Summed up in Baha'u'llahs words: The Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.. [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. The followers of such splinter groups are shunned and not considered Bahs by the majority. 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. The Babi movement called for revolutionary social changes and championed womens rights. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. 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. Bahu'llh's claim of divine revelation is in direct conflict with this common interpretation of Islam. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. Instead, he joined a new religious movement, started by a young Iranian, known as the Bab. Bah Faith, religion founded in Iraq in the mid-19th century by Mrz osayn Al Nr, who is known as Bah Allh (also spelled Bahullh), which in Arabic means Glory of God. The cornerstone of Bah belief is the conviction that Bah Allh and his forerunner, who was known as the Bb (Persian: Gateway), were manifestations of God, who in his essence is unknowable. Hi, exmuslim atheist here. ", "One must see in every human being only that which is worthy of praise. Do this whenever you are tried through the words or deeds of others. Velma A Good Reason to NEVER Subscribe to HBO Max! 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? And actually the Bahais are far more interested in growing their numbers than spending time and money on charitable work. Pingback: Why I Abandoned the (Haifan) Bahai Faith | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants. In 'Star of the West', Volume 8, No. 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.' The belief in fulfilled prophecies is presented by Bah' authors to demonstrate the validity of Bah'u'llh 's claim to divinity. "If we profess loyalty to Bahullh, to our Beloved Master and our dear Guardian, then we must show our love by obedience to these explicit teachings. 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. (Dale Husband: How old are you? From my understanding, Baha'i Faith is an offshoot from Islam but still believes in Muhammad. 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 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. Goodbye. 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. Baha'is were nonetheless subjected to persecution, as some Muslim clerics perceived their faith to be a heresy. The religion's governing institution is the elected Universal House of Justice, whose membership is male-only. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. 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. But even if these are not taken from the records it still does not make them either true or false. When this is done, one can be a friend to the whole human race. 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.". (Quoted in Star of West, Vol. 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. Message and data rates may apply. I encourage you to look him up and see if it resonates with you. You know nothing about why my marriage failed and it had nothing to do with lack of parental consent. "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 Bah religion originally grew out of the Bb faith, or sect, which was founded in 1844 by Mrz Al Moammad of Shrz in Iran. Therefore, Baha'u'llahs teachings specifically advocate for racial unity, gender equality, universal education, and harmony of science and religion. "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. The Baha'i Faith is a dynamic world religion with several million adherents from a variety of different religious and cultural backgrounds. Check your email for the latest from BahaiTeachings.org. Bah Allh was subsequently confined by the Ottomans in Adrianople (now Edirne, Turkey) and then in Acre in Palestine (now Akko, Israel). 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 . Occasionally Ive heard the uninformed opinion that the Bahai Faith is a sect of Islam not true! I desire this distinction for you. We were married the following year. Browne wrote that while he found them admirable, in his view they are inferior to the simplicity and beauty of the teachings of Christ. You may know of some other misconceptions, and I learned on our interfaith panel that they can be a wonderful topic for public discussion. The Christian Bible clearly displays this concept, as it includes the Old Testament prophets Moses and Abraham, along with the New Testament prophet Jesus Christ, all of whom Bahais revere and consider divine messengers. 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. 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]. Man must be a lover of the light, no matter from what dayspring it may appear. There is no way Im going to use a strangers personal home as a house of worship. Parental consent should only be an issue if the married partners are still minors. 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.". 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. Your email address will not be published. Like all Bahai Houses of Worship, it welcomes everyone, and its nine entrances symbolize the many legitimate paths to the Creator. Religion: Kashmir Shaivism (Trika) I've always found some issues with the main idea of the Baha'i faith, for a few different reasons. Here are the misconceptions I addressed: People often ask where Bahais worship, which perhaps indicates anassumption more than a misconception. Cults separate, and the Bahai Faith unites. 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. "[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. [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]. I sometimes hear, from those without much knowledge of the Bahai Faith, that it is syncretic. Eventually, what started as a compromise between us grew into a case of full blown allegiance to the UU church for both of us. Cults separate themselves from society, and Bahais take part in society. He remained there until his passing in 1892. The Baha'i Faith is a scriptural religion; the current written texts are considered fully authoritative. The Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee, PhD Scholarship - Uncle Isaac Brown Indigenous Scholarship. He must be a lover of the rose, no matter in what soil it may be growing. He was asked 'How shall I overcome seeing the faults of othersrecognizing the wrong in others? 