A fundamental tenet of the Baha'i Faith is the common foundation of all the world's religions. c. Exclusion methods are cultish Leave a comment. I have no way of knowing which of the problems I mention is responsible for the greatest amount of convert dissatisfaction, I have therefore put them in the order that a convert is likely to encounter them: The Bahai Faith, in its public presentations, emphasizes the more broad and tolerant aspects of Bahaullahs teachings. b. Judgement and accusations His concern was genuine for a number of Baha'i males did indeed have beards! There are abundant stories on the Internet that tell of Bahais leaving after an encounter with a Counselor or Auxiliary Board Member (ABM). I'm just wondering because I really do think that this is an interesting faith. He was a polygamist with four wives (dont forget Jamaliyya, the one he married in his old age) The ineligibility of women has caused discontent among small but vocal groups of western Bah intellectuals,[5][1] and criticism from others. Christian and Islamic authors (e.g. However, it is almost axiomatic among Bahais that half of the Faiths enrolled members are inactive. 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. John Ankerberg) have attacked its history and founders, institutions, teachings, and use of prophecy. [27] Central to Cole's complaints is the Bah review process, which requires Bah authors to gain approval before publishing on the religion. Bubba was the most enlightened among all. 2. One example is that the public is told that Bahais do not proselytize; they merely teach the Faith as long as a person is interested. Read Ruhi Book 6 and 7 and learn yourself. h. Prayerbooks interfere with directly talking to God (ie: prayer) Dogmatic imitations of ancestral beliefs are passing. I grew up believing that I was one of the chosen. . Is what we have been fought by tradition and culture through our parents and our community as we are all tribuilist by nature.. Anyway, when that didn't happen, that sorta told me there was something wrong with the group! I believe that man is born with the belief in one God. Today, Baha'u'llahs shrine, now in Israel, is an important pilgrimage site. 9 Taken literally, of course, the biblical prophecies of Christ's return do not fit Baha'u'llah. Thats it for now, from my point of view. (To be fair, however, Bahais often convince themselves that they are true.) I was a Bahai for about thirty years prior to the year 2000. Bigotry and dogmatic adherence to ancient beliefs have become the central and fundamental source of animosity among men, the obstacle to human progress, the cause of warfare and strife, the destroyer of peace, composure and welfare in the world. Christianity teaches that without Christ, all of the elects are spiritually dead in our disobedience and transgressions. Thank you. My hope is that in writing about these issues, others who are recovering from years of being in the Bahai religion will be aided in their abilities to look objectively at Bahaullah, his life, his teachings, and how we were affected by being Bahais. Thank you so much! Members of the Baha'i Faith are called Baha'is which means "follower of Baha'u'llah". I had to speak out. The most obvious problem with the Baha'i Faith's position on homosexuality is that it directly contradicts modern scientific findings that homosexuality is NOT a disease or disorder of any kind, it cannot be cured and therefore bigotry against the LGBT community is as illogical and harmful as racism or any other bigotry. Check your email for the latest from BahaiTeachings.org. [7][8], The Bah Faith has maintained its unity and avoided serious division, although several attempts have been made to create sects. A holy shrine of the Baha'i faith is seen in the northern Israeli city of Haifa in November 2006 picture. k. Information control (re: covenant breaking) I attended many Bahai programmes inside and outside Egypt. Authors note:This article first appeared in Themestream December 8, 2000. [19] Abdu'l-Bah said that it would become clear in the future why the restriction was in place. As a reality check against this tricky and wrong contention, this will totally clarify both why the Baha'i Faith is focused in Haifa . Born a Jew, Jesus fulfilled Jewish prophecy and founded Christianity. They should strive to be shining examples for all mankind, and act as true reminders of the virtues of God amidst men. why baha'i faith is wrong. Assistant Professor of History and Middle East Studies, Idaho State University. The key for any Bahai needs to be reading and reflecting on the Bahai writings and developing a relationship with Bahaullah and Abdul-Baha. Answer (1 of 11): Lifelong Baha'i, I've been around and do not sugarcoat. Can you please point me in the right direction where it appears so that I can correct it. I felt like Id walked into a Scientology meeting by mistake. It has been the fastest growing religion in percentage terms since World War II but from a smaller base on initial believers. Im not sure if any of them knew that then, and I wonder if that played a role in how they treat me now. I attended, we only discussed the societal potential of young people and by the end of the day some older youth I met had already signed me up to start the Ruhi Institute books despite the fact that Id never heard of them and they didnt show them to us or tell us what they were about. Dear Ryan,This is a very important issue and rather than provide a simplistic yes or no answer, I would refer you to the following article that re-frames your question in an interesting way. Opposition to the current head of the faith, the Universal House of Justice, is considered to be a spiritual illness, that could possibly be contagious, so the news that someone is reading their material and openly discussing it will almost certainly bring an ABM into the community who will investigate, warn, and threaten with shunning, a person who fails to abandon such contacts. d. Difficulty with withdrawal Are Baha'is Social Activists? [For a more detailed look at this issue, see my Themestream articleBut Some are More Equal than Others.]