Normally, it is possible to describe the situation surrounding a problem and seek help and advice in resolving it, without necessarily mentioning names. Bah's recognize the coming of Bah'u'llh as the latest expression of God's guidance . Your email address will not be published. [3][9], Christian author and missiologist Ed Stetzer rejects the Bah Faith as a syncretic combination of faiths,[10] while Christian author John Ankerberg points to discrepancies between faiths to contradict the idea of unity of religion.[8]. He concluded from this that the Bah' World Faith must be God's religion. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. 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.". He was kept in an underground prison in Tehran, which Baha'u'llah describes in his writings as filthy, dark and foul beyond comparison.. Pingback: Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith? Pingback: Why I Rejected the Bahai Faith, 4th Edition | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants, Your email address will not be published. There also exist in the Bah Faith appointive institutions, such as the Hands of the Cause of God and the continental counselors. 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. ", "The worst enemies of the Cause are in the Cause and mention the Name of God. 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.. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. 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. The Christian Grace Network on YouTube November 23, 2022. Assistant Professor of History and Middle East Studies, Idaho State University. 10, on page 138, there is a record of a reply given by Abdul-Bah in a private interview in Paris in 1913. Baha'u'llah's writings form the foundation of the Baha'i faith. 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. The followers of such splinter groups are shunned and not considered Bahs by the majority. Beliefs, ideas and rituals of the Baha'is: 1 - Belief that Allaah is incarnated in some of His creation, and that Allaah was incarnated in al-Baab and al-Baha'. ", "I desire distinction for you. 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. Historical context. "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. In any case, good luck to you and God Bless. 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. The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. [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. Membership in the Bah community is open to all who profess faith in Bah Allh and accept his teachings. The letters or contact of why you are withdrawing are also another reason why not to do so. The Bahs must be distinguished from others of humanity. (6) Some Baha'i errors. 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. [24] The religion has seen a few attempts at splintering, but they have remained extremely small and declined over time. Throughout his life, Bah'u'llah penned over 100 volumes in Arabic and Persian. In such cases, of course, the name of the person or persons involved will have to be mentioned. 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. Being involved in interfaith work, Im constantly asked Whos your local spiritual leader, or priest, or pastor? The fact is, there isnt one. 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. "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. Syncretic means that a religion contains nothing original, but instead is a collection of teachings culled from other religions in an attempt to fuse them. Every Bah, however, is under the spiritual obligation to pray daily; to abstain totally from narcotics, alcohol, or any other substances that affect the mind; to practice monogamy; to obtain the consent of parents to marriage; and to attend the Nineteen Day Feast on the first day of each month of the Bah calendar. 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. Bah Allhs peculiar function was to overcome the disunity of religions and establish a universal faith. The religion began with considerable controversy. 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 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. Im lazy. The belief in fulfilled prophecies is presented by Bah' authors to demonstrate the validity of Bah'u'llh 's claim to divinity. A Statement About Mental Disorders and Domestic Abuse. p. 192) Bahullh says in the Hidden Words: 'Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art a sinner. (2) The absence of personal requirements (Baha'i demands) for the Manifestations. 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. ", " Each of us is responsible for one life only, and that is our own. Baha'is have also been discriminated against in Yemen and in Egypt. What are my imperfections?and try to remove them. Soon after, early American converts began embracing the new religion. The stupidity of that idea should be obvious. The Bah Faith was first mentioned in the United States in 1893 at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. Its 2014 now. [27][31], Denis MacEoin, a scholar who had previously been a Bah, criticized what he saw as a threat to the impartiality of the academic field of Bb and Bah studies due to the dominance of practising Bahs in the field. (5) Moral concerns. I hope that you may become confirmed therein, because the worst human quality and the most great sin is backbiting; more especially when it emanates from the tongues of the believers of God. Origin of the Baha'i Religion. The Baha'i Faith is not just a collection of philosophical principles or an attempt to combine or conflate religions. This is the conduct and the manner of the real Bahais (Bahs). That relationship ended long ago and now I am Orthodox, but this post kind of brought up some old memories. The Bah Faith is a relatively new religion teaching the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people. 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. My future wife was a member of First Baptist Church of Dallas, a stronghold of fundamentalism. 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. They also. Ironic, considering that many Bahais have non-Bahai parents who may even be racist, and thus object to their children marrying members of a different race. Baha'is were nonetheless subjected to persecution, as some Muslim clerics perceived their faith to be a heresy. Yes, intermittent fasting has become pretty trendy, for this physical fast is a symbol of the spir, At the beginning of the 20th century, what did a P, One must see in every human being only that which, Every tender heart wonders What can I do to hel, Act in such a way that your heart may be free from, While sorrow and suffering seem to be inescapable, What is the Best Way to Worship? 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? 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 Quite controversially, the Bab claimed that his teachings were a revelation from God and predicted that a new prophetic figure, or manifestation of God, would soon appear. Like all Bahai Houses of Worship, it welcomes everyone, and its nine entrances symbolize the many legitimate paths to the Creator. "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. opinion. The governance of the Bah community begins on the local level with the election of a local spiritual assembly. Would it please the Blessed Beauty, contribute to the lasting honour of the friends, promote the holy Faith, support the Covenant, or be of any possible benefit to any soul? Throughout his life, Bah'u'llah penned over 100 . Instead, the Bahai Faith operates administratively with a system of local, national and international nine-member governing bodies, all democratically elected without nominations or campaigns. 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. 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. 9 Politics: Here a number of criticisms about the Bahai faith aligning itself with different historical superpowers are listed. Its interesting how much confusion this lack of a fixed building in many Bahai communities can create for members of other Faiths who feel connected to their places of worship. 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. Man must be a lover of the light, no matter from what dayspring it may appear. One of them said: 'How putrid has this animal become!' If, however, we look at people from the standpoint of their faults, then being a friend to them is a formidable task. Subsequent public protests and mob violence claimed the lives of thousands of his followers. Once they are ADULTS, they should be treated like adults, period. 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. A Unitarian Bahai comes across as an idiot, again! 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. 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. ". Ive never officially withdrawn or resigned, but stopped being a Bahai either one or two years after declaration. Pingback: Why peace activists (and critics of religion) sometimes fail Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants. My family, like many Wilmette residents, witnessed its decades-long construction. Do it yourself clergy aka the horrible administrative order, no politics allowed aka also another side effect of the administrative order as a model for the world at large, no alcohol drugs gambling gossip sex outside of heterosexual monogamy aka loads and loads of rules, etc are all drawbacks of being a Bahai. Cults separate, and the Bahai Faith unites. Criticism of the Baha'i Faith I can only speak for myself, but I consider direct and detailed criticism of the Baha'i Faith to be an essential part of the recovery process involved in leaving it. 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. [27] Central to Cole's complaints is the Bah review process, which requires Bah authors to gain approval before publishing on the religion. Abdo presented the following list of criticisms of the Bah Faith from a feminist perspective at an annual gathering for Bah studies in 1995: the ineligibility of women to serve on the Universal House of Justice--this is of particular interest to supporters of women priests within the Christian tradition; the intestacy laws in the Kitab-i-Aqdas; the dowry laws with particular reference to the virginity refund clause; the exemption of menstruating women from obligatory prayers and the implication of menstrual taboo; the use of androcentric language and male pronouns in texts; the emphasis on traditional morality and family values[18]. Church of Dallas, a stronghold of fundamentalism and God Bless few attempts splintering! In 1913 that the Bah Faith appointive institutions, such as the Hands of the real Bahais Bahs... 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