PINGBACK!
Something very exciting happened on my last text post…I got a pingback! What a pingback is is a notification that some other website linked to your blog. Looks like a website on the religion of Baha’i linked to my post about my hanging out with Mona, I’m so excited! Check it out here! This blog is getting big! Just some stats for y’all, Feb 11 was my biggest day, with 144 hits in ONE day, not counting my own. Recently, on March 2nd, I got 125 hits. CRAZY!
Well, I’m gonna see if I can get another pingback to that Baha’i site, so here it goes…
The religion of Baha’i has truly intrigued me. I still don’t know that much about it, but I do know that it is somewhat of a unitarian religion. They believe that the prophets Abraham, Jesus, Mohammad and I think a few others, came in succession, and are all spreading the word of the same God. I believe that they have their own main prophet, which Baha’i is named after. The largest concentration of Baha’i is in India, and the second largest population is in Iran, where Mona is from. Apparently Ahmadinejad, Iran’s president, is very suppresive of the Baha’i religion, and there have been places where their holy sites were desecrated.
If any Baha’i's are reading this, be proud of my new friend Mona Sabbaghi. She has been eager and very welcoming in talking to me about her religion, and has accepted my ignorance. She is an incredible person, and from what I’ve seen, is the true embodiment of the Baha’i religion. She is a great representative of your religion.
Interestingly, from what I’ve learned, it isn’t necessary that Baha’i's marry other Baha’i's. Mona’s boyfriend is Baha’i, and she told me that that fact was not as welcome to her parents as one would think. It’s not bad, just not great. Also, they are very strict about no alcohol, smoking is looked down upon, and premarital sex is a no-no.
One of the things that has really given me pause and a few hangups in the Christian religion is the teaching that you can only go to heaven if you go through Jesus Christ. This confuses me, and doesn’t make a whole lot of logical sense to me. When you break it down it does, but at facevalue it is very difficult for me to defend it, and say that Muslims will not go to heaven because they don’t necessarily believe that Jesus was the son of God when most aspects of the religion of Islam mirror aspects of the religion of Christianity. Baha’i seems to settle that conflict inside of me beautifully and peacefully, almost like perfection. It just makes sense.
Now, my Christian brethren and sistren in America, don’t freak out. I have not converted to Bahai’ism. This journey has opened my eyes to many new cultures, beliefs and peoples, and I will emerge stronger from the other side. I have problems with people not education themselves on other people’s cultures and religions, and that is what I’m doing here. College is a time to decide who you are. What you believe. What schools of thought you subscribe to. I am merely exploring. I cannot say with complete certainty that will not become Baha’i, just as I cannot say with complete certainty that I will wake up tomorrow. But just know, I am Christian, I believe it, and I am mostly at peace with this reality.
Let’s see if THAT one gets a pingback!
Franz said,
March 4, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Peter,
I Love You!!!
Dad
Kelly said,
March 7, 2009 at 4:23 am
T his is a great blog Peter. I am glad you are exploring other cultures and religions. And you’re right, college is the time to figure out who you are, and what you want to be in life as a person. I grew up a strict Catholic, and my first year in college was the end of being Catholic for me. Things just changed, my beliefs changed, my goals changed, and I changed. I have my own beliefs about things, and I like to share my thoughts with those who will listen, as I will listen to others and their beliefs.
I think having an open mind and learning all you can is the most important part of all this. Gathering knowledge is never a bad thing, and hopefully you will find some things that apply to your own life. Having a diverse group of friends is THE BEST, and gives us all opportunity to learn about other cultures and beliefs, which IMO is never bad. Knowledge is GOOD.
PS I am glad your blog is doing so well! You must have an exciting life!