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Re-Visioning Religion | The Story of Our Time | Robert Atkinson
By Mike Morrell on October 19, 2017 in Books, Contemplative, Guest Voices
mikemorrell.org/2017/10/re-visioning-religion-the-story-of-our-time-robert-atkinson/
"There are two ways we can view religion: as consisting of multiple, separate, and independent entities; or, as one evolving knowledge system with many branches. If we view reality as a whole, we also have to see Divine truth as relative, progressive, and unfolding gradually, all the while coming from the same Source. Truth is not known and fixed for all time, but is rather revealed little by little. When more is needed, more follows. If reality is one, truth has to be one.
A long-standing paradox in the comparative study of religions has been: How could there be one Creator and so many religions? This question has perplexed the keenest minds for centuries. Yet, the Messengers of the one Creator have each accepted the prophets before and acknowledged that there would be others to follow.
The continuing nature of divine Revelation has been expressed by Krishna, a principal founder of Hinduism, as: “Whenever dharma declines and the purpose of life is forgotten, I manifest myself on earth. I am born in every age to protect the good, to destroy evil, and to reestablish dharma.” In the Bible is written, “And thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.”
Buddha taught that Brahman is continually manifested in the world: “I am not the first Buddha who came upon earth, nor shall I be the last. In due time another Buddha will arise in the world, a Holy One, a supremely enlightened One… He will reveal to you the same eternal truths… such as I now proclaim.”
Christ also took an eternal perspective on the progressive nature of revelation: “I have many things to tell you, but ye cannot bear them now… when the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth…and he will show you things to come.”
Muhammad also looked ahead to the “day unto which mankind shall be gathered together” as “a time appointed,” adding, “To each age its Book.”
As earlier prophets did for their time, Baha’u’llah, in this age, fulfilled the promises of previous Revelations, reaffirming the progressive nature of religion. In The Book of Certitude, Baha’u’llah tells the story of the prophets from Abraham, the “Friend of God,” to Moses, “He Who held converse with God,” to “the Manifestation of Jesus,” and to “the Day-star of Muhammad.” They, and the other major prophets (including Krishna, Zoroaster, and Buddha), are all “Treasuries of divine knowledge,” each a clearly polished mirror reflecting the light of one sun, each central to the Creator’s promise to never leave humanity alone.
“The paradox of many religions and one Creator can now be seen holistically. No longer do we need to see the world’s religions as separated from each other; rather, they can be seen as joined in purpose and origin. The story of the prophets is the story of the Creator sending a never-ending message to humanity, piece by piece.
In these trying times, we cannot afford to lose sight of the many individual and social benefits humanity has reaped from religion. Within the world’s religious and spiritual traditions lie the seeds for rebuilding a tired and worn world.
However, misconceptions still linger about the nature of religion and the way the Creator interacts with an ever-evolving creation; these need to be addressed in public and interfaith discourse in order to ensure the progress of humanity.
Religion needs to be re-envisioned as built upon a dynamic, interconnected sequence of divine Messengers who manifest the attributes of an inaccessible Divinity and convey divinely-inspired Revelations that guide and educate humanity from age to age. As Abdu’l-Baha has put it, “Religion is the outer expression of divine reality. Therefore, it must be living, vitalized, moving, and progressive.”"
Rest in Link
By Mike Morrell on October 19, 2017 in Books, Contemplative, Guest Voices
mikemorrell.org/2017/10/re-visioning-religion-the-story-of-our-time-robert-atkinson/
"There are two ways we can view religion: as consisting of multiple, separate, and independent entities; or, as one evolving knowledge system with many branches. If we view reality as a whole, we also have to see Divine truth as relative, progressive, and unfolding gradually, all the while coming from the same Source. Truth is not known and fixed for all time, but is rather revealed little by little. When more is needed, more follows. If reality is one, truth has to be one.
A long-standing paradox in the comparative study of religions has been: How could there be one Creator and so many religions? This question has perplexed the keenest minds for centuries. Yet, the Messengers of the one Creator have each accepted the prophets before and acknowledged that there would be others to follow.
The continuing nature of divine Revelation has been expressed by Krishna, a principal founder of Hinduism, as: “Whenever dharma declines and the purpose of life is forgotten, I manifest myself on earth. I am born in every age to protect the good, to destroy evil, and to reestablish dharma.” In the Bible is written, “And thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.”
Buddha taught that Brahman is continually manifested in the world: “I am not the first Buddha who came upon earth, nor shall I be the last. In due time another Buddha will arise in the world, a Holy One, a supremely enlightened One… He will reveal to you the same eternal truths… such as I now proclaim.”
Christ also took an eternal perspective on the progressive nature of revelation: “I have many things to tell you, but ye cannot bear them now… when the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth…and he will show you things to come.”
Muhammad also looked ahead to the “day unto which mankind shall be gathered together” as “a time appointed,” adding, “To each age its Book.”
As earlier prophets did for their time, Baha’u’llah, in this age, fulfilled the promises of previous Revelations, reaffirming the progressive nature of religion. In The Book of Certitude, Baha’u’llah tells the story of the prophets from Abraham, the “Friend of God,” to Moses, “He Who held converse with God,” to “the Manifestation of Jesus,” and to “the Day-star of Muhammad.” They, and the other major prophets (including Krishna, Zoroaster, and Buddha), are all “Treasuries of divine knowledge,” each a clearly polished mirror reflecting the light of one sun, each central to the Creator’s promise to never leave humanity alone.
“The paradox of many religions and one Creator can now be seen holistically. No longer do we need to see the world’s religions as separated from each other; rather, they can be seen as joined in purpose and origin. The story of the prophets is the story of the Creator sending a never-ending message to humanity, piece by piece.
In these trying times, we cannot afford to lose sight of the many individual and social benefits humanity has reaped from religion. Within the world’s religious and spiritual traditions lie the seeds for rebuilding a tired and worn world.
However, misconceptions still linger about the nature of religion and the way the Creator interacts with an ever-evolving creation; these need to be addressed in public and interfaith discourse in order to ensure the progress of humanity.
Religion needs to be re-envisioned as built upon a dynamic, interconnected sequence of divine Messengers who manifest the attributes of an inaccessible Divinity and convey divinely-inspired Revelations that guide and educate humanity from age to age. As Abdu’l-Baha has put it, “Religion is the outer expression of divine reality. Therefore, it must be living, vitalized, moving, and progressive.”"
Rest in Link