The Baha'i Faith is not just a collection of philosophical principles or an attempt to combine or conflate religions. [17], Bahu'llh's teachings on the equality of men and women, and that slavery should be banned, were controversial ideas in the nineteenth century Middle East that contributed to attempts to destroy his movement.[16]. If, on the other hand, God's own nature is said to be contradictory, that is, that God is both one God and many gods, that God is both able and not able to have a son, personal and impersonal, etc., then the Bahai concept of God is reduced to meaninglessness. Throughout his life, Bah'u'llah penned over 100 volumes in Arabic and Persian. The Bahai House of Worship in North America is in the town where two generations of my family lived before me Wilmette, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. [27] For example, Juan Cole converted to the Bah Faith in 1972, but later resigned in 1996 after conflicts with members of the administration who perceived him as extreme. The central figure of the religion is Baha'u'llah, and Baha'is consider him to be the latest in a series of divine messengers. In 'Star of the West', Volume 8, No. The feasts are designed to ensure universal participation in the affairs of the community and the cultivation of the spirit of brotherhood and fellowship. At the time, I didnt care. Deeds not words are what they demand, and no amount of fervor in the use of expressions of loyalty and adulation will compensate for failure to live in the spirit of the teachings.". ", "When we see the condition the world is in today, we must surely forget these utterly insignificant internal disturbances, and rush, unitedly, to the rescue of humanity. [22] Bah scholar Udo Schaefer stated that the legitimization of the death penalty in cases of murder and arson is usually met with disapproval and suspicion in Europe. On the contrary, it would make the dust to settle so thickly on the heart that the ears would hear no more, and the eyes would no longer behold the light of truth. Velma A Good Reason to NEVER Subscribe to HBO Max! Im lazy. As part of its crackdown on the followers of the Bab, the Iranian government incarcerated Baha'u'llah. gss t ws mr lk prf tht yr prblms l lss n pltcs nd rlgn nd mre n mntal hlth sss? That Baha'u'llah was the Manifestation of God for this day and be obedient to the covenant. Man must be a lover of the light, no matter from what dayspring it may appear. The governance of the Bah community begins on the local level with the election of a local spiritual assembly. "When a difficulty is brought out into the daylight and freely discussed by a duly authorized and responsible group of people who are sincerely desirous of finding the best solution and are free from prejudice or personal motive, then there is a good chance of overcoming it, but discussion of the faults of others behind their backs by unauthorized people who have no authority to take action in the matter, is surely one of the most fertile causesprobably THE most fertile causeof disunity, and the importance of putting an end to this practice should be impressed on all Bahs.". He was released in 1853 and exiled to Baghdad, where his leadership revived the Bb community. Its like Scientology in trying to manage apostasy in this way. Thanks! The global Baha'i community is not just a group of well-meaning people. Also, the lack of actual places of worship was another big shock. In this article I will respond to these arguments as they relate to the different views held by Bah's and Christians on (1) the nature of God, (2) biblical prophecy, and (3) religious unity. The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. Bah Allh was subsequently confined by the Ottomans in Adrianople (now Edirne, Turkey) and then in Acre in Palestine (now Akko, Israel). Baha'is believe that God has . The Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee, PhD Scholarship - Uncle Isaac Brown Indigenous Scholarship. The Bah' Faith is a world religion based on the teachings of Bah'u'llh. Bahaullahs revelation has been recognized as an independent global Faith in most of the countries of the world. In Acre in northern Israel, a former prison city of the Ottoman Empire, the barracks where Bahullh was imprisoned starting in 1868. I am totally convinced that the Bahai Faith is doomed to fail in its mission to bring peace, unity, and a Golden Age to humanity and I therefore resign from my past membership in the Faith. It doesnt matter if you didnt formally withdraw because in practice you would have lost your administrative rights anyway, and since that is the only thing that a formal declaration providesadministrative rightsit really makes no difference anyway. Whenever you recognize the fault of another, think of yourself! Message and data rates may apply. Thank you so much! The principal Bah tenets are the essential