Bridging Beliefs

Why does God need to be praised all the time? The secular mind may, understandably, find this odd, even narcissistic. We examine how the Baha'i Scriptures deal with this query. Sections: 1. 1:39 Peculiar Practice of Prayer 2. 2:29 Work, Service, and Arts are Worship 3. 3:36 The Mysticism of Prayer 4. 4:56 Doesn’t God Know What You Want? 5. 9:05 Even if it Lead to Fire 6. 12:37 Building Your B...

Part 4 of a multi-series presentation on this subject. Time stamps below 👇 I examine the concept of "the Seal of the Prophets" an understandable and widespread Muslim objection that no Messenger of God can come after the Prophet Muhammad. Here we also examine evidence in the Qur'an that points to the need for investigation of the Day of Judgement. The Qur'an enjoins investigat...

Part 3 of a multi-series presentation on this subject. I examine the concept of "the Seal of the Prophets" an understandable and widespread Muslim objection that no Messenger of God can come after the Prophet Muhammad. We examine Qur'anic passages and the Baha'i Scriptures related to this paramount theme. Sections: 1. 0:35 Review 2. 4:17 "A Wicked Man Comes with News"...

Part 2 of a multi-series presentation on this subject. I examine the concept of "the Seal of the Prophets" an understandable and widespread Muslim objection that no Messenger of God can come after the Prophet Muhammad. We examine Qur'anic passages and the Baha'i Scriptures related to this paramount theme. Sections: 1. 0:44 The Surah of Hud Sufficeth 2. 5:06 The Surah of Hud 3....

Part 1 of a multi-series presentation on this subject. I examine the concept of "the Seal of the Prophets" an understandable and widespread Muslim objection that no Messenger of God can come after the Prophet Muhammad. We examine Qur'anic passages and the Baha'i Scriptures related to this paramount theme. Sections: 1. 1:18 The Problem 2. 1:53 Agreement on “Seal” 3. 6:04 Qur’an,...

Regardless of our beliefs - Baha'i, Atheist, Christian, Secular, Buddhist, or Jewish - we must strive to pass through the stages of knowledge, understanding, and to find the beauty others see in their beliefs. Only then can we truly grasp why people adhere to theses beliefs and understand human psychology. This is independent of whether the belief is true or not. To be genuine global citizens...

Passionate believers seek to spread their beliefs, often antagonizing those who don’t agree. They “push their beliefs” on others. Do only religious or political people do so? How is sharing one’s belief system (proclamation) congruent with social progress and being a genuine person? What is proselytizing? How is this related to truth claims? Can this be used as a brushoff tactic to simply avoid in...

Are religious people conformists, sheep following the herd, upholding the status quo? Do only religious people do this? Further, did people in power create religion to control the masses? Does history uphold either of these claim? Sections: 0:25 Anyone Can be Sheep 1:30 It Doesn't Imply it's True or False 2:13 Ethics and Societal Norms 4:33 'Religion: Created by Those in Power'...

Some people offer 'psychological needs' for why others accept religion. This leads them to ignore religion's truth-claims, and takes the place of rational investigation. In such cases they can as brush-off tactics. However, the psychoanalysis of unbelief can ignore secular arguments against religion. I propose that psychoanalysis of thought is not fruitful and stunts critical invest...

Do we have a duty to investigate? And when trying to understand others' perspectives and beliefs should we find the most rational representation of it or point at the silliest easiest versions? These questions will be explored in this video. Sections: 2:49 Duty of Inquiry and Sincerity 13:33 Interpretation of Texts Download MP3 and PDF here YouTube Patreon Facebook Instagram Twitter Official...

According to many Muslims (not all), their understanding of the Qur'an 4:157 is that it denies Jesus' crucifixion, however the Bible not only believes in it but emphasizes it as central! How can these two Holy Books be reconciled? Sections: 1. 1:08 Text in Question 2. 7:44 The Bahá'í Interpretation 3. 11:08 The Same Fruit - Consistent with Self - A Harmonious Whole 4. 24:13 "Ch...

There are multiple aspects to this concern. One is that “inherently by being religious you’re X religion and therefore not Y religion, placing people into categories or camps of Us and Them, which makes religion essentially divisive.” So to be secular is seen as being neutral. We'll examine the Bahá'í Writings and see what they say on this issue as we try to resolve this understandable a...

