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Hi again, EM! :-)

EM>There was very little controversy over anything [the Council of Nicea] decided. As I said, there were only two dissenting votes out of over three hundred cast.

Well, then it apparently didn't represent everybody, or even all factions!

Because as I pointed out, a direct result of this council was the splitting away of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, a split which continues to this day.

EM>Anyway, does the bahai faith have writings to study?

Most assuredly!

We are extremely fortunate in that not only do we have very voluminous scriptures, but we have the original manuscript of every one of our 200 volumes of scripture! And indeed, UNLESS we have the original manuscript, nothing is considered scripture no matter HOW "inspirational" it is!

(The Bab <Baha'u'llah's Forerunner, who held a position similar to that of John the Baptist in Christianity> wrote several books; Baha'u'llah <our Founder> around a hundred volumes, and 'Abdu'l-Baha <Baha'u'llah's son and appointed successor/interpreter> the rest.)

You can see these online at various Web sites, including the following:

• www.bahai-library.org (click "Baha'i Writings" for our scriptures,
• www.reference.bahai.org (this site is multilingual), and
• www.bahaistudy.org (this site also has videos and talking books).

The Baha'i scriptures span a wide variety of styles and themes, including poetry, mysticism, explicit statements of laws, Q-and-A explanations of various subjects, history, and much more!

Here are descriptions of just a few of the many titles; feel free to wander around and find those books that interest you most! . . .

(by Baha'u'llah)

- The HIdden Words Baha'u'llah's first work, a poetic description of the teachings of past religions

- Gleanings A compilation covering many different aspects of the Baha'i teachings

- The Seven Valleys a mystical work describing the progress of the soul

- The Book of Certitude our primary theological work, containing an explanation of Divine Revelation and the stages of religion through history, as well as the nature and dual stations of each Divine Messenger

(by 'Abdu'l-Baha)

- Some Answered Qjuestions a Q-and-A style explanation of many different religious topics and questions.

And I wish you good hunting! :-)

Best,

John the Baptist held the belief tha Jesus was the messiah and took away the sins of the world. Is that what the bab taught?

Hi again, EM! :-)

EM>John the Baptist held the belief that Jesus was the messiah and took away the sins of the world. Is that what the bab taught?

No: that teaching was already well-established by the time of the Bab and didn't need repeated.

The Bab's primary (many would say sole) mission was to announce the imminent appearance of Baha'u'llah, Whom the Bab termed "He Whom God shall make manifest" and to urge all and sundry to prepare for His coming.

(Again, as I'm sure you can see, this is a role analagous to that of John the Baptist for Christ.)

Best,