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. Normally, it is possible to describe the situation surrounding a problem and seek help and advice in resolving it, without necessarily mentioning names. 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.. Author Lil Abdo says that the Bah understanding of sexual equality is different from that of secular feminists. [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. 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. ", "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. Marrying that mentally immature woman was perhaps the biggest mistake of my life, and joining the Bahai Faith was the second biggest. Bahais have no clergy. 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. Many things are preserved in records as matters of opinion; no one has given a verdict on this matter! Vangelis was a Living Legend.and he Remains a Legend Forever! A Unitarian Bahai comes across as an idiot, again! In any case, good luck to you and God Bless. All done! [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. (5) Moral concerns. "You also ask what one should do to 'handle depression and anger with someone' one feels 'very positively about'. Baha'is believe that God has . You don't need to belong to a religion to be of service to others and do good in the world. The Bah' Faith is a world religion based on the teachings of Bah'u'llh. Pingback: Why I Rejected the Bahai Faith, 4th Edition | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants, Your email address will not be published. The condemnation of backbiting could hardly be couched in stronger language than in these passages, and it is obviously one of the foremost obligations for Bahs to set their faces against this practice. Ottoman officials later moved Baha'u'llah to the prison city of Akka in Palestine. 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. There are no initiation ceremonies, no sacraments, and no clergy. 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. 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.' 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. The last claim is partially rooted in the presence of the Bah World Centre in northern Israel. Origin of the Baha'i Religion. One of the first Bah institutions in the U.S. was established in Chicago and . Thanks for the post. Selfless Service to Humanity, Eco-Caskets: The Spiritual How - and Why - of Green Burials, Dr. Anthony Lee and the Excavation of Buried Racial Narratives. 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. What are my imperfections?and try to remove them. ", "Indeed the believers have not yet fully learned to draw on each other's love for strength and consolation in time of need. ", "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. He teaches that God is a loving Parent who never uses threats or fear or guilt or shame in relating to Her/His children. Deeds not words are what they demand, and no amount of fervor in the use of expressions of loyalty and adulation will compensate for failure to live in the spirit of the teachings.". 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? 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. 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. In our group, the discourse enabled all participants to deal upfront with common misconceptions about their religions, and allowed panelists and audience members to be exposed to religions unfamiliar to them. 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. Cheri came to love the freedom of thought in that church, despite still being a strong Christian, while I came to love the powerful community the church provided, despite my agnosticism. p. 192) Bahullh says in the Hidden Words: 'Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art a sinner. Christian and Islamic authors (e.g. Membership in the Bah community is open to all who profess faith in Bah Allh and accept his teachings. The Bible provides ALL the answers, in my truly humble (!) in practice you would have lost your administrative rights anyway,. He must be a seeker of the truth, no matter from what source it come. Indeed Baha'u'llah claimed to be the manifestation of God that the Bab had foretold and gained a large following. His son and successor, Abdu'l-Baha, traveled to Europe and the United States to spread the faith. Your opinion is based on no facts whatsoever and therefore is not worth considering. Subsequent public protests and mob violence claimed the lives of thousands of his followers. In the end (undefined in conventional thinking) all knees will bow before the King of all Kings, Jesus Christ. Baha'is, for example, embrace interracial marriage and education for girls. 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.. "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. Abd al-Bah actively administered the movements affairs and spread the faith to North America, Europe, and other continents. 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. 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. But if that fails or if we feel that it is hopeless to try and deal with the matter in that way, while at the same time the case is so serious that the interests of the Cause require that it should be firmly dealt with, then the proper course is to bring the matter before the Spiritual Assembly and have it frankly and fully discussed, calling such evidence as is necessary for the elucidation of the matter. 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