What on earth is Baha'i

[bloodyjack]

I must know. Your coöperation is appreciated.

[Bertha Venation]

1. It's a religion. eom

[La Lioness Priyanka]

2. its an religion in the middle east

[Kellanved]

17. not only there

The temple near Frankfurt/Germany is(was? can't really say) a popular location for sunday walks.

[mr_hat]

3. A song from "South Pacific."

[DarkPhenyx]

6. No, no. That's "Bali High". n/t

[VelmaD]

7. *snort*

Hee...you knew the name of a show tune.

[madrchsod]

4. google

interesting religion

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. check out www.bahai.org

The Bahá'í Faith is the youngest of the world's independent religions. Its founder, Bahá'u'lláh (1817-1892), is regarded by Bahá'ís as the most recent in the line of Messengers of God that stretches back beyond recorded time and that includes Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Zoroaster, Christ and Muhammad.

The central theme of Bahá'u'lláh's message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for its unification in one global society. God, Bahá'u'lláh said, has set in motion historical forces that are breaking down traditional barriers of race, class, creed, and nation and that will, in time, give birth to a universal civilization. The principal challenge facing the peoples of the earth is to accept the fact of their oneness and to assist the processes of unification.

One of the purposes of the Bahá'í Faith is to help make this possible. A worldwide community of some five million Bahá'ís, representative of most of the nations, races and cultures on earth, is working to give Bahá'u'lláh's teachings practical effect. Their experience will be a source of encouragement to all who share their vision of humanity as one global family and the earth as one homeland.

[SaveElmer]

8. I once went to a Seals and Crofts concert

Yes I admit it!!! And afterwards they came out to discuss the Baha'i faith that they practiced. Don't remember too much about it though.

[smirkymonkey]

10. Hmmm...sounds very sensible!

Sectarianism is the root of all evil!

[Az]

9. The best way I can describe it

is Unitarian Universalism with god and a bit of a dogma. I have encountered a few members in my travels and am basing my opinion on their representation. They seem to embody ideas of tolerance and acceptance of all. Their beliefs seem to be based on a dogma of some sort (I believe it comes from a prophet).

There is a quite a bit of oppression of them in some countries and they are ill equipped to defend themself as they are pacifists. In the face of aggressive religions they tend to fair poorly.

[XNASA]

11. The Baha'i Temple in Wilmette....

Just north of Chicago. I was always impressed by the Temple but admit that I don't know much about the Baha'i faith.

[AngryAmish]

19. Isn't it cool?

[carolinayellowdog]

12. Wolves in sheep's clothing

Baha'is present themselves as liberal and tolerant to outsiders but are quite the reverse to their own members. Women are not allowed to be members of the international governing body. Gays and lesbians are actively persecuted. Academicians who publish scholarly studies of the religion have repeatedly been subject to inquisitions and sanctions. I have known quite a few Baha'is in recent years and have nothing good to say about the religion, although many fine individuals are members.

[Az]

14. This is a problem with any system

that insists that things are a particular way. Andre Gide's cautionary quote still holds true.

Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it. - Andre Gide

When someone claims to have the low down on the absolute truth they are the one that gets to define it. What are you going to do? Question the truth?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

13. they also have a very famous temple

[starroute]

15. Dr. David Kelly was a Baha'i

And among all the speculation that's been swirling around his death -- whether he did kill himself, and if so why, and if not who murdered him -- the matter of the Baha'i connection is raised from time to time.

http://xymphora.blogspot.com/2004_01_01_xymphora_archive.html#107510299533767911

http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/Kelly.htm

The first of these seems to think Baha'i may have been used as a cover for clandestine operations, while the second suggests that Baha'i itself may have had an interest in promoting the Iraq War.

Either way, I'm finding the whole business intensely disillusioning. My mother told me about Baha'i when I was a little girl, and it sounded intensely idealistic and positive. Now I'm learning it's no better than any other religious organization. That's extremely sad.

[bif]

16. It's a mens cologne

[Canuckistanian]

18. It can't be a real religion

Where are all the holy wars and religious fanatics?

[bloodyjack]

20. well for starters it seems to haveits fair share of glaring contradictions

note if you will the PROGRESSION of appearances of prophets (well this all i could gather from their official website) in this order:

Abraham
Moses
Buddha
Zoroaster
Christ
Muhammad

and last but CERTAINLY not least

Bahá'u'lláh, the guy who came up with the stuff

but how about this UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE jazz, huh! cooooooool

crackpot utopian schemes! consolidating totally different belief systems and hoping people won't notice the chinks in the wall! from what i've read, this just appears to be some well fangled fraud designed to gull and comfort people desperate to put faith in something beyond their comprehension, in the guise of nobler motives. you can construct the most fabulous, extravagant 'houses' of worship, still they won't validate your ideas

besides, monotheistic religions are dangerous