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. Also, the lack of actual places of worship was another big shock. Targeting the faith's followers is a longstanding feature of the Islamic Republic but has been escalating of late. 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. Goodbye. All national spiritual assemblies of the world periodically constitute themselves an international convention and elect a supreme governing body known as the Universal House of Justice. How can they best reach you? [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]. [15] Douglas Martin wrote that Miller's writings were driven by animus against what he saw as a successful rival faith that was moving into Christian lands. Once they are ADULTS, they should be treated like adults, period. The Baha'i Faith is a scriptural religion; the current written texts are considered fully authoritative. The electoral process excludes parties or factions, nominations, and campaigning for office. SOLanding, a Possible Cryptocurrency Scam Site? 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. Pingback: Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants. For backbiting is divisive, it is the leading cause among the friends of a disposition to withdraw. Thanks! By clicking "Submit", 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. He taught there is one God and one human family, and that the great religions of the world represent successive stages in the spiritual evolution of human society. 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. Gods wisdom cannot always be seen by human eyes. 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. Later, my mother, who was always hostile to the Bahai Faith because of her Baptist convictions, took those items and discarded them all without my consent. ", "I desire distinction for you. Throughout his life, Bah'u'llah penned over 100 volumes in Arabic and Persian. He remained there until his passing in 1892. Does it really matter? Knowing you seem similar to my mindset from a brief review of your site, I might be more inclined to try the UU route. Velma A Good Reason to NEVER Subscribe to HBO Max! Ottoman officials later moved Baha'u'llah to the prison city of Akka in Palestine. What are my imperfections?and try to remove them. 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. Instead, he joined a new religious movement, started by a young Iranian, known as the Bab. [1] 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. Pawel Szul heterodoxy religion of Bayan, Unitarian Baha'i Discussion Forum Yahoo. 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. claimed the lives of thousands of his followers. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The Baha'is are among the most persecuted religious minorities in the world. On January 18, a court in Iran's Mazandaran province ordered that property belonging to Bahai citizen Sheida Taeed be confiscated and transferred to the "Execution of Imam Khomeini's Order," a committee controlled by . In the temples there is no preaching; services consist of recitation of the scriptures of all religions. It will endeavor to present criteria for the labels "world religion" and "new religious movement," as well as explore to what extent the Bah' Faith fulfils these criteria. Updates? 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. 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. 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. Ive never been into having to jump through hurdles to withdraw. I hope that all the believers will attain to this lofty station. The religion began with considerable controversy. Jehovah's Witnesses and Baha'is were among the most . Paradise and Paradigm - Christopher Buck 1999-01-01 Comparing paradise imagery in two Persian religions, early Syriac Christianity and the Baha'i Faith, this work contributes to religious studies methodology by introducing "symbolic paradigm analysis." The Baha'i Faith in Africa - Anthony Lee 2011-10-28 [16] Thus, authorities in the Muslim world have rejected the Bah Faith and regard Bahs as apostates if they had been Muslims before conversion. Judaism and Christianity are predecessors of Islam but criticism aimed directly at either of the two doesn't seem to directly affect Islam because of a belief in the Bible and Torah being corrupted or outdated versions of God's message. 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. Hi, exmuslim atheist here. A Statement About Mental Disorders and Domestic Abuse. 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. ", "As regards backbiting, i.e., discussing the faults of others in their absence, the teachings are very emphatic. If that has changed recently Id like to see the reference. 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. Im lazy. [20] Particularly in the United States, Bahs have attempted to reconcile the immutable conservative teachings on sexuality with the otherwise socially progressive teachings of the religion, but it continues to be a source of controversy. Religion: Kashmir Shaivism (Trika) I've always found some issues with the main idea of the Baha'i faith, for a few different reasons. ", "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. Its just spiritual, not practical, was one incorrect comment Ive heard about the Bahai Faith not once, but many times. Cults separate themselves from society, and Bahais take part in society. 9 Politics: Here a number of criticisms about the Bahai faith aligning itself with different historical superpowers are listed. 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. A few weeks later, the NSA replied that they had accepted my resignation and expressed hope that I would one day decide to return. In the end (undefined in conventional thinking) all knees will bow before the King of all Kings, Jesus Christ. Over 20,000 unique works by Baha'u'llah have been identified at the Baha'i World Centre, comprising just under seven million words. 