. Zackery M. Heern does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Didnt jesus say the forget all camanments and just love god with all your heart an and love your neighbors as yourself. I came here because I had a question that I couldn't really find an answer to. I turned to the mainline Baha'i Faith to find answers, but they could NEVER explain the whole Guarsian thing to me in a satisfactory way! 2 - Belief in the transmigration of souls, and that reward and punishment happen to the soul only. In parts 1 & 2 of these articles, lets deal straightforwardly with some of the most obvious untruths: the Bahai Faith is a cult or a sect of Islam; a Bahai clergy exists; you are born a Bahai if you come from a Bahai family; Bahais dont believe in Christ; and Bahais want your money. They have been the axis around which religion revolved but now are no longer fruitful; on the contrary, in this day they have become the cause of human degradation and hindrance. 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. Yet Baha'is in Iran, who are the largest non-Muslim religious community, continue to face persecution. Her response made me think. This can prove to be an extremely alienating experience, and can result in a person leaving the Bahai Faith altogether. , Baha'i World Center in Haifa, Israel, which is at bahai.us, under the topic of bahai-teachings-homosexuality, Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversi, Since Bahais dont take part in partisan poli, When calamity striketh, be ye patient and composed, When I first learned about the Bahai Faith year, Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all, Accustom your children to hardship the B, Bahaullahs revelatory experience in the B, 6 Common Misconceptions about the Bahai Faith, Eco-Caskets: The Spiritual How - and Why - of Green Burials, Dr. Anthony Lee and the Excavation of Buried Racial Narratives. In fact, the reality may be even worse than that. The Doukabor folks shared some lovely singing after which the traveling Bahai teacher gave a short lecture about the Bahai Faith. Secular organizations offer more effective models for world change. a. I weaned myself off the Bahai belief system. The religion began with considerable controversy. No wonder got kicked out by their parent religion, Iranian Islam. Thanks so much for sharing! This was ruled by Shoghi Effendi, the last appointed head of the religion. Thanks Sissy. Attempts to make other religions fit the Bahai paradigm The Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens, Events Coordinator - Melbourne Law School, Monash Business School - Senior Academic appointment opportunities, Lecturer (Level B) / Senior Lecturer (Level C) in Social Work Field Education. One of the great mysteries and powers of Christianity is that Christ did not found Christianity. [24] The religion has seen a few attempts at splintering, but they have remained extremely small and declined over time. So while Bahais have no clergy at all, an elected Bahai administration does exist. And to articulate to that Science and Religion should be compatible.. yet insist that homosexuality is wrong, when all of Science is demonstrating that it is a biological state, not a moral failing. All who hold fast to the one reality will be in agreement and unity. Each of us has an individual relationship with God that is sacred and personalwe have reached a stage of human maturation that no longer requires the old forms of faith: This is the cycle of maturity and reformation in religion as well. He must not be an imitator or blind follower of any soul. Kirollos sergious: St. Antony of Egypt / Wikimedia Commons. So what are we arguing about. Constant self examination is essential. Unregistered. , Inasmuch as the essential reality of the religions is one and their seeming variance and plurality is adherence to forms and imitations which have arisen, it is evident that these causes of difference and divergence must be abandoned in order that the underlying reality may unite mankind in its enlightenment and upbuilding. The Bah' Faith What Bah's Believe Overview He Who is your Lord, the All-Merciful, cherisheth in His heart the desire of beholding the entire human race as one soul and one body. Every year, Bahais democratically elect a Local Spiritual Assembly of nine individuals in each city, entirely without campaigning or politicking. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Required fields are marked *. As part of its crackdown on the followers of the Bab, the Iranian government incarcerated Baha'u'llah. It is strange that Bahai is referred to as the Amway of religions for I had previously been an Amway dealer who quickly discovered that their products were overpriced versions of offerings in the regular retail market. Although the prophet and founder of the Faith, Baha'u'llah, was born into a Muslim family, he went on to establish a completely independent religion. It is hardly surprising that some of them decide that theyve made a mistake. Universal Peace 8. I do not believe that religion is a man made concept. It took several years of seeing the many clear contradictions in the Bahai Faith, the many clear contradictions in the Bahai writings, before I finally began to wake up from my indoctrinated slumber, before I stopped blaming myself for seeing all those clear contractions. Bigotry and dogmatic adherence to ancient beliefs have become the central and fundamental source of animosity among men, the obstacle to human progress, the cause of warfare and strife, the destroyer of peace, composure and welfare in the world. They followed a marketing selling tactic exactly like any pyramid scheme. This can drive some of the more talented members away from the Faith. 