criticism of the baha'i faith

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. About 5 million people worldwide adhere to the Baha'i faith, according to Patheos.com, but other sources say there are as many as 7 million around the world.. (4) The Miller analysis of the Baha'i Faith. There are no initiation ceremonies, no sacraments, and no clergy. People who leave the religion, transgress community standards, or attack it externally are not considered Covenant-breakers. 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. But there are always some who enter and, becoming intoxicated with the splendor of what they behold, remain for life to tend the garden.. claimed the lives of thousands of his followers. Your email address will not be published. Today, Baha'u'llahs shrine, now in Israel, is an important pilgrimage site. Cults separate, and the Bahai Faith unites. Thanks! 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. "As to backbiting, the House of Justice points out that learning not to concern oneself with the faults of others seems to be one of the most difficult lessons for people to master, and that failing in this is a fertile cause of disputes among Bahs as it is among men and women in general. Located there long before Israel became a nation, it happened because Bahaullah had been exiled to the prison city of Akka in Palestine, then part of the Ottoman Empire, about 85 years before the state of Israel was founded. 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. "[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. Instead, I asked her to join with me in First Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church, which I had belonged to before. Mirza Ahmad Sohrab; Lady Ruth White. The Baha'i Faith explained that away by claiming that while Jesus was indeed a Messenger (or Manifestation) of God, His faith had become corrupted over time and thus most Christians were not truly following him, but the doctrines of men. Soon the Bbs teachings spread throughout Iran, provoking strong opposition from both the Shii Muslim clergy and the government. Deborah Clark Vance earned a Ph.D. from Howard University in Intercultural Communication and served as Assoc Prof. and Chair of the Dept of Comm & Cinema at McDaniel College. How cadaverous looking!' ", "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. If some Islamic countries were confused about how to classify the Bahai Faith, why have many of them officially recognized it as an independent religion distinct from Islam since early in the 20th century? Theimplication is that Bahai is Jewish, which may also be mistakenly inferred by some because the world headquarters of the Bahai Faith is in Haifa, Israel. opinion. 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. A Unitarian Bahai comes across as an idiot, again! [7][8], The Bah Faith has maintained its unity and avoided serious division, although several attempts have been made to create sects. Thornton Chase was the most prominent among the first American Baha'is and made important contributions to early activities. 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. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 10, on page 138, there is a record of a reply given by Abdul-Bah in a private interview in Paris in 1913. My life and Cheris together are proof that it can work! Extract from Dale Husbands blog. "You also ask what one should do to 'handle depression and anger with someone' one feels 'very positively about'. Bahs believe in the oneness of humanity and devote themselves to the abolition of racial, class, and religious prejudices. 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. 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. I cant remember if it was one year or two years, but it was probably closer to one year. Cults have charismatic leaders, and Bahais have no clergy or leaders at all. tht ws qck. An overwhelming majority of Bbs acknowledged his claim and thenceforth became known as Bahs. Ive never officially withdrawn or resigned, but stopped being a Bahai either one or two years after declaration. Omissions? 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. [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. Regretfully, Dale Husband I composed that letter on my computer and mailed it in January of 2005. They also. Many things are preserved in records as matters of opinion; no one has given a verdict on this matter! This body applies the laws promulgated by Bah Allh and legislates on matters not covered in the sacred texts. 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. [17], Bahu'llh's teachings on the equality of men and women, and that slavery should be banned, were controversial ideas in the nineteenth century Middle East that contributed to attempts to destroy his movement.[16]. 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. ", "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. [24] The religion has seen a few attempts at splintering, but they have remained extremely small and declined over time. Finally, you must become distinguished for heavenly illumination and acquiring the bestowals of God. It is not an ordinary distinction I desire: not scientific, commercial, industrial distinction. I encourage you to look him up and see if it resonates with you. More than one person has said Bahais arent involved in social action. Nothing could be further from the truth. A few weeks later, the NSA replied that they had accepted my resignation and expressed hope that I would one day decide to return. Bah's recognize the coming of Bah'u'llh as the latest expression of God's guidance . The external article completely drops any pretenses of neutrality, blaming certain events (like the attempted assassination of Iranian officials) as done by . One must expose the praiseworthy qualities of the souls and not their evil attributes. 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. ", "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. 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. In the end (undefined in conventional thinking) all knees will bow before the King of all Kings, Jesus Christ. 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.' One of the Bbs earliest disciples and strongest exponents was Mrz osayn Al Nr, who had assumed the name Bah Allh when he renounced his social standing and joined the Bbs. 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. 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. Knowing you seem similar to my mindset from a brief review of your site, I might be more inclined to try the UU route. According to Bahai law, I would have needed the consent of both her mother (her father was already deceased), and my BIRTH (not adoptive) parents to be married to her. The Baha'is are among the most persecuted religious minorities in the world. Baha'u'llahs followers disseminated his teachings in the Middle East and beyond. (6) Some Baha'i errors. Selfless Service to Humanity, Eco-Caskets: The Spiritual How - and Why - of Green Burials, Dr. Anthony Lee and the Excavation of Buried Racial Narratives. 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. Its like Scientology in trying to manage apostasy in this way. The Bah community is governed according to general principles proclaimed by Bah Allh and through institutions created by him that were elaborated and expanded on by Abd al-Bah. In Iran, where the religion was founded, universities refuse to admit Baha'i students, Baha'i cemeteries have been destroyed and the countrys Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has confiscated properties from Baha'i families. An unethical teaching from the Caleb and Sophia Series December 24, 2022. The Bah Faith is a relatively new religion teaching the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people.. Summed up in Baha'u'llahs words: The Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.. Abstract This article will explore some of the issues involved in the sociological analysis of the status of the Bah' Faith. The Baha'i Faith is a scriptural religion; the current written texts are considered fully authoritative. The Bahai House of Worship in North America is in the town where two generations of my family lived before me Wilmette, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. Shoghi and the Grandsons of 'Abdu'l Baha; The Guardianship of Shoghi: Losses and Losses; Shoghi in the Will of the Master Abdu'l Baha; New History Society; Early Baha'is. 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. 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. Like all Bahai Houses of Worship, it welcomes everyone, and its nine entrances symbolize the many legitimate paths to the Creator. [22] Bah scholar Udo Schaefer stated that the legitimization of the death penalty in cases of murder and arson is usually met with disapproval and suspicion in Europe. Your message was successfully sent to BahaiTeachings.org. RELATED: What is the Best Way to Worship? 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. When Bahaullahs son and successor Abdul-Baha visited North America in 1912, he modeled an example of social action when he told Bahais to racially integrate even in cities which were segregated at that time; and to also apply the Bahai principle of the equality of the sexes to their lives. 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. 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 was kept in an underground prison in Tehran, which Baha'u'llah describes in his writings as filthy, dark and foul beyond comparison.. [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 last claim is partially rooted in the presence of the Bah World Centre in northern Israel. If manifestations are allowed to contradict one another, then there is no way to separate false manifestations from true ones or to discover if any of them really speak for the true and living God. The religion began with considerable controversy. I desire this distinction for you. His writings, which promote peace and unity, are at the heart of the . The Baha'i Faith is not just a collection of philosophical principles or an attempt to combine or conflate religions. To put you in touch with a Bahai in your area who can answer your questions, we would like to kindly ask for a few details about yourself. ", "The worst enemies of the Cause are in the Cause and mention the Name of God. Christian and Islamic authors (e.g. More recently I found that the Dalai Lama said something similar in just two paragraphs of his 10-chapter book, he says hes not an advocate of religious syncretism such as you find in Bahaism.. 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