God is an Atheist

[pagan1]

Hey, I'm sorry as well. I know I can get sort of snappy. I haven't been sleeping a lot lately, but that's an explanation, not an excuse. So again, sorry.

My church was, until a few months ago, a member of the PCUSA, the US branch of the Presbyterian denomination. However, we have recently broken off from them, over doctrinal conflicts. You may have heard (though I suppose it's a little obscure) that the PCUSA recently made a decision to encourage member churches to teach the Trinity in forms (e.g. Mother, Child, Cradle) other than the traditional (Father, Son, Spirit). Our church's Session believed that this was inconsistent with the God of the Bible, so we respectfully negotiated for a clean break. We're also members of the Willow Creek Association. Both of our pastors have been heavily influenced by Dallas Willard's writings, especially The Divine Conspiracy, and strongly emphasize how to live as a Christian, rather than the fire and brimstone traditionally associated with evangelical churches. So I'm generally exposed to a Christianity that is more about "running the race", as Paul put it, than about what might happen to people who don't finish.

Personally, I find myself convicted of my faith by a handful of my own experiences and testimonies that I've heard, ranging from first- to secondhand.

A friend of mine, who was recently baptized, underwent an ordeal involving inexplicable physical convulsions that didn't still until the actual moment of immersion. While I was not physically present, this account has been corroborated by several other close friends, and I have no reason not to believe them.
A coworker of mine recently related a story from a man doing missionary work in South America, who was visited by someone who accurately prophesied events that occurred several years thence.
Just today, I heard a first-hand account of an intensely devout young Wolof Muslim in Senegal, who reportedly dreamed a vision of Christ and a cloud of angels, and the next day read in a Bible a passage describing that precise image.
I was attending a small prayer service at my church, I believe on Ash Wednesday, and the leader who was praying over me spoke what she said were words from Jesus. Again, I can't say for sure that they were, but what she said was very applicable to where I was in my life at that time, and she had no way of knowing that.
And more recently, while serving with The Hartford Project, I found myself writing a poem that was not in my style, whose words I didn't think of. I was also struck with uncontrollable weeping.

I won't fault people who believe that there are explanations for these things other than the one I believe in. I will only say that they have me convinced.

I am very happy to read of your personal spiritual experiences I am only guessing,but I think we may have some point of agreement in that personal experience perhaps out weighs that gained by the written word...
Although I hazard another guess in that you may suggest that personal experience should be validated by Scripture...

My involvement with the organised Christian faith so far has been,visiting various Churches,reading the Bible and going on a regular basis many years ago to a Presbyterian Church.This was called The Chinese Presbyterian Church and it is in Sydney Australia,I am not Chinese but I was still made to feel welcome,and even after 2 years of attending Bible study etc. I can not remember one instance of being preached to in a harsh way.
In my little journey I have also been to Pentecostal meetings where faith healing was practised,Greek Orthodox Churches where I was impressed by the beauty of the Icons and statues,and for a few weeks I stayed as the guest of Christian missionary's in India,although my main purpose in spending time in India was to learn about Hinduism and Buddhism.

As an outsider there would seem to me to be a lot of division in the Christian Church,do you think there is any way of resolving these differences?

[Sciuroid]

I think it unlikely that the numerous schisms will resolve any time soon. The hard-line fundamentalists believe that to be anything less is to be something other than a full Christian. The liberals believe that the fundamentalists are losing the true meaning of Christianity in the strictures of their doctrine. Granted, a liberal is less likely to say that a conservative isn't a real Christian than vice-versa, but they often believe that conservatives aren't behaving as Christians should. I mean, yeah, the differences can sometimes be overlooked, but there are situations in which viewpoints collide inevitably, forcefully, and absolutely. And I'm not even going to touch the Protestant/Catholic divide. It's the same faith, but at that point, it sometimes seems like two different religions. I'm not an expert in any of this, so I can't presume to speak with authority, but those have been my distinct impressions.

