gdp's Comments

Baha’i Rants : Teaching vs. Proselytizing: UHJ Letter

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:24:02 +0000

Oh that's called legislation, Pey. ;-)

Baha’i Rants : Teaching vs. Proselytizing: UHJ Letter

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:12:30 +0000

Great quote, Pey. I'd just like to add that this line of thinking is intrinsically Unitarian, inasmuch as it emphasizes a spiritual (heartfelt) message over doctrines and personalities. Unitarians don't want Jesus or even verbal idols getting in the way of what Jesus was trying to teach. This is really fundamentally averse to the whole notion of creeds and confessions of faith—or in the Baha'i case, signatures.

Baha’i Rants : Teaching vs. Proselytizing: UHJ Letter

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:53:37 +0000

It seems pretty obvious to me that knocking on doors and trolling neighborhoods are forms of "undue pressure"—and utterly undignified as well, yet this does not seem to be considered "proselytizing" by the Baha'i international community. Baha'i authorities do not seem to mind at all having their ground troops lumped together with Mormon missionaries and Jehovah's Witnesses.

Baha’i Rants : Rainn Wilson's Soulpancake on Oprah

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:04:44 +0000

"Ruhi, and the Baha'i Faith is whatever you make of it. " Rebekah, did mean to make the Baha'i Faith sound like an extension of Ruhi? But you're right. One is certainly free to define "the Baha'i Faith" however one wishes to define it; but of course in doing so one risks being tossed out of the BIGS group and one also risks being sued for trademark infringement by the US-NSA. But keep it to yourself and you'll be fine.

Baha’i Rants : Rainn Wilson's Soulpancake on Oprah

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:37:47 +0000

Farhan, you may indeed know Rainn Wilson's inner motivations better than I do, but I am inclined to doubt that he is not still in the 1970s. He sounds like a walking time capsule to me.

Oh, I nearly missed that. Farhan is trying harder to express his passion to others than Dan is. That's quite a startling insight. :-)

Baha’i Rants : Rainn Wilson's Soulpancake on Oprah

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:25:30 +0000

That link didn't work for me, Frank. I bet you didn't know the inner significance of this verse: "Sometimes I turn, there's someone there, other times it's only me. " Clearly this indicates that in one respect, Bob is God. "God Dylan," as my son once said.

Baha’i Rants : Rainn Wilson's Soulpancake on Oprah

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:51:36 +0000

Well said, Frank. I'd just like to add that I (for one) am not even sure that I'm criticizing Rainn Wilson. I cannot say that I trust him or understand him, but I think his enthusiasm for the arts as a spiritual expression is something that ought not be ridiculed; it ought to be admired and pursued.

Baha’i Rants : Rainn Wilson's Soulpancake on Oprah

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:46:52 +0000

Oh, I nearly missed that. Farhan is trying harder to express his passion to others than Dan is. That's quite a startling insight. :-)

Baha’i Rants : Rainn Wilson's Soulpancake on Oprah

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:41:20 +0000

That would be tre cool, Norma. I would love to see Oprah declare. I consider it highly unlikely, but don't think that's because I wouldn't like to see Oprah encounter the Baha'i establishment as a committed believer.

Baha’i Rants : Rainn Wilson's Soulpancake on Oprah

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:19:27 +0000

Frank, I wonder why Rainn is so evangelical, presuming that he knows what he's saying is quite heterodox. Does he think he can draw in a wave of young liberal converts that might influence the course of the Baha'i Faith from within, or is he just bottom-fishing for suckers? He clearly wants people to hear about *his* religion. What is he up to?

Baha’i Rants : Rainn Wilson's Soulpancake on Oprah

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:21:52 +0000

"I ... just put myself into art as my religion, which is supported by my faith" (Rainn Wilson to Oprah, Part 4)

Baha’i Rants : Rainn Wilson's Soulpancake on Oprah

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:16:47 +0000

Watching the Rainn-on-Oprah videos ... It appears that the Baha'i Faith is an anarchistic artist colony of some kind. Very appealing. The administration is democratically elected, yet it doesn't have any power over anyone. The houses of worship are built by the Baha'is for everyone else to use. Everybody just speaks their opinion, and nobody else has the authority to tell them their opinions are wrong. I LIKE it!! How do I sign up?