Unsaved?

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Re: Unsaved?
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Originally Posted by frangiuliano115 View Post
Both the Salvation Army and Quakers have engaged this world to offer shelter for the homeless, food for the hungry, care for the dying among other things…we have a unique understanding of the second coming…if He is to return, we must make straight the roads and build this world into an acceptable place for Him to return, so we must deal with the sick and dying, feel the hungry, clothe the naked , visit those in prison. We seek to teach the nations to pound their swords into pruning hooks, teach peace among Gods People…Each of us doing our part.
 
TonyBS;13402919:
Who is O’Leary? Never heard of of it. Have only heard of Murphy’s law
O’Leary’s corollary to Murphy’s Law points out that. “Murphy was an optimist.”

Murphy’s Law: if anything can go wrong it will do so, and at the most inopportune time. O’Leary’s Law: makes Murphy look like an optimist
 
Fran wrote above:

Do you believe in life after death? I think you explained that you do. Okay. So what happens after death?? Some religions believe you go to heaven or hell. Some religions believe life just continues in the state you lived it on earth. Some believe in reincarnation and that you come back with the same soul.

Which is it? If you pick one, doesn’t that mean you agree with THAT particular religion?

My comment: Fran in response to your post above I wanted to assure you that Baha’is do believe in life after death… Are there or have there bveen variations in how various religions have perceived life after death? Yes… Some believe in quite literal terms what life in heaven or hell will be like… Off hand I’d say Dante had some very specific things to say about the after life. Baha’is are more general in their perceptions on life after death… We believe the soul ascends to the spiritual worlds after this life… We do not have specific road maps for this. Baha’is believe nearness to God is heaven and remoteness from God is hell. Do our beliefs mean that everyone else is wrong? Not necessarily. It may be others had different ways of expressing their views and their symbols and ways of expression were different…not necessarily “wrong” but different.

I believe God will judge us by the light we have been given. But you know so many religions, how will you be judged? Just by the general light that is in each religion alone?

I think that’s very close to a Baha’i view. We do recognize that the same light of the mercy and mystery of the Creator has appeared especially to and through the various Manifestations of God… So rather than the specific Mirror or the frame of the Mirror we appreciate the Light that comes through. Recognizing that Light and not condemning certain Prophets of Messengers is where I think we would as Baha’is reverence Them all.

And, if you are “saved”, can you lose that salvation? How?

Two important qualifications were set by Baha’u’llah… (1) Recognizing the Manifestation of God for this day and (2) abiding by His will and following the laws and ordinances that He taught.

Can you lose your “salvation”…

*Baha’u’llah revealed the following:

How many
the outwardly pious who have turned away, and how
many the wayward who have drawn nigh, exclaiming:
“All praise be to Thee, O Thou the Desire of the
worlds!” In truth, it is in the hand of God to give what
He willeth to whomsoever He willeth, and to withhold
what He pleaseth from whomsoever He may wish. He
knoweth the inner secrets of the hearts and the meaning
hidden in a mocker’s wink. How many an embodiment
of heedlessness who came unto Us with purity of heart
have We established upon the seat of Our acceptance;
and how many an exponent of wisdom have We in all
justice consigned to the fire.
Code:
(Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 75)
 
This is not an apt analogy. Jesus died at around age 33, was out n’ about in public for 3 years, was largely unknown (so much so, that the first non-Christian source mention of him isn’t until 60 years after he died) and this was 2000 years ago in an area and era where many people did not read or write…

…whereas Ghandi died at almost 80-years-old, was known by millions, and died only 70 years ago in an era where most of what he did and said was recorded immediately, by many.

It would have been *very *easy to write something about Jesus that did not actually happen without an outcry.
As we know, some stories about him were added to the gospels centuries later. Like the stoning-of-the-adulteress scene, for example, which does not appear in biblical manuscripts until the 4th or 5th century. Many bibles note this was a later addition by scribes.

And by the time the gospels were written (40-65 years after Jesus died), many who knew Jesus were gone.

The biblical scholars – and specifically New Testament scholars – I’ve read or studied with, including Dale B. Martin at Yale, believe that the gospels were written anonymously by literary, Greek-speaking writers who were not eyewitnesses–not by Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John…and that half the Paul letters are pseudonymous–not written by Paul.

