Rainn was raised in the Baha’i faith, and his spirituality is the basis of his website www.SoulPancake.com. The website’s goal is to inspire people to talk about life’s big questions and explore their own spirituality and creativity through art, music, photography, social networking, thoughtful discussion and more. Actor Rainn Wilson, best known for his Emmy-nominated role as Dwight Schrute on the NBC sitcom The Office, has built a successful career in Hollywood on both the big and small …
#1 by iLove12GaugeSlugs on July 11, 2009 - 8:25 pm
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i think its islam .. but its a very interesting religion
#2 by aniefig on July 12, 2009 - 1:14 am
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“we are created in the image of God.”
God is a creator, so we are also creators.
#3 by holla123bye123 on July 13, 2009 - 4:00 am
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yes, that’s right
and without enforcing it on anyone or any nation
#4 by jigglyfidda125 on July 14, 2009 - 4:05 am
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baha’i is the fastest growing religion on earth
#5 by PeterJDeer on July 15, 2009 - 12:50 pm
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To Truehealth27: in response to the statement regarding blind faith our teachings state explicitly that blind faith is no faith at all, but merely the imitation. For example, Abdul-Bahá has said:
Unquestionably there must be agreement between true religion and science. If a question be found contrary to reason, faith and belief in it are impossible and there is no outcome but wavering and vacillation.
So you see, even belief in these teachings must be based on reason and proofs.
#6 by PeterJDeer on July 15, 2009 - 1:26 pm
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dwoodall8979:
Firstly, it’s not as though the local assemblies have squads out searching to see if you’re having a quickie on the side, it’s only an issue if you do it in a way that is so bad it causes public scandal.
Secondly, the UHJ does NOT expose you in the process, assembly rulings such as this are kept very confidential as a matter of policy.
Third, there is no reference in any published English Baha’i text to support your statement regarding masturbation.
#7 by PeterJDeer on July 16, 2009 - 10:41 am
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TrueHealth27: I used to feel the exact same way you did, that all religion was a sham cooked up to excuse inexcusable acts and to justify controlling others.
But really, you speak of open-mindedness but I don’t think you’re applying it here, instead opting for the guilt-by-association fallacy, painting it with the same “all organized religion is bad” brush and denouncing it on the basis that since there have been abuses of religion in the past that this faith must be bad as well.
#8 by PeterJDeer on July 18, 2009 - 2:59 pm
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johan404:
I think you have several things quite mistaken. There’s certainly room for debate in the Baha’i system, only in a civilized form of consultation rather than the demagoguery and campaigning that has infested our current system.
Furthermore, “everyone must serve” is rather a bizarre way of putting “it’s a system that depends on voluntary compliance.” Really, all it says is if you can choose to participate or you can choose not to. It’s actually quite democratic.
#9 by PeterJDeer on July 20, 2009 - 7:15 am
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Johan404:
Firstly, the latin etymology in accordance with several reputable dictionaries does indicate either re-ligare (re-bind, ligament) or re-legare (to reread, lecture.)
Secondly, I once felt as you do, but the Baha’i faith has a strong message of equality, responsibility, and independent investigation of truth, allowing equal participation for all. It’s very empowering, I suggest you look into it more before denouncing it in such a way.
#10 by HearingEveryRhyme on July 22, 2009 - 12:48 pm
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technically, it comes from ligare.
#11 by johan404 on July 24, 2009 - 12:13 pm
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That may be just a myth. I can’t find any definition on the word “religare” from any latin word list or dictionary.
#12 by HearingEveryRhyme on July 25, 2009 - 7:26 am
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The latin word religare is what religio comes from, and religare means to bind.
#13 by johan404 on July 25, 2009 - 5:37 pm
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BTW. Religio means “an object of worship” in latin. Nothing to do with ligaments or binding.
Spirituality is great but organized religion has throughout the ages been a tool of control by the ruling class. Bahai is no different, it is especially clear because of it’s political objectives.
#14 by johan404 on July 27, 2009 - 7:33 pm
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The thing that disturbs me with Bahai is that it goes all political. World government, world police, end of nations, everybody must serve the spiritual authority or they will be expelled from the religion/world spiritual government, no disputes/arguments (no democracy) etc. Very creepy.
#15 by dwoodall8979 on July 30, 2009 - 4:36 pm
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And that whenever the UHJ decides to enact this into law, if you are Bahai, you will have to pay a fine for having sex before marriage (and be exposed and shamed in the process). And sex before marriage includes masturbation. Could you imagine the money that would be collected from all this “sin”? Truehealth might come across as an ass, but he raises a fair question: Where do Bahai’s draw the line between reason and blind faith?