Also, you'll get groups like Jehovah's Witnesses, the CoJCoLDS, and the Westboro Baptist Church (which has, IIRC, been disowned by their Baptist denomination), which preach variants on mainstream Christianity that bring them into rather heated conflict with the mainstream.

From the outside, it's easy and sounds nice to say that we should just learn to get over our differences.* But it's really not that easy. For example, the people at Westboro believe that God hates gays. Not that he disapproves of homosexuality, or that marriage was originally intended for a man and a woman, but that God actually hates homosexuals. And mainstream Christianity categorically repudiates this view. The Watchtower Society, unless I'm misinformed, believes or has believed that mainstream Christians will be the first swept into hell when the end comes. Obviously, most Christians disagree. So no, I don't believe that the differences can be resolved.

However, I also don't believe that the truly essential part of Christianity is dependent on these things; the essence is in accepting that one has sinned, and therefore cannot be reconciled with God on one's own merits, and that Christ's sacrifice is what bridges that gap and allows people to be connected once more with God. This obviously comes with the presupposition that the Christian God exists; it's impossible not to believe in God and to still be a Christian, because without God, there literally is no Christ (lit. "anointed one"). Generally, the more conservative you are, the more items you'll tack onto this list, and my own list is much longer, since I'm fairly conservative. Fundamentalists were so named because they proposed a laundry list of beliefs that were fundamental to the faith, without which one is not truly a Christian.

*I'm not saying that you're necessarily saying this. It's a simple procatalepsis.

[Nature's heartbeat]

Thankyou natures heartbeat for sharing the beautiful words,for me this part is especially memorable:

"The true seeker hunteth naught but the object of his quest, and the lover hath no desire save union with his beloved. Nor shall the seeker reach his goal unless he sacrifice all things. That is, whatever he hath seen, and heard, and understood, all must he set at naught, that he may enter the realm of the spirit, which is the City of God. Labor is needed, if we are to seek Him; ardor is needed, if we are to drink of the honey of reunion with Him; and if we taste of this cup, we shall cast away the world."

Concerning Kabir:

About Saint Kabir
Saint Kabir is considered to be one of the greatest poets as well as mystics ever born in India. He believed that human beings are equal and being one with God is the ultimate aim of every individual. His love and devotion towards the Supreme One clearly reflects in his poetry. The Holy Guru Granth Sahib contains over 500 verses by the great saint, Kabir. The verses or dohas of Guru Kabir are still read by people with awe and admiration.

Early Life
As per the life history of Saint Kabir, he was born in 1398 AD. It is said that he was found floating on a lotus leaf in a tank in Benaras by a Muslim weaver. The weaver took the vulnerable child under his care and following the traditional manner, gave him the name of 'Kabir', meaning 'the great one'. Even at a young age, Kabir displayed enormous spiritual talent.

Meeting his Guru
Kabir always wanted to become a disciple of Ramanand. However, since he was a Muslim, it was next to impossible for him to get initiation from a Hindu. So, he took recourse to a trick. Ramanand daily went to the bathing ghat for his pre-dawn ritual ablutions. Kabir lay on the steps of the ghat in such a way that Ramanand stepped on him. Shocked at this incident, he chanted 'Rama! Rama!'. Kabir said that since he had received teachings from him, in the form of the words 'Rama! Rama!', he was Ramanand's disciple. Impressed with the intelligence of Kabir, Ramanand took him as his disciple.

Guru Kabir ke Dohe
The hallmark of Kabir's works consists of his two line couplets, known as the 'Kabir ke Dohe'. The Dohas reflect the deep philosophical thinking of the poet saint.

The Philosophy of Saint Kabir
Saint Kabir believed in the Vedantic concepts of atman. He always advocated the Impersonal Aspect of God (Nirguna) and therefore, was against idol worship. As per his view, all human beings are equal and the societal caste system that is so widely prevalent in our country is fallacious. He said that true guru is the one who can be attained through direct experience. The common ways of realizing God, like chanting, austerities, etc, are worthless.

