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.". 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. 9 Politics: Here a number of criticisms about the Bahai faith aligning itself with different historical superpowers are listed. 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. Also, the lack of actual places of worship was another big shock. 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]. 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. I composed that letter on my computer and mailed it in January of 2005. On the contrary, it would make the dust to settle so thickly on the heart that the ears would hear no more, and the eyes would no longer behold the light of truth. I declared back in 2008 when I was a naive open eyed idealist about the principles without knowing about all the contradictions and stuff. Browne wrote that while he found them admirable, in his view they are inferior to the simplicity and beauty of the teachings of Christ. Vangelis was a Living Legend.and he Remains a Legend Forever! Of course, because the Bahai teachings emphasize the oneness of all religion, Bahais believe in the Jewish prophets and revere their Faith. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Thus you will grow, become more perfect. 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. Throughout his life, Bah'u'llah penned over 100 . RELATED: What is the Best Way to Worship? The Bible provides ALL the answers, in my truly humble (!) Extract from Dale Husbands blog. It will endeavor to present criteria for the labels "world religion" and "new religious movement," as well as explore to what extent the Bah' Faith fulfils these criteria. 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. Ive never been into having to jump through hurdles to withdraw. There also exist in the Bah Faith appointive institutions, such as the Hands of the Cause of God and the continental counselors. ", "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. ", "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 central figure of the religion is Baha'u'llah, and Baha'is consider him to be the latest in a series of divine messengers. In such cases, of course, the name of the person or persons involved will have to be mentioned. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The global Baha'i community is not just a group of well-meaning people. Consider this your only warning!). The Bah Faith is a relatively new religion teaching the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people.. 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. Try making a comment like an adult and I will then treat you like one. 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. https://bahai.works/index.php?title=Lights_of_Guidance/Backbiting,_Criticism,_Faultfinding,_Gossip,_Lies,_Slander_Etc.&oldid=121304. Gods wisdom cannot always be seen by human eyes. Check your email for the latest from BahaiTeachings.org. How cadaverous looking!' If the situation is of such gravity as to endanger the interests of the Faith, the complaint, as your National Spiritual Assembly has indicated, should be submitted to the Local Spiritual Assembly, or as you state to a representative of the institution of the Counsellors, for consideration and action. Mirza Ahmad Sohrab; Lady Ruth White. Maybe there is a wisdom in asking for parental consent after all, reading how this marriage of two adults ended up. You should urge your fellow-Bahs to take this point of view, and to support you in a strong effort to suppress every critical thought and every harsh word, in order to let the spirit of Bahullh flow into the entire community, and unite it in His love and in His service. More than one person has said Bahais arent involved in social action. Nothing could be further from the truth. Instead, I asked her to join with me in First Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church, which I had belonged to before. [12], Regarding the Bah teachings of peace and unity, E.G. Bahs believe in the oneness of humanity and devote themselves to the abolition of racial, class, and religious prejudices. Normally, it is possible to describe the situation surrounding a problem and seek help and advice in resolving it, without necessarily mentioning names. It has an office on the environment involved in sustainable development. It is free information and it is offered without any coercion on your free will about what to do with it. 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. On the 200th anniversary of the birth of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i faith, the question remains: What is the reason for their persecution? The criticism and challenges it has faced vary considerably in different regions of the world. The Baha'is are among the most persecuted religious minorities in the world. An unethical teaching from the Caleb and Sophia Series December 24, 2022. 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. Despite the persecution, the Baha'i faith has attracted millions of adherents around the globe for its ability to transcend nationalism, racism and the like. Christian and Islamic authors (e.g. 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. 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. ", " Backbiting quencheth the light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul. I encourage you to look him up and see if it resonates with you. Importantly, the Bahai Faith first emerged in a Muslim culture in what is now Iran, so Islam could be said to be its parent Faith in the same way that Judaism was the parent Faith of Christianity. You must become distinguished for loving humanity; for unity and accord; for love and justice. The principal Bah tenets are the essential unity of all religions and the unity of humanity. [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. 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. 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. 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.. 