Religious Legacy

[awitch]

What legacy do you think your religion (and its followers), will leave for people 50 years from now when they look back at today?

Is there one you hope for and/or one you're afraid of? What do you think must change to shift that legacy closer to the one you're hoping for?

 

[Arthra]

What legacy do you think your religion (and its followers), will leave for people 50 years from now when they look back at today?

Is there one you hope for and/or one you're afraid of? What do you think must change to shift that legacy closer to the one you're hoping for?

I've been a Baha'i a good part of my life and so roughly from 1965 to the current day so that is almost fifty years and raised my children in the Faith so I have I think a pretty good idea what "legacy" the Faith can provide...

There are Baha'i values I feel are apparent... such as a stability in our marriage and support from my in-laws.. Baha'i marriage seeks the approval of a marriage from both sides.

My children were exposed to a variety of the religions in our community and taught to respect them..so a legacy of openness and appreciation for diversity is a legacy.

Baha'is accept the oneness of humanity and an abolition of prejudice whether racial or class.. that's another legacy I would hope for my descendents.

I also hope that my descendents will seek ways of reconciling and understanding people and abandon threat of violence or coercion.

So these are some of things that come to mind.

 

[awitch]

With the lack of replies, I might guess the other religions will be extinct.

I think the Neopagan religions will remain largely unknown or misunderstood; considered part of a new agey fad.

I am hoping the legacy will reflect the importance of environmental conservation because if we don't make some changes, then 50 years from now, we're going to be hurting.

 

[MehGuy]

With the lack of replies, I might guess the other religions will be extinct.

I think the Neopagan religions will remain largely unknown or misunderstood; considered part of a new agey fad.

I am hoping the legacy will reflect the importance of environmental conservation because if we don't make some changes, then 50 years from now, we're going to be hurting.

Sorry, I have no religion to contribute with. :cries:

I'm a bad person..

 

[smaneck]

With the lack of replies, I might guess the other religions will be extinct.

Baha'is are just getting started.

What I do think will happen in the next fifty years is that the bankruptcies of fundamentalisms (whether Christian or Islamic) will be fully seen for what they are.

 

[WoodrowX2]

The Legacy I see Islam has and I believe will leave is mutifold?


1. Question all things

2. Verify all things you believe

3. Make all choices based upon knowledge and free will

4, Accept Personal responsibility for your choices.

I believe that all who do so will submit fully to Allaah(swt)

 

[GabrielWithoutWings]

Baha'is are just getting started.

What I do think will happen in the next fifty years is that the bankruptcies of fundamentalisms (whether Christian or Islamic) will be fully seen for what they are.

Yes, but do you think people will embrace Baha'i or will increasingly become Atheists, Agnostics, and Humanists? Or are you still awaiting entry by troops?

 

[smaneck]

Yes, but do you think people will embrace Baha'i or will increasingly become Atheists, Agnostics, and Humanists? Or are you still awaiting entry by troops?

You're familiar with that term.

I expect we will see a tremendous growth in the Baha'i community in the next 50 years, but even if we grow at a rate of 4% a year our numbers would increase from 7 million to 50 million in that time, enough to take us out of the minor leagues.

There may well be an increase in atheists, agnostics, and humanists as well, but I think a lot of people will find the Baha'i Faith compatible with the modern age.

 

[prov1810]

One way of answering...

To an observer, my religion is whatever they perceive it to be and nothing else. It will be evaluated according to the differing values and cognitive biases of each person. What other people think is beyond my control and it's none of my business.

But, considered in another way...

What can we Christians say about ourselves, what have we accomplished? All kinds of things, on the scale of good and bad. It's true what Kant said, that out of the crooked timber of humanity nothing straight was ever made. But God is good. He is our boast.

 

[GabrielWithoutWings]

You're familiar with that term.

I expect we will see a tremendous growth in the Baha'i community in the next 50 years, but even if we grow at a rate of 4% a year our numbers would increase from 7 million to 50 million in that time, enough to take us out of the minor leagues.

There may well be an increase in atheists, agnostics, and humanists as well, but I think a lot of people will find the Baha'i Faith compatible with the modern age.

