Some Question Answered

 Hello, I have been a baha'i for 2 years now yet i have one question that i cant answer throughout this journey, in bible jesus calls god his father in lots of verses yet in Quran god says thay claimed god had a son how mistaken they are. I can understand that religions essence are same yet practices mag differ yet this one is such a big controversy. Curious for answer ty

Answer:

Hi,

Allah'u'Abha!

Thank you for reaching out with your thoughtful question. The apparent divergence in how Jesus is described in the Bible and the Quran, particularly concerning the concept of God having a son, is indeed a significant theological distinction between Christianity and Islam. Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith addresses this issue, shedding light on the spiritual and symbolic nature of such descriptions.

The confusion, as Baha'u'llah elucidates, often arises from interpreting Jesus as God's literal son rather than understanding the symbolism behind the term "Son of God." This distinction is crucial in discerning the spiritual truths conveyed through religious teachings. Baha'u'llah delves into this subject in works such as "The Wine of Astonishment" and "The Book of Certitude" (Kitab-i-Iqan). The Kitab-i-Iqan, in particular, explores the profound nature of God, emphasizing His unknowable essence and transcending any human attributes.

As per the teachings of Baha'u'llah – "God, the unknowable Essence, the divine Being, is immensely exalted beyond every human attribute, such as corporeal existence, ascent and descent, egress and regress. Far be it from His glory that human tongue should adequately recount His praise, or that human heart comprehends His fathomless mystery."

It is essential to recognize that God, in the Baha'i understanding, is beyond any anthropomorphic description. God is not a physical entity, and the language used in religious texts, including metaphors about familial relationships, aims to convey spiritual truths in terms that people can comprehend.

The compilation, "Nature of God," provides additional insights into this topic, offering a collection of extracts from Baha'i writings that delve into the nature of God. You can explore these passages to further deepen your understanding.

In essence, the Baha'i perspective affirms the oneness of God and recognizes the manifestations of God, including Jesus, as symbolic representations of divine attributes rather than literal progeny. Understanding the spiritual symbolism behind such terms helps reconcile the apparent differences in religious scriptures. If you have further questions or would like to explore this topic more deeply, feel free to continue the conversation.

Hope that answers your question. Do write back in case of any questions.

Regards,

Team Free Baha'is

Reference : The Caravan Vol 7 Edition 6

FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY IN THE BAHA'I FAITH

 ADVOCATING FOR GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY FROM THE UHJ

The recently published US Annual Report for Ridvan 2023 has sparked discussions within the

Baha'i community regarding the issue of financial transparency. While the US National Spiritual

Assembly (NSA) has taken the commendable step of sharing their combined financial statements,

questions arise as to why the Universal House of Justice (UHJ) does not follow suit. As the highest

governing body of the Baha'i Faith, responsible for managing funds on a larger scale, it is crucial to

consider the importance of financial accountability and the potential benefits it can bring to the

community.

Transparency in financial matters is critical for building confidence, accountability, and

responsible management within any organisation, especially religious ones. Faith communities

may give confidence to its members by freely providing financial information, allowing them to

understand how monies are used and promoting active engagement in supporting the

community's goals.

Let us look at the financial statement submitted by the UHJ.

Courtesy: Ridvan 2023 Annual Report, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United

States

The decision of the United States NSA to disclose their combined financial accounts establishes an encouraging precedent for financial transparency inside the Baha'i Faith. While these statements do not provide a full analysis, they do provide vital insights into the institution's financial health, providing some accountability and a basic notion of the direction the community is moving.

The UHJ bears major obligations as the governing body tasked with directing the global Baha'i community, including oversight of numerous funds, such as the Huquq'ullah funds, the Abdu'l Baha Shrine funds, local, national, and international funds, continental and regional funds, etc. Imagine the sum collected by the UHJ and its other administrative bodies in the name of religion. And icing on the cake is that the Haifan Baha'is are tax exempt in Israel, which means that all of their earnings have been declared tax-free. Being tax-exempt means that no federal, state, or municipal taxes are applied to any of their transactions. In the name of belief and tradition, this may be referred to as an organized swindle. Given the scope of its operations, the UHJ should prioritize financial transparency and take proactive efforts to provide their members with a more complete view of the institution's financial activity.

