Deganawidah Native Messenger of God
Many Messengers of God
A Native American Perspective
Deganawidah - The Peacemaker
Paula Bidwell for The Wilmette Institute Course on the Kitáb-i-Íqán and Gems of Divine Mysteries 2011
Preface
After enrolling in the 2011 Wilmette Institute course on the Kitáb-i-Íqán and Gems of Divine Mysteries I quickly realized how little I knew of Christianity and Islam. It seemed every other page held something I didn’t understand. Then I began to wonder why both are mentioned so frequently. The answer to that was so apparent that I almost didn’t see it. Bahá 'u 'lláh was addressing questions from people with these backgrounds. This does not demean other religions or spiritual traditions in the least. In fact, the Kitáb-iÍqán is in answer to questions from the Bab’s uncle, an Islamic scholar. After realizing this, I wondered what the view of the Bahá‘í Faith was on other religions and other Messengers, especially those from North America. I found reference to this in an article written by Christopher Buck (one of our course instructors) and Donald Addison (Choctaw elder and professor of Native Studies) the article is titled “Messengers of God in North America Revisited: An Exegesis of ‘Abdu‟l-Bahá’s Tablet to Amir Khán”, Online Journal of Bahá‘í Studies, Volume 1 (2207): 180-270). The article explains the Bahá‘í Faith’s view of these Messengers and in addition states the benefit of the Bahá‘í Writings in it’s ability to heal previous conflict. “The Bahá‘í attitude to earlier religions, therefore, is not that they are false or heathen, but that, at root, they are all true and that these fundamental truths still persist within them... Through the Bahá‘í teachings, the inner conflict which many still feel between their ancient religions and Christianity is resolved and, at the same time, they are enabled to understand their spiritual unity with the peoples of other continents, such as Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims with whom they will undoubtedly come into contact with
A Native American Perspective
Deganawidah - The Peacemaker
Paula Bidwell for The Wilmette Institute Course on the Kitáb-i-Íqán and Gems of Divine Mysteries 2011
Preface
After enrolling in the 2011 Wilmette Institute course on the Kitáb-i-Íqán and Gems of Divine Mysteries I quickly realized how little I knew of Christianity and Islam. It seemed every other page held something I didn’t understand. Then I began to wonder why both are mentioned so frequently. The answer to that was so apparent that I almost didn’t see it. Bahá 'u 'lláh was addressing questions from people with these backgrounds. This does not demean other religions or spiritual traditions in the least. In fact, the Kitáb-iÍqán is in answer to questions from the Bab’s uncle, an Islamic scholar. After realizing this, I wondered what the view of the Bahá‘í Faith was on other religions and other Messengers, especially those from North America. I found reference to this in an article written by Christopher Buck (one of our course instructors) and Donald Addison (Choctaw elder and professor of Native Studies) the article is titled “Messengers of God in North America Revisited: An Exegesis of ‘Abdu‟l-Bahá’s Tablet to Amir Khán”, Online Journal of Bahá‘í Studies, Volume 1 (2207): 180-270). The article explains the Bahá‘í Faith’s view of these Messengers and in addition states the benefit of the Bahá‘í Writings in it’s ability to heal previous conflict. “The Bahá‘í attitude to earlier religions, therefore, is not that they are false or heathen, but that, at root, they are all true and that these fundamental truths still persist within them... Through the Bahá‘í teachings, the inner conflict which many still feel between their ancient religions and Christianity is resolved and, at the same time, they are enabled to understand their spiritual unity with the peoples of other continents, such as Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims with whom they will undoubtedly come into contact with
Cited: J.E., Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, United States Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1980 edition, p.7 The next and final question was why I needed to cite references with the Bahá’í Faith, Transcription from a taped interview with Charlotte Kahn recorded on November 26, 1999 CE, in Luckachukai, Navajo Nation Arizona) Who is the Peacemaker? The true name of the Peacemaker is Deganawidah