When not convened as a body, each member has no autonomous authority. [4][5] These issues may be only marginal to the numerically dominant Bah community outside of Europe and North America. No, never! Still, when I left the Administration I formally withdrew but this had more to do with the sanctity of the rites of initiation in the Christain Church than it did with the Administration of the Bahai faith. Conservatives among Unitarian Universalists Still Feel Like Victims. "[25] Excommunication among Bahs is rare and reserved for those actively promoting schism. According to Bahai law, I would have needed the consent of both her mother (her father was already deceased), and my BIRTH (not adoptive) parents to be married to her. ", "I desire distinction for you. Bahs believe in the oneness of humanity and devote themselves to the abolition of racial, class, and religious prejudices. Still others encircle this garden inhaling the fragrance of the flowers, having enjoyed its full beauty, pass out again by the same gate. ", " Each of us is responsible for one life only, and that is our own. A primary theme of Baha'u'llahs teachings is achieving world peace through the establishment of unity, justice and equality. You know nothing about why my marriage failed and it had nothing to do with lack of parental consent. ", "an unwise act or statement by a Bah in one country could result in a grave set-back for the Faith there or elsewhereand even loss of the lives of fellow believers. Velma A Good Reason to NEVER Subscribe to HBO Max! Whenever you recognize the fault of another, think of yourself! Lights of Guidance Backbiting, Criticism, Faultfinding, Gossip, Lies, Slander Etc. Thanks for the post. In a Tablet to an American friend the Master wrote: 'The worst human quality and the most great sin is backbiting, more especially when it emanates from the tongues of the believers of God. [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". 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. Indeed Baha'u'llah claimed to be the manifestation of God that the Bab had foretold and gained a large following. The principles of the Bah' Faith were established by Bah'u'llh, the Founder of the Faith, in the latter half of the nineteenth century and promulgated by His Son and appointed successor, 'Abdu'l-Bah during a tireless twenty -nine year ministry.While on an historic teaching trip in 1912 throughout the United States and Canada, 'Abdu'l-Bah explained Bah'u'llh's Teachings to . She agreed! Does it really matter? You should urge your fellow-Bahs to take this point of view, and to support you in a strong effort to suppress every critical thought and every harsh word, in order to let the spirit of Bahullh flow into the entire community, and unite it in His love and in His service. It is one of the functions of the older and the more mature Bahs to help the weaker ones to iron out their difficulties and learn to really function and live like true believers!". If some Islamic countries were confused about how to classify the Bahai Faith, why have many of them officially recognized it as an independent religion distinct from Islam since early in the 20th century? [15], Islamic theology regards Muhammad as the Khatam an-Nabiyyin, the last prophet whom God has sent and Islam as the final religion for all humankind. RELATED: What is the Best Way to Worship? Each of us is immeasurably far from being "perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect" and the task of perfecting our own life and character is one that requires all our attention, our will-power and energy. Soon after this, I began my relationship with Cheri, the woman that would later become my wife. I understand that I can withdraw my consent at any time. The Christian Grace Network on YouTube November 23, 2022. Yet Baha'is in Iran, who are the largest non-Muslim religious community, continue to face persecution. More than one person has said Bahais arent involved in social action. Nothing could be further from the truth. If that has changed recently Id like to see the reference. Author Lil Abdo says that the Bah understanding of sexual equality is different from that of secular feminists. Throughout his life, Bah'u'llah penned over 100 volumes in Arabic and Persian. "The only way jealousy or petty attitudes can be overcome is by the love and tact of the teacher; these are not things that can be solved by a 'ruling'.". Man must be a lover of the light, no matter from what dayspring it may appear. 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. Only the last category could fall into the category of reliable sources (although not independent or disinterested sources ). When this is done, one can be a friend to the whole human race. In such cases, of course, the name of the person or persons involved will have to be mentioned. One of them said: 'How putrid has this animal become!' Do this whenever you are tried through the words or deeds of others. ", "Indeed the believers have not yet fully learned to draw on each other's love for strength and consolation in time of need. 3 - Belief that all religions are valid, and that the Torah and Gospel have . (6) Some Baha'i errors. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. In 1852, two years after the execution of the Bb, a fringe element in the . The stupidity of that idea should be obvious. [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. One must expose the praiseworthy qualities of the souls and not their evil attributes. Assistant Professor of History and Middle East Studies, Idaho State University. Handwriting Analysis of the Will of Abdu'l Baha by Dr. Mitchell; Hermann . The Babi movement called for revolutionary social changes and championed womens rights. While Bahais dont have traditional churches or mosques, local Bahai communities may decide to rent or buy a meeting place, usually called a Bahai Center, depending on the size of the Bahai community and their circumstances. The faith has no priesthood and does not observe ritual forms in its worship. 