Financial transparency from the UHJ would not only demonstrate their commitment to accountability but also empower Baha'is to make more informed decisions about their contributions and involvement in the community. It would enhance the sense of collective responsibility and ensure that the utilization of funds aligns with the principles and goals of the Baha'i Faith.

The UHJ's financial openness would not only demonstrate their commitment to responsibility but would also enable Baha'is to make better-informed decisions regarding their donations and engagement in the community. It would increase a feeling of communal responsibility and guarantee that monies are used in accordance with the ideals and aims of the Baha'i Faith.

As the top governing organization of the global Baha'i community, the UHJ plays a critical role. Submission of accounts is critical given their responsibility in leading the activities of the Faith, monitoring the management of various monies, and making choices that affect the global community. The UHJ's financial openness is critical for various reasons.

Firstly, financial responsibility guarantees that the UHJ retains the Baha'i community's trust and faith. The UHJ can demonstrate its commitment to responsible accountability and the ethical use of monies entrusted to them by giving a clear and comprehensive picture of financial activity. This transparency creates confidence and invites active engagement and support from the community.

Secondly, sharing financial information helps Baha'is to have a better understanding of how their donations are used and how they match with the Faith's aims and teachings. It allows members to make educated decisions about their financial support and participation in community projects. This openness enables individuals to contribute meaningfully, knowing that their contributions are positively impacting the UHJ's goal.

Furthermore, through submitting financial statements, the Baha'i community fosters a culture of communal accountability and inclusion. It enables real debate and involvement on financial issues, ensuring that resource allocation choices are made cooperatively and transparently. It promotes free communication and engagement among Baha'is worldwide, creating unity and shared ownership.

Additionally, financial transparency establishes a standard of honesty and responsibility that may serve as a model for other organizations and communities within and beyond the Baha'i Faith. The UHJ may inspire other organizations to adopt comparable practices by leading by example, advocating more financial openness and responsible management across many realms of society.

Finally, because the UHJ plays such an important role in directing the Baha'i community globally, filing accounts is critical. Financial openness builds trust, enables informed decision-making, promotes collaborative accountability, and sets a good example for others. By adhering to the principles of accountability and transparency, the UHJ can strengthen its leadership while also contributing to the well-being and progress of the worldwide Baha'i community.

To keep things simple and avoid confusion among Baha'is, the UHJ and its other Administrative bodies should be requested to produce an annual report or other sort of accounting statement. After all, they are all accountable to the community since the funds produced are the result of contributions from the faithful, who have a right to know how much was earned and how it was spent. Let us band together in our resistance to this evident scam and put an end to the distrust that exists between the UHJ, ourselves, and other Baha'is across the world. Will you continue to question the UHJ on Huquq'llah? We'll do it.

Reference: The Caravan Vol-7, Edition 4.

The Leadership of Free Bahá'ís in the Absence of the Guardian

 

Who is currently in charge of the free Bahais in the absence of the Guardian?

Hi Sunny,

Allah'u'Abha!

I appreciate your inquiry; it appears that you are new to the Free Baha'i teachings. We adhere to the pure teachings of Baha'u'llah and the Master. Let me use a quotation from the Master to help you understand why we think there is no longer a living Guardian of the religion after his departure. Abdu'l Baha has said: "There are no officers in this Cause. I do not and have not appointed any one to perform any special services, but I encourage every one to engage in the service of the Kingdom. The foundation of this Cause is purely a democracy, and not a theocracy."

(Reference: Star of the West, Volume 8)

Anybody who acknowledges Baha'u'llah and Abdu'l Baha as their supreme beings is a Baha'i and a representative of the faith. There are no clergy in the religion. This is what sets the Baha'i Faith apart from other faiths. I hope that clarifies your query. Please get in touch with us if you need any further information or have any questions. We'll be glad to assist you!

Regards,

Team Free Baha'is

Reference: The Caravan Vol 7 Edition 1

Demanding Transparency For Huququ'llah Funds From The Universal House of Justice (UHJ)

 

I have noticed that despite repeated requests, many people are unable to obtain the account of the Huququ’llah funds collected by the Universal House of Justice (UHJ). What steps would Team Free Baha'is recommend for addressing this issue?

 

Answer:

Hi Bob,

Allah’u’Abha!