I think that Kabir was adopted by the Sikh tradition,but I believe his wisdom transcends any faith.Here is a link to his poems:

http://www.poetseers.org/the_poetseers/kabir/kabir_index

Do you follow the Bahai religion?
I think Bahai beliefs accept the wisdom from all religions,is that correct?
Do you have an interest in Sufism?

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Hey Pagan1,

Thank you so much for sharing information about Kabir with me. Well it sounds like he was somehow connected to the Sikh tradition since there are poems of his in the Guru Granth Sahib, the Holy Scripture of the Sikhs...(I have only read a little bit about Sikhism in the past and last year I went with a girl/exchange student who was doing research on Sikhism as well as with a Christian friend to visit the gurudwara in Vanlöse, Denmark, and it happened to be on one of the Sikh holy days, and it was very interesting and the Sikhs were so friendly, kind and hospitable. I find things like this interesting that gives me a chance to learn and understand more about people of various backgrounds. :))

In answer to your question, yes, I'm a member of the Bahá'í Faith and try to follow it. (But the Bahá'í standard is very high, and sometimes I do think about how I fall short when it comes to some of the virtues that we're here to acquire...)

About your second question; "I think Bahai beliefs accept the wisdom from all religions, is that correct?" Before I can answer this, please define "wisdom" and "all religions".

[Nature's heartbeat]

Oh, btw, yes, I'm interested in Sufism as well as other religious traditions than the one I belong to.

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"These holy Manifestations have been as the coming of springtime in the world. Although the springtime of this year is designated by another name according to the changing calendar, yet as regards its life and quickening it is the same as the springtime of last year. For each spring is the time of a new creation, the effects, bestowals, perfections and life-giving forces 15 of which are the same as those of the former vernal seasons although the names are many and various. This is 1912, last year’s was 1911 and so on, but in fundamental reality no difference is apparent. The sun is one but the dawning-points of the sun are numerous and changing. The ocean is one body of water but different parts of it have particular designation, Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean, Antarctic, etc. If we consider the names, there is differentiation, but the water, the ocean itself is one reality.
Likewise the divine religions of the holy Manifestations of God are in reality one though in name and nomenclature they differ. Man must be a lover of the light no matter from what day-spring it may appear. He must be a lover of the rose no matter in what soil it may be growing. He must be a seeker of the truth no matter from what source it come. Attachment to the lantern is not loving the light. Attachment to the earth is not befitting but enjoyment of the rose which develops from the soil is worthy. Devotion to the tree is profitless but partaking of the fruit is beneficial. Luscious fruits no matter upon what tree they grow or where they may be found must be enjoyed. The word of truth no matter which tongue utters it must be sanctioned. Absolute verities no matter in what book they be recorded must be accepted. If we harbor prejudice it will be the cause of deprivation and ignorance. The strife between religions, nations and races arises from misunderstanding. If we investigate the religions to discover the principles underlying their foundations we will find they agree, for the fundamental reality of them is one and not multiple. By this means the religionists of the world will reach their point of unity and reconciliation. They will ascertain the truth that the purpose of religion is the acquisition of praiseworthy virtues, betterment of morals, spiritual development of mankind, the real life and divine bestowals. All the prophets have been the promoters of these principles; none of them has been the promoter of corruption, vice or evil. They have summoned mankind to all good. "

(Source: Foundations of World Unity by ´Abdu'l-Bahá (´Abdu'l-Bahá was the son of Bahá'u'lláh who was appointed in his Father's Will and Testament to be the authoritative interpreter of His Writings after His passing. ´Abdu'l-Bahá is also considered by Bahá'ís to be the perfect example of what a Bahá'í should be like when it comes to virtues etc.),
see http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/c/FWU/fwu-3-printable.html)

[pagan1]

About your second question; "I think Bahai beliefs accept the wisdom from all religions, is that correct?" Before I can answer this, please define "wisdom" and "all religions".

natures heartbeat by wisdom I mean the sayings of Jesus and Mohammed or even Hindu holy men and Sufi's whose words do not come into conflict with any basic Bahai principles.By religions I mean that the Bahai faith does not seem to seek any conflict with other belief systems,and perhaps tries to promote harmony and acceptance rather than dicord between different faiths.