Wiki names and quotes at least 25 top scholars commenting on the above, if you are looking to research further.

.
Dale B. Martin at Yale!

Whoa! I’m scared right now!

It’s too funny. I like to keep myself amused - and you’re helping me along.

Wiki and Martin. Yeah. That’ll explain christianity to ya’.

Not looking to research further DaddyGirl.

I’ve been teaching catechism and the bible for years and know all I need to know.

I’m sorry you learned the bible as a book, and not as a spirit-filled experience to get to know the Almighty God.

I’m not planning on becoming a theologian. Let me just say this:

I’m not depending on Yale or Martin or Wiki for my knowledge.

Also:

The more I learn
The less I know

Love ya
Fran
 
Re the Jesus analogy. Actually, you’ve made my point. Thanks.

Jesus was born in an obscure village in a state without “worldly” reknown, such as Greece for instance.
He was born of a normal family with no nobility in the family, at the time.
He never went far from home. Wait this must be on the net:

One Solitary Life

He was born in an obscure village
The child of a peasant woman
He grew up in another obscure village
Where he worked in a carpenter shop
Until he was thirty when public opinion turned against him

He never wrote a book
He never held an office
He never went to college
He never visited a big city
He never travelled more than two hundred miles
From the place where he was born
He did none of the things
Usually associated with greatness
He had no credentials but himself

He was only thirty three

His friends ran away
One of them denied him
He was turned over to his enemies
And went through the mockery of a trial
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves
While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing
The only property he had on earth

When he was dead
He was laid in a borrowed grave
Through the pity of a friend

Nineteen centuries have come and gone
And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race
And the leader of mankind’s progress
All the armies that have ever marched
All the navies that have ever sailed
All the parliaments that have ever sat
All the kings that ever reigned put together
Have not affected the life of mankind on earth
As powerfully as that one solitary life

Dr James Allan Francis © 1926.

Christianity is about a relationship with a risen saviour

Jesus has had more impact on mankind for good than any other person

Here we are, 2,000 years later and still talking about him.

Read: Acts 5:38-39

Interesting advice!

Fran
 
Fran wrote above:

Do you believe in life after death? I think you explained that you do. Okay. So what happens after death?? Some religions believe you go to heaven or hell. Some religions believe life just continues in the state you lived it on earth. Some believe in reincarnation and that you come back with the same soul.

Which is it? If you pick one, doesn’t that mean you agree with THAT particular religion?

My comment: Fran in response to your post above I wanted to assure you that Baha’is do believe in life after death… Are there or have there bveen variations in how various religions have perceived life after death? Yes… Some believe in quite literal terms what life in heaven or hell will be like… Off hand I’d say Dante had some very specific things to say about the after life. Baha’is are more general in their perceptions on life after death… We believe the soul ascends to the spiritual worlds after this life… We do not have specific road maps for this. Baha’is believe nearness to God is heaven and remoteness from God is hell. Do our beliefs mean that everyone else is wrong? Not necessarily. It may be others had different ways of expressing their views and their symbols and ways of expression were different…not necessarily “wrong” but different.

I believe God will judge us by the light we have been given. But you know so many religions, how will you be judged? Just by the general light that is in each religion alone?

I think that’s very close to a Baha’i view. We do recognize that the same light of the mercy and mystery of the Creator has appeared especially to and through the various Manifestations of God… So rather than the specific Mirror or the frame of the Mirror we appreciate the Light that comes through. Recognizing that Light and not condemning certain Prophets of Messengers is where I think we would as Baha’is reverence Them all.

And, if you are “saved”, can you lose that salvation? How?

Two important qualifications were set by Baha’u’llah… (1) Recognizing the Manifestation of God for this day and (2) abiding by His will and following the laws and ordinances that He taught.

