[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. 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. Assistant Professor of History and Middle East Studies, Idaho State University. I sometimes hear, from those without much knowledge of the Bahai Faith, that it is syncretic. [15], Islamic theology regards Muhammad as the Khatam an-Nabiyyin, the last prophet whom God has sent and Islam as the final religion for all humankind. The local spiritual assembly has jurisdiction over all local affairs of the Bah community. Every Bah, however, is under the spiritual obligation to pray daily; to abstain totally from narcotics, alcohol, or any other substances that affect the mind; to practice monogamy; to obtain the consent of parents to marriage; and to attend the Nineteen Day Feast on the first day of each month of the Bah calendar. 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. What are my imperfections?and try to remove them. Ottoman officials later moved Baha'u'llah to the prison city of Akka in Palestine. "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'.". ThenI cut completely all personal ties to the Bahais in the Fort Worth area. An unethical teaching from the Caleb and Sophia Series December 24, 2022. This body applies the laws promulgated by Bah Allh and legislates on matters not covered in the sacred texts. 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. tht ws qck. Finding out about what the Bahai Faith was actually about rather than all the stuff they like to advertise was a big shock. In the early 21st century there were nine Bah houses of worship: in Australia, Cambodia, Chile, Germany, India, Panama, Samoa, the United States, and Uganda. read more. My family, like many Wilmette residents, witnessed its decades-long construction. The Bah's are fully entitled to address criticisms to their assemblies; they can freely air their views about policies or individual members of elected bodies to the assembly, local or national, but then they must whole-heartedly accept the advice or decision of the assembly, according to the principles already laid down for such matters in Whenever you recognize the fault of another, think of yourself! 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. There also exist in the Bah Faith appointive institutions, such as the Hands of the Cause of God and the continental counselors. No, never! The Bah Faith is a relatively new religion teaching the essential worth of all religions and the unity of all people.. 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. [23], The Bah teachings emphasize the need for unity, and have an official line of succession of leadership to prevent schism. More than one person has said Bahais arent involved in social action. Nothing could be further from the truth. Extract from Dale Husbands blog. 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? Consider this your only warning!). [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. But. 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. (5) Moral concerns. 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. ", " Each of us is responsible for one life only, and that is our own. If capable, those between the ages of 15 and 70 are required to fast 19 days a year, going without food or drink from sunrise to sunset. Try making a comment like an adult and I will then treat you like one. The principal Bah tenets are the essential unity of all religions and the unity of humanity. Ratings: +1,422. You must become distinguished for loving humanity; for unity and accord; for love and justice. My life and Cheris together are proof that it can work! Origin of the Baha'i Religion. [16] Thus, authorities in the Muslim world have rejected the Bah Faith and regard Bahs as apostates if they had been Muslims before conversion. Your opinion is based on no facts whatsoever and therefore is not worth considering. 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. Message and data rates may apply. 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. In any case, good luck to you and God Bless. 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. His son and successor, Abdu'l-Baha, traveled to Europe and the United States to spread the faith. ", "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. The followers of such sects are labeled Covenant-breakers, shunned, and viewed as enemies of the faith. Such passages as the following extract from one of the letters written on behalf of the beloved Guardian by his secretary will also be helpful: " 'Each of us is responsible for one life only, and that is our own. Instead, he joined a new religious movement, started by a young Iranian, known as the Bab. "You also ask what one should do to 'handle depression and anger with someone' one feels 'very positively about'. I should update this by noting that I separated from Cheri in December of 2011 and filed for divorce from her on May 7, 2012, finally getting the divorce granted on August 15, 2012. The last claim is partially rooted in the presence of the Bah World Centre in northern Israel. 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. Thanks for the post. (4) The Miller analysis of the Baha'i Faith. 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. In the love of God you must become distinguished from all else. 2,070. Extract from Dale Husbands blog. 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. Abstract This article will explore some of the issues involved in the sociological analysis of the status of the Bah' Faith. 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. There are no initiation ceremonies, no sacraments, and no clergy. 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. 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 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 . 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.' 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