Religion: Kashmir Shaivism (Trika) I've always found some issues with the main idea of the Baha'i faith, for a few different reasons. [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. The great bulk of Bah teachings is concerned with social ethics. A few weeks later, the NSA replied that they had accepted my resignation and expressed hope that I would one day decide to return. [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. Baha'is have also been discriminated against in Yemen and in Egypt. A third cried out: 'What a stench! 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. The writings and spoken words of the Bb, Bah Allh, and Abd al-Bah form the sacred literature of the Bah Faith. The Christian Grace Network on YouTube November 23, 2022. Normally, it is possible to describe the situation surrounding a problem and seek help and advice in resolving it, without necessarily mentioning names. Oral reports, although they exist, are considered too unreliable to be fully authoritative and are to . [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. RELATED: What Happens When You Become a Bahai? One must expose the praiseworthy qualities of the souls and not their evil attributes. Cults have charismatic leaders, and Bahais have no clergy or leaders at all. Historical context. It is free information and it is offered without any coercion on your free will about what to do with it. At the same time, the Baha'i faith has spread around the globe. The members of the Hands of the Cause of God were appointed by Bah Allh and Shoghi Effendi. They also. You know nothing about why my marriage failed and it had nothing to do with lack of parental consent. I declared back in 2008 when I was a naive open eyed idealist about the principles without knowing about all the contradictions and stuff. Pingback: Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith? Your email address will not be published. These are worded in a way to seem like crazy conspiracies. Deborah Clark Vance earned a Ph.D. from Howard University in Intercultural Communication and served as Assoc Prof. and Chair of the Dept of Comm & Cinema at McDaniel College. One of the first Bah institutions in the U.S. was established in Chicago and . But this distinction must not depend upon wealththat they should become more affluent than other people. 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. The Baha'i Faith is a scriptural religion; the current written texts are considered fully authoritative. The Quran puts forth the same idea, because along with Muhammad it includes the Old Testament prophets and also Christ. Therefore, Baha'u'llahs teachings specifically advocate for racial unity, gender equality, universal education, and harmony of science and religion. A Question About Translating the Baha'i Writings December 11, 2022. Its 2014 now. [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. "You are quite correct in your understanding of the importance of avoiding backbiting; such conduct strikes at the very unity of the Bah community. [1] The Bah Faith was first mentioned in the United States in 1893 at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. What are my imperfections?and try to remove them. It has an office on the environment involved in sustainable development. 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, We need not fear the enemies on the outside for such can be easily dealt with. 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.. 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!". 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. Finally, you must become distinguished for heavenly illumination and acquiring the bestowals of God. After Islamic fundamentalists came to power in Iran in 1979, the 300,000 Bahs there were persecuted by the government. Large-scale persecutions of his adherents, the Bbs, followed. 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. People who leave the religion, transgress community standards, or attack it externally are not considered Covenant-breakers. 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. 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. 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 "[25] Excommunication among Bahs is rare and reserved for those actively promoting schism. RELATED: What is the Best Way to Worship? Im glad to know that you have found a better life after moving on, as have I. About 5 million people worldwide adhere to the Baha'i faith, according to Patheos.com, but other sources say there are as many as 7 million around the world.. A comparative analysis of the Baha'i and Christian views of heaven and hell. Goodbye. Only the last category could fall into the category of reliable sources (although not independent or disinterested sources ). 2 - Belief in the transmigration of souls, and that reward and punishment happen to the soul only. 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. 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. But even if these are not taken from the records it still does not make them either true or false. 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.". Bah's recognize the coming of Bah'u'llh as the latest expression of God's guidance . This unique conception of religion which Abdul-Baha explained by saying These holy Manifestations of God are the Educators and Trainers of the world of existence, the Teachers of the world of humanity is not an artificial attempt to bring religions together, but instead a completely new way to see all Faiths as one organic whole rather than a collection of competing belief systems. Yes, the Road to Serfdom is Indeed Paved by Conservatives, you Libertarian Idiot! 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. SOLanding, a Possible Cryptocurrency Scam Site? Extract from Dale Husbands blog. 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. Heaven and Hell and the Baha'i Faith. Knowing you seem similar to my mindset from a brief review of your site, I might be more inclined to try the UU route. Parental consent should only be an issue if the married partners are still minors. ", "As regards backbiting, i.e., discussing the faults of others in their absence, the teachings are very emphatic. 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. Jehovah's Witnesses and Baha'is were among the most . Helen Hornby, "Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a sinner. Corrections? I understand that I can withdraw my consent at any time. Abstract This article will explore some of the issues involved in the sociological analysis of the status of the Bah' Faith. [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. The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. Im lazy. Someone from the Bahai community will contact you shortly. 