If efforts to obtain the account of Huququ’llah funds collected by the UHJ have been unsuccessful, it may be necessary to escalate the matter to lower authorities within the Baha'i community. This could include contacting the National Spiritual Assembly or the International Teaching Center for guidance and support and indirectly put pressure on the UHJ to act on the same. It may also be helpful to gather support from other concerned individuals and groups, and to advocate for greater transparency and accountability in the handling of Baha'i funds.

One important step that we could take to ensure prompt implementation is to establish clear deadlines for submission, and follow up on any missed deadlines. This could involve engaging key Baha'i contributors to the fund to raise questions in meetings, and ensuring that these discussions are recorded in the meeting minutes for follow-up at subsequent meetings with stakeholders.

Ultimately, it is important to approach the situation with humility, patience, and a commitment to upholding the principles and values of the Baha'i Faith.

Please feel free to share any inspiring stories of your efforts to obtain Huququ'llah accounts from the UHJ. We would love to feature them in our magazine and share them with the community as a powerful example of dedication and perseverance in upholding the principles of transparency and accountability.

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Regards,

Team Free Baha’is

Reference: The Caravan Magazine, Vol. 7, Edition 2

Response to the letters of UHJ – Guest Article

 

This article is in reference to the letters sent by UHJ – An unauthorised and self-proclaimed administrative body. As we have time and again put light on the fact that the Baha’i administration is the biggest enemy of the Baha’i cause and is the root cause of obedient servants of Baha’u’llah leaving the faith.

We have reviewed the letters of UHJ sent during 2022 and would like to point out their clear lies and how they are playing around with the emotions of the sincere followers.

Below are some of the points:

• The UHJ in their letters hype about the Ruhi institute and their teachings. Can UHJ give an exact number as to how many converts they have found in this process?
• Who has approved this institute and the study materials being thought to the children or youngsters. Are they the teachings of Baha’u’llah and Abdu’l Baha or are they the forged and misinterpreted teachings?
• UHJ claims to have made a global plan to attract more seekers (basically found new converts), is this a plan only on paper or will actually be implemented. Because there is no significant increase in the number of Baha’is globally.
• I won’t shy away from saying that the Ruhi institute is just another flop show by the administration.
• When UHJ writes a letter to the ‘Continental Board of Counsellors’ (3^rd Jan 22), they show regret for cancelling the meeting that was supposed to happen in Haifa due to geopolitical reasons. However, when they write letter to the Baha’is very next day (4^th Jan 22) they mention that ‘the continental counsellors are present in Holy Land for the meeting and it is the 6th and final day of the conference.’
• The UHJ has a track record of not responding to queries raised by us (Free Baha’is) on the illegitimacy of the Will and Testament of Abdu’l Baha, the atrocities of Shoghi Effendi and the basis of their suffocating administrative control.
• The UHJ in reality is only enjoying on the funds, especially Huququllah that they get which is not even their legitimate right. Similar to Shoghi, they are stealing from the innocent Baha’is.
• The UHJ boasts about the fact that they have erected the last of the Continent House of Worship i.e. the House of Worship in Chile. Can they say what they have done for the poor Baha’is living in Chile?
• UHJ states that further plans are being made to establish the house of worship at national and local levels. Are they really planning to do so or it is just another attempt to collect the money from Baha’is for their personal enjoyment in Haifa?
• The UHJ should give an account of the amount they have collected from the Baha’is and the amount actually spent towards the Cause. The UHJ is accountable for it and should definitely give an account for the same.
• In the Ridwan 2022 letter to the Baha’i world, the UHJ very clearly lied by saying ‘As we know well and are reassured that… the followers of Baha’u’llah are committed to offering relief and support to those around them, no matter how straitened their own circumstances.’ What relief has the administration offered to others and what support has been provided? Leave alone the general people, the Baha’is themselves have not been provided any relief or support by the UHJ.
• In the letter to the Baha’i world dt. 24^th May 2022, the UHJ very proudly mentioned that 700 Baha’is from 169 countries have come forward to pioneer. Who has this list of 700 pioneers? They are from which location? Who is funding them? As usual, these are just mere numbers, in reality the Baha’is are pissed off with the way they are being treated and pressurised by the administration.
• There are many Baha’is who are even scared today to speak out as they are scared that they will be removed from the faith by being pronounced as covenant breakers.

