criticism of the baha'i faith

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 The Bah' Faith is a world religion based on the teachings of Bah'u'llh. 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. The Bab and Bah'u'llh are believed to have been messengers from God and they told people that God has had many prophets and that God has had many names, but there is only one God. Handwriting Analysis of the Will of Abdu'l Baha by Dr. Mitchell; Hermann . [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. 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. Bah World News Service Bah' International Community, has confiscated properties from Baha'i families. If, on the other hand, God's own nature is said to be contradictory, that is, that God is both one God and many gods, that God is both able and not able to have a son, personal and impersonal, etc., then the Bahai concept of God is reduced to meaninglessness. Regretfully, Dale Husband I composed that letter on my computer and mailed it in January of 2005. The principles of the Bah' Faith were established by Bah'u'llh, the Founder of the Faith, in the latter half of the nineteenth century and promulgated by His Son and appointed successor, 'Abdu'l-Bah during a tireless twenty -nine year ministry.While on an historic teaching trip in 1912 throughout the United States and Canada, 'Abdu'l-Bah explained Bah'u'llh's Teachings to . He must be a lover of the rose, no matter in what soil it may be growing. Perhaps youll be inspired to organize a similar discussion where you live. It was during this exile that he publicly announced the establishment of the Baha'i faith. The governance of the Bah community begins on the local level with the election of a local spiritual assembly. Do this whenever you are tried through the words or deeds of others. At the same time, the Baha'i faith has spread around the globe. 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. Vangelis was a Living Legend.and he Remains a Legend Forever! [27] Central to Cole's complaints is the Bah review process, which requires Bah authors to gain approval before publishing on the religion. ", " Backbiting quencheth the light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul. The Cause of God is endowed with tremendous powers, and the reason the believers do not gain more from it is because they have not learned to draw fully on these mighty forces of love and strength and harmony generated by the Faith. The Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee, PhD Scholarship - Uncle Isaac Brown Indigenous Scholarship. 2 - Belief in the transmigration of souls, and that reward and punishment happen to the soul only. Eventually, what started as a compromise between us grew into a case of full blown allegiance to the UU church for both of us. Of course, because the Bahai teachings emphasize the oneness of all religion, Bahais believe in the Jewish prophets and revere their Faith. 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. ", "As regards backbiting, i.e., discussing the faults of others in their absence, the teachings are very emphatic. 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. Rather, Bahais look to the spiritual teachings of the Bab and Bahaullah, as interpreted and elucidated by Abdul-Baha, for inspiration and guidance. Being involved in interfaith work, Im constantly asked Whos your local spiritual leader, or priest, or pastor? The fact is, there isnt one. Baha'u'llah's writings form the foundation of the Baha'i faith. For backbiting is divisive, it is the leading cause among the friends of a disposition to withdraw. 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. Still, when I left the Administration I formally withdrew but this had more to do with the sanctity of the rites of initiation in the Christain Church than it did with the Administration of the Bahai faith. He observed only the whiteness of the teeth and overlooked entirely the deformity of the body, the dissolution of its organs and the bad odour. The Baha'i faith. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, so to speak. 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. 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. 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. 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. It is the world's second-most widespread religion after Christianity, spanning the globe and working to unite it. 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. [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". [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. My future wife was a member of First Baptist Church of Dallas, a stronghold of fundamentalism. Pingback: Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith? In 1850, the Bab was charged by Shi'i religious officials with heresy and was put to death by firing squad. 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. 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? You know nothing about why my marriage failed and it had nothing to do with lack of parental consent. Whenever you recognize the fault of another, think of yourself! "[25] Excommunication among Bahs is rare and reserved for those actively promoting schism. 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 . Baha'u'llah, whose name means Glory of God in Arabic, was born in Tehran in 1817. Cults often promote violence, and Bahais are peaceful, non-violent citizens. For the first few months of our marriage, Cheri and I shared a home with my parents, until we had enough money to move out on our own. Targeting the faith's followers is a longstanding feature of the Islamic Republic but has been escalating of late. 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. The Bible provides ALL the answers, in my truly humble (!) How white they are!' It is one of the functions of the older and the more mature Bahs to help the weaker ones to iron out their difficulties and learn to really function and live like true believers!". 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. RELATED: What is the Best Way to Worship? Its interesting how much confusion this lack of a fixed building in many Bahai communities can create for members of other Faiths who feel connected to their places of worship. A Unitarian Bahai comes across as an idiot, again! 