Ask me anything about the Baha'i Faith

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The term last prophet was and still is interpreted to mean last prophet. Anyhow there is no such thing as خاتم الأنباء والمرسلين.
قال يسوع أنا الطريق والحق والحياة
 
Islam has a “Word” of initiation which is (I believe):

There is no God but Allah, and Muhammed is the Prophet of Allah.

Does the Baha’i Faith have its own “Word” of initiation into the Faith or does it not use one ?
 
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The Bahai Faith does not have a similar formula, and also does not have a rite of baptism. You become a Bahai in your heart; depending on circumstances you may want to join the Bahai community, which is an administrative matter, not a sacrament.
 
Civil law takes precedence over church law, as a matter of principle. Shoghi Effendi writes:

“. Let them proclaim that in whatever country they reside, and however advanced their institutions, or profound 66 their desire to enforce the laws, and apply the principles, enunciated by Bahá’u’lláh, they will, unhesitatingly, subordinate the operation of such laws and the application of such principles to the requirements and legal enactments of their respective governments. Theirs is not the purpose, while endeavoring to conduct and perfect the administrative affairs of their Faith, to violate, under any circumstances, the provisions of their country’s constitution, much less to allow the machinery of their administration to supersede the government of their respective countries.”
(Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 65)
 
Sen_McGlinn said:
The Bahai Faith does not have a similar formula, and also does not have a rite of baptism. You become a Bahai in your heart; depending on circumstances you may want to join the Bahai community, which is an administrative matter, not a sacrament.
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What about the “Word” that Baha’u’llah mandated in the Most Holy Book?
 
The “word” (singular) is usually the equivalent of the kergyma in Christian theology - not a literal word. For example:
"Be not dismayed, O peoples of the world, when the day-star of My beauty is set, … Arise to further My Cause, and to exalt My Word amongst men.
(Baha’u’llah, Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 32)
 
Sen_McGlinn said:
The “word” (singular) is usually the equivalent of the kergyma in Christian theology - not a literal word. For example:
"Be not dismayed, O peoples of the world, when the day-star of My beauty is set, … Arise to further My Cause, and to exalt My Word amongst men.
(Baha’u’llah, Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 32)
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Are today’s Baha’s really that unaware of the marvelous Word that Baha’u’llah mandated for their initiation into the Faith?

Blessed is the one who acknowledges God and His wonders, and who confesses that He is not to be questioned about what He does. This is a Word which God has made the adornment and the basis for His articles of belief, and by this Word the deed of the doers is received. Put this Word before your eyes lest the suggestions of those who turn away cause you to stumble. If God should make lawful what was forbidden in the eternity of past eternities, or vice versa, no one should find fault with Him.**

Perhaps this holy Word was unacceptable to the rationalists that Abdul’Baha was attempting to court, so he did away with it. I wouldn’t be surprised.

** Al-Kitab Al-Aqdas
 
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Jesus saves us from our sins. Jesus redeems mankind. Jesus provides us with the pathway to Eternal Life.

i do not see a need for anyone to pretend they have something more to offer us than what Jesus has already provided.
 
Baha’is don’t really have an “initiation” as such or a ceremony for that. To be a Baha’i means we acknowledge that Baha’u’llah (meaning "Glory of God’ as a title) was the Manifestation of God for this day:

“The first duty prescribed by God for His servants is the recognition of Him Who is the Day Spring of His Revelation and the fountain of His laws… It behooveth every one who reacheth this most sublime station, this summit of transcendent glory, to observe every ordinance of Him Who is the Desire of the world. These twin duties are inseparable. Neither is acceptable without the other.”

~ Baha’u’llah (The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 19).
http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/KA/ka-4.html

I’ll provide you with a sample from an Australian card of declaring of one’s faith:

"I wish to become a member of the Baha’i community. I accept Baha’u’llah as the Bearer of God’s Message for this Day and will endeavour to follow His teachings and the Baha’i way of life. I also accept the authority of the institutions which administer the affairs of the Baha’i community." (Australian Baha’i declaration card)

Read more at

 
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Thank you for your kind reply. However, it does not explain why today’s Baha’is fail to use the Word of initiation that was mandated by Baha’u’llah. This recitation of this Word of initiaton into the Faith seems to be one of the “ordinances” that is mentioned that one must observe in your quoted passage.

