Belief5

BOOK 2 INTRODUCING BAHA'I BELIEFS SECTION 5: Knowledge of God
	The following paragraphs describe how God can only be known through His Manifestations and will be helpful to you when conversing with friends: Consider the infinite universe. Is it possible that it could have been created without a Creator? Or that the Creator of this infinite world should be without intelligence? Materialists say that man has been brought forth by nature itself. But nature has no intelligence. Is it possible that it can create a human being, who has intelligence? If we observe the entire creation, we see that whatever is lower is unable to comprehend the power of that which is higher. So the stone, the tree, the animal, however much they may evolve, cannot comprehend the reality of man and cannot imagine his power. Therefore how can man, the created, understand the reality of the Creator? Although man's understanding can never reach God, he is not deprived of knowing Him. From time to time a Human Being appears on earth who is the Manifestation of God. All the perfection, the bounty, and the splendor that come from God are visible in the Holy Manifestation, like the sun which is resplendent in a clear polished mirror. To say that these Mirrors are the Manifestation of the Sun of Truth does not mean that the Sun has descended from Its heights of glory and become incorporated into the Mirror. What is meant is this: All that humanity knows, discovers, and understands of the names and attributes and perfections of God refers to His Holy Manifestations.
1)	After reading this passage several times in your group and answering questions posed by one another about its content, you should practice putting it into your own words.
2)	Below is a list of topics of conversation. Mark the ones into which you could intro duce the above ideas with ease, and discuss in your group how you would do this. ___ The creation of the universe ____ The advantages of solar energy ____ The existence of God ____ The power of human intelligence
3)	Suppose that, in a conversation with your friends, you have an opportunity to present the subject you have just studied. How would you reply if someone asked you the following question: "What are some of the things we know about God through His Manifestations?"
4)	You may wish to memorize the following passages from the Writings of Baha'u'llah so that you can quote them when you speak to friends on this subject: "The knowledge of Him, Who is the Origin of all things, and attainment unto Him, are impossible save through knowledge of, and attainment unto, these luminous Beings who proceed from the Sun of Truth." "No man, however acute his perception, can ever hope to reach the heights which the wisdom and understanding of the Divine Physician have attained." "The Person of the Manifestation hath ever been the representative and mouthpiece of God. He, in truth, is the Day Spring of God's most excellent Titles, and the Dawning-Place of His exalted Attributes." "Be ye assured, moreover, that the works and acts of each and every one of these Manifestations of God, nay whatever pertaineth unto them, and whatsoever they may manifest in the future, are all ordained by God, and are a reflection of His Will and Purpose."


Press SUBMIT when finished :