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. 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. [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. While Bah teachings assert that men and women are spiritually equal, some areas of differentiation remain. | 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 primary functions of both groups are to propagate the Bah Faith and protect the community. 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. "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. Soon the Bbs teachings spread throughout Iran, provoking strong opposition from both the Shii Muslim clergy and 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. The external article completely drops any pretenses of neutrality, blaming certain events (like the attempted assassination of Iranian officials) as done by . The Bible provides ALL the answers, in my truly humble (!) Every attempted Bah schism has failed to attract more than a few hundred individuals and declined over time. Soon after this, I began my relationship with Cheri, the woman that would later become my wife. 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. Extract from Dale Husbands blog. The year begins on the first day of spring, March 21, which is one of several holy days in the Bah calendar. Religion: Kashmir Shaivism (Trika) I've always found some issues with the main idea of the Baha'i faith, for a few different reasons. 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.' 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. Even if what is said against another person be true, the mentioning of his faults to others still comes under the category of backbiting, and is forbidden.". His son and successor, Abdu'l-Baha, traveled to Europe and the United States to spread the faith. 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. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, so to speak. 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. [24] The religion has seen a few attempts at splintering, but they have remained extremely small and declined over time. I hope that all the believers will attain to this lofty station. 6. Message and data rates may apply. 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. 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. "You are quite correct in your understanding of the importance of avoiding backbiting; such conduct strikes at the very unity of the Bah community. Bah Allh was subsequently confined by the Ottomans in Adrianople (now Edirne, Turkey) and then in Acre in Palestine (now Akko, Israel). Goodbye. "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. He must be a seeker of the truth, no matter from what source it come. (2) The absence of personal requirements (Baha'i demands) for the Manifestations. [17], From 1980 onward, several well-educated Bahs left the religion and subsequently criticized it. Pingback: Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants. 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. In the love of God you must become distinguished from all else. Finding out about what the Bahai Faith was actually about rather than all the stuff they like to advertise was a big shock. A primary theme of Baha'u'llahs teachings is achieving world peace through the establishment of unity, justice and equality. In 1863, shortly before being moved by the Ottoman government to Constantinople (now Istanbul), Bah Allh declared to his fellow Bbs that he was the messenger of God foretold by the Bb. in practice you would have lost your administrative rights anyway,. Throughout his life, Bah'u'llah penned over 100 volumes in Arabic and Persian. [4][5] These issues may be only marginal to the numerically dominant Bah community outside of Europe and North America. [7][8], The Bah Faith has maintained its unity and avoided serious division, although several attempts have been made to create sects. Lights of Guidance Backbiting, Criticism, Faultfinding, Gossip, Lies, Slander Etc. Im glad to know that you have found a better life after moving on, as have I. gss t ws mr lk prf tht yr prblms l lss n pltcs nd rlgn nd mre n mntal hlth sss? Omissions? The Babi movement called for revolutionary social changes and championed womens rights. 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 . 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. I have been studying AJ Millers teachings for 17 months now. 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. My family, like many Wilmette residents, witnessed its decades-long construction. An overwhelming majority of Bbs acknowledged his claim and thenceforth became known as Bahs. Assistant Professor of History and Middle East Studies, Idaho State University. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Baha'is have also been discriminated against in Yemen and in Egypt. 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. The religion's governing institution is the elected Universal House of Justice, whose membership is male-only. ", "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. 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. Others step inside, behold its beauty, but do not penetrate far. '", "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 letters or contact of why you are withdrawing are also another reason why not to do so. [19] Abdu'l-Bah said that it would become clear in the future why the restriction was in place. 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. Do this whenever you are tried through the words or deeds of others. 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. When people say that the Bahai Faith has something to do with Judaism, its often a result of confusing the word Bahai with Bnai Brith, a service organization dedicated to the social and educational betterment of Jews. (Bnai Brith means children of the covenant.). read more. [27] Central to Cole's complaints is the Bah review process, which requires Bah authors to gain approval before publishing on the religion. One of the first Bah institutions in the U.S. was established in Chicago and . Shoghi Effendi (Guardian of the Baha'i Faith) wrote about this. 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. 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. Your opinion is based on no facts whatsoever and therefore is not worth considering. After Islamic fundamentalists came to power in Iran in 1979, the 300,000 Bahs there were persecuted by the government. These are worded in a way to seem like crazy conspiracies. ", "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. 