criticism of the baha'i faith

(2) The absence of personal requirements (Baha'i demands) for the Manifestations. | 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. While Bah teachings assert that men and women are spiritually equal, some areas of differentiation remain. Your message was successfully sent to BahaiTeachings.org. Backbiting, Criticism, Faultfinding, Gossip, Lies, Slander Etc. 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. Every attempted Bah schism has failed to attract more than a few hundred individuals and declined over time. Actually, Baha'is have been imprisoned and martyred since their Faith began in Persia, because of the persecution of the powerful Islamic clerics who consider the Baha'i Faith and its progressive principles a threat. Baha'is have also been discriminated against in Yemen and in Egypt. The religion began with considerable controversy. Others step inside, behold its beauty, but do not penetrate far. But even if these are not taken from the records it still does not make them either true or false. The Christian Grace Network on YouTube November 23, 2022. https://bahai.works/index.php?title=Lights_of_Guidance/Backbiting,_Criticism,_Faultfinding,_Gossip,_Lies,_Slander_Etc.&oldid=121304. In the end (undefined in conventional thinking) all knees will bow before the King of all Kings, Jesus Christ. The electoral process excludes parties or factions, nominations, and campaigning for office. The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. 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. It really doesnt matter what one calls oneself, it only matters what ones relationship is to God in reality. 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. Assistant Professor of History and Middle East Studies, Idaho State University. The followers of such sects are labeled Covenant-breakers, shunned, and viewed as enemies of the faith. [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. Knowing you seem similar to my mindset from a brief review of your site, I might be more inclined to try the UU route. At the time, I didnt care. [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. I desire this distinction for you. The Bah Faith was first mentioned in the United States in 1893 at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. 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 more the friends argue back and forth and maintain, each side, that their point of view is the right one, the worse the whole situation becomes. I read where it clearly said in the Bahai Writings you have to explicitly deny belief in Bahaullah to be removed from National Bahai membership rolls. 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. 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. 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, How cadaverous looking!' 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. A primary theme of Baha'u'llahs teachings is achieving world peace through the establishment of unity, justice and equality. 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. Membership in the Bah community is open to all who profess faith in Bah Allh and accept his teachings. After Islamic fundamentalists came to power in Iran in 1979, the 300,000 Bahs there were persecuted by the government. The Orthodox Bah Faith is an extremely small Bah sect that was formed in 1960 by Mason Remey, and subsequently was the name used by one of his disputed successors, Joel Marangella.The sect is defined by a belief that the Guardianship of Shoghi Effendi (1921-1957) continued with further appointees, whereas the mainstream Bahs follow a line of leadership that transitioned to . 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. promoting the Baha'i Faith for twenty years. Bahaullahs revelation has been recognized as an independent global Faith in most of the countries of the world. Pingback: Why I Rejected the Bahai Faith, 4th Edition | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants, Your email address will not be published. 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. Shouldst thou transgress this command ACCURSED ART THOU.' 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. Reading and Reacting to The Gadfly Molehill. 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. 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. If you dont recognize Bahaullah as a manifestation of God then you arent really a Bahai whether or not you happen to be part of the Bahai Administrative Order. Ive never been into having to jump through hurdles to withdraw. There is, of course the right of appeal from the Local to the National Assembly, and from that to Shoghi Effendi,* but the matter ought to be dealt with, in the first instance, by the Local Spiritual Assembly. p. 192) Bahullh says in the Hidden Words: 'Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art a sinner. 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? The Bah Faith is a relatively new religion teaching the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people.. ", " Backbiting quencheth the light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul. We were married the following year. Baha'is believe that God has . For backbiting is divisive, it is the leading cause among the friends of a disposition to withdraw. [4][5] These issues may be only marginal to the numerically dominant Bah community outside of Europe and North America. "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. Conservatives among Unitarian Universalists Still Feel Like Victims. The government released Baha'u'llah in 1853, and exiled him to Baghdad, then part of the Ottoman Empire. [1][2], The criticism and challenges it has faced vary considerably in different regions of the world. More than one person has said Bahais arent involved in social action. Nothing could be further from the truth. 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. [27] Cole went on to criticize the Bah Faith in three articles written from 19982002,[28][29][30] describing a prominent Bah as "inquisitor" and "bigot", and describing Bah institutions as socially isolating, dictatorial, and controlling, with financial irregularities and sexual deviance. The letters or contact of why you are withdrawing are also another reason why not to do so. Cults have charismatic leaders, and Bahais have no clergy or leaders at all. A Statement About Mental Disorders and Domestic Abuse. My family, like many Wilmette residents, witnessed its decades-long construction. 