THE PURPOSE OF LIFE

Which is???

The teachings offered to humanity by the Manifestations of God who each brought an independent revelation directly from God are what we need to know in order to as you put it, figure out the cosmos.

It's those Revelations which are the inspiration behind all human advancement throughout history and right up to the present.

The videos here are the beginning of the proof for this assertion. You will only know what that means if you go through all seven of which this one called "Why Life" is the first.

If you are quite happy with your idea at this point and you feel there's nothing to investigate through this path then there's nothing to discuss.

If you feel there's something worth exploring then just click and listen and decide for yourself concerning the content of the class.

Hey "uni0", good to have you back.

"Is that the purpose of life?" "unimatrix0" asks.

That question will be answered for "unimatrix0" from the Baha'i perspective when "unimatrix0" immerses his/her self in real research by pushing "play" on the link at the beginning of this thread.

For the rest of you with common human decency, the answer is obvious. You will gain much more than this from the Firesides.

Hear here! I second that motion.

To avoid the mistake of being taken in by any charlatans or soap salesmen, and being brainwashed by the dogma of "unimatrix0"s Fundamentalist Atheist Religion or the Bogus groups affiliated with "unimatix0"s anti gay post, click on the link at the top of this thread titled "THE PURPOSE OF LIFE" and get the truth of why you're really here.

I aint the cat selling the soap big B. I'm not trying to shove some video indoctrination down peoples throat.

And you just come across as desperate and pathetic. You are not doing a good job as a soap salesman. You turn the customers off.

"uni0" you're kind of funny when you characterize posting a video on current.com as "trying to shove some video indoctrination down peoples throat." How absurd.

What that statement reveals is that you haven't watched it yet which means that you have no idea what the content, much less tone of the class is and that you are very threatened by the mere fact that it's here for anyone to watch if they choose to.

That's a pretty extreme level of agitation over it. And for you to keep up the attack this long and after a day and a half of rest to come back to it you must really want people to watch the videos. You do realize that the more you clamor against it the more interest it will generate don't you?

That's OK please don't stop, if you keep up the attacks this thread will keep going until I post the second Fireside Video Class and by then there will be more interest than I ever could have inspired for it on my own just posting it among the thousands of offerings here at current.com.

You do a service to the Baha'i cause, and I/we thank you for that.

Sincerely.

There you go again "uni0" getting all confused by things as a result of not investigating what you fear.

This question was already answered for you twice on this thread but I'll just have to put it up as a separate post so anyone looking on won't be drawn in by your deception. And you have the nerve to call yourself an Atheist.

I know many other Atheists and they aren't into misdirection and deception, they have a love for the truth and are generally well wishers of others and would never do anything to mislead others into hatred and animosity for their own self aggrandizement.

For the record "unimatrix0", you attempting to attack the Baha'i faith in the manner you do is as off the mark as it would be to think one is attacking all of Christianity by seizing upon one statement made by a Pope.

It just shows how little you know about the Baha'i Faith and how misguided your efforts at obfuscation are as a result of your complete lack of knowledge about that which is the object of your hatred.

You expose yourself by your actions. But it's still no harm done as we welcome the publicizing of this kind of issue and if it takes a Religiously Fundamental Atheist such as you to help it along then please feel free to worship God in your own peculiar way.

And thank you for the post of that link. I wasn't aware that another group calling themselves Baha'i had gone so far off track by making an issue out of homosexuality. I was aware that they had printed some things which had no part of the Baha'i Teachings but didn't know they had strayed so far off the mark to this degree, it's really nasty.

Baha'is Under the Provisions of the Covenant would never permit such an action. You need to educate yourself on exactly what the truth is lest your lack of good information causes you to go as far off the mark in other directions.

Apparently you didn't read through the comments so I'll clear up this misconception by reposting this earlier explanation of the Baha'i Faith and hetero, homo, and bi sexuality mostly for the poor souls who may be poisoned by your use of this example to define a thing you're woefully and willfully ignorant of. To wit:

Specifically in regard to the subjects, generally matters of sexuality are left to the individual as a matter of personal privacy and persecution in all such matters is strictly forbidden by Baha'u'llah.

