I'm curious, BB, why does agreeing with me about something cause you to shudder? :-) I'd really like to know. (Is it because of politics or UFO's? Or is it a William Shatner-based issue?)

Anyone who believes in a God at all is eager to know what eternal truths might emanate from that God. Accordingly, they usually rely on the opinions of other people...people whom they trust...as to WHERE those truths might be found. This is how people in a Christian civilization end up going to the Bible for "the Word", while people in a Muslim civilization end up going to the Q'ran, and people in a Hindu society end up going to the Baghavad Gita, and Bahai's end up going to all of the above...but with special emphasis on the more recent writings of Baha'Ullah and his family.

The wisest people I have ever had the good fortune to meet find the eternal truths in all of those sources mentioned above (and in many others), while not being exclusive about the matter. This results in people who do not fight religious wars, do not persecute people for belonging to another faith, and find some goodness in all people regardless of their outward beliefs.

A prophet will always speak to people in the vernacular of their time, according to the expectations of their time. Translations of his or her words several thousand years later are easily misinterpreted. I'd say, pay close attention to the behaviour of the prophet if you want to get the message. Jesus didn't attack people with swords. He didn't harm people. He healed them. He showed great compassion. He rebuked those doing the most evil things, but he did not harm them in any way. That's a powerful demonstration of enlightenment.

It can easily be seen that if all people were to behave similarly to his example the World would be a much better place for it and we would not be experiencing wars, crime, and other such problems. We would be a peaceful community of brothers and sisters living in equality, and sharing what we had with one another. That's something worthy of aspiring to. The greatest victory is the one which enables all participants to win.