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 last claim is partially rooted in the presence of the Bah World Centre in northern Israel. 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. Shouldst thou transgress this command ACCURSED ART THOU.' 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. Jehovah's Witnesses and Baha'is were among the most . They and other UUs are destined to do the work of peace, unity, and freedom that Bahais cannot and will never do! The first time I heard the word syncretic connected with the Bahai Faith was from a college professor who knew I was Bahai but wanted to instruct me about this particular weakness he perceived. Its just spiritual, not practical, was one incorrect comment Ive heard about the Bahai Faith not once, but many times. Though new, these beliefs originated in Twelver Shii Islam, which asserts a belief in the forthcoming return of the 12th imam (successor of Muhammad), who will renew religion and guide the faithful. Parental consent should only be an issue if the married partners are still minors. (Quoted in Star of West, Vol. Assistant Professor of History and Middle East Studies, Idaho State University. [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. More than one person has said Bahais arent involved in social action. Nothing could be further from the truth. Instead, I asked her to join with me in First Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church, which I had belonged to before. He was released in 1853 and exiled to Baghdad, where his leadership revived the Bb community. There also exist in the Bah Faith appointive institutions, such as the Hands of the Cause of God and the continental counselors. Author Lil Abdo says that the Bah understanding of sexual equality is different from that of secular feminists. 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. Someone from the Bahai community will contact you shortly. In this two-part article we will briefly examine: (1) The Baha'i approach to other religions. Therefore, Baha'u'llahs teachings specifically advocate for racial unity, gender equality, universal education, and harmony of science and religion. Ive never officially withdrawn or resigned, but stopped being a Bahai either one or two years after declaration. [21], In the Kitb-i-Aqdas, Bahu'llh prescribed the death penalty both for intentional arson and murder. "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'.". 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. 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 When not convened as a body, each member has no autonomous authority. The Bah' Faith is a world religion based on the teachings of Bah'u'llh. 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. [17], From 1980 onward, several well-educated Bahs left the religion and subsequently criticized it. (6) Some Baha'i errors. Cults separate themselves from society, and Bahais take part in society. 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. The Quran puts forth the same idea, because along with Muhammad it includes the Old Testament prophets and also Christ. December 8-10, 1995 (see list of papers from #8) The claim of the Baha'i Faith to uphold the equality of men and women as a principle attracts attention from others who would also claim to be advancing the cause of sex equality, albeit from different perspectives. 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. In Acre in northern Israel, a former prison city of the Ottoman Empire, the barracks where Bahullh was imprisoned starting in 1868. About a dozen of these have been translated into English and other languages. The governance of the Bah community begins on the local level with the election of a local spiritual assembly. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. 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. The principal Bah tenets are the essential unity of all religions and the unity of humanity. 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. Backbiting, Criticism, Faultfinding, Gossip, Lies, Slander Etc. 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. I, too, am considering resigning my membership. ", "It is obvious that if we listen to those who complain to us about the faults of others we are guilty of complicity in their backbiting. And actually the Bahais are far more interested in growing their numbers than spending time and money on charitable work. You know nothing about why my marriage failed and it had nothing to do with lack of parental consent. The principal Bah tenets are the essential unity of all religions and the unity of humanity. Your email address will not be published. The global Baha'i community is not just a group of well-meaning people. Baha'is believe that God has . 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. Ratings: +1,422. Updates? 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. Many things are preserved in records as matters of opinion; no one has given a verdict on this matter! Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. "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. I encourage you to look him up and see if it resonates with you. If some means were devised so that the doors of backbiting could be shut eternally and each one of the believers of God unsealed his tongue in the praise of the other, then the teachings of His Holiness Baha'o'llah (Bahullh) would be spread, the hearts illuminated, the spirits glorified and the human world would attain to everlasting felicity. 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. For many, the Baha'i faith is one of the most universal religions. The Baha'i Faith is not just a collection of philosophical principles or an attempt to combine or conflate religions. "You ask in your letter for guidance on the implications of the prohibition on backbiting and more specifically whether, in moments of anger or depression, the believer is permitted to turn to his friends to unburden his soul and discuss his problem in human relations. I stayed silent about my defection from the Bahai Faith untilOctober 19, 2007, when I posted my first blog entry attacking it. BAHA'IS AND THE NATURE OF GOD How cadaverous looking!' Bah Allh was subsequently confined by the Ottomans in Adrianople (now Edirne, Turkey) and then in Acre in Palestine (now Akko, Israel). She agreed! 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. (Bnai Brith means children of the covenant.). They also. 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). "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. In the love of God you must become distinguished from all else. 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 . Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The Baha'i Faith is a scriptural religion; the current written texts are considered fully authoritative. The Bah community is governed according to general principles proclaimed by Bah Allh and through institutions created by him that were elaborated and expanded on by Abd al-Bah. Summed up in Baha'u'llahs words: The Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.. I have been studying AJ Millers teachings for 17 months now. gss t ws mr lk prf tht yr prblms l lss n pltcs nd rlgn nd mre n mntal hlth sss? "[25] Excommunication among Bahs is rare and reserved for those actively promoting schism. In the summer and fall of 2004, I gradually came to the conviction that the Bahai Faith was no longer worthy of my allegiance. Cults have charismatic leaders, and Bahais have no clergy or leaders at all. 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 The electoral process excludes parties or factions, nominations, and campaigning for office. He was asked 'How shall I overcome seeing the faults of othersrecognizing the wrong in others? I would later realize how useful those books could have been as weapons against my former religion, but I also was able to find enough online resources for my purposes. [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". 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. Bahais believe in the agreement of science and religion; and accept that religion must have practical benefit for humanity in fact, Abdul-Baha said, otherwise it would be preferable to have no religion. I do not desire for you financial distinction. [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. 2 - Belief in the transmigration of souls, and that reward and punishment happen to the soul only. 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. Man must be a lover of the light, no matter from what dayspring it may appear. You may know of some other misconceptions, and I learned on our interfaith panel that they can be a wonderful topic for public discussion. 10, on page 138, there is a record of a reply given by Abdul-Bah in a private interview in Paris in 1913. Large-scale persecutions of his adherents, the Bbs, followed. 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. Bahu'llh's claim of divine revelation is in direct conflict with this common interpretation of Islam. Thank you so much! "As to backbiting, the House of Justice points out that learning not to concern oneself with the faults of others seems to be one of the most difficult lessons for people to master, and that failing in this is a fertile cause of disputes among Bahs as it is among men and women in general. by Jeremy Butler | Mar 25, 2010 | Baha'i, World Religions. The Bahs must be distinguished from others of humanity. It is not an ordinary distinction I desire: not scientific, commercial, industrial distinction. 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. [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. For most Muslims, the prophet Muhammad was the last and final prophet. Message and data rates may apply. 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. The problem is that everything you hear in the news is about the superficiality, immorality, and degradation of Hollywood. "Thou hast written regarding aims. p. 192) Bahullh says in the Hidden Words: 'Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art a sinner. Lights of Guidance/Backbiting, Criticism, Faultfinding, Gossip, Lies, Slander Etc. 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. Also, the lack of actual places of worship was another big shock. The Baha'i Faith is a dynamic world religion with several million adherents from a variety of different religious and cultural backgrounds. Baha'is were nonetheless subjected to persecution, as some Muslim clerics perceived their faith to be a heresy. A Statement About Mental Disorders and Domestic Abuse. Marrying that mentally immature woman was perhaps the biggest mistake of my life, and joining the Bahai Faith was the second biggest. [25] Jason Boyett wrote in 12 Major World Religions that, "The [Bah] condemnation of covenant-breakers is immediate, absolute, andin a religion promoting love and acceptanceprofoundly disconcerting. There is no way Im going to use a strangers personal home as a house of worship. 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. But this distinction must not depend upon wealththat they should become more affluent than other people. While Bah teachings assert that men and women are spiritually equal, some areas of differentiation remain. Omissions? | 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. The external article completely drops any pretenses of neutrality, blaming certain events (like the attempted assassination of Iranian officials) as done by . (2) The absence of personal requirements (Baha'i demands) for the Manifestations. Targeting the faith's followers is a longstanding feature of the Islamic Republic but has been escalating of late. The Baha'i Faith, the world's newest independent global belief system, teaches the oneness of God, the unity of humanity , and the essential harmony of religion. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, so to speak. (4) The Miller analysis of the Baha'i Faith. Thus you will grow, become more perfect. Unfortunately, not only average people, but average Bahs, are very immature; gossip, trouble-making, criticism, seem easier than the putting into practice of love, constructive words and cooperation. 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. 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. That Baha'u'llah was the Manifestation of God for this day and be obedient to the covenant. [27] Cole went on to criticize the Bah Faith in three articles written from 19982002,[28][29][30] describing a prominent Bah as "inquisitor" and "bigot", and describing Bah institutions as socially isolating, dictatorial, and controlling, with financial irregularities and sexual deviance. Here are the misconceptions I addressed: People often ask where Bahais worship, which perhaps indicates anassumption more than a misconception. Soon after, early American converts began embracing the new religion. For backbiting is divisive, it is the leading cause among the friends of a disposition to withdraw. Browne wrote that while he found them admirable, in his view they are inferior to the simplicity and beauty of the teachings of Christ. Consider this your only warning!). Vangelis was a Living Legend.and he Remains a Legend Forever! These are worded in a way to seem like crazy conspiracies. 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