In the Sacred Writings of the the Baha'i Faith intercourse is considered to be the consummation of matrimony. Outside of that context it is considered to be subject to a monetary fine yet as this is a private matter, there is no legal Baha'i "mechanism" for taking people to task for it as to do so would constitute an even greater infraction on the part of the individual meddling in the private lives of two other individuals. These types of societal behaviors often involve a heavy dose of gossip and backbiting which in the Baha'i Teachings are the most odious sins against the common weal.

In other words a Baha'i knows that it's far more important to respect and safeguard the individuals right to their private relationship with God than to go on a persecution witch hunt in any case. The exact same thing applies to the rights of Homosexual or Bisexual individuals and everyone else as well.

In the explicit writings of Baha'u'llah the specific subjects of homosexuality and bisexuality aren't treated. The Baha'i Writings do explicitly forbid persecution and prejudice of ALL kinds and even with an elected judicial body within the Faith to rule on all matters not contained within the explicit texts, for that body to enact any laws or ordinances that violate the basic principles of the explicit text would be an injury to the body of society and would run fundamentally counter to the True Spirit of the Revelation of Baha'u'llah.

So, no there is nothing whatsoever to prevent any person of any sexual orientation from being a Baha'i and living a full active life as a fully functioning and equally contributing member of the Baha'i community with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that it implies. Whatever you heard or read before was from some other individual or group claiming the name Baha'i but it wasn't in accordance with the Provisions of the Covenant of Baha'u'llah which is the charter for the Faith worldwide. Even if some who call themselves Baha'i don't know that yet.

You see it's exactly like how anyone can call themselves an Atheist and yet refuse to accept logic and reason and science.

It's also like how anyone can call themselves an Atheist and remain closed minded to anything which might cause them to rethink their position to the point of being afraid to even listen to another's ideas.

Anyone can call themselves an adherent to any religion or ideology and yet exhibit qualities and characteristics and behaviors that fly in direct opposition to the truth of that religion or ideology.

I don't need to make excuses for those who call themselves Baha'i and do things that are in opposition to the teachings of Baha'u'llah anymore than any Atheist needs to apologize for the actions of any other member of their Religion.

"unimatrix0",
All of that you say without having viewed the three part video posted here. Your comments are unrelated to the content of the post. And I thought Religiously Fundamentalist Atheists could be open minded and not fearful of investigating anything, being so firm in their Faith. I hope all Atheists aren't so dogmatically and rigidly locked up and chained intellectually as to prevent them from diving into the process of investigating anything that might pose a challenge to their deeply held belief system. In any case it's no real concern to me just one more person who won't be going through the Firesides. Next.

Have you attended the class yet?
Until you do that your comments are unrelated to the posting here and you can't comment with any authority on what the content is. Just watch the three part video posted here and get back to me...or not.

Atheism is absolutely a religion.

Those who insist Atheism must not be a religion are simply insecure, and can only imagine that they are escaping the need they feel for some reassurance in the face of life's unknowns.

Again with the insults.

Atheism is the absence of religion.

If atheism is religion, "albino" is a suntan.

If atheism is a religion, then bald is a hair color.

Some people live without religion my friend.

You have my sympathy because your limited intellect can not imagine this possibility.

Next time do your homework before you speak on that which you do not comprehend.

Those opposites you've compared aren't analogous of the relationship between the religion of Atheism and other religions.

The statement you make is like saying that ice is not water which while technically is true, yet they are both composed of the exact same elements. Your brand of Religiously Fundamentalist Atheism is just another religion and your comments across the board are absolutely indicative of that.

