Death of the Purest Branch in Akka

June 23rd, 1870, Mirza Mihdi (the Purest Branch, Baha'u'llah's youngest son) falls through a skylight in the prison. Baha'u'llah offers to heal him but Mirza Mihdi instead offers his life as a sacrifice so that those who desire may undertake pilgrimages. Baha'u'llah accepts and the Purest Branch dies at age 22. 70 years later, his body is entombed in the Monument Gardens on Mount Carmel.

 

 

Bahá’u’lláh referred to Mírzá Mihdí on the day of his death as "he that was created by the light of Bahá" and described his dying "at a time when he lay imprisoned at the hands of his enemies" as a "martyrdom." In the same tablet, Bahá’u’lláh extols Mírzá Mihdí’s station: "Happy art thou in that thou hast been faithful to the Covenant of God and His Testament, until Thou didst sacrifice thyself before the face of thy Lord, the Almighty, the Unconstrained. Thou, in truth, hast been wronged, and to this testifieth the Beauty of Him, the Self-Subsisting. Thou didst, in the first days of thy life, bear that which hath caused all things to groan, and made every pillar to tremble. Happy is the one that remembereth thee, and draweth nigh, through thee, unto God, the Creator of the Morn."

In December 1939—despite obstacles caused by the outbreak of World War II, local instability, riots, and the opposition of adversaries—Shoghi Effendi succeeded in transferring the remains of Mírzá Mihdí and Navváb from two different Muslim cemeteries in Acre to Mount Carmel in Haifa. On 24 December 1939 the coffins lay in state in the Shrine of the Báb. The following day, they were buried in the monument gardens near the Shrine of the Báb, alongside the resting place of Bahíyyih Khánum, Mírzá Mihdí’s sister, who died in Haifa in 1932.

More info: http://www.mirzamihdi.org/home

A friend gave me a Paranormal Encyclopedia

I live here and my friend Walter Thomas Franklin lives that way...

As noted on my other blog, thekingpin68, I am recovering from a vitrectomy, and have a temporary gas bubble in my eye. So my vision is 'abstruckted' obstructed.

The other day, my good friend and frequent blog commenter, Bobby Buff/Walter Thomas Franklin and various other aliases, gave me a gift, a castoff book given to him that he wanted to get rid of. However it may suit our purposes.


What an attractive cover. I could take a picture of myself with black eye presently, with my Blackberry and still be prettier than Wolfgang in the bottom right corner. And I have the alien freak beat, no problem.

MATTHEWS, RUPERT (ed.) PAUL ROLAND, KAREN FARRINGTON, LUCY DONCASTER, ANDREW HOLLAND, (2009) The Encyclopedia of the Paranormal, London Arcturus.

Blackburn states that paranormal is phenomena supposedly beyond the powers of the mind. These phenomena are attempted to be understood scientifically. Blackburn (1996: 277).

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

So, I suppose I can discuss a section, at least, of this book and see what the public response is.

Ouija Boards

The volume suggests the word ouija comes from a combination of French and German words for yes. (p. 26). The board was produced as a parlour game in 1898 by the Field brothers of Baltimore. (p. 26). Today there are various versions of the game.


U.S. Patent D056449 (PDF). Design patent for toys (D21/813) which was filed May 26, 1920. Issued Oct 26, 1920. Patentee was Clifford H. McGlasson.
From: New World Encylopedia

The board has numbers, the letters of the alphabet and some 'mystical symbols' to make it look scary. (p. 27). Participants place a finger on the pointer/planchette which moves on casters. (p. 27). It is supposedly moved by spirits. The participant asks a question and the answer is spelled out as the planchette moves on the board.

The ouija is seen as a channel for a person that is not a medium, in order for that person to make contact with the spirit world. This is seen as the case whether a spirit or person is actually primarily moving the pointer. (p. 27).

Now, quite obviously, this game could be used by someone who psychologically makes the board state what is desired. The game could also be used in order for a participant to deceive observers.

The occult as with religion can be used for psychological purposes which leads to unintended deception. The occult as with religion can also be used for the purposes of intended deception.

I would not assume that every use of this game/tool will lead to a paranormal experience. I would not assume that it would be a regular occurrence with the game. However, I am not an expert on the topic.

The text states that detractors suggest that supposed spirit messages could come from a participants unconscious. (p. 27).

Demonic Forces

The book states there have been an alarming number of violent attacks and teenage suicides involving certain disturbed impressionable persons who claim to have been following the instructions of demonic forces contacted via a ouija board. (p. 29).

