This thread is to address the problems of Islam in the modern world, and the relationship with other religions. Siam post will be the basis for beginning this thread, since the other thread has been corrupted and plagued with OFF TOPIC posts. Robrecht is banned from posting in this thread.
The claims of the Baha'i Faith as a new more universal paradigm over previous ones is not arbitrary nor just something newer, but based on specific spiritual principles and teachings that meet the New Age such as.
(1) The mandatory education of all children male and female.
(2) The Harmony of Science and Religion which unconditionally requires that all scripture including Baha'i scripture be interpreted in the advancing evolving knowledge of science.
(3) The forbidding of religious wars and conflict of any kind in the defense of religion.
I will add others as the thread progresses. Nonetheless Judaism, Christianity and Islam do not have these principles at the foundation of their beliefs in scripture.
The basic principles of the Baha'i offer specific teachings and spiritual guidance not provided in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Pragmatism does not offer spiritual guidance that is specific and uniform for the believers to follow for the modern world, and avoids the reality of what scripture actually supports in any universal and uniform matter. Judaism is dominated by Pragmatism and Midrash to smooth over ancient scripture in today's world.
True, the Baha'i Faith offers this in more specific principles and spiritual teachings that cannot be interpreted in various ways as the ancient religions of the world.
Pragmatic and theoretical discussions are more for philosophers, and theologians that work things out to their own comfort when the spiritual guidance is lacking to deal with the modern world. That is why there are so many churches and division in ancient paradigms.
Careful, you are advocating humanism as the solution here an atheist and agnostic belief system. Not highlighted in your statement.
This may be the goal of Muslims, but first it is not a unified goal in any form, and involves significant conflicts between the divisions within Islam. The unresolvable conflict between Shia and Sunni, and the conflicts as to what Shiria consists of, and how it is applied to the modern world are significant barriers for Islam to provide a unified, coherent, and realistic guidance for the modern world.
Originally posted by siam
Some may decide on an arbitrary criteria that any new paradigm is better than any old one simply because it is newer...or...
one might decide using a value such as "Universalism" and say that those paradigms that are more universal in degree are commensurately better than those that are less universal....or.
one might decide using a value such as "Universalism" and say that those paradigms that are more universal in degree are commensurately better than those that are less universal....or.
(1) The mandatory education of all children male and female.
(2) The Harmony of Science and Religion which unconditionally requires that all scripture including Baha'i scripture be interpreted in the advancing evolving knowledge of science.
(3) The forbidding of religious wars and conflict of any kind in the defense of religion.
I will add others as the thread progresses. Nonetheless Judaism, Christianity and Islam do not have these principles at the foundation of their beliefs in scripture.
one might use a set of values such as paradigms that contribute to framing principles such that of--- justice balanced with compassion and mercy, equality balanced with reciprocity, freedom balanced with responsibility...etc in a consistent and wholistic fashion are of more benefit.....or....
maybe some other measure/analysis.....
maybe some other measure/analysis.....
The Quran gives some pragmatic advice
Surah 5:48 partial
"...To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute;"
Surah 45:22
"God created the heavens and the earth for just ends, and in order that each soul may find the recompense of what it has earned, and none of them shall be wronged"
Surah 3:104
"Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: They are the ones to attain felicity."
Surah 5:48 partial
"...To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute;"
Surah 45:22
"God created the heavens and the earth for just ends, and in order that each soul may find the recompense of what it has earned, and none of them shall be wronged"
Surah 3:104
"Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: They are the ones to attain felicity."
The paradigm of most benefit is one that guides and encourages humanity to DO good both individually and as a group (community/nation) so that its intentions and conduct safeguard all of God's creations and restrict harm to them. Tangible changes for good brought about by the actions of that group of humans is one measure of determining the "success" of a paradigm....
. . . and perhaps more pragmatic than theoretical discussions . . .
A focus on action rather than quibbling over theory would also contribute more beneficially to building our future together---since "building" implies action and actions for good are less divisive, more "pluriversal". Thus, all of us can come together with our different paradigms but still make essential contributions to the good (of all of God's creations....)
So we cannot be passive survivors on this earth, but must become active stakeholders and teach this to the next generation also...improvement will only come about with human actions.
For Muslims---this means to revive and restore the Tawhidic paradigm so that our intentions and actions conforms to "God's will" in a wholistic, balanced and harmonious way...
(God's will=Right belief that promotes right intentions that lead to right actions for the benefit of all of God's creations.")...to implement this (to day and in future) will require much critical reflections and pragmatic solutions to problems facing us/humanity----but this should not be a onetime process rather an ongoing one that every generation must actively participate in. . .
(God's will=Right belief that promotes right intentions that lead to right actions for the benefit of all of God's creations.")...to implement this (to day and in future) will require much critical reflections and pragmatic solutions to problems facing us/humanity----but this should not be a onetime process rather an ongoing one that every generation must actively participate in. . .
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