"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. ", "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. After Islamic fundamentalists came to power in Iran in 1979, the 300,000 Bahs there were persecuted by the government. "Thou hast written regarding aims. 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. A primary theme of Baha'u'llahs teachings is achieving world peace through the establishment of unity, justice and equality. 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. Marrying that mentally immature woman was perhaps the biggest mistake of my life, and joining the Bahai Faith was the second biggest. This must be the point of distinction among you. The Universal House of Justice suggests that you call to mind the admonitions found in our Writings on the need to overlook the shortcomings of others, to forgive and conceal their misdeeds, not to expose their bad qualities, but to search for and affirm their praiseworthy ones, and endeavour to be always forbearing, patient, and merciful. It has an office on the environment involved in sustainable development. More than one person has said Bahais arent involved in social action. Nothing could be further from the truth. 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 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.. Get in touch with the Bahais in your community. 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. [7][8], The Bah Faith has maintained its unity and avoided serious division, although several attempts have been made to create sects. 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. 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. Pingback: Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants. ", "One must see in every human being only that which is worthy of praise. Extract from Dale Husbands blog. 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. 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). 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. Membership in the Bah community is open to all who profess faith in Bah Allh and accept his teachings. In fact, the first school for girls in Iran was established by the Baha'is. 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? [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. [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. Its six years since I declared and four or five since I became an ex Bahai. ", "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. [35] By contrast, MacEoin generally praised the work in Bah studies of Bah historian Peter Smith and non-Bah sociologist Margit Warburg. Bahs believe in the oneness of humanity and devote themselves to the abolition of racial, class, and religious prejudices. Thanks for the post. The Baha'is are among the most persecuted religious minorities in the world. The Quran puts forth the same idea, because along with Muhammad it includes the Old Testament prophets and also Christ. 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 worst enemies of the Cause are in the Cause and mention the Name of God. Finally, you must become distinguished for heavenly illumination and acquiring the bestowals of God. These are worded in a way to seem like crazy conspiracies. It is not an ordinary distinction I desire: not scientific, commercial, industrial distinction. 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. 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. "[13], William McElwee Miller (18921993) was a Presbyterian missionary in Iran who published a polemic titled The Baha'i Faith (1974), in which he attacked the religion by promoting the views of individuals opposing Bah leadership. 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. The religion began with considerable controversy. "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. Thornton Chase was the most prominent among the first American Baha'is and made important contributions to early activities. The other exclaimed: 'How it is deformed!' [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. [27] Central to Cole's complaints is the Bah review process, which requires Bah authors to gain approval before publishing on the religion. Targeting the faith's followers is a longstanding feature of the Islamic Republic but has been escalating of late. The principal Bah tenets are the essential unity of all religions and the unity of humanity. There are no initiation ceremonies, no sacraments, and no clergy. 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. An overwhelming majority of Bbs acknowledged his claim and thenceforth became known as Bahs. 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. Over 20,000 unique works by Baha'u'llah have been identified at the Baha'i World Centre, comprising just under seven million words. But its root is lack of faith in the system of Bahullh, i.e., the Administrative Orderand lack of obedience to Himfor He has forbidden it! For the first few months of our marriage, Cheri and I shared a home with my parents, until we had enough money to move out on our own. [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. Abd al-Bah actively administered the movements affairs and spread the faith to North America, Europe, and other continents. Corrections? [27] Soon after his resignation, Cole created an email list and website called H-Bahai, which became a repository of both primary source material and critical analysis on the religion. A few weeks later, the NSA replied that they had accepted my resignation and expressed hope that I would one day decide to return. Another Haifan Bahai Gets Busted on Reddit, A Challenge Leads to a Peaceful Resolution, The Next UUA Presidential Election Seems to be in Trouble, An unethical teaching from the Caleb and Sophia Series, A Question About Translating the Bahai Writings. 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. The friends must overlook their shortcomings and faults and speak only of their virtues and not their defects. The last claim is partially rooted in the presence of the Bah World Centre in northern Israel. Pawel Szul heterodoxy religion of Bayan, Unitarian Baha'i Discussion Forum Yahoo. Soon after, early American converts began embracing the new religion. That relationship ended long ago and now I am Orthodox, but this post kind of brought up some old memories. 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!". Man must be a lover of the light, no matter from what dayspring it may appear. 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. Handwriting Analysis of the Will of Abdu'l Baha by Dr. Mitchell; Hermann . The stupidity of that idea should be obvious. 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. Baha'is believe that God has . I encourage you to look him up and see if it resonates with you. Im lazy. A Statement About Mental Disorders and Domestic Abuse. 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. Will and Testament of 'Abdul-Baha; Shoghi Effendi. 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. gss t ws mr lk prf tht yr prblms l lss n pltcs nd rlgn nd mre n mntal hlth sss? In such cases, of course, the name of the person or persons involved will have to be mentioned. You will overcome self, you will not even have time to think of the faults of others'. If he looks to this side and that to see how Tom and Harry are getting on and to criticise their ploughing, then his own furrow will assuredly become crooked. 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. [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. But ere long this merciful door will be closed and such enemies will be attacked with a madness. Parental consent should only be an issue if the married partners are still minors. Baha'is, for example, embrace interracial marriage and education for girls. Summed up in Baha'u'llahs words: The Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.. 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. The Baha'i Faith is a scriptural religion; the current written texts are considered fully authoritative. 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. ", "As regards backbiting, i.e., discussing the faults of others in their absence, the teachings are very emphatic. A "Unitarian Baha'i" comes across as an idiot, again! 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. [35], Christian Research Journal, Winter/Spring, 1989, p. 2. 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. SOLanding, a Possible Cryptocurrency Scam Site? IV. He remained there until his passing in 1892. 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. Its just spiritual, not practical, was one incorrect comment Ive heard about the Bahai Faith not once, but many times. Selfless Service to Humanity, In fact, Bahaullah mandated that his followers involve themselves in social action when he said, Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.. 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. Also, the lack of actual places of worship was another big shock. 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. Bahu'llh's claim of divine revelation is in direct conflict with this common interpretation of Islam. "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. Baha'is have also been discriminated against in Yemen and in Egypt. 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. I am totally convinced that the Baha'i 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. 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.". He was asked 'How shall I overcome seeing the faults of othersrecognizing the wrong in others? 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