Can you lose your “salvation”…

*Baha’u’llah revealed the following:

How many
the outwardly pious who have turned away, and how
many the wayward who have drawn nigh, exclaiming:
“All praise be to Thee, O Thou the Desire of the
worlds!” In truth, it is in the hand of God to give what
He willeth to whomsoever He willeth, and to withhold
what He pleaseth from whomsoever He may wish. He
knoweth the inner secrets of the hearts and the meaning
hidden in a mocker’s wink. How many an embodiment
of heedlessness who came unto Us with purity of heart
have We established upon the seat of Our acceptance;
and how many an exponent of wisdom have We in all
justice consigned to the fire.
Code:
(Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 75)
Hello Arthra,

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my post.

i must say that I’m intrigued by your religion because you seem able to take the best core foundation from each and avoid the competition which goes on all the time. As I’ve said, I do believe God will judge us by the light we’ve received.

I’m still not very clear on whether you accept Jesus’ resurrection. It’s difficult to concentrate on one concept in these threads.

Yes. There are different views of life after death and how heaven and hell might be. Dante did write a lot about it, but since he was never a guest in hell, purgatory or heaven, I don’t really take anything he wrote too seriously. Jesus never spoke too much of it either. He just said there would be gnashing of teeth - it could be the absence of God, that would be enough if you consider what this world would be like if only evil existed!

But, for instance, if you believe what you say about the afterlife, doesn’t that mean that reincarnation is wrong? It does confuse me a bit how you could accept something so different.

I do have one last question. I know this can’t go on forever. I understand about the mirror and the light coming through the mirror. The light is God. Okay, now regarding Baha’u’llah being the mirror, we christians understand Jesus to be the Son of God and God also. Was Baha’u’llah a Son of God? Was he a prophet of God? Was he God come to earth in some form? In other words, HOW was he a representation of God?

And how about John Smith (mormonism) or Charles Russell (Jehovah Witnesses, MAYBE) would men such as these be considered revealers of the light?

Your last pp parallels many christian beliefs - maybe you know this. It also would explain loosing one’s salvation (and even never really having attained it).

I know this will take time. I thank you

Fran
 
I do have one last question. I know this can’t go on forever. I understand about the mirror and the light coming through the mirror. The light is God. Okay, now regarding Baha’u’llah being the mirror, we christians understand Jesus to be the Son of God and God also. Was Baha’u’llah a Son of God? Was he a prophet of God? Was he God come to earth in some form? In other words, HOW was he a representation of God?

Fran
Hi Fran,

Dialogue with you is radiant with light 🙂
You are a wonderful representative of your beautiful Faith.

I know arthra visits infrequently, but I’m sure he will be back soon to answer all the questions you pose, but I thought I would chime in with a response to the question I pasted above.

I really like the way St. Basil put it in his Letter 38:
Since then, as says the Lord in the Gospels, John 14:9 he that has seen the Son sees the Father also; on this account he says that the Only-begotten is the express image of His Father’s person. That this may be made still plainer I will quote also other passages of the apostle in which he calls the Son the image of the invisible God, Colossians 1:15 and again image of His goodness; not because the image differs from the Archetype according to the definition of indivisibility and goodness, but that it may be shown that it is the same as the prototype, even though it be different. For the idea of the image would be lost were it not to preserve throughout the plain and invariable likeness. He therefore that has perception of the beauty of the image is made perceptive of the Archetype. So he, who has, as it were mental apprehension of the form of the Son, prints the express image of the Father’s hypostasis, beholding the latter in the former, not beholding in the reflection the unbegotten being of the Father (for thus there would be complete identity and no distinction), but gazing at the unbegotten beauty in the Begotten. Just as he who in a polished mirror beholds the reflection of the form as plain knowledge of the represented face, so he, who has knowledge of the Son, through his knowledge of the Son receives in his heart the express image of the Father’s Person. For all things that are the Father’s are beheld in the Son, and all things that are the Son’s are the Father’s; because the whole Son is in the Father and has all the Father in Himself. Thus the hypostasis of the Son becomes as it were form and face of the knowledge of the Father, and the hypostasis of the Father is known in the form of the Son, while the proper quality which is contemplated therein remains for the plain distinction of the hypostases.
This is a very close description of how Baha’is view Jesus, and yes, the Baha’i religion view Baha’u’llah in exactly the same manner.

.
 
Seekerjn316;13402765:
Hi Seeker,

Okay. Now I understand you better. From your posts you sounded like an atheist or agnostic to me.

