You have not shown that all people who criticize your faith are ego-maniacs who distort the truth for self-serving motives. EDIT: proving that would be rather difficult, since it is a universal negative. Could there be anyone, in your opinion, who have left your religion for reasons that seemed reasonable to them, and who are not hate filled liars and ego-maniacs?
Hospitals are based on the science of medicine. We have laws against quackery that protect us from those who falsely claim to be doctors and healers. We have no such protection against religious truth claims, and so we must to the research ourselves before we decide to join a religion. Just like we look at both criticism and recommendations when we decide to buy a new car, mobile phone, computer or anything else…
Veeder,
. When people are sincerely searching for the truth, they may indeed encounter a few souls, as an example, who are not fully developed pr spiritually mature, and the sincere seeker may in this instance form a negative impression of the Faith, in this hypothetical example, perhaps due to some hypocrisy encountered. Another scenario is that of the seeker himself, as to whether, having stumbled upon the truth, he rises against it, as did Judas, opposing his Lord, and rebelling against Him. That a few of us may warn others against the Judas of this day is all that is intended.
. Fortunately we have long established institutions of medicine which certify doctors and protect us from quacks. Still, from time to time, we read of incompetent doctors exploiting patient’s trust, but there are measures in place to protect us even from those, when once they are discovered and exposed for what they are. We then return to Harvard for treatment, if the cancer has not been too prolonged.
. You are absolutely correct that we should thoroughly research a religion before aligning ourselves with it. In fact, to do otherwise would expose our own insincerity, undue reliance upon others, and spiritual weakness. This is a fundamental tenant of the Baha’i Faith, expressed in the words, “Independent Investigation of Truth”.
. I cannot rely upon you, nor you upon me, nor either of us upon anyone else, whether an authority figure, parent, or priest. We can, in the stage of search, ponder the writings of anyone, but in the recognition that the words of men are merely the words of men, whereas the Words of God appear heaven sent: “No man spake like this.”
. Indeed, were not the Words of God able to stand by themselves, what power and authority would they hold over us? What effect would they have upon the world if they were merely pretentious sophistry of intellectuals? It is only through one’s reading of the words of any Prophet that one comes to a valid conclusion as to whether or not such words are from God.
. "Immerse yourselves in the ocean of My words, that ye may unravel its secrets, and discover all the pearls of wisdom that lie hid in its depths. Take heed that ye do not vacillate in your determination to embrace the truth of this Cause—a Cause through which the potentialities of the might of God have been revealed, and His sovereignty established. With faces beaming with joy, hasten ye unto Him. This is the changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future. Let him that seeketh, attain it; and as to him that hath refused to seek it—verily, God is Self-Sufficient, above any need of His creatures.
. Say: This is the infallible Balance which the Hand of God is holding, in which all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth are weighed, and their fate determined, if ye be of them that believe and recognize this truth. Say: Through it the poor have been enriched, the learned enlightened, and the seekers enabled to ascend unto the presence of God. Beware, lest ye make it a cause of dissension amongst you. Be ye as firmly settled as the immovable mountain in the Cause of your Lord, the Mighty, the Loving."
. Baha’u’llah
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The “pitch” of the salesperson would fall under what I’m meaning too. That would be a “review” unduly favourable to the religion which is the other side of the coin. The best thing is to look at objective literature that tries to keep away from “taking a side” so to speak.