A brief introductory study of The Unity of Religion in the Bahá'í Writings. I will first present what the "Unity of Religion" briefly is, and subsequently will discuss the barriers and bridges to this concept. Sections:  1:09 One Common Faith - What is "The Unity of Religion"?  32:01 Does Not Invalidate  1:08:49 Independent Investigation of Truth  1:34:37 Secularism, Ratio...

A brief introductory study of the "worlds beyond", "next world", or "life after death" in the Bahá'í Writings. This is the full presentation, all 7 parts. Sections:  0:44 Intro  1:13 The Great Beyond - An Apt Expression  3:29 The Womb and the World - The Limits of Knowing  12:25 No Physical Form - Made Up of Heavenly Elements  16:50 World of Exemplars - the Heave...

What does the Qur'an say about the Bible - the Jewish and Christian Scriptures? Some Muslims claim these Texts have been corrupted. We look at the Qur'an and the Bahá’í Writings and see the validity of the Bible confirmed. We find that, when the Qur'an speaks of "corruption of the Texts" this refers to corruption of the meaning through interpretation. The meaning has been...

A brief introductory study of politics and the Bahá'í Writings. This Deepening explores concepts in the Bahá’í Faith related to politics: Baha'u'llah's injunction against Baha'is interfering in secular and partisan politics of any form. We explore how the Bahá’í Faith is political in the original sense of the term: a science of governance, or the organization of society. T...

In Islam it is categorically forbidden to pray to anything or anyone other than Almighty God. Everyday, when Bahá'ís performing their "Obligatory Prayer" or "Salát" or "Namáz", they face and prostrate towards Baha'u'llah's resting place and Shrine in Bahji, Israel. And technically it isn't to the Shrine as much as it is to Baha'u'lla...

A brief introductory study of God and gods according to the Buddhist scriptures. We also examine the Bahá'í Writings to shed light on its authenticity. Sections:  0:38 Intro  12:10 Buddhist Scriptural Authenticity  23:34 Limits of Language  42:44 Gods Abound  1:01:44 Buddha Above Gods  1:15:44 Buddha Worshipped by Gods  1:47:02 Buddha is the Dharma  1:50:03 Buddha is Ultimate Reality  2:04:03...

A brief introductory study on the concepts of knowledge, reason, and 'independent investigation of truth' found in the Bahá'í Writings. Sections:  0:39 The Supreme Gift - Significance of Intellect and Reason  7:16 The Path of Knowledge - Importance of Knowledge  17:49 The Independent Search for Truth  32:43 The Fragrant Sword - Arguments and the Spark of Truth  50:13 Summoned to Stu...

A brief introductory study of the 'International Auxiliary Language' found in the Bahá'í Writings. What is it? How should it be established? What are its rules? Who can create it? etc. Sections:  0:39 Establishment  11:22 A Literary and Sophisticated Language  12:55 Features and Means of Selection/Creation Download MP3 and PDF here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B9l0MPLsXeSZYmNn...

A brief introductory study of the Hindu teaching of "Atman is Brahman". How can this be reconciled with the Bahá'í Writings? Sections:  0:39 Intro  2:49 What is the issue?  8:25 Bahá'í view of Religion  10:51 'Problem' texts  21:15 Bahá'í definitions of 'God'  31:56 Counter texts  43:53 Finding our self Download MP3 and PDF here: https://drive.google.co...

A brief introductory study of Biblical approach to Prophetic claims. We examine the warnings for false prophets in the Bible, then see what Jesus and the Bible teaches about Prophets, and our duty to sincerely independently investigate, whether or not the Bahá'í Faith is true. Sections: 0:39 Intro  4:18 Warnings of False Prophets  9:26 Independent Investigation of Truth  17:18 Prophets are Co...

A brief introductory study of the objection "The Bahá'í vision of the future and solution to the world's problems are utopian and impossible to achieve." here we first look at the Bahá'í Writings and then offer some thoughts that may bridge the gap of understanding between us and the seeker. Sections:  0:39 Intro  6:43 That’s Not an Argument – Idealism & Realism vs. Op...

Baha’u’llah claims His Faith is the fulfillment of the long-awaited expectations of all the great religions, when all humanity will be united in “one universal cause, one common faith.” When all the races and people of the world will work together toward a single world order, where war will cease in a universal brotherhood. While beautiful , this is probably the biggest claim one can make. So it’s...