As part of its crackdown on the followers of the Bab, the Iranian government incarcerated Baha'u'llah. Subsequent public protests and mob violence claimed the lives of thousands of his followers. by Jeremy Butler | Mar 25, 2010 | Baha'i, World Religions. If the situation is of such gravity as to endanger the interests of the Faith, the complaint, as your National Spiritual Assembly has indicated, should be submitted to the Local Spiritual Assembly, or as you state to a representative of the institution of the Counsellors, for consideration and action. Baha'u'llahs followers disseminated his teachings in the Middle East and beyond. His son and successor, Abdu'l-Baha, traveled to Europe and the United States to spread the faith. Finding out about what the Bahai Faith was actually about rather than all the stuff they like to advertise was a big shock. 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. His writings, which promote peace and unity, are at the heart of the . 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. Man must be a lover of the light, no matter from what dayspring it may appear. Pingback: Why peace activists (and critics of religion) sometimes fail Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants. [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. 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. Mrz Al Moammad first proclaimed his beliefs in 1844 and assumed the title of the Bb. 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. 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. 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. We need not fear the enemies on the outside for such can be easily dealt with. 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. What are my imperfections?and try to remove them. I hope that all the believers will attain to this lofty station. In the summer and fall of 2004, I gradually came to the conviction that the Bahai Faith was no longer worthy of my allegiance. By clicking "Continue" "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 great bulk of Bah teachings is concerned with social ethics. [21], In the Kitb-i-Aqdas, Bahu'llh prescribed the death penalty both for intentional arson and murder. Pingback: Why I Rejected the Bahai Faith, 4th Edition | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants, Your email address will not be published. "I hope that the believers of God will shun completely backbiting, each one praising the other cordially and believe that backbiting is the cause of Divine wrath, to such an extent that if a person backbites to the extent of one word, he may become dishonored among all the people, because the most hateful characteristic of man is fault-finding. ', and He replied: 'I will tell you. About a dozen of these have been translated into English and other languages. A Unitarian Bahai comes across as an idiot, again! The electoral process excludes parties or factions, nominations, and campaigning for office. He was kept in an underground prison in Tehran, which Baha'u'llah describes in his writings as filthy, dark and foul beyond comparison.. Only the last category could fall into the category of reliable sources (although not independent or disinterested sources ). The Babi movement called for revolutionary social changes and championed womens rights. Occasionally Ive heard the uninformed opinion that the Bahai Faith is a sect of Islam not true! Jehovah's Witnesses and Baha'is were among the most . Bahs believe that all the founders of the worlds great religions have been manifestations of God and agents of a progressive divine plan for the education of the human race. From my understanding, Baha'i Faith is an offshoot from Islam but still believes in Muhammad. Its just spiritual, not practical, was one incorrect comment Ive heard about the Bahai Faith not once, but many times. Thanks for the post. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select search scope, currently: articles+ all catalog, articles, website, & more in one search; catalog books, media & more in the Stanford Libraries' collections; articles+ journal articles & other e-resources In Acre in northern Israel, a former prison city of the Ottoman Empire, the barracks where Bahullh was imprisoned starting in 1868. If any individual should speak ill of one who is absent, it is incumbent on his hearers, in a spiritual and friendly manner, to stop him, and say in effect: would this detraction serve any useful purpose? (4) The Miller analysis of the Baha'i Faith. 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. 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. Ottoman officials later moved Baha'u'llah to the prison city of Akka in Palestine. Your details have now been sent. Eventually, what started as a compromise between us grew into a case of full blown allegiance to the UU church for both of us. 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. 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'. ", "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. 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. (Quoted in Star of West, Vol. "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. [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. More than one person has said Bahais arent involved in social action. Nothing could be further from the truth. In the temples there is no preaching; services consist of recitation of the scriptures of all religions. Baha'is, for example, embrace interracial marriage and education for girls. Thank you so much! Baha'u'llah, whose name means Glory of God in Arabic, was born in Tehran in 1817. The official website of the Baha'i Faith is: Sign up for our newsletter and get all our latest content, 2023 BahaiTeachings.org All Rights Reserved. | 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. All done! The problem is that everything you hear in the news is about the superficiality, immorality, and degradation of Hollywood. "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. 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. 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. Bah Allhs peculiar function was to overcome the disunity of religions and establish a universal faith. in practice you would have lost your administrative rights anyway,. Cults have charismatic leaders, and Bahais have no clergy or leaders at all. Religion: Kashmir Shaivism (Trika) I've always found some issues with the main idea of the Baha'i faith, for a few different reasons. The stupidity of that idea should be obvious. 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. [23], The Bah teachings emphasize the need for unity, and have an official line of succession of leadership to prevent schism. | 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. The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. 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. Lights of Guidance Backbiting, Criticism, Faultfinding, Gossip, Lies, Slander Etc. 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. The followers of such splinter groups are shunned and not considered Bahs by the majority. My life and Cheris together are proof that it can work! Still others encircle this garden inhaling the fragrance of the flowers, having enjoyed its full beauty, pass out again by the same gate. 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 Membership in the Bah community is open to all who profess faith in Bah Allh and accept his teachings. The religion began with considerable controversy. At the time, I didnt care. Some discover a hornets nest in the garden and fearing being STUNG TO DEATH, run out of the garden in horror. 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. 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. In 1852, two years after the execution of the Bb, a fringe element in the . My future wife was a member of First Baptist Church of Dallas, a stronghold of fundamentalism. 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. Vangelis was a Living Legend.and he Remains a Legend Forever! ", " Vicious criticism is indeed a calamity. Quite controversially, the Bab claimed that his teachings were a revelation from God and predicted that a new prophetic figure, or manifestation of God, would soon appear. ", "One must see in every human being only that which is worthy of praise. She has published in anthologies, textbooks, peer-reviewed academic journals, radio and magazines; presented papers at numerous By clicking "Sign up", 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. [7][8], The Bah Faith has maintained its unity and avoided serious division, although several attempts have been made to create sects. 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. Goodbye. 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. Backbiting, Criticism, Faultfinding, Gossip, Lies, Slander Etc. [11], Bah authors have written in response that the contradictory teachings are either social laws that change from age to age, as part of a progressive revelation, or human error introduced to the more ancient faiths over time. Violence claimed the lives of thousands of his followers replied: ' i Faith hope that all the they... Be a lover of the scriptures of all religions, two years after the execution of Bb. Splinter groups are shunned and not considered Bahs by the majority in our content reflect individual and... 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