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. Bahs believe that all the founders of the world's great religions have been manifestations of God and agents of a progressive divine plan for the education of the human race. He was released in 1853 and exiled to Baghdad, where his leadership revived the Bb community. "You also ask what one should do to 'handle depression and anger with someone' one feels 'very positively about'. The Baha'i Faith is a dynamic world religion with several million adherents from a variety of different religious and cultural backgrounds. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, so to speak. Bah Allhs peculiar function was to overcome the disunity of religions and establish a universal faith. I hope that all the believers will attain to this lofty station. After years of investigation and soul-searching, I have finally come to the sad understanding that I can no longer bring myself to believe in Bahaullah or any of the institutions established in His name, including the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice. Some discover a hornets nest in the garden and fearing being STUNG TO DEATH, run out of the garden in horror. How very interesting,I too declared the same time but now find myself so spiritually down in the mouth, I take great objection to the anti-homosexual stance having got dear friends that are homosexual, also I actually enjoy the occasional glass of wine in the evening with my husband, the Bahai Calendar continues to baffle me and I cant get to grips with this fasting business, oh dear.Im not actually a bad person but find the faith quite difficult, I intend withdrawing from the faith as Im certainly not spiritually fulfilled, the people are nice but its not for me anymore. Perhaps youll be inspired to organize a similar discussion where you live. The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. His most well-known book is The Hidden Words, which is composed of short poetic statements that get to the heart of his spiritual and ethical teachings. The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. 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? An overwhelming majority of Bbs acknowledged his claim and thenceforth became known as Bahs. I have been studying AJ Millers teachings for 17 months now. Summed up in Baha'u'llahs words: The Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.. There are no initiation ceremonies, no sacraments, and no clergy. In Iran, where the religion was founded, universities refuse to admit Baha'i students, Baha'i cemeteries have been destroyed and the countrys Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has confiscated properties from Baha'i families. I, too, am considering resigning my membership. A few weeks later, the NSA replied that they had accepted my resignation and expressed hope that I would one day decide to return. [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. RELATED: What Happens When You Become a Bahai? | The Bahai Insider, Dale Husband: Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith Bah Censorship, Another reason to despise Michael Shermer | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants, A Critical Analysis of the The Kitb-i-Aqdas, Part Three | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants, A Conversion to Mormonism | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants, Featured in a magazine critical of the Bahai Faith | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants, Why I Rejected the Bahai Faith, 4th Edition | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants. Corrections? Its 2014 now. "The question of dealing with those who call themselves Bahs but who act in ways which we believe to be detrimental to the interests of the Cause is a very difficult one. My family, like many Wilmette residents, witnessed its decades-long construction. If, however, we look at people from the standpoint of their faults, then being a friend to them is a formidable task. [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]. 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. Baha'u'llahs father was a minister in Irans government, which supported Shi'i Islam as the state religion. I declared back in 2008 when I was a naive open eyed idealist about the principles without knowing about all the contradictions and stuff. [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. They and other UUs are destined to do the work of peace, unity, and freedom that Bahais cannot and will never do! Despite their apparent differences, the worlds great religions, according to the Bahs, teach an identical truth. Message and data rates may apply. ", "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. At the same time, the Baha'i faith has spread around the globe. 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. BAHA'IS AND THE NATURE OF GOD Without the support of the UUs at First Jefferson Church, I might have never had the courage to do battle against the corrupt, idiotic Haifan Bahai Administrative Order as I have done. 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. The clear, forthright responses he gave to the criticism that "the Baha'i Faith offers nothing new," have become, during the intervening century, a classic catalog of the many unique and unprecedented aspects of the Baha'i teachings and principles. For you I desire spiritual distinction; that is, you must become eminent and distinguished in morals. The followers of such splinter groups are shunned and not considered Bahs by the majority. The principal Bah tenets are the essential unity of all religions and the unity of humanity. What are my imperfections?and try to remove them. opinion. Bah Allh was arrested in 1852 and jailed in Tehrn, where he became aware that he was the prophet and messenger of God whose coming had been predicted by the Bb. by Jeremy Butler | Mar 25, 2010 | Baha'i, World Religions. Eventually, what started as a compromise between us grew into a case of full blown allegiance to the UU church for both of us. 