"Twisting" the religion vs. "understanding"

[mike3]

Hi.

I discovered this post:

http://groups.google.com/group/soc.religion.bahai/msg/ce9e316d695386f7?hl=en&dmode=source
"Baha'u'llah wants the
hearts of men and as Abdul'Baha says some one who may not even have
heard
of the word Baha'i may in fact be a Baha'i if he practices the
teachings,
and vice versa if one claims to be an adherent but does not follow the
teachings. Yes, we have our short comings and no one is perfect, but
His
words are the standards. He may forgive our deviations, but we cannot
twist and turn and change that Supreme standard and justify it by
saying
that well there is no living interpreter and that was my understanding
of
it. Baha'i teachings are extremely clear on every issue and whereever
we
have a misunderstanding, we must consult, discuss, refer to
assemblies,
and ultimately to Universal House of Justice and be guided by that
supreme body."

But what _is_ "just one's understanding" and what is actual
"twisting"? Where is the line drawn? Esp. when it comes to certain hot
"scientific"-based topics (instead of spiritual law and spiritual
standard, although it appears it is that which is being referred to
here, not the "scientific" thingy, though I'm more curious about
that), such as the "evolution" stuff.

[Suzanne]

Mike wrote:

> But what _is_ "just one's understanding" and what is actual
> "twisting"?

Hi Mike,

I didn't read the link you provided, so I'm actually only answering
theoretically your question above.

My opinion would be that it is about intention. When someone is
misunderstanding something they just don't know all the information on
a particular subject, and when they are given new information which
contradicts what they previously thought they take it on board and
change their views.

However if someone were twisting things they would be doing it on
purpose to promote some particular aim for themselves, and they
wouldn't be open to new information which might contradict their
thinking. Their aim may actually be trying to change the thinking of
other people instead.

Suzanne

[mike3]

That makes more sense.