It seems that the moral standard that Bahai asks of its followers is very high...
Do you have any plans to visit the Bahai headquarters in Israel?
Bahai developed in Persia,are you familiar with the Persian Sufi poet "Jalaladdun Rumi." Persia has been a great source of poetry and religion,from Zoaroastrianism to Sufism etc.
I have also enjoyed Sikh hospitality,I think that it is one of the requirements of their faith that they try to make strangers feel welcome...

[Nature's heartbeat]

natures heartbeat by wisdom I mean the sayings of Jesus and Mohammed or even Hindu holy men and Sufi's whose words do not come into conflict with any basic Bahai principles.By religions I mean that the Bahai faith does not seem to seek any conflict with other belief systems,and perhaps tries to promote harmony and acceptance rather than dicord between different faiths.

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Hello Pagan1, I guess that that would be a correct statement (what you said about wisdom), and the promotion of unity and harmony is certainly one of the aims of the Bahá'ís. However Bahá'ís follow their own book of laws (The Kitáb-i-Aqdas by Bahá'u'lláh) as well as what is written in our other holy writings, and not the laws of other religions even though we are told in our Writings that we should respect the divine message of other religions.

This is one of my favourite Bahá'í prayers:

"O Thou kind Lord! Thou hast created all humanity from the same stock. Thou hast decreed that all shall belong to the same household. In Thy Holy Presence they are all Thy servants, and all mankind are sheltered beneath Thy Tabernacle; all have gathered together at Thy Table of Bounty; all are illumined through the light of Thy Providence.
O God! Thou art kind to all, Thou hast provided for all, dost shelter all, conferrest life upon all. Thou hast endowed each and all with talents and faculties, and all are submerged in the Ocean of Thy Mercy.
O Thou kind Lord! Unite all. Let the religions agree and make the nations one, so that they may see each other as one family and the whole earth as one home. May they all live together in perfect harmony.
O God! Raise aloft the banner of the oneness of mankind.
O God! Establish the Most Great Peace.
Cement Thou, O God, the hearts together.
O Thou kind Father, God! Gladden our hearts through the fragrance of Thy love. Brighten our eyes through the Light of Thy Guidance. Delight our ears with the melody of Thy Word, and shelter us all in the Stronghold of Thy Providence.
Thou art the Mighty and Powerful, Thou art the Forgiving and Thou art the One Who overlooketh the shortcomings of all mankind."

—‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Source: http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/c/BP/bp-84-printable.html)


When I served as a volunteer hostess several years ago at the Bahá'í House of Worship in New Delhi - a place which everyone is welcome to to sit and pray and meditate in silence, at four times a day there were prayers/readings/chants from different holy scriptures in the microphone...from the Bible, the Qur'an, and the Bahá'í scriptures... and there was a man who was in charge of these 15 minute devotionals, so if anyone wanted to read something specific they were to contact him in advance and tell him. I remember once a Hindu man was there and said a prayer during a prayer session.

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It seems that the moral standard that Bahai asks of its followers is very high...
Do you have any plans to visit the Bahai headquarters in Israel?
Bahai developed in Persia,are you familiar with the Persian Sufi poet "Jalaladdun Rumi." Persia has been a great source of poetry and religion,from Zoaroastrianism to Sufism etc.