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. If you dont recognize Bahaullah as a manifestation of God then you arent really a Bahai whether or not you happen to be part of the Bahai Administrative Order. You may know of some other misconceptions, and I learned on our interfaith panel that they can be a wonderful topic for public discussion. 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. 2,070. Your opinion is based on no facts whatsoever and therefore is not worth considering. "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. Pingback: Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith? [35] By contrast, MacEoin generally praised the work in Bah studies of Bah historian Peter Smith and non-Bah sociologist Margit Warburg. Dale's Declarations. ", "The worst enemies of the Cause are in the Cause and mention the Name of God. Yet Baha'is in Iran, who are the largest non-Muslim religious community, continue to face persecution. 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. Realizing that I had to remove myself from that community outright as a matter of honor, I wrote the following letter: To the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahais of the United States, 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!". Will and Testament of 'Abdul-Baha; Shoghi Effendi. If, however, we look at people from the standpoint of their faults, then being a friend to them is a formidable task. https://bahai.works/index.php?title=Lights_of_Guidance/Backbiting,_Criticism,_Faultfinding,_Gossip,_Lies,_Slander_Etc.&oldid=121304. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. [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. Therefore, Baha'u'llahs teachings specifically advocate for racial unity, gender equality, universal education, and harmony of science and religion. If we allow our attention and energy to be taken up in efforts to keep others right and remedy their faults, we are wasting precious time. The Baha'i Faith explained that away by claiming that while Jesus was indeed a Messenger (or Manifestation) of God, His faith had become corrupted over time and thus most Christians were not truly following him, but the doctrines of men. Only the last category could fall into the category of reliable sources (although not independent or disinterested sources ). (4) The Miller analysis of the Baha'i Faith. Im glad to know that you have found a better life after moving on, as have I. The Bb was arrested and, after several years of incarceration, was executed in 1850. Perhaps youll be inspired to organize a similar discussion where you live. 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. 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. I do not desire for you financial distinction. Backbiting, Criticism, Faultfinding, Gossip, Lies, Slander Etc. I declared back in 2008 when I was a naive open eyed idealist about the principles without knowing about all the contradictions and stuff. I encourage you to look him up and see if it resonates with you. Mirza Ahmad Sohrab; Lady Ruth White. I sometimes hear, from those without much knowledge of the Bahai Faith, that it is syncretic. 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. My family, like many Wilmette residents, witnessed its decades-long construction. Baha'is have also been discriminated against in Yemen and in Egypt. Thank you so much! The friends must overlook their shortcomings and faults and speak only of their virtues and not their defects. Baha'u'llah encouraged Baha'is to cooperate with their governments and engage with the followers of all religions in a spirit of fellowship. Bah World News Service Bah' International Community, has confiscated properties from Baha'i families. The religion's governing institution is the elected Universal House of Justice, whose membership is male-only. [21], In the Kitb-i-Aqdas, Bahu'llh prescribed the death penalty both for intentional arson and murder. I stayed silent about my defection from the Bahai Faith untilOctober 19, 2007, when I posted my first blog entry attacking it. 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. The writings and spoken words of the Bb, Bah Allh, and Abd al-Bah form the sacred literature of the Bah Faith. I understand that I can withdraw my consent at any time. 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. The principal Bah tenets are the essential unity of all religions and the unity of humanity. For many, the Baha'i faith is one of the most universal religions. We need not fear the enemies on the outside for such can be easily dealt with. 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. 2 - Belief in the transmigration of souls, and that reward and punishment happen to the soul only. It has an office on the environment involved in sustainable development. Conservatives among Unitarian Universalists Still Feel Like Victims. That Baha'u'llah was the Manifestation of God for this day and be obedient to the covenant. 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. Origin of the Baha'i Religion. The Bible provides ALL the answers, in my truly humble (!) 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.". 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. The letters or contact of why you are withdrawing are also another reason why not to do so. As Abdul-Baha, the son and successor of Bahaullah, explained: The original purpose of temples and houses of worship is simply that of unity places of meeting where various peoples, different races and souls of every capacity may come together in order that love and agreement should be manifest between them that all religions, races and sects may come together within its universal shelter. 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 . Today, Baha'u'llahs shrine, now in Israel, is an important pilgrimage site. I have been studying AJ Millers teachings for 17 months now. IV. 