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. 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. Man must be a lover of the light, no matter from what dayspring it may appear. You know nothing about why my marriage failed and it had nothing to do with lack of parental consent. Once they are ADULTS, they should be treated like adults, period. [24] The religion has seen a few attempts at splintering, but they have remained extremely small and declined over time. 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. We were married the following year. Subsequent public protests and mob violence claimed the lives of thousands of his followers. 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. Shoghi Effendi (Guardian of the Baha'i Faith) wrote about this. For you I desire spiritual distinction; that is, you must become eminent and distinguished in morals. read more. Religion: Kashmir Shaivism (Trika) I've always found some issues with the main idea of the Baha'i faith, for a few different reasons. In our group, the discourse enabled all participants to deal upfront with common misconceptions about their religions, and allowed panelists and audience members to be exposed to religions unfamiliar to them. Ottoman officials later moved Baha'u'llah to the prison city of Akka in Palestine. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. 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. On no subject are the Bah teachings more emphatic than on the necessity to abstain from fault-finding and backbiting, while being ever eager to discover and root out our own faults and overcome our own failings.' ", "One must see in every human being only that which is worthy of praise. Baha'is, for example, embrace interracial marriage and education for girls. In fact, the first school for girls in Iran was established by the Baha'is. [19] In Iran and other parts of the Middle East, Bahs continue to be criticized for breaking with Islam and accused of conspiring with western powers, resulting in intense persecution and the loss of civil rights. 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. [7][8], The Bah Faith has maintained its unity and avoided serious division, although several attempts have been made to create sects. I am closer to God than I have ever been, and less confused than I have ever been. 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. Yet Baha'is in Iran, who are the largest non-Muslim religious community, continue to face persecution. RELATED: What Happens When You Become a Bahai? Pingback: Why I Rejected the Bahai Faith, 4th Edition | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants, Your email address will not be published. Its 2014 now. Pawel Szul heterodoxy religion of Bayan, Unitarian Baha'i Discussion Forum Yahoo. 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. That looked like denial to me, so I dismissed it and threw away the letter. 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. 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. You will overcome self, you will not even have time to think of the faults of others'. 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. The followers of such sects are labeled Covenant-breakers, shunned, and viewed as enemies of the faith. In 1852, two years after the execution of the Bb, a fringe element in the . The problem is that everything you hear in the news is about the superficiality, immorality, and degradation of Hollywood. (Bnai Brith means children of the covenant.). 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. Targeting the faith's followers is a longstanding feature of the Islamic Republic but has been escalating of late. He teaches that God is a loving Parent who never uses threats or fear or guilt or shame in relating to Her/His children. My life and Cheris together are proof that it can work! Cults separate themselves from society, and Bahais take part in society. [22] Bah scholar Udo Schaefer stated that the legitimization of the death penalty in cases of murder and arson is usually met with disapproval and suspicion in Europe. Someone from the Bahai community will contact you shortly. The Babi movement called for revolutionary social changes and championed womens rights. I was recently invited to participate on an interfaith panel where we all responded to this question: What are the truths and misconceptions about your Faith? 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. The Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee, PhD Scholarship - Uncle Isaac Brown Indigenous Scholarship. I resigned myself on 07/07/07. "[25] Excommunication among Bahs is rare and reserved for those actively promoting schism. That Baha'u'llah was the Manifestation of God for this day and be obedient to the covenant. Only the last category could fall into the category of reliable sources (although not independent or disinterested sources ). ", "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. I have been studying AJ Millers teachings for 17 months now. | 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. After full consideration, the Spiritual Assembly should take such action as it deems advisable, and it is incumbent upon all members of the group to be loyal to whatever decision is arrived at by the Spiritual Assembly. [1] I declared back in 2008 when I was a naive open eyed idealist about the principles without knowing about all the contradictions and stuff. He was asked 'How shall I overcome seeing the faults of othersrecognizing the wrong in others? In such cases, of course, the name of the person or persons involved will have to be mentioned. Please select which sections you would like to print: Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The year begins on the first day of spring, March 21, which is one of several holy days in the Bah calendar. Baha'u'llahs writings form the foundation of the Baha'i faith. Extract from Dale Husbands blog. "On no subject are the Bah teachings more emphatic than on the necessity to abstain from fault-finding and backbiting while being ever eager to discover and root out our own faults and overcome our own failings. ", " Each of us is responsible for one life only, and that is our own. About a dozen of these have been translated into English and other languages. 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. When not convened as a body, each member has no autonomous authority. The central figure of the religion is Baha'u'llah, and Baha'is consider him to be the latest in a series of divine messengers. 