quinta-feira, 24 de dezembro de 2009

PROFUNDO RESPEITO PELO CONCEITO DO SAGRADO

Não se pode dar uma definição de sagrado sem ter em conta a de profano. Quando a palavra sagrado é empregue como adjectivo, ela refere, em relação aos objectos e pessoas,, dizem os entendidos na matéria. Subscrevemos a opinião.

O senhor acredita em Deus?
Depois de um ano, eu comecei a frequentar uma sinagoga e matriculei meus filhos numa escola judaica. Continuo agnóstico, pois não sei se Deus existe. Mas tenho profundo respeito pelo conceito do sagrado….

Resposta de um escritor e jornalista americano, em Dezembro de 2009. (na parte final da edição especial da VEJA de 23/12/09)

Leia mais sobre temas sagrados em:

A Bíblia começou a ser escrita há mais de 3 000 anos, e desde
seu início se revelou um livro sem rival no poder de moldar culturas
e civilizações, in VEJA (Brasil), 23 de Dezembro de 2009

Outras investigações sobre o sagrado:

THE BAHÁ’I FAITH – The International website of the Baha’is of the world

What is the Bahá’í Faith?

Welcome to the Bahá’í Faith

Bahá'u'lláh: Manifestação de Deus

Perhaps a timely reminder !
(On behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an 11-year-old Baha'i,
18 April 1988. Published in the British Baha'i Journal, August 1988)

You have asked if Baha'is are allowed to celebrate Christmas. The answer
to this question requires careful thinking so that the meaning will become
clear. Since Baha'is believe in all the religions sent by God, it seems
reasonable that they should celebrate Christmas and the other holidays of
Christianity and other religions. But would this be sensible? There are at
least two points to consider.

One point is that Bahau'llah, the latest Prophet from God, has brought us
new Teachings for a new Day. With His co
ming we have a new calendar with
new Holy Days. For example, the Intercalary Days and Naw-Ruz offer us
occasions for gift-giving and celebration.

Another point to consider is this. If the Baha'is celebrated Christmas
among themselves, people who did not know of their belief in Baha'u'llah
might think that they were Christians. It could become even more confusing
to people if, in addition, the Baha'is also observed the holidays of other
religions. To avoid such confusion the beloved Guardian advised the Baha'i
friends not to continue celebrating holidays like Christmas and New Year
among themselves.

However, as you know, not everyone is a Baha'i. Many Baha'is come from
Christian families who celebrate Christmas, there is no harm in such a
Baha'i sharing Christmas with Christian relatives. Sometimes Christian
friends may invite a Baha'i to join their Christmas celebration, this is all
right because the Baha'is are taught by Baha'u'llah to be friendly with the
followers of all religions. The thing to remember is that Baha'i families
or Baha'i communities do not hold Christmas celebrations among themselves.