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. Do this whenever you are tried through the words or deeds of others. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. In this two-part article we will briefly examine: (1) The Baha'i approach to other religions. One of the first Bah institutions in the U.S. was established in Chicago and . But. Abd al-Bah actively administered the movements affairs and spread the faith to North America, Europe, and other continents. 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.". Indeed Baha'u'llah claimed to be the manifestation of God that the Bab had foretold and gained a large following. There is, of course the right of appeal from the Local to the National Assembly, and from that to Shoghi Effendi,* but the matter ought to be dealt with, in the first instance, by the Local Spiritual Assembly. Baha'is, for example, embrace interracial marriage and education for girls. I decided that if she wanted to marry me, she would have to leave that church, because I would never join it and she still wanted us to worship together on Sundays. His son and successor, Abdu'l-Baha, traveled to Europe and the United States to spread the faith. Such passages as the following extract from one of the letters written on behalf of the beloved Guardian by his secretary will also be helpful: " 'Each of us is responsible for one life only, and that is our own. He was released in 1853 and exiled to Baghdad, where his leadership revived the Bb community. The majority of Baha'is, however, live in the global south. The last claim is partially rooted in the presence of the Bah World Centre in northern Israel. Many things are preserved in records as matters of opinion; no one has given a verdict on this matter! Cults have charismatic leaders, and Bahais have no clergy or leaders at all. The Bah Faith is a relatively new religion teaching the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people.. Select search scope, currently: articles+ all catalog, articles, website, & more in one search; catalog books, media & more in the Stanford Libraries' collections; articles+ journal articles & other e-resources The stupidity of that idea should be obvious. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Bahs believe in the oneness of humanity and devote themselves to the abolition of racial, class, and religious prejudices. Quoted in, Last edited on 12 February 2023, at 13:17, Political accusations against the Baha'i Faith, "The Economist explains: The Bahai faith", "Possible Criticisms of the Baha'i Faith from a Feminist Perspective", "The Baha'i Faith in America as Panopticon, 1963-1997", "Fundamentalism in the Contemporary U.S. Baha'i Community", "Bah' Youth and Sexuality A Personal/Professional View", "Missionary as Historian: William Miller and the Bah' Faith", "Marginality and Apostasy in the Baha'i Community", "An Introduction to Bah' Law: Doctrinal Foundations, Principles and Structures", "A Short Introduction to the Bah' Faith", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_the_Bah_Faith&oldid=1138934100, This page was last edited on 12 February 2023, at 13:17. I, too, am considering resigning my membership. Your details have now been sent. 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. Most criticism has come from Iranian enemies with a reputation for deception, Christian groups intending to smear the religion, and disaffected former Baha'is who largely criticize individuals in the administration. My future wife was a member of First Baptist Church of Dallas, a stronghold of fundamentalism. I am closer to God than I have ever been, and less confused than I have ever been. Baha'u'llahs father was a minister in Irans government, which supported Shi'i Islam as the state religion. Soon after this, I began my relationship with Cheri, the woman that would later become my wife. Some discover a hornets nest in the garden and fearing being STUNG TO DEATH, run out of the garden in horror. 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. Maybe there is a wisdom in asking for parental consent after all, reading how this marriage of two adults ended up. 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. Membership in the Bah community is open to all who profess faith in Bah Allh and accept his teachings. Before Bah Allh died in 1892, he appointed his eldest son, Abd al-Bah (18441921), to be the leader of the Bahi community and the authorized interpreter of his teachings. Vangelis was a Living Legend.and he Remains a Legend Forever! The problem is that everything you hear in the news is about the superficiality, immorality, and degradation of Hollywood. Its 2014 now. He teaches that God is a loving Parent who never uses threats or fear or guilt or shame in relating to Her/His children. The ineligibility of women has caused discontent among small but vocal groups of western Bah intellectuals,[5][1] and criticism from others. Zackery M. Heern does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. 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. The Bah Faith and its predecessor, the Bb religion, originated in the nineteenth-century Persian Empire, arousing considerable opposition, initially on purely theological and doctrinal grounds; it was perceived by many Iranians as threat to established power and authority in Persia.. 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. 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. There are more than 100,000 local Baha'i communities in places as diverse as Chile, Cambodia and the United States. We were married the following year. "Thou hast written regarding aims. 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. Since the Bahai Faith is a relatively young religion founded by Bahaullah in the middle of the 19th century not everyone knows a great deal about it, and some people have incorrect information. (3) Anachronistic Baha'i scriptures.