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? In the West, liberals have criticized the Bah Faith for some of its conservative social practices, notably the prohibition on premarital or homosexual intimacy for Bahs. People who leave the religion, transgress community standards, or attack it externally are not considered Covenant-breakers. He was asked 'How shall I overcome seeing the faults of othersrecognizing the wrong in others? BAHA'IS AND THE NATURE OF GOD The last claim is partially rooted in the presence of the Bah World Centre in northern Israel. But ere long this merciful door will be closed and such enemies will be attacked with a madness. In 1850, the Bab was charged by Shi'i religious officials with heresy and was put to death by firing squad. An overwhelming majority of Bbs acknowledged his claim and thenceforth became known as Bahs. 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. Someone from the Bahai community will contact you shortly. 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. [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. When this is done, one can be a friend to the whole human race. Occasionally Ive heard the uninformed opinion that the Bahai Faith is a sect of Islam not true! 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. I understand that I can withdraw my consent at any time. The followers of such sects are labeled Covenant-breakers, shunned, and viewed as enemies of the faith. "It is related that His Holiness ChristMay my life be a sacrifice to Him!one day, accompanied by His apostles, passed by the corpse of a dead animal. For most Muslims, the prophet Muhammad was the last and final prophet. Origin of the Baha'i Religion. read more. ", "I desire distinction for you. The Bible provides ALL the answers, in my truly humble (!) 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. 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. [14] For example, the perspectives of Subh-i-Azal, Mrz Muhammad Al, and Mason Remey, the most prominent covenant-breakers of the religion, were all upheld by Miller in an attempt to show its adherents as deceived, its teachings superficial or irrelevant, and its administration "a dictatorship". Rather, Bahais look to the spiritual teachings of the Bab and Bahaullah, as interpreted and elucidated by Abdul-Baha, for inspiration and guidance. 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 RELATED: What Happens When You Become a Bahai? 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. 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. Though new, these beliefs originated in Twelver Shii Islam, which asserts a belief in the forthcoming return of the 12th imam (successor of Muhammad), who will renew religion and guide the faithful. 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. "[13], William McElwee Miller (18921993) was a Presbyterian missionary in Iran who published a polemic titled The Baha'i Faith (1974), in which he attacked the religion by promoting the views of individuals opposing Bah leadership. 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. 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 a dynamic world religion with several million adherents from a variety of different religious and cultural backgrounds. "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. You will overcome self, you will not even have time to think of the faults of others'. Yet Baha'is in Iran, who are the largest non-Muslim religious community, continue to face persecution. 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. The followers of such splinter groups are shunned and not considered Bahs by the majority. 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. You may know of some other misconceptions, and I learned on our interfaith panel that they can be a wonderful topic for public discussion. I stayed silent about my defection from the Bahai Faith untilOctober 19, 2007, when I posted my first blog entry attacking it. A Statement About Mental Disorders and Domestic Abuse. He must be a lover of the rose, no matter in what soil it may be growing. 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. Get in touch with the Bahais in your community. In this two-part article we will briefly examine: (1) the Baha'i approach to other religions; (2) the absence of the personal requirements Baha'i demands for the Manifestations; (3) anachronistic Baha'i scriptures; (4) the Miller analysis of the Baha'i faith; (5) moral concerns; (6) some Baha'i errors; and (7) failed prophecy and Baha'i misuse of [19] Abdu'l-Bah said that it would become clear in the future why the restriction was in place. The electoral process excludes parties or factions, nominations, and campaigning for office. One must expose the praiseworthy qualities of the souls and not their evil attributes. [24] The religion has seen a few attempts at splintering, but they have remained extremely small and declined over time. Corrections? 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. They and other UUs are destined to do the work of peace, unity, and freedom that Bahais cannot and will never do! Again, it doesnt really matter. Some discover a hornets nest in the garden and fearing being STUNG TO DEATH, run out of the garden in horror. Whenever you recognize the fault of another, think of yourself! 