The Baha’i administration is very cleverly playing with the emotions of the innocent Baha’is by showing them a very colourful portrait which has no reality. When time comes there is no one to stand beside the Baha’is who are persecuted or mistreated.

The UHJ is just using persecution as a tool to raise hue and cry in the United Nations but is not doing anything to actually save the Baha’is, or give them refuge.

A reality check needs to be done by each and every Baha’i and they should do a thorough research of history and faith in order to understand the plotting that has happened after the death of the Master.

Regards,

Jonas S.

Courtesy: https://freebahais.org/response-to-the-letters-of-uhj-guest-article/

Persian Baha'is vs the Rest

The Baha'i Faith the youngest of all the Faiths and supposedly the most united is now suffering from an existential crisis. Already divided into many factions and sects, the Faith is now faced with the existential threat of a power struggle between the Persian Baha'is and the rest. This crisis may lead to the already decimated Faith into a vertical split shaking the roots of the faith.

There is no denying the fact that the Baha'i Faith is born in Persia and Persians have had a great sacrifice in spreading the Faith across the globe.

We will have to go back into the history to recollect that the Persian Baha'is pioneered to places far and wide and have devotedly served the faith. The progress of the faith in the golden era from 1970 to 2010 was mainly due to the efforts of Eidelkhanis, Nakhjawanis, Razavis, Afshins, Rouhanis, Mohajers, Azadis and so on. All familiar names to the Baha'i community, known for their selfless services. While these individuals offered their service they also led administrative positions – so we had people who had practical experience for managing the affairs. 

Subsequently the faith saw some unfortunate developments. While the Persian front-runners toiled, a big section of the Persian Baha'is felt that it was their right to govern the affairs. They had a sense of superiority and prided that they were connected to the cradle of the faith. Perhaps as a result of this, resentment crept in amongst other sections. Added to this was the fact that growing tension between Israel and Iran, made Israel suspicious of the Baha'is of Persian background visiting Israel. And the crack widened.

During Chile Temple inauguration in 2016, many Persian Baha'is used to boast that Faith is spreading in Iran and many family members of the former Iranian President Ahmadinejad is taking part in the Ruhi curriculum. The non-Persian Baha'is used to take this newfound interest of the Iranians in the Faith as an attempt of penetration rather than acceptance. Ahmadinejad was seen as the arch-enemy of the Faith.

So today , while superficially Baha'is express perfect harmony, for most of us it is clear that the gap is too large now and cannot be bridged. Administrative responsibilities have started slipping from the hands of Persians and they make no attempt to hide their discontent. After all, they represent a section that has sacrificed most and have had to face severe hardships for the Cause of God. The rest of the community just enjoyed the outcome of their hard work and yet walked away with administrative posts. 

The non-Persian Baha'is feel that the Persian Baha'is have enjoyed enough limelight and it is high time they take a back seat. There have been few cases of disloyalty by some Persian Baha'is which has added to the demand that Persian Baha'is cannot be trusted entirely. 

As this split widens, though ideologically, the mainstream Baha'i Faith will not break, the future will see a risk of Persian Baha'is forming a separate body for governance of their affairs. Much to the dismay of the founding fathers of the faith and to the pleasure of the enemies of the Faith and Covenant-breakers, there is an enemy within. 

The grievances of Persian Baha'is are expressed in this open letter to the UHJ which is being widely circulated amongst Baha'is.

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

Subject: Persecution of the Persian Baha’is at the highest seat of the Baha’i Administration 

Dear esteemed members of The Universal House of Justice

Paul Lample, Payman Mohajer, Shahriar Razavi, Stephen Birkland,

Stephen Hall, Ayman Rouhani, Chuungu Malitonga, Juan Francisco Mora, Praveen Mallik 

It saddens me to write this letter to the esteemed members. Members, who collectively are supposed to be infallible in their decisions. For quite some time, some of the decisions of the members are being viewed as being with a targeted agenda –cleansing the Baha'i Administration of Persian Baha’is’ very silent callous Racism and fanatism are engulfing the whole Baha'i Community. The Persian Baha'is are being persecuted in whichever land they pioneered and surprisingly the Universal House of Justice is a mock spectator to this persecution.

One could argue that these steps are seen with prejudice. However, when the sequence of similar actions has been witnessed the benefit of doubt reduces. 

