Visual Blog
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Saturday, June 6, 2009
Visual Blog
I forgot to edit the time between slides so I would recommend pausing the show and changing slides manually...or reading really fast.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
My last, and perhaps too cynical, regular blog.
In light of both our discussion on unity as well as my last blog dealing with the two different types of unity I see between Baha'i and Unitarian Universalists, I couldn't help being somewhat of a harsh critic on the Chicago Baha'i Temple video. The phrase that stuck with me from our discussion on Monday was: (paraphrased) "hey you [Christian, Jew, etc.] you are Baha'i whether you like/know it or not". With this in mind I will bring to light a few of the contradictions I saw in the video...and then I will discuss a few nice things too.
My cynical wheels first began to spin when the narrator said that this temple brings people together from all different types of ethnic, cultural, social, economic, and professional backgrounds. They failed to mention religious backgrounds, which I understand because Baha'i believe that there is only one, but it felt somewhat like a strike against unity to not include other religions even if it were in the context of other religions coming here to discover that they in fact are just another chapter of the bigger book. My next beef came with some of the phrasing of their message of unity. They made claims with such words as "unity of all religions" and "universal embrace", which, when taking very literally, are very true of the Baha'i, but taken at more of a practical/everyday use seem a little misleading. I feel it would be more accurate to say "unity and assimilation of all religions...into one religion" and "universal embrace...of the idea that every religion is in fact a part of ours". The last flare of criticism came with the explanation of how the flowers represent all the religions and people living in harmony together. I feel, again, that a clause could be added to this image, saying something to the effect of "...living in harmony together, but if a flower feels like it really out to belong to another, separate garden, it is SOL.
I know this blog took a pretty harsh turn from the onset, but I haven't had a cynical blog yet so it was my last chance. I do like the idea of harmony but I don't think this is the best way of going about it.
On the other hand, I like that the gardens were so expansive, as they reminded me of the garden of Ridvan. Also, I like how the architecture based on "mathematical lines of astronomy" ties in with the imagery of the sun and its rays.
Ooops, I just remembered one last negative thing: They state that they discourage extremes of poverty and wealth, but I guess I feel that this giant and elaboratee temple might contradict that a little bit. Maybe a more humble temple would better reflect this ideal.
I apologize to all followers of Baha'u'llah for this harsh blog, its not personal.
My cynical wheels first began to spin when the narrator said that this temple brings people together from all different types of ethnic, cultural, social, economic, and professional backgrounds. They failed to mention religious backgrounds, which I understand because Baha'i believe that there is only one, but it felt somewhat like a strike against unity to not include other religions even if it were in the context of other religions coming here to discover that they in fact are just another chapter of the bigger book. My next beef came with some of the phrasing of their message of unity. They made claims with such words as "unity of all religions" and "universal embrace", which, when taking very literally, are very true of the Baha'i, but taken at more of a practical/everyday use seem a little misleading. I feel it would be more accurate to say "unity and assimilation of all religions...into one religion" and "universal embrace...of the idea that every religion is in fact a part of ours". The last flare of criticism came with the explanation of how the flowers represent all the religions and people living in harmony together. I feel, again, that a clause could be added to this image, saying something to the effect of "...living in harmony together, but if a flower feels like it really out to belong to another, separate garden, it is SOL.
I know this blog took a pretty harsh turn from the onset, but I haven't had a cynical blog yet so it was my last chance. I do like the idea of harmony but I don't think this is the best way of going about it.
On the other hand, I like that the gardens were so expansive, as they reminded me of the garden of Ridvan. Also, I like how the architecture based on "mathematical lines of astronomy" ties in with the imagery of the sun and its rays.
Ooops, I just remembered one last negative thing: They state that they discourage extremes of poverty and wealth, but I guess I feel that this giant and elaboratee temple might contradict that a little bit. Maybe a more humble temple would better reflect this ideal.
I apologize to all followers of Baha'u'llah for this harsh blog, its not personal.
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