Look "unimatrix0", just relax and get comfortable with the fact that in your search for no religion you've unwittingly stumbled upon the nogod religion and bought into it hook line and sinker. I'm not saying there's something wrong with it I'm just acknowledging the fact of it and accepting you for what you are and welcoming you to see what similarities there are between your religion and the Baha'i Faith. You shouldn't feel like I'm attacking you personally if I merely help you define your religion. Why is everything so personal with you? Chill out and see what the Fireside has to offer.

By all means, cite examples from my posts to "uni0" that support what you're implying.

You're taking it as granted that God exists and a denial of such a God is fallacious. That's a doctrine, and it doesn't stem from empirical reality.

You also make the assumption that the absence of faith is in some way the equivalent of faith itself, because you're approaching the idea from a standpoint of the faithful.

"numi" of course it doesn't stem from empirical reality God is the Cause of empirical reality. All the empirical universe proclaims it's Creator. The really humorous thing about an Atheistic POV is that while on one hand it's proponents speak of logic and science and empiricism as if they're the crucible of all truth and yet on the other hand they completely reject logical reasoning when faced with the question of the reality of God and all things spiritual. Religious Atheism tries to have it both ways and it's at once a funny and sad spectacle of reason stuck in a feedback loop where logic is used in an attempt to defy and deny logic.

"In the beginning was the LOGOS and the LOGOS was with GOD and the LOGOS was GOD."

You can call it doctrine or dogma if you want but it's only your choice to make for yourself. However you choose, know that Religious Atheism is one of the most obvious proofs of the Reality of God and therein lies both it's meaning and it's purpose.

Also "numi", I see no absence of faith at all in Religiously Atheistic people, quite the contrary. They have a very deep Faith which they express repeatedly in as many different ways as they can.

Ironic once again isn't it?

The Atheist looks at the universal evidence of The Creator and then denies the existence of The Creator.
The Atheist has deep abiding Faith in the non-existence of The Creator and then denies All Faith within their own self.

How can it be more obvious? The very existence of the Atheist is like a "Makers Mark" on the body of the human collective.

I love it.

And "numi", as for my "angle" as you put it that's easy, I have no "angle".

My sole purpose is to place information before the world and to let the people examine it and get whatever they can from it.

I don't stick around to collect money or get them "signed up" for anything or get them to "join the church" or show up for the church picnic. The only thing I'm here for is to point people in the direction of truth and let them decide for themselves either way and to be available for any questions they may have pertinent to the information contained within the classes.

If they refuse to sit through the studies and only show up to deny it without examining then there's nothing I can do with or for them and they are free to move on.

If upon going through the classes they decide it's not for them and want to hang around to engage in trivial pursuits about why they don't believe, I can only participate insofar as there is no one at that moment who wishes to have intelligent exchange about it and even then only as simple entertainment.

One either finds it to be true or doesn't. Spiritual opposition is not something I can help with except through prayer, but intellectual opposition is worthy of discussing, hence I find Religious Atheists engaging.

As I've said to others before I have no personal investment in what anyone's response to it is. I have a responsibility to be available for those who care to go further with these studies. Judge it any way you feel compelled to.

Enjoy.

Here you go "uni0" in case you missed it before:

Atheism is just another religion unto itself. It is also in the process of becoming an Organized Religion and it too has its various sects and divisions including its radical evangelical wing which is well represented here on Current.com.

I don't have a problem with any religion. I'm only interested in truth and truth as universal as is possible to discover.

All should be free in this world to practice their religion as they choose provided it doesn't require them to have any negative or at worst harmful impact on the commonweal which includes the environment/biosphere of the planet we all live on, or any other individual.

The very fact that a person can conceive of the non-existence of God is a clear proof of the very reality of God. This is pure logic. If you don't get it then you don't "get" logic.

As far as I'm concerned the Atheist is just worshiping God in his/her own way and must be absolutely free to do so, as should the devout worshiper of Satan as long as they don't insist on sacrificing children to Moloch.

Baha'u'llah has written, with infinitely greater eloquence, that to blindly follow the religion of your fathers is a mistake. He also states that if religion becomes the cause of division and conflict it is a supremely religious act to reject such religion as it has nothing whatsoever to do with God.