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. For most Muslims, the prophet Muhammad was the last and final prophet. Like all Bahai Houses of Worship, it welcomes everyone, and its nine entrances symbolize the many legitimate paths to the Creator. 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. [17], From 1980 onward, several well-educated Bahs left the religion and subsequently criticized it. "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. AJs concepts are not a religion or a cult. Baha'u'llahs followers disseminated his teachings in the Middle East and beyond. Someone from the Bahai community will contact you shortly. 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. Oral reports, although they exist, are considered too unreliable to be fully authoritative and are to . The great bulk of Bah teachings is concerned with social ethics. 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.. 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. 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 problem is that everything you hear in the news is about the superficiality, immorality, and degradation of Hollywood. 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. The majority of Baha'is, however, live in the global south. 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. Throughout his life, Bah'u'llah penned over 100 volumes in Arabic and Persian. 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.". The first time I heard the word syncretic connected with the Bahai Faith was from a college professor who knew I was Bahai but wanted to instruct me about this particular weakness he perceived. Cults separate themselves from society, and Bahais take part in society. 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. The year begins on the first day of spring, March 21, which is one of several holy days in the Bah calendar. [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). 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.". 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. The electoral process excludes parties or factions, nominations, and campaigning for office. Only the last category could fall into the category of reliable sources (although not independent or disinterested sources ). 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 external article completely drops any pretenses of neutrality, blaming certain events (like the attempted assassination of Iranian officials) as done by . What are my imperfections?and try to remove them. ", "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. 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. Summed up in Baha'u'llahs words: The Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.. 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. Bahs believe that all the founders of the world's great religions have been manifestations of God and agents of a progressive divine plan for the education of the human race. 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. 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. [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. Membership in the Bah community is open to all who profess faith in Bah Allh and accept his teachings. The Baha'i Faith is not just a collection of philosophical principles or an attempt to combine or conflate religions. ", " Each of us is responsible for one life only, and that is our own. Pingback: Why I Rejected the Bahai Faith, 4th Edition | Dale Husband's Intellectual Rants, Your email address will not be published. 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. One of them said: 'How putrid has this animal become!' 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. This is the conduct and the manner of the real Bahais (Bahs). "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. Again, it doesnt really matter. 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. Lights of Guidance/Backbiting, Criticism, Faultfinding, Gossip, Lies, Slander Etc. Its six years since I declared and four or five since I became an ex Bahai. No, never! Bahais have no clergy, and in every location where they reside, Bahais live according to this administrative order, following the guidance given to them by the Universal House of Justice, the first truly democratic global system of governance. Many things are preserved in records as matters of opinion; no one has given a verdict on this matter! Mrz Al Moammad first proclaimed his beliefs in 1844 and assumed the title of the Bb. After Islamic fundamentalists came to power in Iran in 1979, the 300,000 Bahs there were persecuted by the government. "[25] Excommunication among Bahs is rare and reserved for those actively promoting schism. 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. The Bb was arrested and, after several years of incarceration, was executed in 1850. 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. Instead, he joined a new religious movement, started by a young Iranian, known as the Bab. Baha'u'llah, whose name means Glory of God in Arabic, was born in Tehran in 1817. This page was last edited on 31 December 2020, at 01:55. I stayed silent about my defection from the Bahai Faith untilOctober 19, 2007, when I posted my first blog entry attacking it. There are more than 100,000 local Baha'i communities in places as diverse as Chile, Cambodia and the United States. Bah World News Service Bah' International Community, has confiscated properties from Baha'i families. Does it really matter? Soon the Bbs teachings spread throughout Iran, provoking strong opposition from both the Shii Muslim clergy and the government. Marrying that mentally immature woman was perhaps the biggest mistake of my life, and joining the Bahai Faith was the second biggest. The electoral process excludes parties or factions, nominations, and its nine entrances the. Of them said: 'How putrid has this animal criticism of the baha'i faith! reading how marriage.? and try to remove them real Bahais ( Bahs ) be fully authoritative and are to and! 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