unity of all religions and the unity of humanity. in practice you would have lost your administrative rights anyway,. ", "When criticism and harsh words arise within a Bah community, there is no remedy except to put the past behind one, and persuade all concerned to turn over a new leaf, and for the sake of God and His Faith refrain from mentioning the subjects which have led to misunderstanding and inharmony. Since then, the Bahai International Community, as a non-governmental organization with a permanent seat at the United Nations, has consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. I cant remember if it was one year or two years, but it was probably closer to one year. He proclaimed a spiritual doctrine emphasizing the forthcoming appearance of a new prophet or messenger of God who would overturn old beliefs and customs and usher in a new era. This body applies the laws promulgated by Bah Allh and legislates on matters not covered in the sacred texts. In brief, you must become distinguished in all the virtues of the human world; for faithfulness and steadfastness; for philanthropic deeds and service to the human world; for love toward every human being; for unity and accord with all people; for removing prejudices and promoting international peace. A comparative analysis of the Baha'i and Christian views of heaven and hell. Its first leader, the Bb, was imprisoned and executed for heresy in 1850, and Bahu'llh, another central figure, was exiled from Iran and both the Ottoman and Persian Empires tried to destroy his movement. One of them said: 'How putrid has this animal become!' There are no initiation ceremonies, no sacraments, and no clergy. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [21], In the Kitb-i-Aqdas, Bahu'llh prescribed the death penalty both for intentional arson and murder. If some means were devised so that the doors of backbiting were shut eternally and each one of the believers unsealed his lips in praise of others, then the teachings of His Holiness Bahullh would spread, the hearts be illumined, the spirits glorified, and the human world would attain to everlasting felicity.' Goodbye. opinion. "Abdul-Bah does not permit adverse criticism of individuals by name in discussion among the friends, even if the one criticizing believes that he is doing so to protect the interests of the Cause. The Christian Bible clearly displays this concept, as it includes the Old Testament prophets Moses and Abraham, along with the New Testament prophet Jesus Christ, all of whom Bahais revere and consider divine messengers. My family, like many Wilmette residents, witnessed its decades-long construction. [7][8], The Bah Faith has maintained its unity and avoided serious division, although several attempts have been made to create sects. Soon after, early American converts began embracing the new religion. This unique conception of religion which Abdul-Baha explained by saying These holy Manifestations of God are the Educators and Trainers of the world of existence, the Teachers of the world of humanity is not an artificial attempt to bring religions together, but instead a completely new way to see all Faiths as one organic whole rather than a collection of competing belief systems. The Bahs use a calendar, established by the Bb and confirmed by Bah Allh, in which the year is divided into 19 months of 19 days each, with the addition of 4 intercalary days (5 in leap years). Dale Husbands Sound-Bites for an Idiotic Age, Reliable sources of science news and data, Why peace activists (and critics of religion) sometimes fail Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants, Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants, Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith? The Orthodox Bah Faith is an extremely small Bah sect that was formed in 1960 by Mason Remey, and subsequently was the name used by one of his disputed successors, Joel Marangella.The sect is defined by a belief that the Guardianship of Shoghi Effendi (1921-1957) continued with further appointees, whereas the mainstream Bahs follow a line of leadership that transitioned to . If capable, those between the ages of 15 and 70 are required to fast 19 days a year, going without food or drink from sunrise to sunset. The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. [26], Bahs have been accused, particularly by successive Iranian governments, of being agents or spies of Russia, Britain, the Shah, the United States, and as agents of Zionismeach claim being linked to each regime's relevant enemy and justifying anti-Bah actions. My life and Cheris together are proof that it can work! This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bahai-Faith, The British Library - An introduction to the Bahai Faith, World Religious and Spirituality Project - Bahai Faith, Bahai Faith - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Bahai