-----------

:) smiling at the expression "the Bahai headquarters"...I'm not sure what you mean by this, but I have been to the Holy Land twice in my life. Once was as a three-year old child with my parents when they were on a nine-day pilgrimage and that I don't remember, and the 2nd time was in 2005 when I went to the Holy Land for a nine day Bahá'í pilgrimage to Haifa and Akka. In Haifa, the Báb (the Forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh and according to Bahá'ís also a Manifestation from God) is buried as well as ´Abdu'l-Bahá and some other Bahá'ís. The shrine of the Báb is surrounded by beautiful terraced gardens and became a World Heritage site during 2008 and it was such a wonderful and spiritual experience to pray inside His shrine. It's indescribable...but just affected my heart so much.

Anyway close by the Shrine of the Báb there is a large area with for instance the Seat of the Universal House of Justice (The UHJ is the once every five years elected international administrative body that guides the Bahá'í world today), the Archives building (which is like a museum with for instance objects that has belonged to the central figures of the Faith and their famliy) and other buildings. And on this pilgrimage I got to see all these buildings and meet the members of the UHJ.

I also got to see The Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh (in Akká) - which also became a world heritage site during 2008 - and to pray in there was such an amazing experience...In Akká there were also other holy places we visited like the cell where Bahá'u'lláh was imprisoned...and the house where He revealed The Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Anyway, this pilgrimage was such a wonderful experience. I felt like I was in a different world - the world of the spirit - and my words doesn't make this experience justice...

About Jalaluddin Rumi, yes, I've come across him a little...Bahá'u'lláh quotes him in some places, and my one parent who is from Iran have also told me a little bit about the writings of Rumi...Yes it's true that Persia has given birth to several Holy Souls...

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I have also enjoyed Sikh hospitality,I think that it is one of the requirements of their faith that they try to make strangers feel welcome...[/QUOTE]

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I think so too. During the communal meal after the service everyone is given food...So generous, and the people were so kind and friendly.

Btw (and this is totally irrelevant), once upon a time when I was a multi-religious guide at an exhibition about the six largest religions of the world, that toured around Sweden, there was a man who was a Sikh, and I asked him if it wasn't hard to wake up at 4 a.m each day, take a shower and say Sat Nam/something else that I don't remember and then move on with the day's work (not going back to sleep), and he replied: no, but you should try it...so I did as a one time experiment...;) because I like to look into things and I didn't feel tired...

[pagan1]

natures heartbeat that is a very beautiful prayer...:)

India holds a special place in my life since when I was 18 I spent a year there seeking answers to fundamental questions concerning God,I arrived without a return ticket to Australia and very little money,so from my point of view at the time I was completely at the mercy of God.I slept in temples,parks,ashrams and by the river going from teacher to teacher seeking guidance.I remember once sleeping in a park in New Delhi,opposite a Sikh temple and being very afraid,a Sikh gentleman woke me up and my first thought was that he may want to do me harm,but all he wanted me to do was turn and lay the other way since I was sleeping with my feet facing the temple.The Sikh faith has a warrior element since it originated in the Punjab and was in the forefront of the struggle with Islam.One of the 5 K's that a Sikh is supposed to wear is a small token dagger as well as the bangle etc.I have seen many Sikh's wielding swords,but I have only ever been treated with kindness by them.Most of my stay in India was spent following the Ganges.I spent some time in Benares then moved onto Hardwar,this is where my money ran out,anyway there was a festival happening called a Khumba Mela,this is an important time for Hindus and millions of people and hundreds of Guru's attend it.I was foretunate enough to sit at the feet of Ananda Moyi Ma who was a friend of Paramahamsa Yogananda and who is mentioned in the book "Autobiography of a Yogi" she was very old at the time and she had taken a vow of silence.I regard her as an Enlightened being since for the few hours that I saw her,I felt bathed in an all consuming compassionate love,every other teacher that I encountered in India still seemed to retain some element of ego.

"Anyway, this pilgrimage was such a wonderful experience. I felt like I was in a different world - the world of the spirit - and my words doesn't make this experience justice..."