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. Your message was successfully sent to BahaiTeachings.org. He concluded from this that the Bah' World Faith must be God's religion. Despite the persecution, the Baha'i faith has attracted millions of adherents around the globe for its ability to transcend nationalism, racism and the like. The Baha'i Faith is a scriptural religion; the current written texts are considered fully authoritative. Browne wrote that while he found them admirable, in his view they are inferior to the simplicity and beauty of the teachings of Christ. claimed the lives of thousands of his followers. In the temples there is no preaching; services consist of recitation of the scriptures of all religions. How blessed are these aims, especially the prevention of backbiting! ", " Vicious criticism is indeed a calamity. Baha'is were nonetheless subjected to persecution, as some Muslim clerics perceived their faith to be a heresy. Im glad to know that you have found a better life after moving on, as have I. [6], The religion's rise in the Middle East and subsequent movement into the West has given rise to a body of anti-Bah polemic. The Bah religion originally grew out of the Bb faith, or sect, which was founded in 1844 by Mrz Al Moammad of Shrz in Iran. His son and successor, Abdu'l-Baha, traveled to Europe and the United States to spread the faith. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); After years of investigation and soul-searching, I have finally come to the sad understanding that I can no longer bring myself to believe in Bahaullah or any of the institutions established in His name, including the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice. Cheri came to love the freedom of thought in that church, despite still being a strong Christian, while I came to love the powerful community the church provided, despite my agnosticism. Actually, Baha'is have been imprisoned and martyred since their Faith began in Persia, because of the persecution of the powerful Islamic clerics who consider the Baha'i Faith and its progressive principles a threat. My life has changed in ways that I had hoped the Bahai Faith would help me do, but in 35 years has not. [1] Western academics have criticized the requirement for Bahs to seek pre-publication review when publishing on the religion[3] and the exclusion of women from serving on the Universal House of Justice. tht ws qck. 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 . 10, on page 138, there is a record of a reply given by Abdul-Bah in a private interview in Paris in 1913. People often fear and denigrate what they dont understand, and anyone who says that the Bahai Faith is a cult definitely does not understand it. I do not desire for you financial distinction. It has an office on the environment involved in sustainable development. 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 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 Bah' Faith is a world religion based on the teachings of Bah'u'llh. ", " Backbiting quencheth the light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul. Reading and Reacting to The Gadfly Molehill. The Baha'is are among the most persecuted religious minorities in the world. 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. 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 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.". From my understanding, Baha'i Faith is an offshoot from Islam but still believes in Muhammad. Ive never been into having to jump through hurdles to withdraw. Ottoman officials later moved Baha'u'llah to the prison city of Akka in Palestine. The external article completely drops any pretenses of neutrality, blaming certain events (like the attempted assassination of Iranian officials) as done by . ", "One must see in every human being only that which is worthy of praise. Ratings: +1,422. The ineligibility of women has caused discontent among small but vocal groups of western Bah intellectuals,[5][1] and criticism from others. [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. Soon the Bbs teachings spread throughout Iran, provoking strong opposition from both the Shii Muslim clergy and the government. Over 20,000 unique works by Baha'u'llah have been identified at the Baha'i World Centre, comprising just under seven million words. Each of us is immeasurably far from being 'perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect' and the task of perfecting our own life and character is one that requires all our attention, our will-power and energy. Regretfully, Dale Husband I composed that letter on my computer and mailed it in January of 2005. The Quran puts forth the same idea, because along with Muhammad it includes the Old Testament prophets and also Christ. In a letter written to an individual believer on behalf of the Guardian it is stated: 'If we are better, if we show love, patience, and understanding of the weakness of others, if we seek to never criticize but rather encourage, others will do likewise, and we can really help the Cause through our example and spiritual strength. I stayed silent about my defection from the Bahai Faith untilOctober 19, 2007, when I posted my first blog entry attacking it. He was asked 'How shall I overcome seeing the faults of othersrecognizing the wrong in others? Heaven and Hell and the Baha'i Faith. Abd al-Bah actively administered the movements affairs and spread the faith to North America, Europe, and other continents. According to Bah' belief, there have been individuals throughout history who were Manifestations of God, who founded major world religions and had certain supernatural powers, such as the ability to prophesy. 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. In the early 21st century there were nine Bah houses of worship: in Australia, Cambodia, Chile, Germany, India, Panama, Samoa, the United States, and Uganda. Baha'u'llah encouraged Baha'is to cooperate with their governments and engage with the followers of all religions in a spirit of fellowship. 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