I like Nazarenes. They’re nice people. A simple (not meaning dumb) understanding of the bible. They don’t complicate everything. I’m kind of surprised you didn’t continue there but moved to a different protestant church. Life brings us to many destinations…

I’m wondering what your pastor does when he doesn’t preach on First Day. Would that be Sunday? I don’t think you’re a sabbath person. Silence in Expectant Waiting sounds like the catholic adoration. It’s very nice and very peaceful. A consecrated host is placed in a monstrance (a beautiful round object that holds the host) and is placed in view on the altar. People kneel and pray, sing, they wait in between each prayer, there is silence, we meditate on Jesus. It sounds a lot like what you do.

Catholics (as all christians) also believe in feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, and trying to make the world a better place, but maybe not in the sense of making it a better place for Jesus’ return. We’re kind of hoping He’ll make it a better place!

Now, I know that the Nazarene Church believes that Paul even wrote Hebrews, which is pretty much discarded today. So I guess you got your idea from other places, re the authorship of the books. I hope you at least believe what the gospels and letters say and that you aren’t doubting that! I think you do.

I’m glad you posted and cleared all that up. You can believe whatever you want to re the authorship or that none of the writers knew Jesus - as long as you believe the salvation story.

I’m not going to argue with you about John. It’s not my thing to do. I do believe that John wrote the gospel and the letters of John 1, 2 and 3, and Revelation. The style of the writings is the same, he writes of things he actually remembers, like the smell of perfume in Matha and Mary’s house in Bethany in John 12:3. So many other references that are repeated: Here are a few from a study bible I have:
2 John 5 1 John 2:7 John 13:34-35
2 John 6 1 5:3 John 14:23
2 7 1 4:2-3
2 12 1 1:4 15:11, 16:24

You don’t think Mathew wrote that gospel? I think that he did. And you have to agree that Luke travelled with Paul, so if you believe Paul wrote the Pauline letters then why couldn’t Luke have written Luke’s gospel? And Mark was a helper to Peter: this is all tied in together in the book at Acts. I’m not a biblical scholar and don’t have this information in my head and would require some work to get into detail, I kind of wish you’d look into it again, but, as I said, I don’t think it’s all that important.

What IS important is that you DON’T think Jesus was a crazy man who thought He was God!

Fran
Thank you Fran for your gentle response.

The Nazarene Church allows it’s members to decide for themselves concerning authorship issues. The new generations of ministerial students coming out of seminary these days are not taught the NT has apostolic authorship. It’s now much more in line with the views I embrace. Many of the older members still hold to very conservative beliefs, each congregation has its own personality. The pastors need to decide what they chose to teach on the subject of biblical authorship.

Now that many of their members are more educated than in years past and many taking graduate level religion classes, the “simple”, “pious” beliefs of decades past are falling away with the older members.

No, I don’t believe Matthew wrote the gospel that bears his name. As far as Luke’s authorship, most biblical scholars reject Luka authorship, most do agree Luke/Acts were written by the same person…but due some contradictions between Acts accounts and Paul’s words in the authentic Pauline letters, Luka authorship is rejected.

I have continued to study scripture my whole adult life, I have time where I enjoy studying biblical origins…while that’s eye I sill make time to study and pray seeking to understand what God seeks to share with me in scripture.

Peace to you Fran,
 
Re the Jesus analogy. Actually, you’ve made my point. Thanks.

Jesus was born in an obscure village in a state without “worldly” reknown, such as Greece for instance.
He was born of a normal family with no nobility in the family, at the time.
He never went far from home. Wait this must be on the net:

One Solitary Life

He was born in an obscure village
The child of a peasant woman
He grew up in another obscure village
Where he worked in a carpenter shop
Until he was thirty when public opinion turned against him

He never wrote a book
He never held an office
He never went to college
He never visited a big city
He never travelled more than two hundred miles
From the place where he was born
He did none of the things
Usually associated with greatness
He had no credentials but himself

He was only thirty three

His friends ran away
One of them denied him
He was turned over to his enemies
And went through the mockery of a trial
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves
While dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing
The only property he had on earth

When he was dead
He was laid in a borrowed grave
Through the pity of a friend

Nineteen centuries have come and gone
And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race
And the leader of mankind’s progress
All the armies that have ever marched
All the navies that have ever sailed
All the parliaments that have ever sat
All the kings that ever reigned put together
Have not affected the life of mankind on earth
As powerfully as that one solitary life

Dr James Allan Francis © 1926.