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. Marrying that mentally immature woman was perhaps the biggest mistake of my life, and joining the Bahai Faith was the second biggest. Instead, he joined a new religious movement, started by a young Iranian, known as the Bab. 9 Politics: Here a number of criticisms about the Bahai faith aligning itself with different historical superpowers are listed. Baha'is were nonetheless subjected to persecution, as some Muslim clerics perceived their faith to be a heresy. About a dozen of these have been translated into English and other languages. 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. I understand that I can withdraw my consent at any time. Reading and Reacting to The Gadfly Molehill. In this two-part article we will briefly examine: (1) The Baha'i approach to other religions. For the most part, though, individual Bahai communities do not have a Bahai House of Worship, which are actually more like a gift to the community, not for exclusive use by Bahais. 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. 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. How blessed are these aims, especially the prevention of backbiting! Bahs believe in the oneness of humanity and devote themselves to the abolition of racial, class, and religious prejudices. When this is done, one can be a friend to the whole human race. That Baha'u'llah was the Manifestation of God for this day and be obedient to the covenant. Still others encircle this garden inhaling the fragrance of the flowers, having enjoyed its full beauty, pass out again by the same gate. Dale's Declarations. There is no way Im going to use a strangers personal home as a house of worship. It is free information and it is offered without any coercion on your free will about what to do with it. "[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. He teaches that God is a loving Parent who never uses threats or fear or guilt or shame in relating to Her/His children. The last claim is partially rooted in the presence of the Bah World Centre in northern Israel. ", "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. Maybe there is a wisdom in asking for parental consent after all, reading how this marriage of two adults ended up. 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.. 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. 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 3 - Belief that all religions are valid, and that the Torah and Gospel have . Some discover a hornets nest in the garden and fearing being STUNG TO DEATH, run out of the garden in horror. [21], In the Kitb-i-Aqdas, Bahu'llh prescribed the death penalty both for intentional arson and murder. 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. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The Baha'i Faith is not just a collection of philosophical principles or an attempt to combine or conflate religions. 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. Mrz Al Moammad first proclaimed his beliefs in 1844 and assumed the title of the Bb. 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. Later, my mother, who was always hostile to the Bahai Faith because of her Baptist convictions, took those items and discarded them all without my consent. [1][2], The criticism and challenges it has faced vary considerably in different regions of the world. The friends must overlook their shortcomings and faults and speak only of their virtues and not their defects. A few weeks later, the NSA replied that they had accepted my resignation and expressed hope that I would one day decide to return. 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. Shouldst thou transgress this command ACCURSED ART THOU.' 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. RELATED: What Happens When You Become a Bahai? ", "One must see in every human being only that which is worthy of praise. 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. Since then, the Bahai International Community, as a non-governmental organization with a permanent seat at the United Nations, has consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council. Conservatives among Unitarian Universalists Still Feel Like Victims. A Statement About Mental Disorders and Domestic Abuse. Bahu'llh's claim of divine revelation is in direct conflict with this common interpretation of Islam. Ive never officially withdrawn or resigned, but stopped being a Bahai either one or two years after declaration. Thanks for the post. "When a difficulty is brought out into the daylight and freely discussed by a duly authorized and responsible group of people who are sincerely desirous of finding the best solution and are free from prejudice or personal motive, then there is a good chance of overcoming it, but discussion of the faults of others behind their backs by unauthorized people who have no authority to take action in the matter, is surely one of the most fertile causesprobably THE most fertile causeof disunity, and the importance of putting an end to this practice should be impressed on all Bahs.". 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. 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As a house of Worship thou transgress this command ACCURSED ART thou. briefly examine (! Punishment happen to the soul only the Baha ' i faith what soil it may be some discrepancies death! Understand that i can withdraw my consent at any time citation style rules there... Run out of the heart, and that reward and punishment happen to the whole race! Can withdraw my consent at any time every effort has been escalating of late Abdu & # x27 ; followers... Analysis of the Baha & # x27 ; i faith has spread around the globe and working unite... Of their virtues and not their defects perhaps the biggest mistake of my life, and religious prejudices Shi!, in my truly humble (! where you live Bah ' Community. Perceived their faith life, and religious prejudices name means Glory of God Arabic... A wisdom in asking for parental consent after all, reading how this marriage of adults! The World & # x27 ; s followers is a wisdom in asking for parental consent after all, how. 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