top of page

FOS S1C - Beginnings

In this fireside we explore the notions of beginnings, and how to reconcile this with "the beginning that hath no beginning and the end that hath no end."

FOS S1C Beginnings Evercise

​

Christ said, “My house hath many mansions,” and Baha’u’llah proclaims that the worlds of God are without beginning or end; that since a primary attribute of God is the Creator, He must always have had a creation; He is the Educator, so must always have had beings to educate. Yet Baha’u’llah clearly states, “The world of existence came into being.” The world of existence had a beginning.

 

  1. Look up the word “contingent” in a good dictionary (i.e., Merriam-Webster Online).

    1. Discuss the definitions offered, in light of Baha’u’llah’s statement that by contingent is meant, “preceded by a cause.”

  2. Discuss what is meant by cause and effect.

    1. Give examples of cause and effect.

    2. Explain in your own words how cause and effect is seen in the world of existence.

  3. Look up “binary” in your dictionary and discuss which definitions best apply to cause and effect.

  4. Brainstorm a list of binaries from the world of existence like hot and cold.

    1. Discuss the idea of the spectrum that lies between these binary sets.

    2. Select a few binaries from your list and discuss the most extreme expression of these pairings, i.e., hot and cold.

  5. Imagine you are driving a car. Explain how the binaries, near and far, left and right, help you navigate.

    1. Identify binary pairs that allow us to see.

 

The exercise above is designed to help us understand how we perceive. We cannot understand Absolute knowledge; therefore, the Creator brought the contingent world into existence; a world in which His knowledge is presented in a relative form. We learn from the world of existence how to bracket and compare; how to see the spectrum of ideas that lie between extremes like good and evil, truth and falsehood. A contingent world is necessary, indeed the contingent world of existence is designed precisely for our education. The Creator has ordained for our training, “every atom in existence and the essence of all created things.”

 

  1. Explain in your own words how the concepts of a creation without beginning or end, and a contingent world with a distinct beginning can both be true.

bottom of page