The Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee, PhD Scholarship - Uncle Isaac Brown Indigenous Scholarship. 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. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). 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.' Being involved in interfaith work, Im constantly asked Whos your local spiritual leader, or priest, or pastor? The fact is, there isnt one. (Bnai Brith means children of the covenant.). [21] The Universal House of Justice stated in 1995, and has repeated since, that the teachings on sexuality are laid down in the faith's scripture and that, "the House of Justice has no authority to change this clear teaching on homosexual practice. ", "Indeed the believers have not yet fully learned to draw on each other's love for strength and consolation in time of need. Before Bah Allh died in 1892, he appointed his eldest son, Abd al-Bah (18441921), to be the leader of the Bahi community and the authorized interpreter of his teachings. 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. Beliefs, ideas and rituals of the Baha'is: 1 - Belief that Allaah is incarnated in some of His creation, and that Allaah was incarnated in al-Baab and al-Baha'. Also, the lack of actual places of worship was another big shock. Baha'u'llah, whose name means Glory of God in Arabic, was born in Tehran in 1817. Membership in the Bah community is open to all who profess faith in Bah Allh and accept his teachings. 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.. 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.' Bah Allh was arrested in 1852 and jailed in Tehrn, where he became aware that he was the prophet and messenger of God whose coming had been predicted by the Bb. I encourage you to look him up and see if it resonates with you. The other exclaimed: 'How it is deformed!' [24] The religion has seen a few attempts at splintering, but they have remained extremely small and declined over time. I have been studying AJ Millers teachings for 17 months now. For most Muslims, the prophet Muhammad was the last and final prophet. If the Bahs would follow the Bah laws in voting, in electing, in serving and in abiding by Assembly decisions, all this waste of strength through criticising others could be diverted into cooperation and achieving the Plan. Baha'u'llahs father was a minister in Irans government, which supported Shi'i Islam as the state religion. Shoghi Effendi (Guardian of the Baha'i Faith) wrote about this. Thanks! The Baha'i faith. 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 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. [7][8], The Bah Faith has maintained its unity and avoided serious division, although several attempts have been made to create sects. Throughout his life, Bah'u'llah penned over 100 volumes in Arabic and Persian. [23], The Bah teachings emphasize the need for unity, and have an official line of succession of leadership to prevent schism. When this is done, one can be a friend to the whole human race. "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.". More than one person has said Bahais arent involved in social action. Nothing could be further from the truth. The religion began with considerable controversy. I composed that letter on my computer and mailed it in January of 2005. Handwriting Analysis of the Will of Abdu'l Baha by Dr. Mitchell; Hermann . 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. 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. 6. The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. You know nothing about why my marriage failed and it had nothing to do with lack of parental consent. I should update this by noting that I separated from Cheri in December of 2011 and filed for divorce from her on May 7, 2012, finally getting the divorce granted on August 15, 2012. [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. 3 - Belief that all religions are valid, and that the Torah and Gospel have . Cults often promote violence, and Bahais are peaceful, non-violent citizens. His son and successor, Abdu'l-Baha, traveled to Europe and the United States to spread the faith. RELATED: What Happens When You Become a Bahai? (6) Some Baha'i errors. Its 2014 now. All national spiritual assemblies of the world periodically constitute themselves an international convention and elect a supreme governing body known as the Universal House of Justice. Browne wrote that while he found them admirable, in his view they are inferior to the simplicity and beauty of the teachings of Christ. [19] Abdu'l-Bah said that it would become clear in the future why the restriction was in place. The Christian Grace Network on YouTube November 23, 2022. But even if these are not taken from the records it still does not make them either true or false. SOLanding, a Possible Cryptocurrency Scam Site? But His Holiness Christ said: 'Look at its teeth! Updates? After Islamic fundamentalists came to power in Iran in 1979, the 300,000 Bahs there were persecuted by the government. ", "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. Im lazy. ", "He feels that you should do your utmost to call the attention of the friends to these large things, and real triumphs, and away from their personal differences and petty pre-occupations. ThenI cut completely all personal ties to the Bahais in the Fort Worth area. As a member of Irans nobility, Baha'u'llah was offered a government position. It really doesnt matter what one calls oneself, it only matters what ones relationship is to God in reality. Over 20,000 unique works by Baha'u'llah have been identified at the Baha'i World Centre, comprising just under seven million words. He was asked 'How shall I overcome seeing the faults of othersrecognizing the wrong in others? Pingback: Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants. [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. Lights of Guidance/Backbiting, Criticism, Faultfinding, Gossip, Lies, Slander Etc. The Baha'i Faith is a scriptural religion; the current written texts are considered fully authoritative. There also exist in the Bah Faith appointive institutions, such as the Hands of the Cause of God and the continental counselors. 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. 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 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. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The members of the Hands of the Cause of God were appointed by Bah Allh and Shoghi Effendi. About a dozen of these have been translated into English and other languages. In 1852, two years after the execution of the Bb, a fringe element in the . Here are the misconceptions I addressed: People often ask where Bahais worship, which perhaps indicates anassumption more than a misconception. But. Like all Bahai Houses of Worship, it welcomes everyone, and its nine entrances symbolize the many legitimate paths to the Creator. (3) Anachronistic Baha'i scriptures. 