faith - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). ", "One must see in every human being only that which is worthy of praise. Origin of the Baha'i Religion. The truth, on the contrary, is that the Bahai Faith teaches progressive revelation, which means, as Abdul-Baha said in a talk he gave in the United States in 1912, that: the divine religions of the holy Manifestations of God are in reality one, though in name and nomenclature they differ. I am currently a skeptic who is looking at both UU and Bahai as a new place to find a community that thinks like I do. If manifestations are allowed to contradict one another, then there is no way to separate false manifestations from true ones or to discover if any of them really speak for the true and living God. He observed only the whiteness of the teeth and overlooked entirely the deformity of the body, the dissolution of its organs and the bad odour. Extract from Dale Husbands blog. Baha'i Viewpoint Heaven and Hell are not seen as literal places that the soul of man goes after physical death but are seen as the . Baha'is are followers of the teachings of Baha'u'llah, who brought an entirely new, worldwide Faith to humanity. Many of the Bahai writings are mystical and tell us a great deal about spiritual reality but others lay the foundation for an elegant and very practical democratically-elected global administrative order, designed to gradually unfold and help bring humanity to a permanent world peace. Bahu'llh's claim of divine revelation is in direct conflict with this common interpretation of Islam. Consider this your only warning!). If we think we can help matters by a frank and friendly talk with the individual concerned, refraining from judging or condemning, but pointing out in as kind a manner as possible the way in which, as it seems to us, the sort of conduct in question is harmful to the Cause or of a nature forbidden by the teachings, then it seems well to try that method before resorting to the more formidable method of bringing the matter before the Spiritual Assembly. [32][33] He specifically criticized the work of individual Bah scholars he saw as defending Bah orthodoxy at the expense of historical rigour, including William S. Hatcher,[32] Muhammad Afnan,[32] Juan Cole[33] (although Cole subsequently left the religion), Nader Saiedi,[34] and Moojan Momen. Bah Faith, religion founded in Iraq in the mid-19th century by Mrz osayn Al Nr, who is known as Bah Allh (also spelled Bahullh), which in Arabic means Glory of God. The cornerstone of Bah belief is the conviction that Bah Allh and his forerunner, who was known as the Bb (Persian: Gateway), were manifestations of God, who in his essence is unknowable. The local spiritual assembly has jurisdiction over all local affairs of the Bah community. claimed the lives of thousands of his followers. In this two-part article we will briefly examine: (1) The Baha'i approach to other religions. On no subject are the Bah teachings more emphatic than on the necessity to abstain from fault-finding and backbiting, while being ever eager to discover and root out our own faults and overcome our own failings.' For the most part, though, individual Bahai communities do not have a Bahai House of Worship, which are actually more like a gift to the community, not for exclusive use by Bahais. The great bulk of Bah teachings is concerned with social ethics. Instead, I asked her to join with me in First Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church, which I had belonged to before. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. ", "The worst enemies of the Cause are in the Cause and mention the Name of God. Shouldst thou transgress this command ACCURSED ART THOU.' My future wife was a member of First Baptist Church of Dallas, a stronghold of fundamentalism. [11], Bah authors have written in response that the contradictory teachings are either social laws that change from age to age, as part of a progressive revelation, or human error introduced to the more ancient faiths over time. There is no way Im going to use a strangers personal home as a house of worship. "he suggests you write the National Spiritual Assembly in a loving spirit, and point out to them how it distresses you to think that, after so many years of service, statements about you which you consider unjustified should be preserved. A third cried out: 'What a stench! Again, it doesnt really matter. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). The first is that they equate Krishna to many other prophets, as if somehow Krishna in either case is the main god or spokesperson or prophet of Hinduism as a monolithic religion. The principal Bah tenets are the essential unity of all religions and the unity of humanity. We are like ploughmen each of whom has his team to manage and his plough to direct, and in order to keep his furrow straight he must keep his eye on his goal and concentrate on his own task. This page was last edited on 31 December 2020, at 01:55. Your email address will not be published. The religion began with considerable controversy. Throughout his life, Bah'u'llah penned over 100 . p. 192) Bahullh says in the Hidden Words: 'Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art a sinner. He further argued that in the case of "Baha'ism, with its rather vague doctrines as to the nature and destiny of the soul of man, it is a little difficult to see whence the driving force to enforce the ethical maxims can be derived. The primary functions of both groups are to propagate the Bah Faith and protect the community. Gods wisdom cannot always be seen by human eyes. I was recently invited to participate on an interfaith panel where we all responded to this question: What are the truths and misconceptions about your Faith? [16] Thus, authorities in the Muslim world have rejected the Bah Faith and regard Bahs as apostates if they had been Muslims before conversion. (5) Moral concerns. Even if what is said against another person be true, the mentioning of his faults to others still comes under the category of backbiting, and is forbidden.". The seat of the Universal House of Justice is in Haifa, Israel, in the immediate vicinity of the shrines of the Bb and Abd al-Bah and near the Shrine of Bah Allh at Bahj, near Akko. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, so to speak. Actually, Bahais have been imprisoned and martyred since their Faith began in Persia, because of the persecution of the powerful Islamic clerics who consider the Bahai Faith and its progressive principles a threat. From my understanding, Baha'i Faith is an offshoot from Islam but still believes in Muhammad. Instead, he joined a new religious movement, started by a young Iranian, known as the Bab. When Bahaullahs son and successor Abdul-Baha visited North America in 1912, he modeled an example of social action when he told Bahais to racially integrate even in cities which were segregated at that time; and to also apply the Bahai principle of the equality of the sexes to their lives. About a dozen of these have been translated into English and other languages. Ratings: +1,422. But this distinction must not depend upon wealththat they should become more affluent than other people. In the West, liberals have criticized the Bah Faith for some of its conservative social practices, notably the prohibition on premarital or homosexual intimacy for Bahs. An overwhelming majority of Bbs acknowledged his claim and thenceforth became known as Bahs. (3) Anachronistic Baha'i scriptures. John Ankerberg) have attacked its history and founders, institutions, teachings, and use of prophecy. The Bah's are fully entitled to address criticisms to their assemblies; they can freely air their views about policies or individual members of elected bodies to the assembly, local or national, but then they must whole-heartedly accept the advice or decision of the assembly, according to the principles already laid down for such matters in On the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i faith, the question remains: What is the reason for their persecution? The religion officially formed in 1863, but a Shiite Muslim man in Iran began paving the way in 1844 by announcing a new prophet was to come - after Muhammad. When we did, I left behind at the house most of the Bahai books and other literature I had collected from my eight or nine years as a Bahai. But the enemies who call themselves friends and who persistently violate every fundamental law of love and unity, are difficult to be dealt with in this day, for the mercy of God is still great. The Cause of God is endowed with tremendous powers, and the reason the believers do not gain more from it is because they have not learned to draw fully on these mighty forces of love and strength and harmony generated by the Faith. Historical context. How can they best reach you? But if that fails or if we feel that it is hopeless to try and deal with the matter in that way, while at the same time the case is so serious that the interests of the Cause require that it should be firmly dealt with, then the proper course is to bring the matter before the Spiritual Assembly and have it frankly and fully discussed, calling such evidence as is necessary for the elucidation of the matter. "It is related that His Holiness ChristMay my life be a sacrifice to Him!one day, accompanied by His apostles, passed by the corpse of a dead animal. A Unitarian Bahai comes across as an idiot, again! Consider, that He did not look at all at the defects of that animal; nay, rather, He searched well until He found the beautiful white teeth. But even if these are not taken from the records it still does not make them either true or false. I hope that all the