Re: [Q] Bahai way of Salvation?
JustBlind@aol.com
Mon, Jan 30 1995 01:49:45 GMT
>How do others feel about use of the word "salvation" in discussions
>of the Faith?
I, personally, don't like to use the term. Ours is a spiritual journey.
Whether we are prepared or not our next destination is the Abha Kingdom and
its spiritual geography is quite varied.
If the "capital" is where God is then we all strive to get to the "capital."
But we may start out in a humble village on the "border" or in a "major
market town" somewhere closer to the "capital."
But look at how inadequate our language is to even describe in any meaningful
way what we are going to. In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king.
Yes, salvation does imply an either/or situation. And, salvation implies an
absolute. You've either gained salvation (and can never lose it as my former
Christian sect believed (no matter what you did)) or you have not. Gandhi,
for all his good deeds, his belief in God and his practice of his religion
was going to Hell while a child molester/murderer, because of his acceptance
at one time of Christ as the Savior was going to Heaven just doesn't sit
well, IMHO.
However, salvation is a term that the majority Christian community
understands and relates to. We must be careful in using and in explaining
the nature of our journey.
John MacCord
JustBlind@aol.com