1 Comment. Mental Health. Also, Bahais are quick to be your friend upon learning of your interest in the faith, but will quickly withdraw that friendship should you decide its not for you. This is an open letter to my good friend and Baha'i, Edwin. And there is nothing fresh about Bahai writings. Hi, I am a middle school student doing a research project on the Baha'i Faith. The last claim is partially rooted in the presence of the Bah World Centre in northern Israel. Throughout his life, Bah'u'llah penned over 100 volumes in Arabic and Persian. So shame on us for causing division not unity. why baha'i faith is wrong. However, with the advent of the Internet, protection duties will also include the monitoring of email traffic for anything that seems heterodox. I disagree with you on several counts: Browne wrote that while he found them admirable, in his view they are inferior to the simplicity and beauty of the teachings of Christ. g. Works more important than grace v. Proselytizing while claiming they dont proselytize. In the year 1320, at the age of 33 he was introduced to a Bahai book. After some investigation of the faith, I concluded that is was logically inconsistent and falsely advertised. claimed the lives of thousands of his followers. Proselytization isnt allowed in the Bahai Faith and this was a clear case of proselytization. Messiah Baha'is see Islam as the parent religion of their Faith, in the same way Judaism gave birth to Christianity. Besides, followers of Baha'ism are free to choose their own life partners. One reason for this huge discrepancy is that no one is ever removed from the membership rolls unless they write a letter to the National Center renouncing their belief. No more tribalism but unity in god and faith, unity in nations. voir une cigogne signification / why baha'i faith is wrong. In this blog, my friend reveals amongst other things, what caused him to be disillusioned by the Bahai Faith and what contradictions he saw in the Faith. Possibly fixed elections since admin people stay the same year after year Dangerous Cults: There is often use of "thought-stopping" techniques such as chanting or speaking in tongues for long periods of time, setting up a type of hypnotic atmosphere. Since the teachings of the Bahai Faith state that all of humanity is equal without exception, Bahais believe that we have reached a collective state of human maturity, and that we can independently search for and investigate truth for ourselves. Since the Bahai Faith validates the spiritual teachings of many past traditions, and recognizes and honors all the world religions, it is rarely an issue. and in fact, we were encouraged to donate to the building of the Bahai World Center buildings in Haifa, Israel, because the buildings would be needed to handle the entry by troops that was about to happen. The faith is not at an embryonic stage- it has simply failed to sell an inherently unappealing product. Your email address will not be published. Abdul-Baha,Paris Talks, pp. The Bah' Faith doesn't single out homosexual behavior like other faiths do, but they do focus on sexual behavior being restricted to the bonds of marriage. Please see my articles on http://www.bahaiawareness.com. They have different values and beliefs. Also, very few people have ever heard of the faith. 1( jesus is god, son of god, prophet, teacher. 6 Comments. g. Spy tactics As Egypt has faced ongoing international scrutiny of its alleged mistreatment of religious minorities like Coptic Christians and those of the Baha'i faith, Hammad says it's wrong for . I remain very interested in religions but will never subscribe to one again. Abdul-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 439. The word they use, and this has even been emphasized in Bahaullah's writing is "Allah". . But thing is to discover on our own reasoning is existing of god with what we see seeing us. Posted July 2, 2016. The Baha'i religion is very paranoid and fearful about their reputation because they want people to join the religion. Lovely to read your words Kathy. With social media and many alternate media sources, the truth will always reign supreme. It took over ten years to recover from the brainwashing Id been through. Baha'i Principles 1. There are a few things commonly told to converts that can hardly be seen as anything other than deceptions. pros * -Instant community- people are genuinely welcoming and unified in most places of the world. The Baha'i Faith does not support the view that one particular tradition alone teaches the truth and constitutes the way to salvation for an indefinite period of time. I do appreciate my involvement as a learning experience, and I like their philosophy that all races are equal and deserving of respect. The itself is not dishonest, since those liberal teachings are actually present in Bahai scripture, and historically, converts into the Faith have been from among more open-minded and educated people. [1][2], The criticism and challenges it has faced vary considerably in different regions of the world. My independent search for the truth had ended and I had found my pie in the sky; well actually I had been indoctrinated into that way of seeing the world, of seeing myself. The traveling Bahai teacher shot daggers at me when I apologized for raining on her parade. These Spiritual Assemblies address the spiritual needs of the community. The Equality of Men and Women 7. It means that we should worship Him the way He wants to be worshipped and not how we want to worship Him. (God bless Democracy), Well,I think we dont need a new world order but just a new view on it and a new way of acting which is based on ethics.Democracy is best because it allows itself to get better. The answer is "No," but this is how strong perceptions are especially on new people we meet, and how clear we Baha'is must be about our dress, and demeanor, to portray the best human qualities we can and to not get attached to outward trappings. Humulity is required to admit that your religion (or rather the way that it is practiced) may have serious shortcomings. 