Your linked article states that the Baha’i Faith has no . . .initiation. . .
But, as I have noted, the Kitab Al-Aqdas mandates the recitation of Baha’u’llah’s Word for initiation:

". . . by this Word the deed of the doers is received."
 
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Another subject that is more deeply concerning is why the Baha’i Faith continues to ignore the scientific evidence that the corpse of Jesus vanished from the inside of a sealed tomb. That miracle is not, of course, the same as His physical resurrection, but it so strongly implies the same that it must necessarily be accepted as proof that such occurred. Baha’is maintain that they accept science and look to it, but I have not noticed any attention paid by them to this subject even though it is frequently on the news.

Hopefully we will see some discussion here from our Baha’i friends about this important science.
 
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Baha’u’llah was a manifestation of God, but he did no miracles . 🤔
 
undead_rat said:
Thank you for your kind reply. However, it does not explain why today’s Baha’is fail to use the Word of initiation that was mandated by Baha’u’llah. This recitation of this Word of initiaton into the Faith seems to be one of the “ordinances” that is mentioned that one must observe in your quoted passage. Your linked article states that the Baha’i Faith has no . . .initiation. . .But, as I have noted, the Kitab Al-Aqdas mandates the recitation of Baha’u’llah’s Word for initiation:
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Yes … and thanks for your question! There is no reference to a “Word of initiation” that I can find in the resources I’ve consulted. It may be however you are thinking of what Baha’is call the “Greatest Name”. I’ll provide a link here that you can read about the “Greatest Name”:


Again… let me stress here that there is no “rite” of initiation using anything like a secret Word or such.
 
undead_rat said:
Another subject that is more deeply concerning is why the Baha’i Faith continues to ignore the scientific evidence that the corpse of Jesus vanished from the inside of a sealed tomb. That miracle is not, of course, the same as His physical resurrection, but it so strongly implies the same that it must necessarily be accepted as proof that such occurred. Baha’is maintain that they accept science and look to it, but I have not noticed any attention paid by them to this subject even though it is frequently on the news.
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I’m not here on this forum to present any arguments about the resurrection of Jesus. My only purpose would be to respond to your questions about Baha’i beliefs. I will cite a few examples I’ve found from Baha’i sources about the subject:

“As to the resurrection of the body of Christ three days subsequent to His departure: This signifies the divine teachings and spiritual religion of His Holiness Christ, which constitute His spiritual body, which is living and perpetual forevermore. By the “three days” of His death is meant that after the great martyrdom, the penetration of the divine teachings and the spread of the spiritual law became relaxed on account of the crucifixion of Christ. For the disciples were somewhat troubled by the violence of divine tests. But when they became firm, that divine spirit resurrected and that body — which signifies the divine word — arose.”

– Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu’l-Baha v1, p. 192.
  1. Bahá’ís do not believe in a Bodily Resurrection after the Crucifixion
"…We do not believe that there was a bodily resurrection after the Crucifixion of Christ, but that there was a time after His Ascension when His disciples perceived spiritually His true greatness and realize He was eternal in being. This is what has been reported symbolically in the New Testament and has been misunderstood. His eating with His disciples after resurrection is the same thing."

(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, October 9, 1947)
  1. Bahá’ís Should Try to Find a Spiritual Meaning to the So-Called Miraculous events recorded in the Gospel
“Concerning the resurrection of Christ, he wishes to call your attention to the fact that in this as well as in practically all the so-called miraculous events recorded in the Gospel we should, as Bahá’ís, seek to find a spiritual meaning and to entirely discard the physical interpretation attached to them by many of the Christian sects. The resurrection of Christ was, indeed, not physical but essentially spiritual, and is symbolic of the truth that the reality of man is to be found not in his physical constitution, but in his soul. A careful perusal of the Íqán’ and of the ‘Some Answered Questions’ makes this indubitably clear.”