I don't know if I'd say 'a lot.' I might say 'a few' or 'several.' The Baha'i teachings on gay marriage, for instance, will likely be off-putting, especially to the younger generation. From what I understand, the Baha'i faith endorses gay therapy and rehabilitation that most everyone knows doesn't work. I believe I read somewhere that the UHJ could change this but they likely won't.

 

[smaneck]

I don't know if I'd say 'a lot.' I might say 'a few' or 'several.' The Baha'i teachings on gay marriage, for instance, will likely be off-putting, especially to the younger generation. From what I understand, the Baha'i faith endorses gay therapy and rehabilitation that most everyone knows doesn't work. I believe I read somewhere that the UHJ could change this but they likely won't.

Back in the fifties Shoghi Effendi advised gay Baha'is to seek medical treatment. Shoghi Effendi as Guardian of the Baha'i community, along with Abdu'l-Baha were authorized interpreters of Baha'u'llah's Writings but I don't consider him infallible in matters of science or biology. So whereas it is definitely the case that homosexual behavior is prohibited in the Baha'i Faith whether or not things like gay therapy work, I'm prepared to leave to the professionals.

As for what the Universal House of Justice can do, they can't change Shoghi Effendi's authoritative interpretation of the Writings, but they don't necessarily have to endorse his belief that it is treatable condition which admittedly they seem to do at this point. I am personally of the opinion that homosexuality is multi-causal and takes many forms. Some gays appear to have more choice than others as far as what they find sexually stimulating. But celibacy is always an option.

 

[GabrielWithoutWings]

But celibacy is always an option.

Yeah, this is where you're going to lose people. If celibacy is pretty much the only option, why be Baha'i? Why not be Catholic? Or Orthodox? Seraphim Rose is well-known in Orthodox circles as having same-sex attraction. In my opinion, this isn't progressive. It's the same old, same old, except in those churches you have the addition of two thousand years of heritage, sacred images, and history-making.

If your faith ends up having a mass entry of people, it'll likely be in places that are traditionally anti-gay already, like Africa and the Middle East. I don't see young people in America, North or South, thinking that it's perfectly acceptable for their children or their brothers and sisters or friends to have live alone for the rest of their lives.

 

[smaneck]

Yeah, this is where you're going to lose people. If celibacy is pretty much the only option, why be Baha'i? Why not be Catholic? Or Orthodox?

A person would become a Baha'i because they believe that Baha'u'llah is the Manifestation of God for this age, but I'll grant you it would be difficult for a gay person.

If your faith ends up having a mass entry of people, it'll likely be in places that are traditionally anti-gay already, like Africa and the Middle East. I don't see young people in America, North or South, thinking that it's perfectly acceptable for their children or their brothers and sisters or friends to have live alone for the rest of their lives.

Although the Baha'i Faith does not allow homosexual relations we are very careful not to cultivate a homophobic atmosphere in the community nor do we believe in depriving gays of their civil rights.

"The purpose of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh is the realization of them organic
unity of the entire human race, and Bahá’ís are enjoined to eliminate from
their lives all forms of prejudice and to manifest respect towards all.
Therefore, to regard those with a homosexual orientation with prejudice or
disdain would be against the spirit of the Faith. Furthermore, a Bahá’í is
exhorted to be “an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression”, and it
would be entirely appropriate for a believer to come to the defense of those
whose fundamental rights are being denied or violated."
(Letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, Oct 27, 2010)

 

[Eyes wide Open]

What legacy do you think your religion (and its followers), will leave for people 50 years from now when they look back at today?

Is there one you hope for and/or one you're afraid of? What do you think must change to shift that legacy closer to the one you're hoping for?

The mission on the link would be my hope.

Self-Realization Fellowship - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[pyramid33]

With the lack of replies, I might guess the other religions will be extinct.

I think the Neopagan religions will remain largely unknown or misunderstood; considered part of a new agey fad.

Do you think the religions that all people can relate to, will do better?

 

[awitch]

Do you think the religions that all people can relate to, will do better?

I think, given the opportunity to sincerely examine different religions, people who are searching will gravitate towards the ones they can relate to the most.

I'm not sure there is a religion that all people can relate to. I think over time (maybe 50 years isn't enough), people will be attracted more to ideas and their applications than superstitions and stories.