2 - Belief in the transmigration of souls, and that reward and punishment happen to the soul only. We need not fear the enemies on the outside for such can be easily dealt with. But this distinction must not depend upon wealththat they should become more affluent than other people. 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. 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. One of them said: 'How putrid has this animal become!' Ive never officially withdrawn or resigned, but stopped being a Bahai either one or two years after declaration. Summed up in Baha'u'llahs words: The Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.. Omissions? Baha'u'llah's writings form the foundation of the Baha'i faith. If, however, we look at people from the standpoint of their faults, then being a friend to them is a formidable task. [3][9], Christian author and missiologist Ed Stetzer rejects the Bah Faith as a syncretic combination of faiths,[10] while Christian author John Ankerberg points to discrepancies between faiths to contradict the idea of unity of religion.[8]. 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, Message and data rates may apply. 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. 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. (Dale Husband: How old are you? My family, like many Wilmette residents, witnessed its decades-long construction. Again, it doesnt really matter. 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. 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. 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. 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. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. Bahais have no clergy. What are my imperfections?and try to remove them. "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. A "Unitarian Baha'i" comes across as an idiot, again! ", "The worst enemies of the Cause are in the Cause and mention the Name of God. 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. A Statement About Mental Disorders and Domestic Abuse. In fact, the first school for girls in Iran was established by the Baha'is. The Baha'is are among the most persecuted religious minorities in the world. opinion. His writings, which promote peace and unity, are at the heart of the . Instead, he joined a new religious movement, started by a young Iranian, known as the Bab. They and other UUs are destined to do the work of peace, unity, and freedom that Bahais cannot and will never do! The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. Reading and Reacting to The Gadfly Molehill. From my understanding, Baha'i Faith is an offshoot from Islam but still believes in Muhammad. Whenever you recognize the fault of another, think of yourself! Your details have now been sent. The individual believer should seek to do this, whether he is consulting a friend, Bah or non-Bah, or whether the friend is consulting him. Instead, I asked her to join with me in First Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church, which I had belonged to before. Bahu'llh's claim of divine revelation is in direct conflict with this common interpretation of Islam. You may know of some other misconceptions, and I learned on our interfaith panel that they can be a wonderful topic for public discussion. Mirza Ahmad Sohrab; Lady Ruth White. Despite their apparent differences, the worlds great religions, according to the Bahs, teach an identical truth. 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. There are no initiation ceremonies, no sacraments, and no clergy. Would it please the Blessed Beauty, contribute to the lasting honour of the friends, promote the holy Faith, support the Covenant, or be of any possible benefit to any soul? ', and He replied: 'I will tell you. It has an office on the environment involved in sustainable development. 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. Origin of the Baha'i Religion. 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. Ironic, considering that many Bahais have non-Bahai parents who may even be racist, and thus object to their children marrying members of a different race. The faith has no priesthood and does not observe ritual forms in its worship. Without the support of the UUs at First Jefferson Church, I might have never had the courage to do battle against the corrupt, idiotic Haifan Bahai Administrative Order as I have done. Im glad to know that you have found a better life after moving on, as have I. [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. ", "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 understand that I can withdraw my consent at any time. Bah's recognize the coming of Bah'u'llh as the latest expression of God's guidance . Pawel Szul heterodoxy religion of Bayan, Unitarian Baha'i Discussion Forum Yahoo. | The Bahai Insider, Pingback: Dale Husband: Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith Bah Censorship, Pingback: Another reason to despise Michael Shermer | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants, Pingback: A Critical Analysis of the The Kitb-i-Aqdas, Part Three | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants, Pingback: A Conversion to Mormonism | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants, Pingback: Featured in a magazine critical of the Bahai Faith | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants, At the gate of the garden some stand and look within, but do not care to enter. 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. Normally, it is possible to describe the situation surrounding a problem and seek help and advice in resolving it, without necessarily mentioning names. But ere long this merciful door will be closed and such enemies will be attacked with a madness. Abdo presented the following list of criticisms of the Bah Faith from a feminist perspective at an annual gathering for Bah studies in 1995: the ineligibility of women to serve on the Universal House of Justice--this is of particular interest to supporters of women priests within the Christian tradition; the intestacy laws in the Kitab-i-Aqdas; the dowry laws with particular reference to the virginity refund clause; the exemption of menstruating women from obligatory prayers and the implication of menstrual taboo; the use of androcentric language and male pronouns in texts; the emphasis on traditional morality and family values[18]. You don't need to belong to a religion to be of service to others and do good in the world. If that has changed recently Id like to see the reference. 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