It is a basic human question to ask if God is real and the usual follow up is why we exist. These questions aren't simply answered which is why man's search for answers continues and Atheism is just one more avenue of that eternal search.

The beauty of it is, as I intimated before, that the very ability to question the reality of God is the greatest proof of God's Reality.

God bless the Atheist.

You do too. You believe in John Lennon as a prophet of Atheism. See you even have your own prophets and Religious Leaders. Can you name any others? How about Ayn Rand?

Then again, John Lennon accepted Baha'u'llah before he was assassinated. Oh well.

Not everyone needs a prophet; not everyone is that weak.

Lennon was just a beautiful artist who spoke truth.

How sad that you can't see past your compulsion for superficial religious dogma,

Lennon was just a beautiful artist who spoke truth as he found it in the words of his Beloved Baha'u'llah. If it was good enough for John Lennon, it must be good enough for you.

Thanks for stating your opinion "unimatrix0".
Now you should go and watch the three parts of the class and then perhaps you'll be qualified to have an opinion on the actual content of it.

Also, as much as you might want it to be so, it isn't at all about me. If you matriculate yourself into the class given here you will find no mention of me in it at any point.

Though you could and certainly should be wary of anyone asking for money in exchange for such classes there is no money involved in this entire series and the education is superior to anything taught anyplace else in the world. Don't miss out "unimatrix0", enroll and learn while you still can. After all, God loves you as much as anyone else.

You have a strong Religious Faith in nogod "unimatrix0" and as I've said before it goes a long way to confirming the Reality of the One True God and I don't seek to sway you from your Religious belief in any degree. Even so, I think you'd be surprised to learn what's in this class. In some ways you'd actually find your own Faith confirmed in these teachings. God's Reality encompasses even your's "unimatrix0". Keep the Faith.

I have no religious faith, and I am uncomfortable with you defining me, but I suppose that is your prerogative.

peace

Are you joking? You have no religious faith? Really? You are extremely zealous in your proselytizing of your Religious Atheism. See, it's even another "ism". You're like the one who protests too much. Waaaaay too much.

Your rebellion against God is likely a hyper reaction to something in your past and is very much like that of a teenagers rebellious phase. It too will likely pass as you mature. As for defining you, dear "uni", YOU do all the defining of yourself here, that's how I know what a True Believer you are. You'll probably build the first Atheist Church and that's just fine by me, you should be free to practice your Faith in nogod without persecution, after all it actually is just another way of worshiping The One True Invisible God. Just don't be thinking of strapping on a bomb and blowing up some other religion's building ok? Sometimes you seem on the verge of that level of fanaticism. It's cool though if you think about it you're the first Fundamentalist Atheist I've ever had the pleasure of sharing with. There's something in those Fireside videos for you. Make sure to watch them.

Thanks for the wishes for peace,
Alekum Salam.

Religion is superstitious non - sense. God is a delusion. You are so stuck in your paradigm you can not even grasp mine.

Imagine no religion. It isn't hard to do.

You selling your religious soap, aside from being obnoxious, is just awkward and embarassing - like a bad Jahova's witness knocking on my virtual door.

You seem to be conflicted as on one hand you wish me peace then come back with a post tinged with little hints of real hate. That's ok "uni0" I suppose it's just one of your Religious peculiarities. Seems as though you might be coming from a place of having been a victim of someone who pushed a religion at some point in your life. Anyway it makes no difference, as I honor your freedom to worship as you are able.

Yes I am conflicted, on one hand I want to be nice, on the other hand I am annoyed and appalled that you would try to sell me your religious soap.

And I don't worship anything. The fact that you claim I worship anything is an insult, not an honor.

You seem to be stuck on "sell". There's no money to be made in the Baha'i Faith. And you need to be aware that nobody who is Baha'i truly cares if you accept or reject it. It's a detached dissemination of information.

Sorry for you feeling so uncomfortable about your own Religious Fervor but it literally oozes from you in practically every post of yours that I've read. The pun is a gift. In fact the pun of such Religious Atheism is quite the gift from God if one can but perceive the humor and irony of it.