Christianity is about a relationship with a risen saviour

Jesus has had more impact on mankind for good than any other person

Here we are, 2,000 years later and still talking about him.

Read: Acts 5:38-39

Interesting advice!

Fran
Dear Fran - Yes it is more than Interesting, it is Great Advice - May I suggest you consider looking at the Lives of the Other Prophets and you will also find that they all had no bind to earthly attachment or Power, even if it was theirs to take. Of course all had different lives as they all lived with different backgrounds and upbringings, but the theme runs the same with them all, the theme being they were not of this world and chose poverty and sacrifice in place of ease and comfort.

God Bless and Regards Tony
 
But, for instance, if you believe what you say about the afterlife, doesn’t that mean that reincarnation is wrong? It does confuse me a bit how you could accept something so different. Fran
Dear Fran - It is called “Frame of Reference” - Have a look at the studies done on this topic on the internet and you may find it interesting.

I look at ancient Religion that time would have changed the intent of the original teaching and thus we look at a later revelation to Clarify what it may have meant.

Thus if I use the Bible in this Case we get a Hint of what Reincarnation might have been in its original concept, without man adding His “Two cents Worth”. (My Ideas and not in Baha’i Scripture as such)

The Return of Elijah in John the Baptist is an idea on this subject. It is not the same person returning but the Values/Potentials/Promise of the First Elijah.

There are writings that explain this subject Further but will leave it there and Conclude.

We can Believe in a lot of this if we look at it in a New Frame of Reference, the Frame of Reference is Provided by God and His Messenger for the age in which we live.

In saying that one also has to consider that all explanations are in the Holy books of the Past, but they become veiled with Mans Reasoning and are not always seen in the Light they should be seen. Again Big Topic 👍

God Bless and Regards Tony
 
Fran, Thanks for your post… !

You wrote above:

I’m still not very clear on whether you accept Jesus’ resurrection. It’s difficult to concentrate on one concept in these threads.

I’ll reply in* italics.*…

*Baha’is accept the spiritual resurrection of Jesus after He was crucified.
*

Fran wtrote:

But, for instance, if you believe what you say about the afterlife, doesn’t that mean that reincarnation is wrong? It does confuse me a bit how you could accept something so different.

*Baha’is don’t believe in reincarnation… We believe the soul ascends to the spiritual worlds and does not return or re-incarnate in this world. *

I do have one last question. I know this can’t go on forever. I understand about the mirror and the light coming through the mirror. The light is God.

*The Light is the Holy Spirit radiating from God…and perfectly reflected in the Mirror to humanity.
*

Okay, now regarding Baha’u’llah being the mirror, we christians understand Jesus to be the Son of God and God also. Was Baha’u’llah a Son of God? Was he a prophet of God? Was he God come to earth in some form? In other words, HOW was he a representation of God?

*Baha’u’llah was a Perfect Mirror that reflected the attributes of God … just as Jesus was the “…The Son ·reflects [or radiates; shines forth] the glory of God [John 1:14] and ·shows exactly what God is like [L is the exact representation/imprint/stamp of his being/essence/nature].” Expanded Bible (Hebrews 1:3)

The epitome of the discourse is that the Reality of Christ was a clear mirror, and the Sun of Reality – that is to say, the Essence of Oneness, with its infinite perfections and attributes – became visible in the mirror. The meaning is not that the Sun, which is the Essence of the Divinity, became divided and multiplied – for the Sun is one – but it appeared in the mirror. This is why Christ said, “The Father is in the Son,” meaning that the Sun is visible and manifest in this mirror.*
Code:
*Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 113
And how about John Smith (mormonism) or Charles Russell (Jehovah Witnesses, MAYBE) would men such as these be considered revealers of the light?

*I think you mean Joseph Smith and Charles Taze Russell? Why not compare the lives of these men you’ve brought up with the life of Baha’u’llah. I believe you’ll find an answer.
*

Thanks for reading Fran!
 