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. 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. 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. Thanks! Membership in the Bah community is open to all who profess faith in Bah Allh and accept his teachings. Bahu'llh's claim of divine revelation is in direct conflict with this common interpretation of Islam. Will and Testament of 'Abdul-Baha; Shoghi Effendi. Eventually, what started as a compromise between us grew into a case of full blown allegiance to the UU church for both of us. ThenI cut completely all personal ties to the Bahais in the Fort Worth area. Others step inside, behold its beauty, but do not penetrate far. "Abdul-Bah does not permit adverse criticism of individuals by name in discussion among the friends, even if the one criticizing believes that he is doing so to protect the interests of the Cause. [12], Regarding the Bah teachings of peace and unity, E.G. His son and successor, Abdu'l-Baha, traveled to Europe and the United States to spread the faith. "[25] Excommunication among Bahs is rare and reserved for those actively promoting schism. This is the conduct and the manner of the real Bahais (Bahs). If, however, we look at people from the standpoint of their faults, then being a friend to them is a formidable task. 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? Bahais have no clergy. 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. Bah Allhs peculiar function was to overcome the disunity of religions and establish a universal faith. I declared back in 2008 when I was a naive open eyed idealist about the principles without knowing about all the contradictions and stuff. Throughout his life, Bah'u'llah penned over 100 . In any case, good luck to you and God Bless. 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. As a member of Irans nobility, Baha'u'llah was offered a government position. ", "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. 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'. [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. The Bah Faith was first mentioned in the United States in 1893 at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. 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. 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. The religion began with considerable controversy. I am currently a skeptic who is looking at both UU and Bahai as a new place to find a community that thinks like I do. Ive never been into having to jump through hurdles to withdraw. My life has changed in ways that I had hoped the Bahai Faith would help me do, but in 35 years has not. The seat of the Universal House of Justice is in Haifa, Israel, in the immediate vicinity of the shrines of the Bb and Abd al-Bah and near the Shrine of Bah Allh at Bahj, near Akko. There is no way Im going to use a strangers personal home as a house of worship. A comparative analysis of the Baha'i and Christian views of heaven and hell. You don't need to belong to a religion to be of service to others and do good in the world. 6. If some means were devised so that the doors of backbiting could be shut eternally and each one of the believers of God unsealed his tongue in the praise of the other, then the teachings of His Holiness Baha'o'llah (Bahullh) would be spread, the hearts illuminated, the spirits glorified and the human world would attain to everlasting felicity. He must be a seeker of the truth, no matter from what source it come. When not convened as a body, each member has no autonomous authority. 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. Abstract This article will explore some of the issues involved in the sociological analysis of the status of the Bah' Faith. Bah's recognize the coming of Bah'u'llh as the latest expression of God's guidance . What are my imperfections?and try to remove them. Cults separate, and the Bahai Faith unites. 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.. My future wife was a member of First Baptist Church of Dallas, a stronghold of fundamentalism. Pingback: Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith? On January 18, a court in Iran's Mazandaran province ordered that property belonging to Bahai citizen Sheida Taeed be confiscated and transferred to the "Execution of Imam Khomeini's Order," a committee controlled by . [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. 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. ", " Vicious criticism is indeed a calamity. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Hi, exmuslim atheist here. 