Let us one by one see such incidences to conclude whether it is coincidence or otherwise:

1. Recently a prominent Heterodox Baha’i, Omid Seioshansian, who was born in Qatar, was blacklisted in Qatar. Government authorities in the country have levelled criminal and national security charges against him. Mr Omid now will face severe penalties in Qatar’s judicial system. And will be denied entry. 

Although Bani Duggal, the BIC’s Principal Representative to the United Nations, said that “The Baha’i International Community is saddened that the State of Qatar has chosen to expel members of a community that has peacefully coexisted in and contributed to the progress of the country”, the silence of UHJ has raised concerns. Many prominent Baha'is are of the opinion that UHJ is behind the expelling of Omid as they are in the cleansing process of Persian Baha'is and Omid a high ranking Persian Baha'i in Baha'i Administration, who has an eye on selection to UHJ. He has a lot of clouds in countries like India. 

2. Another high ranking Persian Baha'i, a counsellor, Dr Jabbar Eidelkhani who had served for many years in Bangladesh was also removed from his post and a very insignificant Indian Baha'i was asked to step in his shoes. Was this part of a strategy?

3.         Another Persian background lady, a former counsellor and member of the NSA of India, Mrs Zeena Sorabjee, was asked to resign/retire from NSA after being elected on NSA. Fate Accompli?

4. A prominent Baha'i of the USA, Bahareh Moghaddam has been accused of trying to deceive and misguide the Baha'is of Iranian descent by sowing seeds of discord. UHJ just watched silently.

5. Mr Ali Nakhjawani was hunted for his misunderstood statement resulting in ignorant Baha'is daring to ask him that why he gave such a statement. UHJ could have defended in this situation.

6. The case of Baha'i Scholar Ahang Rabbani has not been forgotten. After working for 15 years at the World Centre, he was heartbroken. UHJ had no comfort to offer.

7. Jamshed Fozdar and Feroz Anarki were on the brink of being declared Covenant-breakers but some better reasoning prevailed on UHJ and they stopped from doing such an atrocious act. Both these gentlemen have bitterness still.

8. The Late Mr Hasan Sabri along with Isabella Sabri made fun of Persian Baha'is and used to call them KHAR (donkey) and used to say that Persian Baha'is are misguiding other Baha'is. There are several other such incidences of rebuke. UHJ conveniently ignores these. They use to say Panchami is the centre of deviation.

9. The number of Persian Baha'is as counsellors have come down drastically and the story is not different for the ABMs. They were asked to leave their place of pioneer (where they had established themselves, gained respect and involved themselves in Teaching of the Faith) and settle in some other parts of the world. This is nothing but humiliation and harassment. UHJ chooses to look the other way.

10. When a non-Persian Counselor retires from his post, he is immediately offered another post in his own country. But if the counsellor is Persian, and that too a pioneer, never this opportunity of service had been offered to him or his experience used for promotion of the Faith. This happens under the watchful eyes of the UHJ.

11. A sincere Persian Baha'i Mr A.S. Furudi who took care of the Baha'i property the National Hotel at Pune in India was threatened by one of the members of UHJ that he should come inline with UHJ or face severe consequences.

12. A Persian pioneer a devoted Baha'i Dr. Ahmed Ansari was asked to resign after he was elected as a delegate for National convention. It was feared that he was a sure member of the NSA

13. Payam Shoghi - A person of capacity, he served the faith as a counsellor but he was sacked by the UHJ and was asked to resign from all his administrative positions, just because he was "accused" of forging Documents? Which was never proved.

14. Shahryar Nooreyazdan - He has such a wide experience of the faith. Has given years as a pioneer to Mumbai Community. A person instrumental in building the Lotus Temple and donating huge amounts of his savings was never given any hearing by UHJ. All his suggestions are ignored and were made the centre of mockery.

15. Farida Vahedi - She served the Faith with best of her capacity running the External affair department very efficiently but just some Indian NSA members who did not like her success was asked to resign from the NSA of India. In her place, a dumb Ram Sevak Yadav was brought to NSA just to appease the Hindu nationalist Government.

16. Afshin and his son Naim now live a life of loneliness. Afshin gave all of his golden years for the propagation of the faith in India. Today when he is ill and may be in need of financial assistance, the UHJ is wasting sources on inexperienced, and worthless people like Praveen Kumar Mallik, Rajan Sawant etc. All the "soldiers of Baha'u'llah" are being treated like worthless entities.

