Is there something wrong with the concept of Unicorn? (Page 5)

Zanjan: Enough talk about me. Let's turn to current issues...and unicorns.

The Pope is fed up with deniers of climate change. He tells people to look at what the scientists are saying. We know this is a modern Catholic approach, thanks be to God. When a journalist prodded him further, he referred to an Old Testament saying, "Man is stupid".

Yes, I agree.

(edit: I changed the accidental capital H to a lower case h. This is sarcasm yet also truthful)

Zanjan: I don't agree that the Pope is the king of Christianity but I do respect him as a Head of State and official spokesperson for the Catholic community. While we've never spoken to each other, we agree on many things religious.

It's true that Christ never talked about environmental issues, like pollution, but He did describe the future advent of severe, frequent natural disturbances of epic proportions. He also suggested many would perish but some would survive.

Since ONE THIRD of everything would be destroyed, wouldn't you say that leaves a space of a third to be replaced with something new?

That was not His puppy to deal with; yet, at no time in history has His meaning ever been clearer to us than now. Thus, the Pope isn't telling us anything we don't already know for a fact - he's agreeing with the facts.

Zanjan: The reason we're seeing more violence is twofold: the invention of more dastardly weapons of war; and, we have world news across the planet. These things collectively fill our minds with dread so, we either look for ways to shut it all out or make the world a better place.

We choose our own response. Not many are very creative so, one's choice often depends on whether or not they've heard of new solutions. One thing is certain - time has run out; there is no choice but to accept there MUST be spiritual solutions to mankind's current problems.

If leaders of religion presume to be leaders, they must turn their eyes away from the past and look to the present. They must be able to lead their people into the future - the future that belongs to us all requires putting all our heads together to deal with common issues.

chronology: But catholics say he is the rightful leader of christians on earth. Many catholics still say 'there is no salvation outside the catholic church' but you say you don't agree with that Zan?

Zanjan: You must be talking to some very ignorant folks, clearly not authorities. The authority is the Biblical text.

Christ is the leader of Christians on earth. He didn't appoint anyone else to take His place. He did say that Peter was the rock on which the church would be built. That doesn't even begin to imply that the church belonged to Peter. A rock is a hard place.

Christ said there is no salvation without belief in Him (Jesus Christ). I agree with what Christ said. So does the Pope....and every other Christian who's worth his salt.

That is not a guarantee that all believers in Christ will attain salvation - it's a distinction between what's possible and what's impossible.

chronology: Personally I stear clear of the argument but many catholics still consider their church the only trustworthy Christian Church.

Pardon me Zan if I annoye you again, but am certain you posted something about a Bahai prophet being as important as Jesus. Perhaps you can clear that up.

Zanjan: Yes, Baha'u'llah is as important as Jesus...........as were all of the other Manifestations of God - they were all at one with God. We make no distinctions between them.

The scope and breadth of their Revelations, however, are different due to the exigencies of the time and place.

Zanjan: What this means is that a religious person can belong to any religion they choose and not incur God's displeasure regarding their choice as long as they don't deny the validity of any of the Manifestations of God.

For example, the Jews were God's chosen people - they weren't punished for being Jews and never will be - they were punished for turning their backs to God. You see how they've learned that lesson and have been rewarded with returning to the Holy Land as its guardians.

chronology: Well a Catholic priest really disagrees with you Zan. He reckons all who are not members of his church are heading for the eternal fires and torture of Hell.

chronology: If it is any conselation Zan, he reckons Methodist, Baptists, Quackers and all the other sects will be joining you in the big bombfire. Only those who are members and regular attenders at the catholic church will be saved he reckons. horrible torture and suffering awaits you all he says.And that pain is for ever none stop.

Zanjan: Not every oyster has a pearl, eh. Children can be very cruel.

You might notice that God knew the future of the Children of Israel - He told them not to be despondent, that no matter what happened, they are His people and He will bring them to their heart's desire one day - the Holy Land. Did He do it? Yep.

The same is true for Christians, Muslims and Baha'is - like the Jews, they consider themselves as having the shared spiritual heritage of the Children of Israel. Some will get to go to the Holy Land, some wont. God distributes His blessings to whomever He chooses.

Governance of the Holy Land is quite another matter.

briansmythe: well I thought muslims were supposed to make Pilgramage to Mecca In Saudi Arabia once in there life time , is that not the Holyst site for Muslims?

briansmythe: Nice pholisapy there Zanjan nothing more

Zanjan: Brian, it's factual history - the fulfillment of prophecies, not philosophies.

