Comments on: Door-to-Door Teaching: NSA Letter http://bahairants.com/door-to-door-teaching-nsa-letter-604.html A Baha'i blog. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 06:30:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Universal House of Justice: Ridvan Message 2010 | Baha'i Rants http://bahairants.com/door-to-door-teaching-nsa-letter-604.html/comment-page-1#comment-69213 Universal House of Justice: Ridvan Message 2010 | Baha'i Rants Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:21:08 +0000 http://bahairants.com/door-to-door-teaching-nsa-letter-604.html#comment-69213 [...] few things jumped out at me. One, they attempt to remove the stigma of “door to door” teaching, which obviously bothers many Baha’is for obvious reasons: To assign to their teaching [...] [...] few things jumped out at me. One, they attempt to remove the stigma of “door to door” teaching, which obviously bothers many Baha’is for obvious reasons: To assign to their teaching [...]

]]> By: Guest http://bahairants.com/door-to-door-teaching-nsa-letter-604.html/comment-page-1#comment-68679 Guest Wed, 09 Sep 2009 06:29:06 +0000 http://bahairants.com/door-to-door-teaching-nsa-letter-604.html#comment-68679 You teach were and when you can. You teach by hearing others and having a loving heart, for all of mankind, be yourself and open that channel. You teach were and when you can. You teach by hearing others and having a loving heart, for all of mankind, be yourself and open that channel.

]]> By: Janus2 http://bahairants.com/door-to-door-teaching-nsa-letter-604.html/comment-page-1#comment-68331 Janus2 Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:29:06 +0000 http://bahairants.com/door-to-door-teaching-nsa-letter-604.html#comment-68331 You teach were and when you can. You teach by hearing others and having a loving heart, for all of mankind, be yourself and open that channel. You teach were and when you can. You teach by hearing others and having a loving heart, for all of mankind, be yourself and open that channel.

]]> By: farhan http://bahairants.com/door-to-door-teaching-nsa-letter-604.html/comment-page-1#comment-67642 farhan Sat, 18 Jul 2009 08:30:42 +0000 http://bahairants.com/door-to-door-teaching-nsa-letter-604.html#comment-67642 Cowboy John appeared before St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. <br>“Have you ever done anything of particular merit?” St. Peter asked.<br><br>”Well, I can think of one thing,” the cowboy offered. <br> “On a trip to the Black Hills out in South Dakota, I came upon a gang of bikers, who were threatening a young woman. I directed them to leave her alone, but they wouldn't listen …. <br><br> “So, I approached the largest and most heavily tattooed biker and smacked him in his face .... Then I kicked his bike over, ripped out his nose ring, and threw it on the ground.<br><br>”Then I yelled, 'Now, back off! Or I'll kick the sh*t out of all of you!”<br><br>St. Peter was impressed. “When did this happen?” he asked.<br><br>”A couple of minutes ago....” Cowboy John appeared before St. Peter at the Pearly Gates.
“Have you ever done anything of particular merit?” St. Peter asked.

”Well, I can think of one thing,” the cowboy offered.
“On a trip to the Black Hills out in South Dakota, I came upon a gang of bikers, who were threatening a young woman. I directed them to leave her alone, but they wouldn't listen ….

“So, I approached the largest and most heavily tattooed biker and smacked him in his face …. Then I kicked his bike over, ripped out his nose ring, and threw it on the ground.

”Then I yelled, 'Now, back off! Or I'll kick the sh*t out of all of you!”

St. Peter was impressed. “When did this happen?” he asked.

”A couple of minutes ago….”

]]> By: Grover http://bahairants.com/door-to-door-teaching-nsa-letter-604.html/comment-page-1#comment-64090 Grover Wed, 08 Apr 2009 23:51:46 +0000 http://bahairants.com/door-to-door-teaching-nsa-letter-604.html#comment-64090 I was just browsing through a Wikipedia article on Deism and found this little gem which is related to the quote that you found:: "Laymen were told by the priests that only the priests really knew what was necessary for salvation and that laymen must accept the "mysteries" on faith and on the priests' authority. This kept the laity baffled by the nonsensical "mysteries", confused, and dependent on the priests for information about the requirements for salvation. The priests consequently enjoyed a position of considerable power over the laity, which they strove to maintain and increase. Deists referred to this kind of manipulation of religious doctrine as "priestcraft", a highly derogatory term." I was just browsing through a Wikipedia article on Deism and found this little gem which is related to the quote that you found::

"Laymen were told by the priests that only the priests really knew what was necessary for salvation and that laymen must accept the "mysteries" on faith and on the priests' authority. This kept the laity baffled by the nonsensical "mysteries", confused, and dependent on the priests for information about the requirements for salvation. The priests consequently enjoyed a position of considerable power over the laity, which they strove to maintain and increase. Deists referred to this kind of manipulation of religious doctrine as "priestcraft", a highly derogatory term."

