tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-529510206465492971.post4109724740185729078..comments2023-09-28T08:56:08.598-07:00Comments on Ashodara: The Baha'i Faith and Sufismashodarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15964056330367418258noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-529510206465492971.post-30187806520455649912010-02-10T02:08:54.186-08:002010-02-10T02:08:54.186-08:00FAQ regarding the Haifan Baha'i Cult
Start HE...FAQ regarding the Haifan Baha'i Cult<br /><br />Start HERE (Sourcewatch):<br /><br />1. Baha'i Faith<br />http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Baha%27i_Faith<br /><br /><br />2. Baha'i Internet Agency<br />http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Baha%E2%80%99i_Internet_Agency<br /><br />3. An Episcopalian view of Baha'ism http://www.episcopalcafe.com/daily/interfaith/lessons_for_christians_in_the.php<br /><br />4. Then see,<br />SECTS OF BAHAIS: A Taxonomy of Baha'i Sects, http://www.sectsofbahais.com/<br /><br /><br />&<br /><br /><br />5. Documentary film by independent Israeli film maker Naama Pyritz:<br /><br />BAHA'IS IN MY BACKYARD<br />http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2877478116441126906&hl=en-AU<br /><br /><br /><br />6. LAWSUIT<br /><br />Comment: Larger Haifan Baha'i organization sues smaller Orthodox Baha'i faith for trademark infringement on the name Baha'i and loses.<br /><br />US NSA vs OBF (Orthodox Baha'i Faith)<br />Regarding the court victory by the Orthodox Baha'is, and the suit brought by the Haifan Bahai organization against them:<br /><br />http://trueseeker.typepad.com/true_seeker/court_case.html<br /><br /><br />Judge's decision<br />http://www.truebahai.info/court/139-opinion.pdf<br /><br /><br />**Appellate hearing (Feb 2009)***<br />http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/tmp/LF1FFZY0.mp3<br /><br />Comment: This is an interesting listen.<br /><br />Chicago Tribune Article<br />Monday, May 18, 2009<br />Baha’i rift: Baha’is upset with Orthodox Baha’i Faith<br />Mainstream group doesn’t want the name Baha’i by any other group<br />http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/may/18/local/chi-bahai-18-may18<br /><br />-<br />24: Naser Emtesali's SCRIBD controversial Baha'i documents page http://www.scribd.com/NaserEmtesali<br /><br />-<br /><br />25: Interesting conversation with a Muslim convert regarding Bahaism (early 2010)<br /><br />http://groups.google.com.au/group/talk.religion.bahai/browse_thread/thread/470629758d76627a#<br />-<br /><br />26: The Haifan Baha'i Agenda for Iran spelled out<br />http://haifanbahaiagendairan.blogspot.com/<br />-<br /><br />27: Draconian Ugandan Law supported by Fundamentalist Christians, Fundamentalist Muslims and BAHA'IS (2009)<br />http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/sep/17/ugandangaysdemandfreedom<br />&<br />http://www.iranian.com/main/blog/nur-i-azal/draconian-anti-gay-ugandan-law-supported-american-evangelicals-muslims-bahais?page=3<br />-<br />28: Bayanic.Com<br />http://www.bayanic.com [CLICK tab BAHAISM]<br /><br />& http://theprimalpoint.com (mirror site)<br /><br /><br />==CAUTION NON-BAHAIS==Wahid Azalhttp://bahaicultfaq.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-529510206465492971.post-15739591843134311942010-01-06T08:31:00.919-08:002010-01-06T08:31:00.919-08:00Dear Blogger, You have covered many of the aspects...Dear Blogger, You have covered many of the aspects of Baha'i faith except one, Sects.<br /><br />I would like to inform the readers that there are various sects and divisions among the baha'is. As the agenda of Baha'i faith is to establish universal 'peaceful' government and manage the affairs of the world through their Supreme office in Haifa. This office is chaired by 9 human beings who are all 'infallible'. Their command are the command of God. These are the beliefs of all the haifan bahais except some. So, there are around 19 sects, that hold different beliefs....<br /><br />You can study about different sects of baha'is here :<br /><br />http://www.sectsofbahais.com<br /><br />thank youSome Infohttp://www.sectsofbahais.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-529510206465492971.post-56841810887286658102009-07-05T09:05:18.804-07:002009-07-05T09:05:18.804-07:00You have given a short description about the Bahai...You have given a short description about the Bahai faith and its origin. This article is very necessary to know about the facts of the Baha'i faith. These type of articles increases information.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-529510206465492971.post-36488913726384212542008-08-10T13:57:00.000-07:002008-08-10T13:57:00.000-07:00Having been a member of the Baha'i faith for a num...Having been a member of the Baha'i faith for a number of years in the 1970's, I can attest first-hand to a fundamentalist streak within the group. Anyone who dissented from the majority belief was labeled a "covenant breaker" and his/her ideas were not only condemned, but forbidden to be discussed.<BR/><BR/>I was actually introduced to the ideas within Sufism while I was a Baha'i, since I came to that point entirely ignorant of Islam. I am forever grateful for that introduction. I did eventually leave, however, because although they give lip service to the equality of the sexes, women are forbidden to serve on their highest governing body. THe faithful have rationalizations at the fingertip to justify this exclusion, but it always came out sounding to me like "all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others". To justify the exclusion of women entirely on their "unreadiness" -- which is the excuse offered by their Guardian for doing so -- seems ludicrous on its face to me.