The game can become dangerously addictive and a problem for those that are psychologically disturbed. (p. 29).

The book postulates the board may not be itself 'intrinsically bad' but should not be used by the irresponsible and immature that cannot handle what they receive. (p. 29).

I doubt deceased persons are taking part with the ouija board as deceased persons/spirits are disembodied by nature and should not be a threat to living persons.

I have doubts that disembodied spirits would even have the natural control or ability to respond to such a game. God had Samuel respond to a medium (1 Samuel 28), but that was a rare case.

So, the demonic forces suggestion is a reasonable one made by the text.

Further:

Demonic beings are opposed to God and are very evil.

They can Biblically harass all persons and in some cases heavily influence persons which is seen in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament.

Therefore, no person is responsible or mature enough to reasonably be dabbling with any kind of ouija board.

Further:

I am not some 'crazed fundamentalist' that the mainstream media can reasonably mock, but I reason that if a person is interested in spiritual life, the paranormal, and the supernatural, it is far more reasonable to have dealings with the infinite triune God of Scripture than his finite evil fallen demonic creations which serve his purposes, even as they oppose him (Job).

Guru Chucky lives that way...

Guru Chucky arrives this evening. The glowing guru.



I saw the smoking baby on David Letterman. Not paranormal, but abnormal. Bizarre parenting.



French coach Raymond Domenech refused to shake the hand of the coach of South Africa, Carlos Alberto Parreira.

France vastly underachieved.

Domenech was very likely frustrasted.

Domenech was very likely angry.

However, that being said, he should have shook the hand and then went off by himself to cool off.

I admit I can strongly relate to his situation.



Hilarious fight in the net: Slovakia versus Italy. Look from 1: 15.

Classic statements (If I were famous)

Bristol, England (photo from trekearth.com)

My good friend and basically neighbour Bobby Buff, also known as Walter Thomas Franklin, has stated that I should put together a post with some of my statements/quotes.

Jeff Jenkins has stated he keeps track of some of my statements.

So, yes this is like a television episode where they use a lot of footage from old episodes.

However, since my readership is slowly growing, much of the material should be new to the reader.

And comments are a huge part of my two blogs, and they almost always contain new content.

My blogs posts are never ever really duplicated.

There is some new content with this post, in the main body, as well.

From satire and theology:

How to blow-up your blog without thinking too much

'When someone leaves a comment on your blog, either completely ignore the comment, or better yet erase it later after it has been published. Make sure you come across to your readers with that 'What the hell do you want', type of attitude. Treat your blog commenters like they are telemarketers while your favourite television show is on.'

Remember, 'Stranger Danger'! (June 4, 2010)

'Use plenty of ad hominem personal attacks in all your articles and comments. If someone disagrees with you make sure you state that they must hate you and what you stand for with your blog. Imply you are the Blogosphere's Mother Teresa/Gandhi/non-resistant Mennonite as you use vicious ad hominem attacks against your readers that disagree with you in any major way.

Reason that it is okay for you to viciously attack your critics, because you are 'right' and since they are 'wrong' as they disagree with you, and they obviously must hate you.'

From satire and theology

Theocracy

'I am not suggesting theocracy, but the need for more rational common sense ways of looking at humanity and therefore how government should be run.'

'I would not desire for one religion to be favoured as those citizens outside of the religion could face persecution, and in the extreme case of a state church be considered to be committing treason.'

'I do not support any primarily human attempt at establishing theocracy.

A primarily human attempt at theocracy does not guarantee Biblically based rule through the guidance of the true God.'

'In the present age, I favour democracy over theocracy.'

From satire and theology

The non-conformist of the year awards

'Mr. Jackson is wisely not a supporter of the theory of macroevolution, however, if he saw my hairy friends Chucky and Deeaaaan, he may reconsider.'

From satire and theology

Recent comments on other blogs (because that is how I roll)

'Is gay the new black?

Biblically, it is natural to be black, but not natural to be homosexual.

Blacks are not condemned for being such, but homosexual acts are condemned.'

So, no gay is not the new black. (June 4, 2010.)

From thekingpin68

No surprise this is Canada

'I would have preferred to see the court state the obvious, that marriage traditionally has encompassed a man and a woman, and for good reasons. The union of a man and woman can, if normal health (and if they are of childbearing age (June 4, 2010)) is present, lead to the sexual production of a family. Homosexual marriage cannot lead to the production of a family unit, even if both partners are completely healthy. This is clearly a difference between heterosexual and homosexual unions, and as one critic argued, the latter are really homosensual unions.'

