@Alan McDougall,
Alan McDougall;128176 wrote:Many of the Masters or originators of religion where really good people, but once their so called followers got hold of their message they messed it up so that if the exalted being ever returned to earth to observe what effect his words had on humanity, he/she would be horrified what was done in his/her name.
The kind gentle Jesus the ultimate pacifist would weep at the horrors done, due to this diluting and selfish use of his name to become rich, full and full of pride These Evangelist shout and scream on platforms/TV silly sermons of idiotic nonsense at times. Pontification "that if you do this god will do that" "if you do that then god will do this"ad-infinitum,
How on earth can a puny mortal man know what a god of infinite power will do? or not do?
Bah?'u'll?h, the Originator of the Baha'i Faith, taught that the spiritual light of inspiration for all of the religions of the past came from the same source. As you have probably observed, there are many similarities among the scriptures of the many religions in the world today. The differences between them are due to the different requirements of the time in which they were revealed. In other words, the sources of ALL of the religions are really different parts or lessons of the SAME religion, whatever humans may have to say about one being better than another.
As you have also noted, people manage to twist the meanings of the original teachings to fit their own prejudices. IMHO this is the meaning of "taking the Lords Name in vain." That is, promoting one's own vain imaginings and desires in the name of religion.
Bah?'u'll?h instituted several measures which prevent His Cause from similar distortions. He abolished the clergy, and in its place established Spiritual Assemblies which are elected councils of nine members. His covenant basically establishes that, after His son, 'Abdu'l-Bah?, no one has the authority to interpret His writings for anyone else. All of the scripture of His faith was originally written either in His own hand or by His secretary. The first principle of His Cause is the independent investigation of truth. (The second principle is the Oneness of Mankind.)
"The All-Knowing Physician hath His finger on the pulse of mankind. He perceiveth the disease, and prescribeth, in His unerring wisdom, the remedy. Every age hath its own problem, and every soul its particular aspiration. The remedy the world needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require. Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and centre your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements."