]]> By: SteveMarshall http://bahairants.com/door-to-door-teaching-nsa-letter-604.html/comment-page-1#comment-64008 SteveMarshall Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:06:48 +0000 http://bahairants.com/door-to-door-teaching-nsa-letter-604.html#comment-64008 Yes, the NSA does appear to view the House in that way: "The faith of a believer can be tested when he comes across a statement that is contrary to his way of thinking. If this individual is steadfast in the Covenant, he will readily acknowledge that the mind of man is finite and his judgement often erroneous, and will sincerely accept as divinely guided the words and guidance of those upon whom Baha'u'llah has conferred infallibility." National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of New Zealand, Feast letter for the month of Qawl, 15 November 2001. Published in New Zealand Baha'i News December 2001-January 2002 (BE 158) p 4. Source: Alison Marshall - <a href="http://www.whoisbahaullah.com/Alison/unity.html#HD10" target="_blank">Commentary on the Divine Unity</a> footnote 64. Yes, the NSA does appear to view the House in that way:

"The faith of a believer can be tested when he comes across a statement that is contrary to his way of thinking. If this individual is steadfast in the Covenant, he will readily acknowledge that the mind of man is finite and his judgement often erroneous, and will sincerely accept as divinely guided the words and guidance of those upon whom Baha'u'llah has conferred infallibility."

National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of New Zealand, Feast letter for the month of Qawl, 15 November 2001. Published in New Zealand Baha'i News December 2001-January 2002 (BE 158) p 4.

Source: Alison Marshall – Commentary on the Divine Unity footnote 64.

]]> By: SteveMarshall http://bahairants.com/door-to-door-teaching-nsa-letter-604.html/comment-page-1#comment-64000 SteveMarshall Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:45:37 +0000 http://bahairants.com/door-to-door-teaching-nsa-letter-604.html#comment-64000 Shoghi Effendi is saying (actually it's Ruhiyyih Rabbani) that distributing Bahá'í pamphlets from door-to-door is undignified. This does not necessarily mean that he/she would consider any other door-to-door activities to be similarly "undignified". However, I'm assuming that the door-to-door aspect is what he/she found objectionable. Greg has found some wiggle room. Shoghi Effendi is saying (actually it's Ruhiyyih Rabbani) that distributing Bahá'í pamphlets from door-to-door is undignified. This does not necessarily mean that he/she would consider any other door-to-door activities to be similarly "undignified". However, I'm assuming that the door-to-door aspect is what he/she found objectionable. Greg has found some wiggle room.

]]> By: Diba http://bahairants.com/door-to-door-teaching-nsa-letter-604.html/comment-page-1#comment-63997 Diba Mon, 06 Apr 2009 06:11:48 +0000 http://bahairants.com/door-to-door-teaching-nsa-letter-604.html#comment-63997 I don't understand what you want. If you read your own post you will see where Shoghi Effendi said it is undignified. I don't understand what you want. If you read your own post you will see where Shoghi Effendi said it is undignified.

]]> By: Greg http://bahairants.com/door-to-door-teaching-nsa-letter-604.html/comment-page-1#comment-63979 Greg Sun, 05 Apr 2009 21:31:18 +0000 http://bahairants.com/door-to-door-teaching-nsa-letter-604.html#comment-63979 Diba, I assume this is the quote you are referring to. Could you point out where it says that going door-to-door is undignified? 'He feels that to distribute Bahá'í pamphlets from door-to-door ... is undignified and might create a bad impression of the Faith. No doubt, it is the eagerness and devotion of the friends that led them to make this proposal, but he does not think that the best interests of the Cause are served by such a method ...'" (Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 592) Diba, I assume this is the quote you are referring to. Could you point out where it says that going door-to-door is undignified?

'He feels that to distribute Bahá'í pamphlets from door-to-door … is undignified and might create a bad impression of the Faith. No doubt, it is the eagerness and devotion of the friends that led them to make this proposal, but he does not think that the best interests of the Cause are served by such a method …'"

(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 592)

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