Opinions regarding Baha'i? And one thing I like about them

[thephilosopher6]

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Not all religions are the same.

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” - Luke 11:23

So which is it? Are you a Baha’i that follows Baha’ullah? You cannot follow both Jesus and Baha’ullah. Jesus said,

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” - John 14:6

Baha’ullah on the other hand thought there were many ways to God, including through himself, which contradicts Jesus. So, are you with us or against us?

 

[Spyridon]

Bahaism grew out of a heretical Muslim sect called Babism.

Bahaism is a sort of weird blend of Islam, Christianity, and a sort of neo-gnostic/New Age spirituality, with a few elements of Zoroastrianism blended in.

It’s also a borderline cult, IMO.

 

[Spyridon]

Buddhism

In Mahayana Buddhism there are many deities called Boddhisattvas. But Theravada Buddhism is essentially atheistic. One of the Four Horsemen of the new atheist movement - Sam Harris - is a Theravada Buddhist. These are the two major schools of Buddhism, with various sub disciplines in each school and a few other inconsequential schools.

 

[2towers]

Nice people, very responsive to inquiries. This is just a personal view, but they seemed to me to lean heavy towards Islam. That said, they sre heavily persecuted in places like Iran.

 

[adgloriam]

has a divine trio, not a Trinity.

Thank you for the rigor of that definition. [The Hindus were normally the ones invoking “Trinity” instead of “trio” which can become misleading to a catholic.]

Tibetan Buddhism was affected heavily by Catholic thinking.

This comes as a surprise and I don’t have knowledge of a specific example. @thephilosopher6 gave a broad overview, Buddhism is vast in variation…In mentioning Buddhism it is essential to mention exactly “which” current of Buddhism we are talking about.

 

[po18guy]

Every time I hear someone say “Bahaî”, I reply “Gesundheit!”

Sorry.

The have an impressive HQ at the base of Mount Carmel, and they love everyone and everything, I guess. I know of nothing that they hold truly sacred - and there is the problem.

 

[adgloriam]

I really appreciate your answer @Spyridon (really good stuff, soundest I’ve seen). As you say “Mahayana Buddhism” is full of deities. You will find most discourse claiming no deities or gods exist in Buddhism, which is completely incorrect.

 

[adgloriam]

@arthra first of, let me say it’s the first time I’m speaking with a Baha’i and I appreciate the opportunity. Then let me give my respect to your faith and to you as a faithful.

I do have a three questions, regarding Baha’i faith:

We do recognize the Divine origin of the major world religions and feel that each had a purpose or direction in the age in which they were revealed.

When have you refused recognition of “Divine origin” to any religion? What is your exact stance on denouncing dangerous “manipulation” practices that are common within “sects”?

In how far do you recognize “irreconcilable incompatibility” between Baha’i dogma and those of other religions?

 

[commenter]

The problem with Baha’i is the lack of a call to genuine conversion. It will always have a lot of admirers but few practitioners. Christianity and Islam have a call to conversion. This means “turning”. It does not mean going farther in the path and priorities I have already chosen anyway.

If religion means celebrating my own spirituality, and whatever truths I am comfortable with, I don’t need a religion at all. I do that on my own. Eclecticism is the opposite of conversion; or rather, it makes genuine conversion impossible.

The danger of eclecticism is spiritual pride.

 

[arthra]

Thanks for your questions “adgloriam”! and hope you have a great year!

adgloriam asked three questions and I’ll respond in italics:

(1) When have you refused recognition of “Divine origin” to any religion?

I can’t think of any major religion we would consider lacking a Divine origin…

(2) What is your exact stance on denouncing dangerous “manipulation” practices that are common within “sects”?

_There is an article on our Baha’i board regarding characteristics of cults that may interest you

The Good Tree: Distinguishing the Baha'i Faith From Destructive Cults

Examination of some fundamental characteristics of a cult, to determine whether or not the Baha'i Faith can be so defined.

bahai-library.com

as to an "exact stance on denouncing “dangerous manipulation practices” I know of no such stance at this time.

(3) In how far do you recognize “irreconcilable incompatibility” between Baha’i dogma and those of other religions?

As to your question relating to your term “irreconcilable incompatibility” I’m unfamiliar with any such term being used among us.

I’m adding a few sites regarding the Faith for your further information:

The Bahá’í Faith

The Official Website of the Worldwide Bahá’í Community

www.bahai.org

There is a wikipedia article that is a fairly good summary:

Baháʼí Faith - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[arthra]

Thanks for posting your interesting comments “commentator”! And I hope your new year will be fulfilling for you!

I am responding to your comment above:

“The problem with Baha’i is the lack of a call to genuine conversion. It will always have a lot of admirers but few practitioners.”

