I spent the day with a Baha'i, a Buddhist and a Hindu. No, there's no punchline. But I learned some things I hope to build on in later discussions.
11:15 a.m. - The Baha'i faith was created about 160 years ago (in Iran?) from the belief that world religions should stop their arguing and just get to serving the one Source, though Baha'is have their own set of sacred writings, contributed by two prophets... one preceding the other, preparing the way (maybe like John to Jesus?). All world religions are just different paths to the same God, they say, at least from what I'm interpreting. My question in a follow-up discussion will be, in your faceted study of these faiths, have you discovered substantial inconsistencies? If so, how do you rectify them? Or, if you've only read the Baha'i teachings, do you think there is value in reading the actual sacred writings of other faiths?
2:30 p.m. - I learned one reason Buddhists don't like to keep pets is the belief that animals will try to absorb humans' spiritual energy to jump up a few rungs on the reincarnational ladder. Question: what is it about human energy that sets us apart as a specie? How is that differentiation bestowed upon us? In a reincarnational worldview, are all animals conscious of their need to move up in the world?
6:00 p.m. - This particular Hindu friend, of the Brahman caste, is to be more pious than those beneath him. He's recently been through his thread ceremony, "marrying" him to their goddess - I'm gathering, sort of a pledge of loyalty to his beliefs, before his earthly marriage. He feels guilt when he slips and eats fish or after the occasional glass of scotch, a feeling alleviated after confessing, informally, to his family. So, where does this feeling of guilt come from? Do you feel it toward your deity or just toward your family's public honor? What is your relationship like to the god and goddess? What is your motivation for following their teachings? Do you feel their presence often?
Really grateful for deeper discussions and the necessity of solidifying my own faith through these questions.
11:15 a.m. - The Baha'i faith was created about 160 years ago (in Iran?) from the belief that world religions should stop their arguing and just get to serving the one Source, though Baha'is have their own set of sacred writings, contributed by two prophets... one preceding the other, preparing the way (maybe like John to Jesus?). All world religions are just different paths to the same God, they say, at least from what I'm interpreting. My question in a follow-up discussion will be, in your faceted study of these faiths, have you discovered substantial inconsistencies? If so, how do you rectify them? Or, if you've only read the Baha'i teachings, do you think there is value in reading the actual sacred writings of other faiths?
2:30 p.m. - I learned one reason Buddhists don't like to keep pets is the belief that animals will try to absorb humans' spiritual energy to jump up a few rungs on the reincarnational ladder. Question: what is it about human energy that sets us apart as a specie? How is that differentiation bestowed upon us? In a reincarnational worldview, are all animals conscious of their need to move up in the world?
6:00 p.m. - This particular Hindu friend, of the Brahman caste, is to be more pious than those beneath him. He's recently been through his thread ceremony, "marrying" him to their goddess - I'm gathering, sort of a pledge of loyalty to his beliefs, before his earthly marriage. He feels guilt when he slips and eats fish or after the occasional glass of scotch, a feeling alleviated after confessing, informally, to his family. So, where does this feeling of guilt come from? Do you feel it toward your deity or just toward your family's public honor? What is your relationship like to the god and goddess? What is your motivation for following their teachings? Do you feel their presence often?
Really grateful for deeper discussions and the necessity of solidifying my own faith through these questions.
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