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 only way jealousy or petty attitudes can be overcome is by the love and tact of the teacher; these are not things that can be solved by a 'ruling'.". "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. The faith has no priesthood and does not observe ritual forms in its worship. The government released Baha'u'llah in 1853, and exiled him to Baghdad, then part of the Ottoman Empire. Despite the persecution, the Baha'i faith has attracted millions of adherents around the globe for its ability to transcend nationalism, racism and the like. Its 2014 now. ", "Indeed the believers have not yet fully learned to draw on each other's love for strength and consolation in time of need. As part of its crackdown on the followers of the Bab, the Iranian government incarcerated Baha'u'llah. We should therefore, as tactfully as possible, but yet firmly, do our utmost to prevent others from making accusations or complaints against others in our presence.". 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. claimed the lives of thousands of his followers. Origin of the Baha'i Religion. 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. All done! Thus you will grow, become more perfect. The Bah' Faith is a world religion based on the teachings of Bah'u'llh. The great bulk of Bah teachings is concerned with social ethics. 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. There were several completely inactive Bahais in the North Richland Hills, Texas locality who I never saw in the years I was a Bahai, but there was no talk of them not having administrative rights. 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 declared back in 2008 when I was a naive open eyed idealist about the principles without knowing about all the contradictions and stuff. In any case, good luck to you and God Bless. 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. People who leave the religion, transgress community standards, or attack it externally are not considered Covenant-breakers. 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. ", "The worst enemies of the Cause are in the Cause and mention the Name of God. Someone from the Bahai community will contact you shortly. A few weeks later, the NSA replied that they had accepted my resignation and expressed hope that I would one day decide to return. 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. 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 In 1852, two years after the execution of the Bb, a fringe element in the . Message and data rates may apply. Thanks! Required fields are marked *. The members of the Hands of the Cause of God were appointed by Bah Allh and Shoghi Effendi. 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. It was during this exile that he publicly announced the establishment of the Baha'i faith. ThenI cut completely all personal ties to the Bahais in the Fort Worth area. This page was last edited on 31 December 2020, at 01:55. RELATED: What Happens When You Become a Bahai? 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. Cults separate, and the Bahai Faith unites. You will overcome self, you will not even have time to think of the faults of others'. It is the world's second-most widespread religion after Christianity, spanning the globe and working to unite it. Handwriting Analysis of the Will of Abdu'l Baha by Dr. Mitchell; Hermann . It has an office on the environment involved in sustainable development. 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 religion originally grew out of the Bb faith, or sect, which was founded in 1844 by Mrz Al Moammad of Shrz in Iran. I cant remember if it was one year or two years, but it was probably closer to one year. [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. [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]. The electoral process excludes parties or factions, nominations, and campaigning for office. The Bahs use a calendar, established by the Bb and confirmed by Bah Allh, in which the year is divided into 19 months of 19 days each, with the addition of 4 intercalary days (5 in leap years). But its root is lack of faith in the system of Bahullh, i.e., the Administrative Orderand lack of obedience to Himfor He has forbidden it! Baha'is, for example, embrace interracial marriage and education for girls. "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. Cults separate themselves from society, and Bahais take part in society. Pingback: Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith? It is not an ordinary distinction I desire: not scientific, commercial, industrial distinction. 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. Only the last category could fall into the category of reliable sources (although not independent or disinterested sources ). Marrying that mentally immature woman was perhaps the biggest mistake of my life, and joining the Bahai Faith was the second biggest. 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.. I am totally convinced that the Baha'i 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. 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? That Baha'u'llah was the Manifestation of God for this day and be obedient to the covenant. ", "an unwise act or statement by a Bah in one country could result in a grave set-back for the Faith there or elsewhereand even loss of the lives of fellow believers. 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. Baha'is are followers of the teachings of Baha'u'llah, who brought an entirely new, worldwide Faith to humanity. This body applies the laws promulgated by Bah Allh and legislates on matters not covered in the sacred texts. [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. You don't need to belong to a religion to be of service to others and do good in the world. 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. But His Holiness Christ said: 'Look at its teeth! 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Why i Abandoned the ( Haifan ) Bahai Faith was actually about than..., or attack it externally are not considered Covenant-breakers worst enemies of the covenant )! Criticized it become distinguished from all else to spread the Faith has no priesthood and not. The year begins on the environment involved in sustainable development has an office on the first Bah institutions in sacred... On matters not covered in the future why the restriction was in place 5 ] These may! I demands ) for the Manifestations provides all the contradictions and stuff several well-educated Bahs the. You become a Bahai handwriting Analysis of the Bab, the Iranian government Baha!