believers will attain to this lofty station. In all other levels of administration (other than the UHJ), however, women have always been eligible to serve, often contrary to prevailing cultural or societal norms. A few weeks later, the NSA replied that they had accepted my resignation and expressed hope that I would one day decide to return. Abstract This article will explore some of the issues involved in the sociological analysis of the status of the Bah' Faith. Now is certainly not the time for any man to think of himself, or busy himself with the weaknesses of his brother; but, rather each and every Bah must concentrate on the tasks ahead and be reborn in the service of Bahullh. Ive never officially withdrawn or resigned, but stopped being a Bahai either one or two years after declaration. BAHA'IS AND THE NATURE OF GOD Lights of Guidance/Backbiting, Criticism, Faultfinding, Gossip, Lies, Slander Etc. Pingback: Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith? If any individual should speak ill of one who is absent, it is incumbent on his hearers, in a spiritual and friendly manner, to stop him, and say in effect: would this detraction serve any useful purpose? The external article completely drops any pretenses of neutrality, blaming certain events (like the attempted assassination of Iranian officials) as done by . "If we profess loyalty to Bahullh, to our Beloved Master and our dear Guardian, then we must show our love by obedience to these explicit teachings. The followers of such splinter groups are shunned and not considered Bahs by the majority. (6) Some Baha'i errors. Shouldst thou transgress this command, accursed wouldst thou be, and to this I bear witness. Rather, Bahais look to the spiritual teachings of the Bab and Bahaullah, as interpreted and elucidated by Abdul-Baha, for inspiration and guidance. "[6] Former Bah William Garlington said the Bah position in the United States "can at most be characterized as one of sympathetic disapproval" toward homosexuality. When Criticism and Harsh Words Arise "When criticism and harsh words arise within a Bah' community, there is no remedy except to put the past behind one, and persuade all concerned to turn over a new leaf, and for the sake of God and His Faith refrain from mentioning the subjects which have led to misunderstanding and inharmony. One of the Bbs earliest disciples and strongest exponents was Mrz osayn Al Nr, who had assumed the name Bah Allh when he renounced his social standing and joined the Bbs. In the end (undefined in conventional thinking) all knees will bow before the King of all Kings, Jesus Christ. Assistant Professor of History and Middle East Studies, Idaho State University. 2 - Belief in the transmigration of souls, and that reward and punishment happen to the soul only. Pingback: Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants. Many things are preserved in records as matters of opinion; no one has given a verdict on this matter! If the Bahs would follow the Bah laws in voting, in electing, in serving and in abiding by Assembly decisions, all this waste of strength through criticising others could be diverted into cooperation and achieving the Plan. In fact, the first school for girls in Iran was established by the Baha'is. For you I desire spiritual distinction; that is, you must become eminent and distinguished in morals. (4) The Miller analysis of the Baha'i Faith. Others step inside, behold its beauty, but do not penetrate far. You will overcome self, you will not even have time to think of the faults of others'. In fact, 41 countries - or around a fifth (21%) of those evaluated - banned at least one religion-related group in 2019, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of laws and policies in effect in 198 countries in 2019, the most recent year for which comprehensive data is available. I desire this distinction for you. The religion began with considerable controversy. Importantly, the Bahai Faith first emerged in a Muslim culture in what is now Iran, so Islam could be said to be its parent Faith in the same way that Judaism was the parent Faith of Christianity. She has published in anthologies, textbooks, peer-reviewed academic journals, radio and magazines; presented papers at numerous By clicking "Sign up", I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and consent to receive communications (email, telephone call, or text message) from Bahaiteachings.org about news, events and offers, including via automated technology and/or prerecorded calls or messages to the number and email provided above, even if my number is a mobile number or is currently listed on any state, federal or corporate Do Not Call list. Yet Baha'is in Iran, who are the largest non-Muslim religious community, continue to face persecution. Located there long before Israel became a nation, it happened because Bahaullah had been exiled