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. [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. In brief, you must become distinguished in all the virtues of the human world; for faithfulness and steadfastness; for philanthropic deeds and service to the human world; for love toward every human being; for unity and accord with all people; for removing prejudices and promoting international peace. The Bah Faith is a relatively new religion teaching the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people. More than one person has said Bahais arent involved in social action. Nothing could be further from the truth. In the end (undefined in conventional thinking) all knees will bow before the King of all Kings, Jesus Christ. How white they are!' The problem is that everything you hear in the news is about the superficiality, immorality, and degradation of Hollywood. Handwriting Analysis of the Will of Abdu'l Baha by Dr. Mitchell; Hermann . The friends must overlook their shortcomings and faults and speak only of their virtues and not their defects. (Dale Husband: How old are you? His writings, which promote peace and unity, are at the heart of the . We are like ploughmen each of whom has his team to manage and his plough to direct, and in order to keep his furrow straight he must keep his eye on his goal and concentrate on his own task. 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, [4][5] These issues may be only marginal to the numerically dominant Bah community outside of Europe and North America. Bah Allh was subsequently confined by the Ottomans in Adrianople (now Edirne, Turkey) and then in Acre in Palestine (now Akko, Israel). opinion. Im glad to know that you have found a better life after moving on, as have I. A Question About Translating the Baha'i Writings December 11, 2022. Thus you will grow, become more perfect. For you I desire spiritual distinction; that is, you must become eminent and distinguished in morals. 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. "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. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Pawel Szul heterodoxy religion of Bayan, Unitarian Baha'i Discussion Forum Yahoo. The Bb was arrested and, after several years of incarceration, was executed in 1850. The year begins on the first day of spring, March 21, which is one of several holy days in the Bah calendar. Many things are preserved in records as matters of opinion; no one has given a verdict on this matter! 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]. The Baha'is are among the most persecuted religious minorities in the world. 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. The external article completely drops any pretenses of neutrality, blaming certain events (like the attempted assassination of Iranian officials) as done by . Goodbye. Quoted in, Last edited on 12 February 2023, at 13:17, Political accusations against the Baha'i Faith, "The Economist explains: The Bahai faith", "Possible Criticisms of the Baha'i Faith from a Feminist Perspective", "The Baha'i Faith in America as Panopticon, 1963-1997", "Fundamentalism in the Contemporary U.S. Baha'i Community", "Bah' Youth and Sexuality A Personal/Professional View", "Missionary as Historian: William Miller and the Bah' Faith", "Marginality and Apostasy in the Baha'i Community", "An Introduction to Bah' Law: Doctrinal Foundations, Principles and Structures", "A Short Introduction to the Bah' Faith", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_the_Bah_Faith&oldid=1138934100, This page was last edited on 12 February 2023, at 13:17. The Bah Faith and its predecessor, the Bb religion, originated in the nineteenth-century Persian Empire, arousing considerable opposition, initially on purely theological and doctrinal grounds; it was perceived by many Iranians as threat to established power and authority in Persia.. 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.' gss t ws mr lk prf tht yr prblms l lss n pltcs nd rlgn nd mre n mntal hlth sss? 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. ", "As regards backbiting, i.e., discussing the faults of others in their absence, the teachings are very emphatic. 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. 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. 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. But. Here are the misconceptions I addressed: People often ask where Bahais worship, which perhaps indicates anassumption more than a misconception. 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. This body applies the laws promulgated by Bah Allh and legislates on matters not covered in the sacred texts. The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. https://bahai.works/index.php?title=Lights_of_Guidance/Backbiting,_Criticism,_Faultfinding,_Gossip,_Lies,_Slander_Etc.&oldid=121304. [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. Instead, he joined a new religious movement, started by a young Iranian, known as the Bab. 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. Being involved in interfaith work, Im constantly asked Whos your local spiritual leader, or priest, or pastor? The fact is, there isnt one. Promulgated by Bah Allh and accept his teachings at splintering, but they remained! 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Social action laws promulgated by Bah Allh and accept his teachings I Discussion Forum Yahoo days in news! Social action recognize the fault of another, think of yourself are at World! No one has given a verdict on this matter and establish a universal Faith individual and! Faith would help me do, but they have remained extremely small and declined over time Dr. ;! As matters of opinion ; no one has given a verdict on this matter life has changed in ways I... This is done, one can be a friend to the whole human race home as member! Campaigning for office Parliament of religions and establish a universal Faith do, do!