<BR/><BR/>However, to each his own.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-529510206465492971.post-52021235079199461702008-06-18T03:58:00.000-07:002008-06-18T03:58:00.000-07:00I will not add or take from what George or Susan h...I will not add or take from what George or Susan have mentioned here.<BR/><BR/>Just comment on your text that I truly appreciated since I like a lot reading and studying on Sufism, specially it's connection to Bahá'í Faith.<BR/><BR/>I also once thought it could be seen as a branch from Sufism. But, while I kept on studying this relationship (Gems of Divine Mistery, The Four Valleys, The Seven Valleys), I noticed that is far beyond that. Bahá'u'lláh used the Sufi "language" when He talked or wrote a Sufi friend, but, for instance, when He wrote Zoroastrians He could look like a renewer of Zoroastrianism (Tabernacle of Unity). This might be a prove that His final aim was, in fact, the unity of all religions of the world, since by doing that (I assume), He was proving all religions come from that same Source.<BR/><BR/>I look forward to read more on these matters.<BR/>Thank you!SAMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06347931788211752492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-529510206465492971.post-81763859581334369882008-06-16T07:30:00.000-07:002008-06-16T07:30:00.000-07:00Dear Rapu, As in any community there is continuium...Dear Rapu, <BR/><BR/>As in any community there is continuium of approaches from the most rigid-minded to those who are so 'liberal' they scarcely take the authority of revelation seriously. But you can't take a few internet postings as Juan Cole did and present them as typical of the community as a whole, much less its leadership. I'll be honest with you. I was once a partisan of Juan Cole but when I witnessed the way he was distorting events and even the meaning of texts in his translations, I had to step back. When he began to speak of a secret cabal going back to Mason Remey having taken over the Faith I began to wonder if I wasn't dealing with someone who was seriously paranoid. <BR/><BR/>There are certainly Baha'is in Gujarat, though perhaps not in the town where you live. The first Baha'i of Hindu background was from Nawsari. His given name was Naranyenrao Rangnath Shethji though he was known as Vakil since he was a well-known lawyer in Surat. He became a Baha'i in 1909. The district of Dang has a large number of Baha'is mostly of tribal background. Here's an article on activities there: http://www.onecountry.org/oc94/oc9410as.html <BR/><BR/>Anyhow if you are interested in meeting Baha'is in Gujarat, I can certainly put you in touch with them if you contact me privately. <BR/><BR/>warmest, SusanSusan Maneckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12808387897564447194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-529510206465492971.post-39967096981591684202008-06-15T00:50:00.000-07:002008-06-15T00:50:00.000-07:00Thank you for providing the source information re ...Thank you for providing the source information re allegations of Baha'i fundamentalism. The person you quote is not a member of the Baha'i community, although he once was. In fact, he is an opponent of the Faith who has vehemently, blatantly, and repeatedly misrepresented it. His descriptions simply do not match up with what is the reality of the Faith for millions of Baha'is around the world.<BR/><BR/>"Juan Cole ... upon his resignation from the Baha'i Faith in 1996, declared that he was a Universalist-Unitarian. ... In 1999, however, he stated that he did after all believe in Baha'u'llah but would not re-enroll in the Baha'i community. ... He has gone on to an apostate career including the setting up of a website in which there is much material attacking the Baha'i community and the publication of three papers in academic journals expanding on his views."<BR/><BR/>http://www.northill.demon.co.uk/relstud/apostasy.html<BR/><BR/>I will watch with great interest for your entries on Baha'i mysticism. There is much academic literature on the subject, the most valuable being written by Baha'is rather than individuals who are outside of the community. The inside view conveys the reality of a religious practice.<BR/><BR/>There are undoubtedly Baha'is in Gugarat. You can contact the National Centre for information through http://bahai.in/.<BR/><BR/>Thank you again for your kind and informative response.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-529510206465492971.post-88194319858850093632008-06-14T09:22:00.000-07:002008-06-14T09:22:00.000-07:00A very interesting account of the Baha'i faith. It...A very interesting account of the Baha'i faith. It is interesting that you mention the Nimatullahi Sufi Order at its founding, since I am of that order, and I lived in the Chicago khaniqah for years, and would drive by the magnificent Baha'i temple north of Chicago on my way to work :)<BR/><BR/>Ya Haqq!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-529510206465492971.post-48631118992261743992008-06-14T04:19:00.000-07:002008-06-14T04:19:00.000-07:00Dear Susan and George,Thank you for going through ...Dear Susan and George,<BR/><BR/>Thank you for going through my post and commenting on it. To respond to some of your queries:<BR/><BR/>I live in a small town in the Gujarat State of India. I have had apportunities of close interactions with Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Parsees and Muslims but unfortuanately not Bahai's. I do not think there are any Baha'is in Gujarat. If you know of any please let me know, I would love to meet them.