17. The Baha'i Academy in Panchgani was subjected to pressure because its Director Mr Lesan Azadi was a Persian and son of a Martyr. UHJ made his life and his family miserable. He was sacked as Auxiliary Board Member.

Such examples leave us with a bitter conclusion that those having Persian (Cradle of Faith) background need to be sieved. It is as though the UHJ sees the Persian Baha'is being responsible for the formation of so many sects. A thought is prevailing in the Faith that Persian Baha’is are working in groups and are having a soft corner for the Persian fourth Guardian Nosratullah Bahremand of the Orthodox Baha’i Faith, who is calling his shots from Australia. Such suspicion has been prevailing for many years now. UHJ has so far not taken any steps to reject this idea.

While all this is happening, the clout of Baha'is with Jewish backgrounds is increasing. Whether it is happening with the connivance of the Jewish state, is a question that then comes to mind.

Esteemed members do look into the injustice that has crept in the functioning of the Faith. Else history would not forget UHJ being the cause of moral and population downfall of our beloved Faith.

A GROUP OF PERSIANS Baha'is

The (Lip) Service of the Baha’i Administration at the time of the Covid-19 crises

Today, Humanity is at a critical juncture faced with the unprecedented and unexpected calamity in the form of the Covid-19 Pandemic. In the face of this crisis, Nations, Organisations, communities and even individuals are engaged in selfless service trying to help their fellow human beings’ tide over the devastating effects of this pandemic. Nations are rising over past rivalries and animosities, and people are rising over racism and xenophobia to help each other.

However, in the face of all of this, the “Baha’i Administration” is doing, as usual, NOTHING MEANINGFUL. The “Administration”, as always, in this time of crisis is bent on paying lip service and nothing more. This way of dumb and mute service is the innate nature of the “Baha’i Administration” and is in perfect alignment with the past set precedents of service of the “Administration”.

Allow me to enumerate the various “Powerful” (read: self-serving and futile; Lip Service) steps which the “Administration” will take at this time of crisis

1. The various secretaries of the Local Spiritual Assemblies will write flowery reports, elaborating in detail each small action done by the individual Baha’is (branded as the LSA’s effort) while exaggerating the same to appear as a humungous effort on part of the LSA. This is while in reality the individual Baha’is themselves are encouraged to do good not for humanity but for LSA reports where each activity in counted. One LSA report states about their dilemma where the Baha’is are asking them for guidance as to how they should serve the community during these dire times! As if any sane person needs guidance on that!!!

The Secretaries of the LSA’s know very well that promotion in the Baha’i administrative order is very much tied to one’s capacity at writing attractive reports.

• The National Spiritual Assemblies will then collect all of these puff pieces to assemble a massive report which will be nothing but a whole lot of blarney. All NSA’s are supposed to be masters in exaggerating the already exaggerated. The reality here is that the re-election of all of these “serving” members of LSA and NSAs depends on these rubbish reports and exaggerations. The secretary of the NSAs will then forwards these reports to the world centre which will then generate a very holy sounding poetic statement which would sound something like this: –

“In city after city, village after village, we see that a greater consciousness of our common humanity is emerging among many people. This is spurring them on to help others and to transcend traditional barriers and prejudices that keep them apart. The Baha’i communities together with local organizations and institutions are raising awareness about the corona virus disease (COVID-19).”

• The next step in their self-serving Lip Service at this time of crisis would be to send out correspondences to figures of authority in various countries (like the office of the Prime Minister etc). This work comes under the purview of the External Affairs Committee of the NSA and is the most important assignment for all of the NSAs worldwide. In these letters/correspondences the NSAs will express their sympathies and solidarity with the government in this crisis while emphasising that they are all obeying the respective directives given by the said government but without ever explicitly specifying how “they” are going to help.

Because in reality they have no intention of helping and the purpose of sending such a letter is much more sinister. What they in fact desire is a response (which is usually issued to all organisations which write to these august offices) from these figures in authority thanking them for their sympathies which will then be used by the administration to publicise their “Achievement”  worldwide – That the Bahai’s have received welcoming and appreciating letters from Heads of States – As if the religion of Baha’u’llah needs validation from them.

