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The pastor was right, there is a sickness that only God can cure: that is a 'diseased soul,' one out of touch with its Creator. The Baha'i Faith has come to restore the spiritual health of humanity. (1:29) Today, many Christians acknowledge the urgent need for a paradigm shift in our thinking from provincial to planetary, from religiosity to spirituality, the need for a fresh outpouring of the spirit that transforms and expands our vision. As Matthew Fox wrote in The Coming of Cosmic Christ, 'It is time to move from the quest for the historical Christ to the quest for Cosmic Christ...This Cosmic Christ will... effect a change of heart, a change of culture, a change of ways...'By their fruits will you know them,' Jesus advised. A true awakening to the Cosmic Christ will effect genuine result.'2 He then asks, 'Is it possible that our entire civilization is depressed because we lack the Cosmic Christ perspective?' 3 Even some secular scientists acknowledge the need for a new spiritual power. Paul Ehrlich of Stanford University declared, 'Scientific analysis points, curiously, toward the need for a quasi-religious transformation of contemporary cultures.'4 (1:30) President Roosevelt had a perfect vision not only of what America needs but of what the world needs: (1:31) No greater thing could come to our land today than a revival of the spirit of religion...a revival that would sweep through the homes of the nation...to their reassertion of their belief in God. I doubt if there is any problem, social, political or economic, that would not melt away before the fire of such a spiritual awakening.5 (1:32) The Baha'i Faith has come to set ablaze 'the fire of spiritual awakening' in every land, and to create a Kingdom that has been the hope of humanity since the dawn of history. It is the divine Plan for the fulfillment of this prayer and prophecy: (1:33) Our Father in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Christ (Matt. 6:9-10) (1:34) References: |