[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. This body applies the laws promulgated by Bah Allh and legislates on matters not covered in the sacred texts. The Quran puts forth the same idea, because along with Muhammad it includes the Old Testament prophets and also Christ. [35] By contrast, MacEoin generally praised the work in Bah studies of Bah historian Peter Smith and non-Bah sociologist Margit Warburg. 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. The Bah Faith was first mentioned in the United States in 1893 at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. The Bahs must be distinguished from others of humanity. Soon the Bbs teachings spread throughout Iran, provoking strong opposition from both the Shii Muslim clergy and the government. Message and data rates may apply. 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. No, never! The Baha'i Faith is a scriptural religion; the current written texts are considered fully authoritative. 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. The followers of such splinter groups are shunned and not considered Bahs by the majority. 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? Subsequent public protests and mob violence claimed the lives of thousands of his followers. On the national scale, each year Bahs elect delegates to a national convention that elects a national spiritual assembly with jurisdiction over Bahs throughout an entire country. Historical context. 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. 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. It has an office on the environment involved in sustainable development. The principles of the Bah' Faith were established by Bah'u'llh, the Founder of the Faith, in the latter half of the nineteenth century and promulgated by His Son and appointed successor, 'Abdu'l-Bah during a tireless twenty -nine year ministry.While on an historic teaching trip in 1912 throughout the United States and Canada, 'Abdu'l-Bah explained Bah'u'llh's Teachings to . While Bah teachings assert that men and women are spiritually equal, some areas of differentiation remain. 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. 3 - Belief that all religions are valid, and that the Torah and Gospel have . He must be a seeker of the truth, no matter from what source it come. I cant remember if it was one year or two years, but it was probably closer to one year. Bah Allhs peculiar function was to overcome the disunity of religions and establish a universal faith. [27] For example, Juan Cole converted to the Bah Faith in 1972, but later resigned in 1996 after conflicts with members of the administration who perceived him as extreme. ", "I desire distinction for you. 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. In Acre in northern Israel, a former prison city of the Ottoman Empire, the barracks where Bahullh was imprisoned starting in 1868. The friends must overlook their shortcomings and faults and speak only of their virtues and not their defects. The great bulk of Bah teachings is concerned with social ethics. [1][2], The criticism and challenges it has faced vary considerably in different regions of the world. Again, it doesnt really matter. How very interesting,I too declared the same time but now find myself so spiritually down in the mouth, I take great objection to the anti-homosexual stance having got dear friends that are homosexual, also I actually enjoy the occasional glass of wine in the evening with my husband, the Bahai Calendar continues to baffle me and I cant get to grips with this fasting business, oh dear.Im not actually a bad person but find the faith quite difficult, I intend withdrawing from the faith as Im certainly not spiritually fulfilled, the people are nice but its not for me anymore. Thanks for the post. 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? 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.. Omissions? Occasionally Ive heard the uninformed opinion that the Bahai Faith is a sect of Islam not true! After Islamic fundamentalists came to power in Iran in 1979, the 300,000 Bahs there were persecuted by the government. Velma A Good Reason to NEVER Subscribe to HBO Max! You should urge your fellow-Bahs to take this point of view, and to support you in a strong effort to suppress every critical thought and every harsh word, in order to let the spirit of Bahullh flow into the entire community, and unite it in His love and in His service. [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. Abstract This article will explore some of the issues involved in the sociological analysis of the status of the Bah' Faith. 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. One of them said: 'How putrid has this animal become!' 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. Does it really matter? 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. I have been studying AJ Millers teachings for 17 months now. 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. I do not desire for you financial distinction. 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 Try making a comment like an adult and I will then treat you like one. 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. The faith has no priesthood and does not observe ritual forms in its worship. Still others encircle this garden inhaling the fragrance of the flowers, having enjoyed its full beauty, pass out again by the same gate. 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 exclusion of same-sex marriage among Bahs has garnered considerable criticism in the Western world, where the Bah teachings on sexuality may appear to be unreasonable, dogmatic, and difficult to apply in Western society. 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. He was asked 'How shall I overcome seeing the faults of othersrecognizing the wrong in others? Yes, the Road to Serfdom is Indeed Paved by Conservatives, you Libertarian Idiot! Your message was successfully sent to BahaiTeachings.org. ", "As regards backbiting, i.e., discussing the faults of others in their absence, the teachings are very emphatic. ", "One must see in every human being only that which is worthy of praise. Goodbye. The Bahi Faith underwent a rapid expansion beginning in the 1960s, and by the early 21st century it had more than 180 national spiritual assemblies (national governing bodies) and several thousand local spiritual assemblies. 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. [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. [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. 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, The other exclaimed: 'How it is deformed!' Ottoman officials later moved Baha'u'llah to the prison city of Akka in Palestine. The year begins on the first day of spring, March 21, which is one of several holy days in the Bah calendar. But this distinction must not depend upon wealththat they should become more affluent than other people. Browne wrote that while he found them admirable, in his view they are inferior to the simplicity and beauty of the teachings of Christ. He must be a lover of the rose, no matter in what soil it may be growing. For you I desire spiritual distinction; that is, you must become eminent and distinguished in morals. 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. Baha'u'llahs father was a minister in Irans government, which supported Shi'i Islam as the state religion. 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. The religion's governing institution is the elected Universal House of Justice, whose membership is male-only. 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. Finally, you must become distinguished for heavenly illumination and acquiring the bestowals of God. Author Lil Abdo says that the Bah understanding of sexual equality is different from that of secular feminists. promoting the Baha'i Faith for twenty years. Shouldst thou transgress this command, accursed wouldst thou be, and to this I bear witness. An unethical teaching from the Caleb and Sophia Series December 24, 2022. Required fields are marked *. Pingback: Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants. The last claim is partially rooted in the presence of the Bah World Centre in northern Israel. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, so to speak. Zackery M. Heern does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. | 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. [23], The Bah teachings emphasize the need for unity, and have an official line of succession of leadership to prevent schism. 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. Still, when I left the Administration I formally withdrew but this had more to do with the sanctity of the rites of initiation in the Christain Church than it did with the Administration of the Bahai faith. It is free information and it is offered without any coercion on your free will about what to do with it. 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. 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.. In 1852, two years after the execution of the Bb, a fringe element in the . Ratings: +1,422. Bahu'llh's claim of divine revelation is in direct conflict with this common interpretation of Islam. Im glad to know that you have found a better life after moving on, as have I. Cults separate, and the Bahai Faith unites. Do this whenever you are tried through the words or deeds of others. Soon after, early American converts began embracing the new religion. 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. The primary functions of both groups are to propagate the Bah Faith and protect the community. 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. "When a difficulty is brought out into the daylight and freely discussed by a duly authorized and responsible group of people who are sincerely desirous of finding the best solution and are free from prejudice or personal motive, then there is a good chance of overcoming it, but discussion of the faults of others behind their backs by unauthorized people who have no authority to take action in the matter, is surely one of the most fertile causesprobably THE most fertile causeof disunity, and the importance of putting an end to this practice should be impressed on all Bahs.". opinion. 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