(From a letter written to an individual believer on behalf of the Guardian, August 14, 1934)
(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 491)
 
i am unaware of anything offered by bahaullah that i need. i have received the gift of Eternal Life through Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word. everything else is superfluous in terms of human need.
 
arthra said:
Yes … and thanks for your question! There is no reference to a “Word of initiation” that I can find in the resources I’ve consulted.
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I have mentioned this paragraph from the Al-Aqdas before, but I quote it here again for you:

“Blessed is the one who acknowledges God and His wonders, and who confesses that He is not to be questioned about what He does. This is a Word which God has made the adornment and the basis for His articles of belief, and by this Word the dead of the doer is received. . . .”
 
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arthra said:
I’m not here on this forum to present any arguments about the resurrection of Jesus. My only purpose would be to respond to your questions about Baha’i beliefs.
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Sir, the articles that you have quoted most certainly do constitute arguments that deny the resurrection of Jesus. Scientific evidence now shows that these arguments are erroneous. If the Baha’i Faith cannot defend them, then that Faith should discard them.
 
undead_rat said:
I have mentioned this paragraph from the Al-Aqdas before, but I quote it here again for you:

“Blessed is the one who acknowledges God and His wonders, and who confesses that He is not to be questioned about what He does. This is a Word which God has made the adornment and the basis for His articles of belief, and by this Word the dead of the doer is received. .
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Thanks for your post! Would you mind providing the citation for it?
 
Techno2000 said:
Baha’u’llah was a manifestation of God, but he did no miracles .
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Thanks Techno for your post. I have read a reference in the writings of Abdul-Baha regarding miracles and Baha’u’llah that I’ll share with you here:

"Although the policy of Sultan Abdu’l-Hamid was harsher than ever; although he constantly insisted on his Captive’s strict confinement – still, the Blessed Beauty now lived, as everyone knows, with all power and glory. Some of the time Bahá’u’lláh would spend at the Mansion, and again, at the farm village of Mazra’ih; for a while He would sojourn in Haifa, and occasionally His tent would be pitched on the heights of Mount Carmel. Friends from everywhere presented themselves and gained an audience. The people and the government authorities witnessed it all, yet no one so much as breathed a word. And this is one of Bahá’u’lláh’s greatest miracles: that He, a captive, surrounded Himself with panoply and He wielded power. The prison changed into a palace, the jail itself became a Garden of Eden. Such a thing has not occurred in history before; no former age has seen its like: that a man confined to a prison should move about with authority and might; that one in chains should carry the fame of the Cause of God to the high heavens, should win splendid victories in both East and West, and should, by His almighty pen, subdue the world. Such is the distinguishing feature of this supreme Theophany."

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Memorials of the Faithful, p. 27

"If we carefully examine the text of the Torah, we see that the Divine Manifestation never said to those who denied Him, “Whatever miracle you desire, I am ready to perform, and I will submit to whatever test you propose.” But in the Epistle to the Shah, Bahá’u’lláh said clearly, “Gather the 'ulama, and summon Me, that the evidences and proofs may be established.”[1]
[1 Cf. p. 30, n.1. In giving such importance to this example of the good sense of Bahá’u’lláh, 'Abdu’l-Bahá means to emphasize the uselessness of miracles as a proof of the truth of the Manifestations of God. Cf. “Miracles,” p. 100.]

For fifty years Bahá’u’lláh faced His enemies like a mountain: all wished to annihilate Him and sought His destruction. A thousand times they planned to crucify and destroy Him, and during these fifty years He was in constant danger."

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 34
For more on miracles read:
http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/ab/SAQ/saq-22.html
 
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arthra said:
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undead_rat:
“Blessed is the one who acknowledges God and His wonders, and who confesses that He is not to be questioned about what He does. This is a Word which God has made the adornment and the basis for His articles of belief, and by this Word the dead of the doer is received. .
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Thanks for your post! Would you mind providing the citation for it?
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Lost in Translation !
Now I understand how that marvelous Word that Baha’u’llah mandated for the Faith was lost. It was simply translated away. Here is the official Baha’i version:

“Blessed is the man that hath acknowledged his belief in God and in His signs, and recognized that He shall not be asked of his doings. Such a recognition hath been made by God the ornament of every belief and its very foundation. Upon it must depend the acceptance of every goodly deed.”
 
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