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My last post regarding science and religion was touched on very lightly, so I thought I’d explain a bit of where I am coming from. The following excerpts explain much better than I ever could.
“Among the ancient philosophers the infallible way to knowledge was through logic. The different schools of logic weighed everything in the scales of cold scholasticism. As to religious people their criterion has ever been the sacred text which must be accepted as final. One is not allowed the slightest reflection. “The word of God,” they say, “is truth.” Inspiration is the fourth criterion. Occultists say, “I have had a revelation. This truth has been revealed to me.” For them everything outside direct revelation is viewed with doubt. So we have indicated the four criterions: the senses, reason, the sacred text, inspirations. There is no fifth.
Let us speak of the first criterion — that of the senses. Contemporary philosophers say, “We have spent our time in universities and laboratories analyzing composition. We have not encountered the spirituality of God, or any sign of the soul’s existence. We are people of truth, intelligent, learned men, but we can find no proof of the existence of a divine being.”
The senses mistake a mirage for water; the eyes see the sun move; your train or boat seems immobile and the landscape seems to pass by, planets look like fixed points of light; but they have measurable dimensions. A lighted point set in rotation appears like a circle. These examples show the senses subject to error. How can we put our trust in them?
The test of logic is just as imperfect, for were this criterion perfect there would never have been the continual clash of opinion as to the sacred texts. How can they be interpreted by logic if the means be at fault?
Inspiration, what is it? Whence comes it? Is that which reaches our heart divine or satanic? How can we judge?
It is no proof of intelligence to reject everything which does not strike the senses. Nay, rather, such a one is brother to the animal. The cow has no idea of God; she does not know the soul. So the only difference between her highness the cow and a materialistic philosopher is that the latter takes a great deal of trouble! It is not a special or exclusive privilege to be the prisoner of one’s senses; the cow is the example of this theory.”
(Abdu’l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 94)
“Until now it has been said that all religions were composed of tenets that had to be accepted, even if they seems contrary to science. Thanks be to God, that in this new cycle the admonition of [Baha'u'llah] is that in the search for truth man must weigh religious questions in the balance of science and reason. God has given us rational minds for this purpose, to penetrate all things, to find truth. If one renounce reason, what remains? The sacred texts? How can we understand God’s commands and to what use can we put them without the balance of reason?
The priests are attached to ancient superstitions and when these are not in keeping with science, the priests denounce science. When religion is upheld by science and reason we can believe with assurance and act with conviction, for this rational faculty is the greatest power in the world. Through it industries are established, the past and present are laid bare and the underlying realities are brought to light. Let us make nature our captive, break through all laws of limitation and with deep penetration bring to light that which is hidden. The power to do this is the greatest of divine benefits. Why treat with indifference such a divine spark? Why ignore a faculty so beneficial, a sun so powerful?”
(Abdu’l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 100)
I read an article today alerting me to a slightly disturbing facet of Facebook’s new marketing campaign: your online purchases at external sites are being shared with your friends on Facebook. Not only would you possibly be endorsing products (and not getting paid for it), but your privacy would be invaded. There is an opt-out option, but from what I understand it is not very clear.
I rarely make online purchases, especially since I am in Israel, but there are many people who use the internet for much of their shopping. How many consumers are aware of how much tracking goes on? According to this study, many Americans are not very aware of how their habits are tracked and used to market to them. “People think privacy notices mean certain default protections. Consumers don’t understand that privacy policies are just notices. They don’t guarantee any rights.”
The other article I read today was called “Taking Science on Faith”, and it mirrored very closely a chapter in my father’s new book. The following paragraph from the article sums it up nicely, I think.
“Clearly, then, both religion and science are founded on faith — namely, on belief in the existence of something outside the universe, like an unexplained God or an unexplained set of physical laws, maybe even a huge ensemble of unseen universes, too. For that reason, both monotheistic religion and orthodox science fail to provide a complete account of physical existence.”
Science and religion do not need to be in conflict! They have a lot more in common than parties in both camps like to admit. 
I am frustrated.
There used to be Baha’i songs, prayers, I was learning a new song every week in Chicago and there were people with rhythm around me. With no effort a voice would be raised in praise.
Today someone asked me to chant, and I could not think of a single prayer to chant, and fell back on one that I love but am so tired of singing.
I need new songs. There is no music in me, no instruments to pick up and raise to the sky to say “Look! I created something.” I create words that don’t rhyme (most of the time). But the one piece I own is my voice, and it is suffering, it is stifled.