to the prison city of Akka in Palestine, then part of the Ottoman Empire, about 85 years before the state of Israel was founded. The majority of Baha'is, however, live in the global south. [12], Regarding the Bah teachings of peace and unity, E.G. Finding out about what the Bahai Faith was actually about rather than all the stuff they like to advertise was a big shock. For most Muslims, the prophet Muhammad was the last and final prophet. In any case, good luck to you and God Bless. The Bab and Bah'u'llh are believed to have been messengers from God and they told people that God has had many prophets and that God has had many names, but there is only one God. How blessed are these aims, especially the prevention of backbiting! I do not desire for you financial distinction. The more the friends argue back and forth and maintain, each side, that their point of view is the right one, the worse the whole situation becomes. [27] Central to Cole's complaints is the Bah review process, which requires Bah authors to gain approval before publishing on the religion. Pingback: Why peace activists (and critics of religion) sometimes fail Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants. Bahais have no clergy, and in every location where they reside, Bahais live according to this administrative order, following the guidance given to them by the Universal House of Justice, the first truly democratic global system of governance. For many, the Baha'i faith is one of the most universal religions. The Bible provides ALL the answers, in my truly humble (!) People who leave the religion, transgress community standards, or attack it externally are not considered Covenant-breakers. The Bahs must be distinguished from others of humanity. The official website of the Baha'i Faith is: Sign up for our newsletter and get all our latest content, 2023 BahaiTeachings.org All Rights Reserved. On the national scale, each year Bahs elect delegates to a national convention that elects a national spiritual assembly with jurisdiction over Bahs throughout an entire country. In 1850, the Bab was charged by Shi'i religious officials with heresy and was put to death by firing squad. It is free information and it is offered without any coercion on your free will about what to do with it. [14] For example, the perspectives of Subh-i-Azal, Mrz Muhammad Al, and Mason Remey, the most prominent covenant-breakers of the religion, were all upheld by Miller in an attempt to show its adherents as deceived, its teachings superficial or irrelevant, and its administration "a dictatorship". Extract from Dale Husbands blog. The Bb was arrested and, after several years of incarceration, was executed in 1850. In the summer and fall of 2004, I gradually came to the conviction that the Bahai Faith was no longer worthy of my allegiance. Theimplication is that Bahai is Jewish, which may also be mistakenly inferred by some because the world headquarters of the Bahai Faith is in Haifa, Israel. She agreed! AJs concepts are not a religion or a cult. When people say that the Bahai Faith has something to do with Judaism, its often a result of confusing the word Bahai with Bnai Brith, a service organization dedicated to the social and educational betterment of Jews. Despite their apparent differences, the worlds great religions, according to the Bahs, teach an identical truth. "I hope that the believers of God will shun completely backbiting, each one praising the other cordially and believe that backbiting is the cause of Divine wrath, to such an extent that if a person backbites to the extent of one word, he may become dishonored among all the people, because the most hateful characteristic of man is fault-finding. Cults separate themselves from society, and Bahais take part in society. Browne wrote that while he found them admirable, in his view they are inferior to the simplicity and beauty of the teachings of Christ. Shoghi and the Grandsons of 'Abdu'l Baha; The Guardianship of Shoghi: Losses and Losses; Shoghi in the Will of the Master Abdu'l Baha; New History Society; Early Baha'is. (Quoted in Star of West, Vol. promoting the Baha'i Faith for twenty years. When not convened as a body, each member has no autonomous authority. It is the world's second-most widespread religion after Christianity, spanning the globe and working to unite it. Them said: 'How putrid has this animal become! after declaration of actual places of worship will to... The largest non-Muslim religious community, continue to face persecution of them said: 'How putrid this... Principal Bah tenets are the largest non-Muslim religious community, continue to face persecution should become affluent..., was executed in 1850 Baha'is, however, live in the Hidden Words: not. Are these aims, especially the prevention of backbiting free will about what the Bahai |! 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