Question to Theists

[pocaracas]

It's not really a "gut feeling" for me, nor is it indoctrination. It's past experience. Which suck, because personal experience can't really be used as any kind of evidence. But I'm not trying to prove anything, so *shrug*.

Indeed, that sucks... but if it's good enough for you, then it's good enough for you.

As for claims about God's actions: Most of the "major" ones, Baha'is basically believe are myth. They are said to hold metaphorical truths, but are not literally true themselves. That doesn't mean we don't believe in miracles period, it just means we don't believe in MOST of them actually happening.

That sounds a bit like what the catholics nowadays go for, too...

There are a LOT of "divergent details." Starting with: Catholicism came out of Judaism, the Baha'i Faith came out of Islam.

And islam came out of what?

Catholics today believe that the practitioners of other religions -maybe- have a chance of going to heaven due to the "mystery of Christ's sacrifice," Baha'is believe the practitioners of other religions have just as much of a chance as Baha'is do to achieve a good afterlife.

Catholics are working towards that, it seems...
I remember a pope saying even atheists can get to heaven, now!!

Which leads to another: Baha'is don't believe in Heaven and Hell. We believe that these are metaphors for nearness to and distance from God.

There are a few christians around here who would say the same.

We also believe that you can continue to draw nearer to God after death (to Catholics that would basically be saying you can get to Heaven from Hell).

Ah... this is indeed different...

Also, while Catholics have a powerful priesthood, Baha'is have no clergy. For spiritual matters, we are responsible for ourselves. For administration, we hold elections for the Local, Regional, National, and International administrative bodies.

So, it's a theocracy?

Baha'is also don't believe in the Trinity, or that Jesus resurrected after being crucified.

yes, well... that a very christian-only thing, yes...

details, details!