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? ", " Backbiting quencheth the light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul. To put you in touch with a Bahai in your area who can answer your questions, we would like to kindly ask for a few details about yourself. Get in touch with the Bahais in your community. A Unitarian Bahai comes across as an idiot, again! 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. He was kept in an underground prison in Tehran, which Baha'u'llah describes in his writings as filthy, dark and foul beyond comparison.. Soon after, early American converts began embracing the new religion. 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. But this distinction must not depend upon wealththat they should become more affluent than other people. [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. 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. 2 - Belief in the transmigration of souls, and that reward and punishment happen to the soul only. In the end (undefined in conventional thinking) all knees will bow before the King of all Kings, Jesus Christ. Omissions? Summed up in Baha'u'llahs words: The Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.. In any case, good luck to you and God Bless. Baha'u'llah encouraged Baha'is to cooperate with their governments and engage with the followers of all religions in a spirit of fellowship. My future wife was a member of First Baptist Church of Dallas, a stronghold of fundamentalism. The Quran puts forth the same idea, because along with Muhammad it includes the Old Testament prophets and also Christ. I do not desire for you financial distinction. 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. ", "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. [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. 2,070. In the summer and fall of 2004, I gradually came to the conviction that the Bahai Faith was no longer worthy of my allegiance. Eventually, what started as a compromise between us grew into a case of full blown allegiance to the UU church for both of us. The local spiritual assembly has jurisdiction over all local affairs of the Bah community. Ratings: +1,422. Regretfully, Dale Husband I composed that letter on my computer and mailed it in January of 2005. The government released Baha'u'llah in 1853, and exiled him to Baghdad, then part of the Ottoman Empire. [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. Baha'i Viewpoint Heaven and Hell are not seen as literal places that the soul of man goes after physical death but are seen as the . 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. "Thou hast written regarding aims. No, never! The Bah religion originally grew out of the Bb faith, or sect, which was founded in 1844 by Mrz Al Moammad of Shrz in Iran. 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. One must expose the praiseworthy qualities of the souls and not their evil attributes. These are worded in a way to seem like crazy conspiracies. I read where it clearly said in the Bahai Writings you have to explicitly deny belief in Bahaullah to be removed from National Bahai membership rolls. Also, tons of conservative, orthodox, even fundamentalist traditional morality in Bahai law. 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. [23], The Bah teachings emphasize the need for unity, and have an official line of succession of leadership to prevent schism. After Islamic fundamentalists came to power in Iran in 1979, the 300,000 Bahs there were persecuted by the government. There also exist in the Bah Faith appointive institutions, such as the Hands of the Cause of God and the continental counselors. 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. How blessed are these aims, especially the prevention of backbiting! '", "What the believers need is not only, as you state, to really study the teachings, but also to have more peace-makers circulating among them. The Christian Grace Network on YouTube November 23, 2022. I desire this distinction for you. [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. 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. I understand that I can withdraw my consent at any time. Cults separate, and the Bahai Faith unites. 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. Heaven and Hell and the Baha'i Faith. Does it really matter? Baha'u'llahs followers disseminated his teachings in the Middle East and beyond. [35] By contrast, MacEoin generally praised the work in Bah studies of Bah historian Peter Smith and non-Bah sociologist Margit Warburg. "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. Shouldst thou transgress this command ACCURSED ART THOU.' 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. You must become distinguished for loving humanity; for unity and accord; for love and justice. Bahu'llh's claim of divine revelation is in direct conflict with this common interpretation of Islam. 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. While Bah teachings assert that men and women are spiritually equal, some areas of differentiation remain. 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. Every attempted Bah schism has failed to attract more than a few hundred individuals and declined over time. I cant remember if it was one year or two years, but it was probably closer to one year. 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). 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. This page was last edited on 31 December 2020, at 01:55. Dale Husbands Sound-Bites for an Idiotic Age, Reliable sources of science news and data, Why peace activists (and critics of religion) sometimes fail Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants, Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants, Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith? The Baha'i Faith is not just a collection of philosophical principles or an attempt to combine or conflate religions. In the love of God you must become distinguished from all else. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Shouldst thou transgress this command, accursed wouldst thou be, and to this I bear witness. ", " If any soul speak ill of an absent one, the only result will clearly be this: he will dampen the zeal of the friends and tend to make them indifferent. Extract from Dale Husbands blog. The friends must overlook their shortcomings and faults and speak only of their virtues and not their defects. The ineligibility of women has caused discontent among small but vocal groups of western Bah intellectuals,[5][1] and criticism from others. The year begins on the first day of spring, March 21, which is one of several days. Are spiritually equal, some areas of differentiation remain and Bahais take part in society in to! Happens When you become a Bahai of Dallas, a stronghold of fundamentalism must the. 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