I think I understand a little of what you felt.During the Khumba Mela there are big parades of Guru's and devotees chanting and dancing in the streets,I was with the other people just watching when a Guru whose name I do not know,motioned for me to cross the line and join in.So I was chanting Sri Ram Jai Ram and dancing when an old woman came from the crowd and touched my feet,so of course I immediately touched hers out of respect,in that instant I felt as though my entire being was swept away,I felt as though I had vanished,and it felt like I was in heaven,everyone appeared to me to be an angel radiating some divine love.After this experience having no money and nowhere to turn I decided just to follow the Ganges into the mountains,to either find the answers I was seeking or die.I walked some distance,but hungry,cold and full of fear I reached a point where I just wanted to give up.I slept and when I awoke to bathe in the very cold river,for some reason the sunrise seemed to overwhelm all my fear and self doubt,I felt as though I had the answer I was seeking,which was also an experience that I cannot express in words...
After this I made my way back,was befriended by some very kind people,and managed to make it to my Embassy who contacted my parents,so I was able to return home.

"About Jalaluddin Rumi, yes, I've come across him a little...Bahá'u'lláh quotes him in some places, and my one parent who is from Iran have also told me a little bit about the writings of Rumi...Yes it's true that Persia has given birth to several Holy Souls..."

Which parent is from Iran? I have some interest in Persian/Iranian culture and history,since it is so ancient and so rich in its creative expression.There is a sad side to more recent Iranian policy in that I believe that followers of the Bahai faith face persecution and even death in Iran.Is this correct?

[yusu77]

HI
First I thank the owner of this so sweet peom.
fist and i want to say that that is your right to be
atheist. moussa even the prophet and he is a prophet he had to say the god can i see u ? god had told him, why, u do not bilive? Foam say oh i just want to be sure my god ... at the end god had told him to look this mountain when he do not exist you will see me.and do mount dispear .. mossa had said plzz oh god forgive me ...
in the Koran say it: the person who most bilieve in god is the scientific **
lets fogot what religions say and use our mind.
I suposse good that you know what drawn had said now it is somthing toltaly wrong as all scientific said.that had absoulotly th man was not a moneky.
** Now we pass to chance?
assume that we are criated like that by chance, and that the world and auction like this by accident.
so we are the people who blieve in mind.
OK?
well now assume that you live alone in a house you have neither friends nor family.
and when you go home and find a new table. that what you say you are going to try and seek
for the person who provided it. but you didn't knew this person not all spend years and years to look, you have talked to police, they use all the capacity to know this person.
but they found nothing.
Now I ask you is what the end you will say that the table as it existed by accident ? by the hazard?
No you will certainly not say that.
you are going to say and believe that this is a person who put (or crieed ) this table but who is this person, what is not his, who he is his body, what is his face .. you only imagine in your mind's image.
and this is the same case for god. with a difference is that God is the best creator, the God who created man with a regulation, and even land it has been proven that if it moves away from its spot by centimetre back or front the life in the earth will be impossible.
So the fact that we see no evidence god does not his absence. and it is useless to seek his name, his body,
.... what matters there. and I personally I see in the wide sky, I see his kindness when I drink, I sleep and I eat.
I see his eyes when I do wrong. I see his holding
when it could happen to me somthing bad but with some luack it do not done.
I see my weaknes when it done to somthing bad.

we believe God is not spent all night and day to prayer, bilieve in god is do some prayer .. but it is more to use what give us in the good thing.
use our mouth to say the truth, and to be sweet with people. to use our hand for helping people. our mind with teaching to others what we know and also to seek in the world the sing of the greatest of god ... swexual to use our power with our husband / wife enjoy ourself with it and have some kids and never use it for other things ......

you can spend all your life to look how it is god (body) and you will not find as an example of the person who seeks auction this table.
but you can see him ( his greatest , his longer , his power , his kidness , ...) in the sky, moon, earth, in yourself, in the ocean ......

and supose one thing , just one for example and it still just one example how it could be life if it don't exis water .u can tell me why god don't criate the world without the need of water.i will tell u my friend u don't bilive in god cus u don't want to bilieve......