While not always, often it has also been seen that a whisper campaign is then started to spread malicious news that such and such head of state is now a Baha’i and is hiding his true beliefs fearing public repercussion – proof of which is a polite letter of thanks written by them (simply audacious)

• The NSAs will then start asking for money from the ordinary Baha’is (whom they fondly refer to as sheep) and from other organisations. Of these monies a very small percentage actually makes its way to relief activities (and the NSAs feel no need to publish statistics regarding how many cents to a dollar is actually spent towards relief activities)  but not before the “Administration” will very shamefully make it into a photo-op, usually with Government officials involved , for worldwide circulation, to show acceptance of the Baha’i faith. 

• And Lastly there is section of the “Administration” called as the Kamalabadi Baha’is who will take great pride in labelling this occasion of misfortune as the revenge of Baha’u’llah on Humanity. They will in fact label all that befalls humanity as the revenge of Baha’u’llah since Humanity has not accepted the message of Baha’u’llah, in their sordid thinking, it is then necessary for Baha’u’llah to take revenge from humanity by involving it in harsh punishments.

This kind of thinking originates from a mind which has suffered years of spiritual rot at the hands of the Administration. Such statements of hate and acting like spokespersons for Baha’u’llah comes naturally to them since they have for long left the true teachings of Baha’u’llah and have adopted false ideas, false systems and false “Administrations” as authorities over them.

I believe that it is the moral responsibility of all true Baha’is to condemn these Kamalabadi Baha’is who find solace in the Misfortune of others (including the many Baha’i who have been affected by this).

Alas, But in these times of tribulations and crisis, it seems that the chosen ones of Baha’u’llah, us Baha’is appear to be the most lost all because of this false “Administration” which does service only when it is self-service and helps only when it needs help in return. And all of this grand charade of service (Lip Service) by the “Administration” at the time of crises is only a means of marking their presence and safeguarding their relevance in our society.

Thank you.

A pained Baha’i

...................

Source: https://australiabahais.wordpress.com/2020/06/07/the-lip-service-of-the-bahai-administration-at-the-time-of-the-covid-19-crises/

 

Being a Baha’i means to love and serve all humanity.

DID YOU KNOW? 

As per Abdu’l Baha, being a Baha’i means to love and serve all humanity.

When asked on one occasion: “What is a Baha’i?” Abdu’l Baha replied: “To be a Baha’i simply means to love all the world; to love humanity and try to serve it; to work for universal peace and universal brotherhood.” 

On another occasion He defined a Baha’i as “one endowed with all the perfections of man in activity.” In one of His London talks He said that a man may be a Baha’i even if He has never heard the name of Baha’u’llah. He added:—

The man who lives the life according to the teachings of Baha’u’llah is already a Baha’i. On the other hand, a man may call himself a Baha’i for fifty years, and if he does not live the life he is not a Baha’i. An ugly man may call himself handsome, but he deceives no one, and a black man may call himself white, yet he deceives no one, not even himself.

One who does not know God’s Messengers, however, is like a plant growing in the shade. Although it knows not the sun, it is, nevertheless, absolutely dependent on it. The great Prophets are spiritual suns, and Baha’u’llah is the sun of this “day” in which we live. The suns of former days have warmed and vivified the world, and had those suns not shone, the earth would not be cold and dead, but it is the sunshine of today that alone can ripen the fruits which the suns of former days have kissed into life.

In order to attain to the Baha’i life in all its fullness, conscious and direct relations with Baha’u’llah are as necessary as is sunshine for the unfolding of the lily or the rose. The Baha’i worships not the human personality of Baha’u’llah, but the Glory of God manifest through that personality. He reverences Christ and Muḥammad and all God’s former Messengers to mankind, but he recognizes Baha’u’llah as the bearer of God’s Message for the new age in which we live, as the Great World teacher Who has come to carry on and consummate the work of His predecessors.

Intellectual assent to a creed does not make a man a Baha’i, nor does outward rectitude of conduct. Baha’u’llah requires of His followers wholehearted and complete devotion. God alone has the right to make such a demand, but Baha’u’llah speaks as the Manifestation of God, and the Revealer of His Will.

(Extract from Baha’u’llah and the New Era) 

This article was our small contribution to the Caravan Magazine. It was added under the Did you know? section, at the end of the magazine. Do share your views on this.

