the portals of grace did open, > and the clouds of divine bounty did rain upon mankind, and the light of the > Unseen did shine above the horizon of celestial might, they all denied Him, > and turned away from His face--the face of God Himself. Refer ye, to > verify this truth, to that which had been recorded in every sacred Book. Of course. Sacred books have about as much diversity and imagination as low-grade slasher movies. There are certain features that sell. > "Consider for a moment, and reflect upon that which hath been the cause of > such denial on the part of those who have searched with such earnestness > and longing. Their attack hath been more fierce than tongue or pen can > describe. Not one single Manifestation of Holiness hath appeared but > He was afflicted by the denials, the repudiation, and the vehement > opposition of the people around Him. Thus it hath been revealed: 'O > the misery of men! No Messenger cometh unto them but they laugh Him to > scorn.' Again He saith: 'Each nation hath plotted darkly against > their Messenger to lay violent hold on Him, and disputed with > vain words to invalidate the truth.' > ... > "Reflect, what could have been the motive for such deeds? What could have > prompted such behavior towards the Revealers of the beauty of the All- > Glorious? Simple. They are enraged when confronted by frauds. > Whatever in days gone by hath been the cause of the denial and > opposition of those people hath now led to the perversity of the people > of this age. Right. Intelligence and observation are the cause: but I wouldn't call them perversity. > Not for a moment hath His grace been withheld, nore have the showers of His > loving kindness ceased to rain upon mankind. Right. Drought, pestilences, floods, death, etc. are all his idea of "grace". > Consequently, such behaviour can be > attributed to naught save the petty-mindedness of such souls as tread the > valley of arrogance and pride, ar lost in the wilds of remoteness, > walk in the ways of their idle fancy, and follow the dictates of the > leaders of their faith. Their chief concern is mere opposition; their > sole desire is to ignore the truth. "Don't entertain the idea that they are in any way like you: they're scum. How do you know that? Why because I tell you so!" > Unto every discerning observer it is > evident and manifest that had these people in the days of each of the > Manifestations of the Sun of Truth sanctified their eys, their ears, > and their heards from whatever they had seen, heard, and felt, they > surely would not have been deprived of beholding the beauty of God, > nor strayed far from the habitations of glory. "They're scum, so we're right and they're wrong." > But having weighed > the testimony of God by the standard of their own knowledge, gleaned > from the teachings of the leaders of their faith, and found it at > variance with their limited understanding, they arose to perpetrate > such unseemly acts. "Whereas we have no knowledge or understanding whatsoever, so we can be certain and believe whatever we're told." > "Leaders of religion, in every age, have hindered their people from > attaining the shores of eternal salvation, inasmuch as they held the reins > of authority in their mighty grasp. Some for the lust of leadership, > others through want of knowledge and understanding, have been the cause > of the deprivation of the people. By their sanction and authority, > every Prophet of God hath drunk from the chalice of sacrifice and > winged His flight unto the heights of glory. What unspeakable cruelties > they that have occupied the seats of authority and learning have inflicted > upon the true Monarchs of the world, those Gems of divine virtue! Content > with a transitory diminion, they have deprived themselves of an everlasting > sovereignty. Thus, their eyes beheld not the light of the countenance of the > Well-Beloved, nor did their ears hearken unto the sweet melodies of the > Bird of Desire. "But of course, WE are DIFFERENT!" The Bahais are just another religion with a paranoid explanation for why others don't believe in their prophet's wordiness. Indeed, it's the exact same explanation used by Christians and a number of others: they're scoffing scum, so of course they don't believe. They call on the same "evidence" of their putative god's works. Ah well, we don't expect religions to be rational, especially not syncretisms. -- "Do you want real TRUTH in capital letters? Then search yourself for why you believe the things you do. Don't be afraid to analyze why your religion gives you the high it does. Answer yourself this question: Is TRUTH important enough for me to give up my religion if that is required? Until you answer yes to this you are not being honest with yourself." Dave Trissel on Usenet -- Mike Huybensz ...decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!cybvax0!mrh