When someone recognizes Baha’u’llah as the Manifestation of God for this age they are considered to be a Baha’i and they are encouraged to declare their Faith. In the United States we declare our faith in Baha’u’llah by signing a “Declaration Card”. Usually the elected Local Spiritual Assembly near where the believer lives offers to consult with them and to answer questions they may have about the Faith. There are also classes offered through a program we call the “Ruhi Institute” although taking this course is not a requirement for membership.

An adult Baha’i in good standing can vote in our elections on the local level and vote for a delegate to our Convention and serve when elected on an Assembly, etc. They can contribute to Baha’i funds. No contributions are solicited from non-Baha’is. They can also go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Art

 

[arthra]

Bahaism grew out of a heretical Muslim sect called Babism.
Bahaism is a sort of weird blend of Islam, Christianity, and a sort of neo-gnostic/New Age spirituality, with a few elements of Zoroastrianism blended in. It’s also a borderline cult, IMO.

Spyridon! Thanks for your post! I hope you have an exciting year!

It’s true that historically our Faith began around 1844 with the declaration of Siyyid Ali Muhammad in Shiraz Who is known as the “Bab” (Gate). Most Muslims do regard the our Faith as “heretical” in Iran and Baha’is are persecuted there and have been since the Faith began. Baha’u’llah as an exile in Baghdad in 1863 declared that He was “Him Whom God would make manifest” as promised by the Bab. Most of the Babis at that time recognized Baha’u’llah as “Him Whom God would make manifest” promised by the Bab and became Baha’is.

 

[lilypadrees]

Baha’i is a false religion and not to get involved with. That is what my late Bishop said. I believe him.

 

[adgloriam]

Baha’i is a false religion

I would avoid stating this in these terms. First, @arthra is present and entitled to our respect. Second, this thread has the name of a religion in its title, that alone demands a certain respect. Third, this thread is visible on google we should avoid inciting this kind of denouncement, it may com to add to the circulating religious hate speech. Fourth, we may debate and contrast dogma intelligently but condemning a religion can be against charity and tolerance. Fifth, what your Bishop said was not on the public stage in presence of members of another religion - not even the Vatican would put things that way.

 

[lilypadrees]

I don’t know the person you speak of. Nor do I care if he or she reads my post. The opening post asked for opinions of the Baha’i religion. You may not like the opinion I gave. But I gave it in total honesty. The Baha’i religion is a false religion, one of many in the world today. It was started by someone named Bahá’u’lláh who declared himself a prophet and after his death, his son `Abdu’l-Bahá took over.

There was a poster in the now defunct Amazon discussion threads who posted nothing but the teachings of these two even when asked not to. The poster didn’t want to converse with others. He only wanted to post sayings from his religion’s leaders. No, I do not respect the Baha’i religion or its leaders. I do respect each person’s right to believe as they wish. And I would be polite to and tolerant of someone of that belief system if I saw them in public and we engaged in conversation just as I was polite and tolerant of the poster in the Amazon discussions. But I would not fall for their false teachings or bow down to their false gods.

And in regards to my Bishop, yes, his words about the Baha’i religion were stated on a national radio show. They were heard by many Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

 

[adgloriam]

I understand what you mean and appreciate your position. Especially for your honesty and candor. And more, because you give testimony of personal experience and I find it enriching for myself. I would agree for the most part except the mentioned point, on that I gave my opinion which I hold prudent.

 

[Spyridon]

Well, it is a sign of virtue that you don’t fight the truth and aren’t afraid of historical statements.

Bahaism does have its valid points, and it does get a lot right. IMO, it is superior to many other belief systems - I feel it’s definitely closer to the truth than say Hinduism or Buddhism, and I do consider Bahaism an Abrahamic religion and Bahais as being children of Abrahan and followers of the God of Abraham.

So there’s a good amount of meat and potatoes in common with Catholicism to use as a starting point in dialogue.

 

[Kei]

In my understanding, boddhivista aren’t exactly gods, though essentially they are.

 

[arthra]

I do consider Bahaism an Abrahamic religion and Bahais as being children of Abrahan and followers of the God of Abraham.

I did a brief sketch awhile ago on this topic and I’ll add it here:

We as Baha’is see a chain of Covenants from Abraham linking Christ, Muhammad, the Bab and Baha’u’llah:

“His Holiness Abraham, on Him be peace, made a covenant concerning His Holiness Moses and gave the glad-tidings of His coming. His Holiness Moses made a covenant concerning the Promised One, i.e. His Holiness Christ, and announced the good news of His Manifestation to the world. His Holiness Christ made a covenant concerning the Paraclete and gave the tidings of His coming. His Holiness the Prophet Muhammad made a covenant concerning His Holiness the Báb and the Báb was the One promised by Muhammad, for Muhammad gave the tidings of His coming. The Báb made a Covenant concerning the Blessed Beauty of Bahá’u’lláh and gave the glad-tidings of His coming for the Blessed Beauty was the One promised by His Holiness the Báb.”

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith p. 358

http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/c/BWF/bwf-45.html