Oh yes, I agree. I'd say a patient creates the doctor, a sore back creates the massage therapist, a student creates the teacher... These things for the most part arise mutually. But you're saying that if we run with this then it means that the masses create the Prophet and so who's really exploiting who? Or actually moreover, how can we blame the Prophet for it? We all do it to some extent or another. Well, not exactly. We don't all create a need for ourselves and then proceed to instruct thousands, millions, on how to live the proper way to please God.

See, all I'm saying is that the non-human world does not require certain dress, certain conduct, certain ritual, or certain interpretation to yeild it's great benefits or glory or whatever to me. I can walk outside and feel at peace and at one with nature and as though I'm in the "right", basking in the beauty of the landscape, feeling the wind cool me, the sun warm me, the stars twinkle delighting me, the neighbor engaging me in conversation, and so on, and no offering is expected, no correct following of any revealtion or Prophetic direction is needed. Humans, specifically the bully, tyrant, king, ruler type and the subsequent follower types require such things and use Religion and God to justify it. In this sense who needs God to use Prophets? Churches and Prophets do. Now they are there to do so because the masses "create" them out of their yearning for spirituality or order or whatever. But once created and enpowered I think their history makes it perfectly clear what it's really all about. Secuirty, control, meglomania, what have you. I don't see much spirituality being preached to the masses from most of the sects claiming Prophecy from God the Allmighty Master Technician.

fOrtyone

Thanks for the question Vivamis. Baha'is believe there are two kinds of Prophets... Some have been Manifestations of God and have brought new principles and inspired advances of human society and civilization, while other Prophets are dependent and reflect the light from the Manifestations, that is they derive their inspiration from the Manifestations. So the disciples and followers of Jesus turned to Him...and prior to that the minor prophets of the Old Testament were under we believe Moses and received their light through Him.

Everyone born has capacity to recognize the Manifestation of God for their day and progress. The Manifestations have a Pure stainless Mirror with which They reflect God's attributes.

To my good friend Evangelical,

Mankind is progressing ... but not without struggles and hardship, but overall we are at a better place and closer to building a world civilization than we've ever been on this planet and that is one of the primary challenges facing humanity today...whether we will advance and solve the issues people face or whether we will run and hide from these issues is the issue. I have faith in humanity that we will rise to the occasion so in that sense I am a humnaist. I'm optimistic about the progress of the human race.

- Art

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"it benefits us to be thoughtful, not of the glory of our minds, but rather, above all else, of the glory of God."
- Johannes Kepler

Deism arose in reaction to the idea of prophets and intermediaries. I think teachers are fine, but the idea of teaching should be to make the student a master, not to keep them a perpetual student. I think prophets are a product of a particular value meme, not necessarily the mouthpiece of God.

-TC

Agreed.

I reject that utterly. If one human being can't figure out the nature of God, or what God wants, why on earth assume that they can get assistance from another one who can? What is it, do you think, that God has decided to give to one fellow that He feels must be withheld from the rest of us?
My answer is two-fold. First, I trust none of them. Second there is no God that would elect to get a message to all people through this ridiculous method.

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evangelicalhumanist: Greek "eu"=good and "angelos"=messenger. Spreading the good news of Humanism.

God has not given them anything he has not given everyone. They simple developed their consciousness (conncted to their higher consciousness) to a level we all can and shared it with us and also told us how we can do it to...even Jesus said as I do you also can do!! I know the other masters have said similar things but I am most familiar with Jesus and Buddha..as you believe so shall you do...They are our equals only they experienced something few people do because they do not strive hard enough or haven't figured out the pieces to the puzzle we have gotten in touch with so far

Buddha is not a "Prophet".

The only 'mystery' Buddha reveals is the obvious - we are ignorant of our own true natures. He is not trying to convert anyone, make them believe anything. He only showed us a way to see the world free of our own ignorance - and in doing so you gain liberation. Here. Now.

Well, you have to be careful, "the Buddha" is actually a title, not a singular person. There's actually been as many as 30 possible "Buddhas" and there are sects that worship the Buddha as a prophet and/or god-man. Not every Buddhist is a learned master. Americans sometimes have the misconception that every Buddhist or Hindu in India is a contemplative master.

Now, I agree with you that the latest, Gutama Buddha, did indeed implore his students not to worship him, and I would agree with that teaching. In sections of the New Testament, Jesus never says he is divine or "the" son of god. So, we have to understand, a religion may have both types of adherants. Its not the religion, its the value structure of the person that determines how they view "the teacher".

-TC

The original masters of the great worlds religions are considered prophets usually because they taught a message that although it may be obvious to you may not have been obvious to all.

An yes I agree Jesus never said anything about being above anyone..people chose to place him there. He said we were all equals..but people have chosen to ignore that part..all the stuff they taught could be obvious to everyone if they would only look inside to the knowledge that is there although burried under a bunch of clutter!!

None of the prophets chose to be worshipped..they were trying to increase our awareness!