<BR/>Therefore all my info. on the Baha'i faith has been through books and internet. <BR/>The problem of fundamentalist tendencies among the Bahai's of US is mentioned in the following publication :<BR/><BR/>Fundamentalism in the Contemporary U.S. Baha'i Community <BR/>Juan R. I. Cole <BR/>Review of Religious Research, Vol. 43, No. 3 (Mar., 2002), pp. 195-217 (article consists of 23 pages) <BR/>Published by: Religious Research Association, Inc. <BR/><BR/>As I mentioned in the post, this is an allegation, which may not necessarily be true. <BR/>You might like to contact this author, who I believe is a well known Baha'i himself and also has a website.<BR/><BR/>Again thanks for visiting my blog. I plan to write some more on Baha'i mysticism and would love to have your reactions on it.ashodarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15964056330367418258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-529510206465492971.post-44676476503426161192008-06-14T00:17:00.000-07:002008-06-14T00:17:00.000-07:00Thank you for posting my comments and questions. I...Thank you for posting my comments and questions. <BR/><BR/>I note that the link to my post aboe is to http://www.bahaiview.org/, a fine site, but not mine. <BR/><BR/>My blog is http://bahaiviews.net.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-529510206465492971.post-55385622833385709472008-06-13T13:08:00.000-07:002008-06-13T13:08:00.000-07:00Your review of the Baha'i Faith is very welcome. T...Your review of the Baha'i Faith is very welcome. Thank you. Baha'is look to spiritual brethren everywhere to join us in seeking relief for the persecuted Baha'is in Iran.<BR/><BR/>You also make allegations regarding fundamentalism, doctrinal conformity, and the like within the Baha'i community. What are the sources that you are using to come to such a conclusion?<BR/><BR/>Your allegations certainly do not match anything that I have experienced in my almost 40 years of being a Baha'i.<BR/><BR/>In the interest of fairness, I think that you should provide documentation as to how you come to make these observations?<BR/><BR/>Also, have you had opportunity to partake of any of Baha'i activities to see for yourself or are you basing your conclusions only on what you read on the internet.<BR/><BR/>Again, thank you for taking the time to present the Faith on your blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-529510206465492971.post-86623663662337045272008-06-13T10:23:00.000-07:002008-06-13T10:23:00.000-07:00Thanks for this article. As a Baha'i and someone w...Thanks for this article. <BR/><BR/>As a Baha'i and someone with a background in Islamic history I can certainly attest that many of the motifs found in the Baha'i Writings are derived from Sufism. But as you note, the major distinction is that Baha'is focus primarily on the social goal of bringing about the unity of humanity and not simply the individual goal of obtaining a sense of unity with God. However, there has been increase in spiritual practices within the Baha'i community of late. Now all Baha'is, whether of the East or the West, perform a daily dhikr [remembrance] of reciting Allah'u'Abha (God is Most Glorious) 95 times a day. There is also an increasing stress on devotional meetings and these have become one of the core activities within the Baha'i community. <BR/>But because of the stress on the social dimension of religion, Baha'u'llah did not condemn the organizational aspect of religion as you suggest. What he condemned was clerical hierarchies, whether in the form of a priesthood or in the power wielded by the 'ulama in Islam. There is no clergy in the Baha'i Faith, instead our organization structure consists primarily of elected bodies. As for the allegations made by some that we have become increasingly fundamentalist, I think if you looked closely enough at these charges and those who made them, you will find it is these individuals who have changed, not the Baha'i Faith. They can best be compared to those Sufis who in your own words possess "a feeling of superiority to recognized laws and codes of behavior which came about because they felt they had discovered the "real" truth of life."<BR/>Yet the goal of all mysticism is, as the Sufis say, fanaa or annhilation of the self. It is the opposite of the kind of pride mentioned above. For this reason when Baha'u'llah speaks of the spiritual path in the Gems of Divine Mystery he insists: <BR/><BR/>"Know, moreover, that should one who hath attained unto these stations and embarked upon these journeys fall prey to pride and vainglory, he would at that very moment come to naught and return to the first step without realizing it. Indeed, they that seek and yearn after Him in these journeys are known by this sign, that they humbly defer to those who have believed in God and in His verses, that they are lowly before those who have drawn nigh unto Him and unto the Manifestations of His Beauty, and that they bow in submission to them that are firmly established upon the lofty heights of the Cause of God and before its majesty."<BR/>http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/GDM/gdm-5.htmlSusan Maneckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12808387897564447194noreply@blogger.com