Hi Fran,

Dialogue with you is radiant with light 🙂
You are a wonderful representative of your beautiful Faith.

I know arthra visits infrequently, but I’m sure he will be back soon to answer all the questions you pose, but I thought I would chime in with a response to the question I pasted above.

I really like the way St. Basil put it in his Letter 38:

**

This is a very close description of how Baha’is view Jesus, and yes, the Baha’i religion view Baha’u’llah in exactly the same manner.

.
Thanks for all your (name removed by moderator)ut. I don’t know too much about St. Basil. Also, it’s a bit confusing to me how he uses the word “hypostatic” in conjuction with The Father. However, I will be looking into that. I always associate it with Jesus only - true man, true God. The Trinity does get all jumbled up. They are all One, and the One is All.

Have a good day!
Fran
 
Thanks for all your (name removed by moderator)ut. I don’t know too much about St. Basil. Also, it’s a bit confusing to me how he uses the word “hypostatic” in conjuction with The Father. However, I will be looking into that. I always associate it with Jesus only - true man, true God. The Trinity does get all jumbled up. They are all One, and the One is All.

Have a good day!
Fran
Hypostasis because within the Son, the express image of the Father is shared. It is only through the Son (in Christianity) that the image of the Father is gifted to humanity.

It is no different to the Perfectly Polished Mirror reflecting the light of the Sun (Archetype). There is hypostasis in that relationship between Mirror and Sun.

Hope that helps 🙂

.
 
frangiuliano115;13402868:
Thank you Fran for your gentle response.

The Nazarene Church allows it’s members to decide for themselves concerning authorship issues. The new generations of ministerial students coming out of seminary these days are not taught the NT has apostolic authorship. It’s now much more in line with the views I embrace. Many of the older members still hold to very conservative beliefs, each congregation has its own personality. The pastors need to decide what they chose to teach on the subject of biblical authorship.

Now that many of their members are more educated than in years past and many taking graduate level religion classes, the “simple”, “pious” beliefs of decades past are falling away with the older members.

No, I don’t believe Matthew wrote the gospel that bears his name. As far as Luke’s authorship, most biblical scholars reject Luka authorship, most do agree Luke/Acts were written by the same person…but due some contradictions between Acts accounts and Paul’s words in the authentic Pauline letters, Luka authorship is rejected.

I have continued to study scripture my whole adult life, I have time where I enjoy studying biblical origins…while that’s eye I sill make time to study and pray seeking to understand what God seeks to share with me in scripture.

Peace to you Fran,
Hi Seeker,

I’m a bit surprised at what you say, to tell you the truth. The Catholic church also let’s us have our own opinion on certain matters; for example evolution. It’s difficult to believe that a church would not have a position on who wrote a gospel or book. I know there are differing opinions on some books, but not all. For instance, every scholar is unsure of Hebrews. They’re pretty sure Paul didn’t write it - although some are hanging in there .

This idea of people being more educated today, and thus needing different information, is a false premise, as far as I’m concerned. That the Church of the Nazarene could make the statement that each pastor is to decide for himself on authorship is a bit wrong, in my opinion. That means a Nazarene from NYC could believe something different from a Nazarene from Ohio. Never expected this.

I give importance to your post because you speak of ministerial students. I hear from studies in secular universities that teach the bible as a book and this really does not interest me since I wouldn’t trust anything liberal, secular professors have to say about my faith and/or religion.

I’m glad you responded and brought me up to date. Now, if I could just digest this new information!

Fran
 
Hypostasis because within the Son, the express image of the Father is shared. It is only through the Son (in Christianity) that the image of the Father is gifted to humanity.

It is no different to the Perfectly Polished Mirror reflecting the light of the Sun (Archetype). There is hypostasis in that relationship between Mirror and Sun.

Hope that helps 🙂

.
I’m going to have to study it a bit. Hypostasis in greek means person or personal, can’t remember. Jesus is ONE person but is all man and all God but is not two different persons.

Okay. And your above post is understood by me. Maybe this is all you meant. Will reread, but not now - going to visit a sick aunt.

Fran
 
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