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. Your details have now been sent. The Bah' Faith is a world religion based on the teachings of Bah'u'llh. A "Unitarian Baha'i" comes across as an idiot, again! I understand that I can withdraw my consent at any time. Assistant Professor of History and Middle East Studies, Idaho State University. [23], The Bah teachings emphasize the need for unity, and have an official line of succession of leadership to prevent schism. The government released Baha'u'llah in 1853, and exiled him to Baghdad, then part of the Ottoman Empire. You must become distinguished for loving humanity; for unity and accord; for love and justice. 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. An unethical teaching from the Caleb and Sophia Series December 24, 2022. [4][5] These issues may be only marginal to the numerically dominant Bah community outside of Europe and North America. 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 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. [19] Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. The Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee, PhD Scholarship - Uncle Isaac Brown Indigenous Scholarship. "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. [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". 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. Cults separate, and the Bahai Faith unites. Because the Bahai Faith is based in the grassroots, any social action is the result of consultative decisions made in any given locality and depends on local capacities. The principal Bah tenets are the essential unity of all religions and the unity of humanity. Your opinion is based on no facts whatsoever and therefore is not worth considering. 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. 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. Consider this your only warning!). In 1850, the Bab was charged by Shi'i religious officials with heresy and was put to death by firing squad. Importantly, the Bahai Faith first emerged in a Muslim culture in what is now Iran, so Islam could be said to be its parent Faith in the same way that Judaism was the parent Faith of Christianity. The condemnation of backbiting could hardly be couched in stronger language than in these passages, and it is obviously one of the foremost obligations for Bahs to set their faces against this practice. For most Muslims, the prophet Muhammad was the last and final prophet. ", "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. Bah Allhs peculiar function was to overcome the disunity of religions and establish a universal faith. The religion began with considerable controversy. 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. 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. His son and successor, Abdu'l-Baha, traveled to Europe and the United States to spread the faith. [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. The continental counselors are appointed by the Universal House of Justice. That Baha'u'llah was the Manifestation of God for this day and be obedient to the covenant. 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. ". 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. 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. ThenI cut completely all personal ties to the Bahais in the Fort Worth area. When this is done, one can be a friend to the whole human race. 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. Bahais have no clergy. 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. [24] The religion has seen a few attempts at splintering, but they have remained extremely small and declined over time. For you I desire spiritual distinction; that is, you must become eminent and distinguished in morals. (Dale Husband: How old are you? In 1852, two years after the execution of the Bb, a fringe element in the . Membership in the Bah community is open to all who profess faith in Bah Allh and accept his teachings. Marrying that mentally immature woman was perhaps the biggest mistake of my life, and joining the Bahai Faith was the second biggest. The faith has no priesthood and does not observe ritual forms in its worship. Regretfully, Dale Husband I composed that letter on my computer and mailed it in January of 2005. 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. Goodbye. 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. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Actually, when I was Bahai I was dating a nominal Christian, and I had suggested the UU church as a possible place that we could go for worship together if we got married. I desire this distinction for you. The letters or contact of why you are withdrawing are also another reason why not to do so. How can they best reach you? Goodbye. Yet Baha'is in Iran, who are the largest non-Muslim religious community, continue to face persecution. Shouldst thou transgress this command, accursed wouldst thou be, and to this I bear witness. The majority of Baha'is, however, live in the global south. This must be the point of distinction among you. Being involved in interfaith work, Im constantly asked Whos your local spiritual leader, or priest, or pastor? The fact is, there isnt one. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. He was released in 1853 and exiled to Baghdad, where his leadership revived the Bb community. 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. Mrz Al Moammad first proclaimed his beliefs in 1844 and assumed the title of the Bb. When not convened as a body, each member has no autonomous authority. More recently I found that the Dalai Lama said something similar in just two paragraphs of his 10-chapter book, he says hes not an advocate of religious syncretism such as you find in Bahaism.. 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. 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. They and other UUs are destined to do the work of peace, unity, and freedom that Bahais cannot and will never do! (6) Some Baha'i errors. Whenever you recognize the fault of another, think of yourself! If some means were devised so that the doors of backbiting were shut eternally and each one of the believers unsealed his lips in praise of others, then the teachings of His Holiness Bahullh would spread, the hearts be illumined, the spirits glorified, and the human world would attain to everlasting felicity.' 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