[Nature's heartbeat]

natures heartbeat that is a very beautiful prayer...:)

India holds a special place in my life since when I was 18 I spent a year there seeking answers to fundamental questions concerning God,I arrived without a return ticket to Australia and very little money,so from my point of view at the time I was completely at the mercy of God.I slept in temples,parks,ashrams and by the river going from teacher to teacher seeking guidance.I remember once sleeping in a park in New Delhi,opposite a Sikh temple and being very afraid,a Sikh gentleman woke me up and my first thought was that he may want to do me harm,but all he wanted me to do was turn and lay the other way since I was sleeping with my feet facing the temple.The Sikh faith has a warrior element since it originated in the Punjab and was in the forefront of the struggle with Islam.One of the 5 K's that a Sikh is supposed to wear is a small token dagger as well as the bangle etc.I have seen many Sikh's wielding swords,but I have only ever been treated with kindness by them.Most of my stay in India was spent following the Ganges.I spent some time in Benares then moved onto Hardwar,this is where my money ran out,anyway there was a festival happening called a Khumba Mela,this is an important time for Hindus and millions of people and hundreds of Guru's attend it.I was foretunate enough to sit at the feet of Ananda Moyi Ma who was a friend of Paramahamsa Yogananda and who is mentioned in the book "Autobiography of a Yogi" she was very old at the time and she had taken a vow of silence.I regard her as an Enlightened being since for the few hours that I saw her,I felt bathed in an all consuming compassionate love,every other teacher that I encountered in India still seemed to retain some element of ego.

"Anyway, this pilgrimage was such a wonderful experience. I felt like I was in a different world - the world of the spirit - and my words doesn't make this experience justice..."

I think I understand a little of what you felt.During the Khumba Mela there are big parades of Guru's and devotees chanting and dancing in the streets,I was with the other people just watching when a Guru whose name I do not know,motioned for me to cross the line and join in.So I was chanting Sri Ram Jai Ram and dancing when an old woman came from the crowd and touched my feet,so of course I immediately touched hers out of respect,in that instant I felt as though my entire being was swept away,I felt as though I had vanished,and it felt like I was in heaven,everyone appeared to me to be an angel radiating some divine love.After this experience having no money and nowhere to turn I decided just to follow the Ganges into the mountains,to either find the answers I was seeking or die.I walked some distance,but hungry,cold and full of fear I reached a point where I just wanted to give up.I slept and when I awoke to bathe in the very cold river,for some reason the sunrise seemed to overwhelm all my fear and self doubt,I felt as though I had the answer I was seeking,which was also an experience that I cannot express in words...
After this I made my way back,was befriended by some very kind people,and managed to make it to my Embassy who contacted my parents,so I was able to return home.

"About Jalaluddin Rumi, yes, I've come across him a little...Bahá'u'lláh quotes him in some places, and my one parent who is from Iran have also told me a little bit about the writings of Rumi...Yes it's true that Persia has given birth to several Holy Souls..."

Which parent is from Iran? I have some interest in Persian/Iranian culture and history,since it is so ancient and so rich in its creative expression.There is a sad side to more recent Iranian policy in that I believe that followers of the Bahai faith face persecution and even death in Iran.Is this correct?

-----

Hey pagan1,

I too was thinking that I should send you a pm instead as a reply to this and so I didn't mind that you sent me one first...:). I will reply later...but for now I can say that yes, there is persecution of Bahá'ís in Iran. There is some information about this on the official website of the international Bahá'í community on www.bahai.org. I have also read online that there is a Muslim network for Bahá'í rights that writes about persecution of Bahá'ís on http://www.bahairights.org/...and recently it seems as though some scholars are writing about this subject as well
(see: http://www.iranian.com/main/2008/if-i-were-shiite).