Jeffrey,
I agree with and share your regard for Baha'u'llah's admonition
forbidding contention. To my mind, is it applicable in this case?
Abdu'l-Baha spoke forcefully about confronting evil doers, not
forgiving them, lest they only continue in their treachery. Further,
you're referring to a Baha'i denomination that has knowingly
based in its claim to authority on a fraudulent will and testament,
while harassing and destroying the lives of countless Baha'is
and families throughout the decades. Baha'u'llah Himself
confronted the Son of the Wolf and others in unequivocal
language and terms. I don't believe the quotation quite fits the
conditions.
Reflecting on how the Wilmette nsa and Haifan uhj have reacted
to and treated such set backs in the past, I highly doubt you'll
see much change in them. They will continue as they have, with
you and other Baha'i denominations. Consider that Judge Valente,
of the Supreme Court of New York in no uncertain terms ruled
against them in their lawsuit against Sohrab and Chanler, pointing
out the word Bahai was a generic term that couldn't not be
copyrighted or monopolized by one denomination. Time went by,
everyone was looking in a different direction. They took out another
bogus copyright with the patent office, adding diacritics and an
apostrophe, but none the less the same game. A Constitutional
lawyer I spoke with about it just laughed, saying it would never
stand up in court and that anyone can copyright anything with the
government clerks, which is utterly meaningless. But the purpose
is to intimidate other Bahais into thinking it means something,
as though they own it....
Their thinking isn't based on the reason and rational constructs
that make sense in a Western court of law. Sohrab understood
quite well that Shoghi Effendi had gone back to the medieval
frame of reference, creating a system more resonant with the
****ite worldview. I'm afraid that's the case and why so many
of our fellow Bahais are trapped in an iron cage of tyranny and
fanaticism. One more Western judge who's a *kafir* won't make
a difference in Haifa, or, here's the fact difficult to appreciate,
in Wilmette.... They simply aren't going to change as result of
this lawsuit. It's hoping for too much from a pernicious system
that has demonstrated for so long that it's incapable of change.
It's only a matter of time until they trump up some other bogus
lawsuit to justify to themselves their fanaticism. Abdu'l-Baha
spoke of defending people threatened. All Orthodox Baha'is
are still under threat. As all denominations are. I doubt the Haifan
administration will learn anything from this lawsuit. They've never
learned anything from the past but have only intensified their
fanaticism at ever turn.
As damaged parties you have legal rights. If they appeal
Judge St. Eve's ruling, which they probably will, all the better,
because your damages will be all the more undeniable to
another judge, or, preferably, a jury. I don't believe a jury of
Americans would fail to see through the contemptible tactics
of Haifan "administrators." After hearing the whole story, they
would eagerly award very high punitive damages to the
innocent. Constitutional issues are involved. That puts the
entire matter into a different and higher realm of im****tance.
It's the Haifans who have dragged the Faith through the mud
in public. A successful lawsuit against them would help Americans,
including people in Chicago, wake up to what kind of
organization they really are. That would help cleanse the Faith
of the mire that now bogs it down in every way. Eventually, it will
happen.
That's my view.
--
The Baha'i Faith & Religious Freedom of Conscience
http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensor****p/
"Jeffrey" <Jeffreyobf@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:e2b1f058-1a6c-4aff-9852-acfe66b634a3@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
the True Seeker blog:
http://trueseeker.typepad.com/true_seeker/2008/04/in-the-kitab-i.html
In the Kitab-i-'Ahd (Book of the Covenant), Bahá'u'lláh says:
"Conflict and contention are categorically forbidden in His Book. This
is a decree of God in this Most Great Revelation. It is divinely
preserved from annulment and is invested by Him with the splendour of
His confirmation. Verily He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise."
"Conflict and contention are categorically forbidden," and that means
conflict and contention are forbidden without exceptions or
conditions.
It is absolute, unqualified and unconditional that Bahá'ís may not
engage in conflict and contention.
In the Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá, He says that "[i]n this
sacred Dispensation, conflict and contention are in no wise permitted.
Every aggressor deprives himself of God's grace."
Conflict and contention are in "no wise" permitted. That is, no way.
I do believe in the rule of law. I do believe that, in civil matters,
one sometimes has to resort to the civil courts. Also, I do believe in
defending one's self if brought into court. But it is unseemly and
wrong for Bahá'í denominations to quarrel with one another in secular
courts over the right of each other to publicly exist, each other's
use of the Greatest Name, and over matters of faith and belief. Since
the aggressor deprives himself of God's grace, it would behoove all of
the Bahá'ís, and the various denominations such as they exist, to
strictly avoid battling in lawsuits in the secular courts.
Not only is this lawsuit contention forbidden, it is embarrassing. To
the public, it appears no different than the religious disputes of
other faiths. It is no different. It cannot be different unless and
until we obey Bahá'u'lláh.
What is needed is consultation. Brutally honest, frank, and open
consultation is what is needed. I have no fear of verbal warfare over
the various ideas and beliefs held by the Bahá'í denominations. Let
everyone speak and be heard. Don't hold back on the exchange of
ideas. I believe true consultation arrives one at the Truth, and that
the Truth will ultimately prevail. We do not want to air our issues
before secular judges. The issues that divide us can only be decided
in the hearts and minds of Bahá'ís, through the use of consultation,
and in obedience to Bahá'u'lláh.
Jeffrey
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