Rejecting the Authority of Clergy in the Baha’i Faith

 
“In this movement there will never be any paid ministers, no appointed clergy, no bishops, no cardinals, no popes, no ceremonies. A clergyman, assuming that he is ordained to his ministry, may think that he knows more about God than anyone else, whereas the humble man in his congregation may know more about God than he does. The sacerdotal and theological position makes a clergyman proud and haughty.” - Abdu’l Baha

(Reference: Diary of Ahmad Sohrab, March 21, 1913)


Clergy are formal leaders within a religion and their roles and functions may differ as per religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. As per the Jewish tradition, a religious leader is often a rabbi (teacher) or hazzan (cantor). In Christianity, the specific names and roles of the clergy vary by denomination and there is a wide range of formal and informal clergy positions, including deacons, elders, priests, bishops, preachers, pastors, ministers and the Pope. In Islam, a religious leader is often known formally or informally as an imam, qadi, mufti, mullah, or ayatollah. Buddhist clergy are often collectively referred to as the Sangha, and consist of various orders of male and female monks.


When I became a Baha’i, I was told that one major difference between the Baha’i and other world religions is that Baha’is have no clergy. It came to me as a surprise because clergies have some defined roles and responsibilities which they perform to keep the Baha’i connected with his religion. One of their key responsibilities is to teach the doctrines of the religion by way of preaching, conducting study classes, and organizing programs that will help spread their teachings to others. Now, if there are no clergy in the Baha’i religion then the question one might ask would be that who performs the duties and responsibilities on their behalf? The Baha’is would answer that it is an administrative body called Spiritual Assemblies who perform these duties, and on top of them is Universal House of Justice these nine members of UHJ are infallible collectively they have absolute authority on Baha’i faith, there decision cannot and should not be challenged by either individual or by community. To my understanding it is clergy in form of administration, but again I came across a saying of Abdul Baha about no officer and no clergy in Baha’i faith, when I questioned this and asked is there any writing or saying of Baba’u’llah or Abdu’l Baha about NSA LSA at local and national level I was told that by such questions and thought you will become covenant breaker

So, instead of calling them clergy, the Baha’is have called them Spiritual Assemblies?! These Assemblies are a group of people who are in charge of the Baha’i faith, who govern the affairs of the community. In addition to existing at the local level, there are national Spiritual Assemblies which look after the affairs at country level. On top of that, we have the Universal House of Justice, a nine-member supreme ruling body of the Baha’i Faith. They are the one who head the religion and are the final authority over the Spiritual Assemblies. By reading that, aren’t you already thinking how this structure is any different to how the clergy system works in Christianity or say Jews or Moslems? Exactly! It certainly has no difference.

How is a fatwa against a Moslem issued by a Mufti any different from a UHJ excommunicating a Baha’i? If the excommunicated Moslem is not allowed to question the Mufti, where in the world does an excommunicated Baha’i stand a chance to question the UHJ?

I have been a Baha’i since past 22 years and have been actively involved in the community but have got several excommunication warnings from the NSA for all the silly reasons in the world. Once I took my wife, who is not a Baha’i, to a Ridvan celebration and there was election of Local Spiritual Assembly and the next day I got a call from an NSA member saying since Ridvan is an Administrative gathering, non-Baha’is are not allowed. When I tried explaining her the fact that I’m trying to influence my wife to become a Baha’i and since it was a big celebration, I wanted my wife to be a part of it, I was given a final warning of excommunication and was asked to accept my fault and apologies for the same. That’s not it, the LSA members started to look down at me and I was not welcomed by anyone in the community. I still do not consider this a mistake on my part and I’m fine with their behaviour

My only concern is, again, how is the ill-behaviour of the NSA or the UHJ any different from the clergymen of the Christian or Moslems or the Jews? We Baha’is are asked to become open minded, do investigation of truth but when you actually become one and start with your reasonings, you’re warned of being excommunicated and kicked out of the community. Irony isn’t lost on me, yet. I am still puzzled, if Baha’is say that there are no clergy in the Baha’i faith and this statement is supported by the saying of Abdu’l Baha, then who has designed this administrative system and from where have they got this absolute authority over the Baha’is? On one side they reject clergymen, but on the flip side they ask us to have absolute submission and obedience to the UHJ, isn’t this double standard?




Source: http://freebahais.org/ Free Baha'is, The Caravan Magazine, Vol. 3, Edition 3