"Pilgrimage" is to any place associated with the Prophet (s).

While Muslims make pilgrimage to Mecca, there are other shrines included on this journey. The Mosque on Temple Mount is one of those. Islam sets a specific time of year for the annual Haj (to Mecca) - 5 days during the last month of the Islamic calendar. (corresponds to the end of August).

Other religions are not so restricted but any self respecting, active believer of any of these regions knows the importance of making pilgrimage, if at all possible.

The Kaaba ( Black Cube) in Mecca was originally associated with Abraham, who, along with His son, built it. You'll find that when Christians go on pilgrimage, they also include the Jewish Holy sites. Baha'is will visit all of these too - their own "main" point of adoration is in Israel - Mt. Carmel, the burial place of the Bab, and Bahji (close to Akka), the burial place of Baha'u'llah. There are more shrines elsewhere.

Collectively, for many prayers, members of all these religions face to the East, the point where the Spiritual Sun rises. When their bodies are laid to final rest, they're laid facing East.

Far from a philosophy, this is active participation in eternity.

chronology: Zan, my history of Islam is a little hazy. But isn't one of their pilgrimage sites something to do with a stone falling from the Moon or something.

Zanjan: It's an ancient meteorite, housed inside the Kaaba. Pilgrims used to kiss it as they circumnambulated but you can see how that would be very difficult now, given the crazy bottleneck. So, it's hands off these days. It's quite fragile from too many lips and somebody, as I recall, pumping it full of bullets, leaving it in 8 pieces.

Zanjan: Personally, I think that's kind of an interesting situation, given that there are exactly 8 surviving religions of God in the old world order.

briansmythe: Yeah It is Interesting , I donno about all these Prophecies Zanjan but any way that Mosque on
the old , Temple mount is also the cause of a lot of tension over there alas

chronology: Just curious Zan, does the Baha religion have a place of pilgrimage? I would have thought you guy's would really enjoy meeting each other and exchanging knowledge and just love being together. Each to their own I say.

briansmythe: here u go zanjan , Ismail might of had some thing to do with it I donno

https://www.vox.com/2016/9/12/12814258/hajj-2017-islamic-pilgrimage-mecca-explained

Zanjan: Brian, yes, the Mosque on Temple Mount is the scene of many disturbances but none of them have anything to do with Islam. The square surrounding it is just a place where people want to be seen and heard.

I went there........they wouldn't let me inside because I am WHITE (alabaster white). First time I was ever discriminated against for that. A local was with me; he said it was because I'm a woman; well, I saw women entering so it wasn't because of my gender. How did I feel? Nothing personal. I thought, fine, keep it to yourselves, go worship that rock! Yeah!

A week later, I found out that it wasn't safe to be there at the time; that they turned me away was for my own good. I think the people who live in Jerusalem have become desensitized to the sacred. If they had the presence of mind to remember where they were, there wouldn't be any skirmishes. They'd know God was watching - they'd feel Him on their shoulder, as I did.....as all pilgrims do.

Zanjan: Brian, as I posted above:
"Baha'is......... their own "main" point of adoration is in Israel - Mt. Carmel, the burial place of the Bab, and Bahji (close to Akka), the burial place of Baha'u'llah. There are more shrines elsewhere. "

Thankfully, we can go on pilgrimage anytime, although it's well organized into small, manageable groups with a well-informed guide, during the cooler months. I was there in late spring - the nights were cool but days were really hot.

I don't think Islamic pilgrimage (the Haj) or annual Fast times are geared for us northerners. I doubt they were ever intended to be.

Zanjan: Furthermore, I can't imagine why anyone would bother to make an issue out of which of Abraham's sons was with Him to build the Kaaba. Abraham was a Revelator; His sons were not. This distinction has to be made clear.

chronology: I never think of Jerusalem or Israel as having any kind of significance Zan. For me Nineveh and Babylon are the beating hearts of historical and future events in the world.

Babylon and Nineveh shall return, Babylon to rule the world for the final days show down, and the people of Nineveh to condemn the world for refusing to repent of their ignoring God.

Zanjan: Well, those are metaphorical interpretations. Who will deny we're living in a very materialistic society? Who will say the accusers will not meet their own surprising end?

As far as I'm concerned, if one can put all their differences aside for the sake of peace and God during one or 5 days of the year, why can't they do it all of the time?? If they can't, the effort becomes pointless.