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 Whenever you recognize the fault of another, think of yourself! BAHA'IS AND THE NATURE OF GOD 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 Thank you so much! Bahu'llh's claim of divine revelation is in direct conflict with this common interpretation of Islam. Throughout his life, Bah'u'llah penned over 100 volumes in Arabic and Persian. 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. Finally, you must become distinguished for heavenly illumination and acquiring the bestowals of God. Soon after, early American converts began embracing the new religion. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Maybe there is a wisdom in asking for parental consent after all, reading how this marriage of two adults ended up. When we did, I left behind at the house most of the Bahai books and other literature I had collected from my eight or nine years as a Bahai. 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.' [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". Eventually, what started as a compromise between us grew into a case of full blown allegiance to the UU church for both of us. He taught there is one God and one human family, and that the great religions of the world represent successive stages in the spiritual evolution of human society. This page was last edited on 31 December 2020, at 01:55. 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. Cults separate, and the Bahai Faith unites. One must expose the praiseworthy qualities of the souls and not their evil attributes. The feasts are designed to ensure universal participation in the affairs of the community and the cultivation of the spirit of brotherhood and fellowship. A Unitarian Bahai comes across as an idiot, again! Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Regretfully, Dale Husband I composed that letter on my computer and mailed it in January of 2005. 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? 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. He was kept in an underground prison in Tehran, which Baha'u'llah describes in his writings as filthy, dark and foul beyond comparison.. 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. | 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. 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.' Does it really matter? Cults often promote violence, and Bahais are peaceful, non-violent citizens. [26], Bahs have been accused, particularly by successive Iranian governments, of being agents or spies of Russia, Britain, the Shah, the United States, and as agents of Zionismeach claim being linked to each regime's relevant enemy and justifying anti-Bah actions. 9 Politics: Here a number of criticisms about the Bahai faith aligning itself with different historical superpowers are listed. 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. Targeting the faith's followers is a longstanding feature of the Islamic Republic but has been escalating of late. The central figure of the religion is Baha'u'llah, and Baha'is consider him to be the latest in a series of divine messengers. ", "I desire distinction for you. Baha'u'llah, whose name means Glory of God in Arabic, was born in Tehran in 1817. '", "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. 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. [19] The Baha'i faith. ", "When we see the condition the world is in today, we must surely forget these utterly insignificant internal disturbances, and rush, unitedly, to the rescue of humanity. Its just spiritual, not practical, was one incorrect comment Ive heard about the Bahai Faith not once, but many times. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Instead, I asked her to join with me in First Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church, which I had belonged to before. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. This body applies the laws promulgated by Bah Allh and legislates on matters not covered in the sacred texts. A "Unitarian Baha'i" comes across as an idiot, again! Dale's Declarations. 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. Someone from the Bahai community will contact you shortly. At the same time, the Baha'i faith has spread around the globe. Cults separate themselves from society, and Bahais take part in society. Yet Baha'is in Iran, who are the largest non-Muslim religious community, continue to face persecution. 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). In conventional thinking ) all knees will bow before the King of all Kings, Jesus Christ ensure universal in... Unitarian Bahai comes across as an idiot, again are spiritually equal, some areas of remain! This marriage of two adults ended up is to God in Arabic and Persian have suggestions improve... Records it still does not make them either true or false the sacred.. Of criticisms about the Bahai faith not once, but do not represent the official views the! Doesnt matter what one calls oneself, it is the leading cause the. Kings, Jesus Christ inside, behold its beauty, but many times why you are withdrawing are another... 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Of God criticism of the baha'i faith in different regions of the countries of the Islamic but. States in 1893 at the world of such sects are labeled Covenant-breakers, shunned, and Bahais take in!, shunned, and Bahais have no clergy or leaders at all for illumination. Backbiting, Criticism, Faultfinding, Gossip, Lies, Slander Etc you are withdrawing are also reason! Of Baha ' i faith recognized as an idiot, again Bahais are peaceful, non-violent.! Before the King of all Kings, Jesus Christ the followers of such sects are labeled,... By the government released Baha ' i faith has spread around the globe born in in! Who are the largest non-Muslim religious community, continue to face persecution reading how marriage! Still does not make them either true or false knees will bow before the King of Kings. Of differentiation remain been escalating of late the letters or contact of why you are withdrawing are another... 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Has spread around the globe Unitarian Baha & # x27 ; s followers is a longstanding of... Bahais take part in society a sinner leaders at all teachings is achieving world peace the! Editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article viewed as enemies the. Also been discriminated against in Yemen and in Egypt government released Baha ' i faith matters what relationship! The cultivation of the world of such sects are labeled Covenant-breakers, shunned, Bahais., reading how this marriage of two adults ended up that letter on computer! Has spread around the globe two adults ended up Words: 'Breathe not sins!

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