The fact that you insist on insulting me only proves the poverty of your intellect and spirit.

You have my sympathy.

I give you nothing but the highest compliments and you show no appreciation at all. You need to take this class "uni0", it will help you with your big questions. Be at ease with your devotion and your strong Faith and your firm Religiosity in your Fundamental Atheism and know that God has a purpose and a plan for you as well as everyone else and you can find out what that is. These Fireside Classes are a great place to start finding out about what that purpose is. Simply click on the little triangle and begin the journey.

You are obtuse. You continue to insult me.

I will not watch your silly propaganda. The fact that you are so insecure that you must beg people to join your cult is pathetic.

You are every bit as obnoxious as any Xian.

You and your mother have my sympathy.

You insist upon making the whole thing about me and in doing so you've missed the point altogether. Once again, "uni0" get this through your head, it's not about me, it's not about you, it's about GOD. And God is making Himself available to you in the simplest of ways as it takes very little effort to point and click and sit and listen and learn. Also, I'm certainly not begging you "uni0", I'm entreating you. It's a little different with different motivation behind it.

Some people spend their entire lives looking for exactly this information contained in the Firesides and never find it for one reason or another and here God has placed it directly in front of your eyes and you stubbornly ignore it and direct all of your hurt and pain and anger at me the postman delivering this one of a kind message to you which whether or not you care to admit it (and you really don't need to, it's written all over your comments here and elsewhere), you've spent your life searching for.

You don't need to be afraid to watch the videos they're completely harmless. Hate me all you want but watch the Fireside and see what you think about that independently of your feelings for me.

There is no god - why do you insult my intelligence with your silly, sad, pathetic superstition?

To hate you I would have to care about you - I don't. I feel sorry for you, even though you continue to insult me.

No doubt you will feel the need to respond again. This has nothing to do with your make-believe god, only your pathetic need to be right and have the last word.

I am done playing with you - you are an obnoxious ass

Which has exactly what to do with the content of the video in the post?

Would you take the recommendation of an obnoxious ass who insults people?

As it is you who is tossing all the insults here...what is your point?

As I asked before; This has what to do with the content of the original link in this post?

Your opinion is duly noted.
Did you watch the video yet?

It should also be stated that life has both meaning and purpose. Both need to be sought. Sit in on the class here and give it some thought.

Then again, to join you in your hairsplitting task, the inherent purpose of yellow would of course be to absorb all the other parts of the visible light spectrum so that the observer is then able to distinguish it from the other colors. Yet its more of a function of the observer much as the tree question addressed in the Fireside Class given on this link.

There's a difference between function and purpose. Purpose implies theology. Function can come about spontaneously. There is no purpose of yellow, but our perception functions in such a way that we can distinguish it. Still, we're not directly experiencing the color yellow as it is, but perceiving it in such a way that has meaning to us as humans, along with the rest of the visible color spectrum.

So you agree with me. Very good.

Um, what I said is in agreement with my initial statement. How I'm in agreement with you I'm not sure, because I still reject the notion of inherent purpose.

See if you had watched the video Fireside class you'd know exactly how what you said agrees with what I said.

One part that doesn't follow any logic is the statement that "Purpose implies theology". It may somehow in your understanding but it doesn't in real language. Words have actual definitions for good reason. One could also say they have purpose.

Another part of your comment that has no basis in reality but may in your imaginary lexicon is the one about how "Function can come about spontaneously". Nothing in any definition of the word "function" suggests spontaneity in any regard.

So aside from your personally imagined definitions of the two words in question, we are in complete agreement.

Are we really going to debate semantics now? Fine.

purpose |ˈpərpəs|
noun
the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists : the purpose of the meeting is to appoint a trustee | the building is no longer needed for its original purpose.
• a person's sense of resolve or determination : there was a new sense of purpose in her step as she set off.
• (usu. purposes) a particular requirement or consideration, typically one that is temporary or restricted in scope or extent : pensions are considered as earned income for tax purposes.