I can’t create a harmony. I can lead people in song, I can sing solo decently, I am a high soprano with a wide range…but none of this matters because I can’t remember any songs or prayers any more.
The only way I memorize prayers is through song. And I can’t remember.
It completely slipped my mind to write a blog post about this when it happened…
A few weeks ago my flatmates and I were having a quiet evening at home, I was chatting with my dad on the phone. Suddenly the power goes out, and as I go into the hallway I smell smoke. The microwave was my first destination. I called one of the flatmates over, and opened the door.
Smoke came pouring out, and the object that had been in the microwave was on fire! Flames, the kind you roast marshmallows on. My flatmate blows it out, then grabs a cup of water and dumps it on. Meanwhile, I grab a flashlight and go to find the fusebox (I just moved in to my current flat a month ago).
Turns out the fusebox is ABOVE the front door. We live on the top floor, so the ceilings are very high. (So that is what the ladder in the corner of the kitchen is for!) We get the power back on for an hour, then it goes out permanently for the rest of the evening. Also, while this was going on all three of us were laughing, shouting, and generally causing mayhem. Our neighbor downstairs said he heard us, but that since I was laughing he figured everything was ok.
When the guy came the next day to check on everything, he said the microwave was really old and needed to be thrown out, something about wiring…suffice to say, it went straight into the dumpster.
When I got back on the phone with my dad that night, I thanked him for teaching me how to do these things around the house, how the fusebox works, painting, mowing the lawn, trimming hedges, using tools, and fixing random objects. I think he was pretty amused by the entire incident. 
Hands can tell you so much about a person. The way they look when dishes are being washed, or gently brushing the curls on a child’s head. The way a hand is gently surrounded, or holds.
Eyes communicate first, and our hands do the rest.
Someone told me that my words are learning to take turns, to sit and wait by the sidelines.
Someone once said that my hands did more talking than my eyes did, there were veils in front of my eyes that let nothing out, and everything in.
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A few nights ago I decided to spend my evening moving furniture around my house. I wrestled with a bookcase, side tables, a giant futon mattress, and suitcases. It was late, and my flatmates were sleeping, so I was trying to be as quiet as possible. In the end everything was arranged satisfactorily, but imagine tiny little me dragging a bookcase 3 times my size down the hallway. 
There are several wonderful friends on pilgrimage right now, which makes me incredibly happy but very busy.
There is an absolutely amazing website that has been launched by the Bahá’í International Community about Bahá’u'lláh, who Bahá’ís believe is the latest Messenger from God. It has some very rare pictures and tells the story of His life in chronological order using pictures and words.
Here is a screenshot, click on it to go to the site:
I came back to Israel from Spain nearly 2 weeks ago, and I simply haven’t had a moment to sit down and write about it. Suddenly a few moments came together (something about a tear in the space-time continuum), and this post magically happened. Don’t ask me how, I have no clue. Anyway, you can find pictures here.
I have never traveled in Europe before, and don’t know Spanish. But it was all extremely easy, thanks to my friend Lorenia. She offered her home for me to stay and was constantly translating for me. We had a wonderful time…I am so glad I decided to go.
It was a lot colder in Gijón than in Haifa, which I was not prepared for at all.
I went to the 19 Day Feast, a Ruhi Book 1 study circle, the Celebration of the Birth of the Báb (which lasted for 8 hours, and I ate a ridiculous amount of good food), and the Unit Convention (which is where the members of the community elect delegates to the National Convention). It was wonderful to be in a Bahá’í community again. I mean, I’m surrounded by Bahá’ís here in Haifa, but to be in a community where people are teaching the Faith, where things feel like home…it is hard to explain. The Bahá’ís in Gijón were lovely, caring, and opened their homes to us unreservedly.
The mosquitos liked me a lot there. We became best friends, for reals. I got several large welts on my arms and face, I felt like one of the crew members in Alien.
I discovered that I am perfectly content drinking several cups of coffee each day, as long as it is at a picturesque cafe in a lovely European city. It is very easy to get used to.
Shopping. Oh my my my. Now, before I go and sound all materialistic on you, please note the above paragraphs, and keep in mind that I have been in ISRAEL for the last year, where dresses like this are considered acceptable:
The older people in Gijón (and probably in the rest of Europe) dress up in suits, hats, and smart shoes to walk around the city. They stroll up and down the boardwalk, down the streets, and sit at cafés. I love it.