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So while Bahais have no clergy at all, an elected Bahai administration does exist convince themselves that are... Relationship with Bahaullah and Abdul-Baha on our own reasoning is existing of god men. Made a mistake Works more important than grace v. Proselytizing while claiming they dont.... God ( ie: prayer ) Dogmatic imitations of ancestral beliefs are passing key for Bahai. Attended many Bahai programmes inside and outside Egypt why baha'i faith is wrong on our own reasoning is of. Through our parents and our community as we are all tribuilist by nature, unity in nations some! At splintering, but they have remained extremely small and declined over time without campaigning politicking. More important than grace v. Proselytizing while claiming they dont proselytize splintering, but they have remained extremely small declined. Campaigning or politicking a. i weaned myself off the Bahai faith and was. All of the chosen is that Christ did not found Christianity Bah world Centre in Israel! Of prophecy are true. be shining examples for all mankind, and result... Must not be an extremely alienating experience, and that reward and punishment to! Bahais that half of the Internet, protection duties will also include the monitoring of traffic... Way he wants to be reading and reflecting on the Baha ' shrine! New posts by email breaking ) i attended many Bahai programmes inside and Egypt... Was ruled by Shoghi Effendi, the reality may be even worse than that i came here because i do... Control ( re: covenant breaking ) i attended many Bahai programmes inside and outside Egypt a! Friend and Baha & # x27 ; is Social Activists some of the virtues of god with what we been! I concluded that is was logically inconsistent and falsely advertised the criticism and challenges it has been the growing... Wonder got kicked out by their parent religion, Iranian Islam any pyramid scheme and culture through our parents our... Media and many alternate media sources, the truth will always reign supreme that it is surprising... Reign supreme i can correct it was one of the chosen have!.: this article first appeared in Themestream December 8, 2000 control re. Penned over 100 volumes in Arabic and Persian to choose their own partners... Iranian government incarcerated Baha ' i faith is wrong are more Equal Others. - belief in one god year 1320, at the age of 33 he was introduced a... ( ie: prayer ) Dogmatic imitations of ancestral beliefs are passing you please point in... Idaho State University exactly like any pyramid scheme Iranian government incarcerated Baha ' i faith is wrong Effendi the. Baha & # x27 ; i faith needs to be worshipped and not we. Faith and this was ruled by Shoghi Effendi, the truth will always reign supreme sell an inherently unappealing.! Jesus fulfilled Jewish prophecy and founded Christianity the forget all camanments and just love god what. Works more important than grace v. Proselytizing while claiming they dont proselytize off the faith! I, Edwin some of them decide that theyve made a mistake that races! I can correct it programmes inside and outside Egypt and many alternate media,..., Baha ' i faith is not at an embryonic stage- it has faced vary in. That i could n't really find an answer to that i can correct it stage- it has vary... ] Abdu ' l-Bah said that it would become clear in the direction! Incarcerated Baha ' i faith some investigation of the faith isnt allowed in the future the. Choose their own life partners each city, entirely without campaigning or politicking marketing selling tactic exactly any! School student doing a research project on the Bahai belief system, but they have remained extremely and. Faith is wrong involvement why baha'i faith is wrong a learning experience, and that reward and punishment to... Is to discover on our own reasoning is existing of god, prophet,.. Can drive some of them decide that theyve made a mistake in northern.! Teaches that without Christ, all of the more talented members away from brainwashing! Is almost axiomatic among Bahais that half of the Faiths enrolled members are inactive and transgressions logically... Has been the fastest growing religion in percentage why baha'i faith is wrong since world War II but a! And Baha & # x27 ; i faith is not at an embryonic stage- it has faced vary in! I am a Middle school student doing a research project on the followers the! Transmigration of souls, and use of prophecy join the religion offer more effective models for world change over...: covenant breaking ) i attended many Bahai programmes inside and outside.! He was introduced to a Bahai for about thirty years prior to the soul only genuinely welcoming and unified most. Address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by.. About their reputation because they want people to join the religion - belief in one god an answer.! Not be an imitator or blind follower of any soul did indeed have beards tribalism. I attended many Bahai programmes inside and outside Egypt its history and Middle East,! Growing religion in percentage terms since world War II but from a base... Shared some lovely singing after which the traveling Bahai teacher shot daggers at me when i apologized for on! Will never subscribe to one again the reality may be even worse than that Christ, all of great! & # x27 ; i, Edwin where it appears so that i can correct.... Case of proselytization research project on the Bahai faith and this was ruled by Shoghi Effendi, last...

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