#16 by TrueHealth27 on July 31, 2009 - 8:24 am
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Organized religion is simply a tool by which clergy and/or the “administrative order” can manipulate followers to get them to do what they want them to do. That’s the way it is. It’s a bunch of lies and half truths. The Bahais market their religion well. Their “teachings” intuitively make you feel good about “God” etc. But it’s all surface. Underneath, it’s the same as all the others. No matter how it’s packaged religion is part of the problem. You should try to open YOUR mind up!
#17 by TrueHealth27 on August 1, 2009 - 6:35 pm
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Oh yes! Thanks fr66ey. This brings up yet ANOTHER contradiction of the faith. The fact that it advocates for the “Harmony of Science and Religion” yet when scientific/critical thinking is really crucial (ex. in decision making etc.), they default to blind acceptance of the “Holy Writings”…Just because Bahaullah taught that it’s impossible for gays to “unite spiritually in the afterlife” doesn’t mean it’s true. There’s no evidence other than his word. Same with the issue of women & the UHJ.
#18 by fr66ey on August 2, 2009 - 1:52 pm
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when you consider that the dual purposes of marriage are
1) Reproduction, difficult if you are a homosexual.
2) To unite spiritually in the afterlife which Baha’u'llah teaches us is impossible if your partner is a homosexual.
This makes the outlawing of homosexuality justified.
Secondly if something is beheld by Baha’u'llah, Baha’i’s need no further reasoning. If no women are allowed on the Universal House of Justice there is a reason and it is not our place to question that.
#19 by Pearlshire19 on August 4, 2009 - 9:23 pm
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What’s up with commenters saying things against the Baha’i Faith? What do you not like about the message of the Unity of Mankind? Doesn’t it make sense that all the religions are one? You fundamentalists need to see how much each of these religions are all one. Take out all of the material teachings in all of these religions like the name of God, food diets, marriage, etc. They are all the same teachings. Love mankind, and worship God. Open your minds up!
#20 by TrueHealth27 on August 7, 2009 - 1:28 pm
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I follow you. Despite its “liberal” appearance, a close examination of the Bahai Faith will show you that it is, in essence, just a scripturally unorthodox offshoot by the standards of (EXTREMELY conservative) Shia Islam. That’s NOT terribly liberal by Western standards at ALL. For instance, some of its major inconsistencies include the fact that “homosexual behavior” is officially outlawed, and women are not allowed on the highest decision making council. WTF? Garbage!
#21 by TrueHealth27 on August 10, 2009 - 2:33 am
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I wholeheartedly agree. We’ve got to let go of the “old man in the sky”! Yes, folks have attempted to abstractify “Him.” Suggesting he is more of a “Creative Force of the Universe” or some other sidestepping ploy. But the JudeoXianIslamic “God”, at root is a miserably bipolar old man! Get him some lithium and help Him shut the hell up! It’s BS. Plain and simple.
#22 by masudrules on August 10, 2009 - 11:36 am
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I would submit that Wilson wasn’t saying it was “light and fluffy”, just that it was perceived as such by youth; but as long as you are respectful, in the Baha’i Faith, you can use anything to pray, many Baha’is themselves use prayer beads and incorporate other “earthly rites” as well.
So, unless I missed something, or I didn’t understand your comment, I don’t see any contradiction.
#23 by baeritukaez on August 12, 2009 - 10:25 am
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This deluded brand Theism is dying. Modern knowledge is destroying religions every day.
#24 by lexxintegra on August 14, 2009 - 1:31 am
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I found it disappointing that the perspective of a spiritual practice that incorporates earthly rites using Crystals and other spiritual elements as being light and fluffy. And unappreciated by younger persons. To make such an observation and statement is a contradiction to the ’so called’ “openness” of the Bahai path. It is said that “Creative Expression” is prayer, so practicing prayer with a crystal or other element is just as valid and spiritual as other spiritual expression.
God/dess Bless~
#25 by weirdsvillelife on August 15, 2009 - 9:02 pm
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I watched a beautiful programme on New Zealand tv the other day about the movement unifing Christians,Jews and Muslims who are claiming back the true intentions of their faiths which is to unite . The Spirit of Baha’u'llah is truly bringing the faithful back to God. The unity of all Gods people be they Christian,Jew,Muslim,Buddhist,Zoroastrian etc is gathering speed and God knows this is the desperately needed answer to our worlds problems.