From thekingpin68

Arminianism and Free Will

'Pelagianism

It must be noted that Arminianism is not Pelagianism. Pelagianism believes that human beings can achieve salvation from their own powers. It is believed that human beings can choose in free will, good or evil. Original sin was a bad example, and not inherited. Yarnold (1999: 435).'

'Arminianism holds to original sin and human corruption and that people are not able to do good without prevenient grace. Grider (1996: 80). Prevenient grace could be explained as preceding grace.'

'In my understanding the fallen human being has a limited free will that freely rejects God, and through the salvation process God enables the believer to freely follow Christ.

By limited free will I accept the idea that a fallen human being is free in the sense that he/she can be restored by God if elected (and regenerated (June 4, 2010)), but not free in a way the he/she could be saved through prevenient grace.'

From thekingpin68

Begging the question

'Begging the question would be if a person specifically argued the conclusion of an argument within a premise.'

Here are some additional sayings of mine:

'Life is fatastic'.

'Life is flabulous'.

'My floaters are a real problem of evil' (They will be gone very soon).

'Bloggers that do not want to reciprocally link can enjoy writing their own personal online diaries, unless they are already well-known in the field they are blogging about.'

'Excuse me, this is the web and you have a public blog, this means strangers can read your posts and comment.'

'Stranger Danger!'

'You can always turn comments off, and/or make your blog private'.

'You are a gentleman and a skull hair'.

'The radical fundamentalists and radical liberals tend not to support my work. My support mostly comes from moderate conservatives and moderate liberals. Mostly conservatives.'

'I am a moderate conservative.'

'I am so muscular I have a twelve pack.'

'Let's see, here in BC, we do not have a lot of police, do not have a large military, do not have a lot of hospitals, do not have a lot of freeways, and do not have a lot of rapid transit.

Yet we pay close to half of money earned to governments for taxes, plus sales taxes and other fees.

Where does all this money go? I think something is wrong.'

GRIDER, J.K. (1996) 'Arminianism', in Walter A. Elwell (ed.). Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.

YARNOLD, E.J. (1999) 'Pelagianism', in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Ltd.

Below is some of Jeff Jenkins' work for my blogs over the last few years.

Happiness is a spice from Rick Beaudin.

Jeff's blog

Rick's blog

The vitality of men’s belief in God is dying…

The vitality of men’s belief in God is dying out in every land; nothing short of His wholesome medicine can ever restore it. The corrosion of ungodliness is eating into the vitals of human society; what else but the Elixir of His potent Revelation can cleanse and revive it? Is it within human power, O Hakím, to effect in the constituent elements of any of the minute and indivisible particles of matter so complete a transformation as to transmute it into purest gold? Perplexing and difficult as this may appear, the still greater task of converting satanic strength into heavenly power is one that We have been empowered to accomplish. The Force capable of such a transformation transcendeth the potency of the Elixir itself. The Word of God, alone, can claim the distinction of being endowed with the capacity required for so great and far-reaching a change.

Baha’is commemorate Ascension of Baha’u’llah

May 29 marks the anniversary of the Ascension of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith. The day is one of nine holy days in the Baha'i calendar when Baha'is suspend work and school.
Baha'u'llah's ministry came to an end in 1892. He left to humanity a priceless heritage of spiritual and social teachings, which He claimed would lead humanity to true and abiding peace. He endured decades of suffering to accomplish this mission. As he says In His own words:

"The Ancient Beauty hath consented to be bound with chains that mankind may be released from its bondage, and hath accepted to be made a prisoner within this most mighty Stronghold that the whole world may attain unto true liberty. He hath drained to its dregs the cup of sorrow, that all the peoples of the earth may attain unto abiding joy, and be filled with gladness. This is of the mercy of your Lord, the Compassionate, the Most Merciful. We have accepted to be abased, O believers in the Unity of God, that ye may be exalted, and have suffered manifold afflictions, that ye might prosper and flourish.

He Who hath come to build anew the whole world, behold, how they that have joined partners with God have forced Him to dwell within the most desolate of cities!
About a year prior to His passing, Baha’u’llah revealed His Will and Testament, which named His eldest son, Abdu’l-Baha, as His successor and constitutes the Covenant of Baha'u'llah,