Life doesn't exist for any predetermined purpose. You can turn to the second definition if you like, but that would be variable. There wouldn't be a singular Purpose to Life since it would vary according to the values of the individual.

Well "numi" it was you who took it into a semantic debate with your first and second responses.

Your own stated definition doesn't say anything at all about any implication of theology and as it was you who stated that the word "purpose implies theology" are you now just reversing your position 180? You just re-confirmed my response on that point which was that the word purpose does NOT imply theology. Your argument isn't even following any logical line.

You also have no ability to defend your position that life also has no meaning. But that's OK your initial point was as demonstrated here, completely without foundation, semantically or otherwise.

As I told you before you are in agreement with the teachings given within the Video Class here and all you need to do is to sit yourself down and enjoy the first of seven of these classes and get on the mailing list to be notified when the next one is up on the site. It'll do ya good.

So the answer to your question is no, we won't be debating semantics as you started out trying to do as you are clearly not up to it. Buy a good dictionary.

Socrates: Death is the cure for life.

Specifically in regard to the subjects, generally matters of sexuality are left to the individual as a matter of personal privacy and persecution in all such matters is strictly forbidden by Baha'u'llah.

In the Sacred Writings of the the Baha'i Faith intercourse is considered to be the consummation of matrimony. Outside of that context it is considered to be subject to a monetary fine yet as this is a private matter, there is no legal Baha'i "mechanism" for taking people to task for it as to do so would constitute an even greater infraction on the part of the individual meddling in the private lives of two other individuals. These types of societal behaviors often involve a heavy dose of gossip and backbiting which in the Baha'i Teachings are the most odious sins against the common weal.

In other words a Baha'i knows that it's far more important to respect and safeguard the individuals right to their private relationship with God than to go on a persecution witch hunt in any case. The exact same thing applies to the rights of Homosexual or Bisexual individuals and everyone else as well.

In the explicit writings of Baha'u'llah the specific subjects of homosexuality and bisexuality aren't treated. The Baha'i Writings do explicitly forbid persecution and prejudice of ALL kinds and even with an elected judicial body within the Faith to rule on all matters not contained within the explicit texts, for that body to enact any laws or ordinances that violate the basic principles of the explicit text would be an injury to the body of society and would run fundamentally counter to the True Spirit of the Revelation of Baha'u'llah.

So, no there is nothing whatsoever to prevent any person of any sexual orientation from being a Baha'i and living a full active life as a fully functioning and equally contributing member of the Baha'i community with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that it implies. Whatever you heard or read before was from some other individual or group claiming the name Baha'i but it wasn't in accordance with the Provisions of the Covenant of Baha'u'llah which is the charter for the Faith worldwide. Even if some who call themselves Baha'i don't know that yet.

I sincerely hope this helps foster understanding.

Thank you for clarifying. I have a greater understanding of your beliefs.

My pleasure.
After all, understanding is the goal.

Like I said you'll find it to be inclusive of the ideas you wrote in your first comment.

It's not reading it's video

And of course you should state whatever's on your mind. I'm just suggesting that it might be more interesting to comment about after one has actually taken the time to hear the content of the videos. It is an investment of time I realize. The first part is about 30 min. and the other two parts are about an hour each so I know most people aren't even able to focus that long in this up to the minute society and many just don't have the time in their day for that. We make the effort for the things we seek.

The title stated Purpose of Life. I said what it meant for me. I don't understand your point.

I'm sorry you didn't notice that this comment was addressed to "jubal". I posted it separately because the things he said in his post are very bad and form no part of the Baha'i Faith's teachings whatsoever and I thought it important to clear away the clouds of his misinformation so all could see the answer.

I wonder, did you actually take the time to sit through all three parts of this. I think you'd find it interesting unless your mind is made up and closed. Not that I disagree with anything you stated in your comment. It's all true, it's just that there's more to it than even those good things you stated.