Bahá'í Faith

The Baha'i religion was founded during the 1860's by Baha'u'llah (1817-1892), an Iranian-born leader of Babi exiles in the Ottoman Empire. Baha'is (as its followers are called) recognize Baha'u'llah as the most recent in a series of divine "prophet-founders" which also includes Zarathustra, Krishna, Buddha, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, and the Bab. That is, just as Islam claims to supercede previous Abrahamic religions, so does the Baha'i religion claim to supercede Islam (and Babism).

From its origins in the Persian and Ottoman Empires, the Baha'i religion attracted a significant number of Western followers by World War I. During the 1960's it expanded into various Third World countries in South and Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, South America, and the Pacific. As a result it now enjoys a noteworthy geographic spread, with a membership drawn from hundreds of nations and ethnic groups.

Baha'is expect this process to continue into the indefinite future, until most of the world's people are Baha'is. Baha'u'llah's teachings, they believe, herald the gradual rise of a new global civilization characterized by world peace. "The earth is but one country," wrote Baha'u'llah (in the Lawh-i-Maqsud), "and mankind its citizens."

Nomenclature

The word "Baha'i" (/baˈhaːʔiː/)comes from the Arabic word Bahá’ (بهاء), meaning "glory" or "splendor"--a term which forms part of Baha'u'llah's assumed title. Properly the term "Baha'i" is either an adjective referring to the religion, or a noun for a follower of Baha'u'llah, but not a noun for the religion itself (though it is sometimes so employed by those ignorant of Arabic grammar).

Members of the main body of Baha'is often refer to their religion as the "Baha'i Faith"--i.e. preferring "faith" to "religion," and treating it as part of the religion's name. Names like "Baha'ism", "Bahaism", "Behaism," etc. are sometimes encountered in older material, or in material by dissidents, but are avoided by mainstream Baha'is for complex historical reasons. ("Babism," however, meets with no objection.) "Baha'i religion" is a common academic usage.

Bahá'í institutions express a preference for the orthography "Bahá'í" (i.e. with diacritical marks), using a particular transcription of the Arabic and Persian. The marks here depicted as acute accents are more properly written as horizontal lines above the vowels. The meaning of the "apostrophe" is ambiguous in this system, but here stands for the consonant 'ayn, a glottal stop; otherwise Europeans might be tempted to pronounce ai as a dipthong.

Size

Attempts to estimate the Baha'i population face serious barriers. Some of these are definitional; e.g., the religion's administration counts as "Baha'i" anyone who has ever signed a membership card, but has not resigned in writing (or died). Others are practical, and arise from the sheer difficulty of estimating a minority population spread over numerous countries (including some where the religion is illegal). Recent estimates have ranged from a little more than a million , to upwards of seven million , with Baha'i sources (and encyclopedias which rely on self-reporting) tending toward the higher number.

Observers often notice a discrepency between official, and apparent actual, figures for various localities. As an illustration, official Baha'i statistics claim the Baha'i population of India to be 2.2 million, whereas the 1991 Indian census discovered a mere 5,575 Baha'is living there.

In answer to criticism that their religion is too small to deserve comparison with Christianity or Islam, Baha'i literature argues that theirs is the "second-most widespread" religion in the world (after Christianity). Their argument assumes the existence of local and national "spiritual assemblies" to be the criterion by which the claim of "significant presence" in a country may be established. (Larger religions usually prefer to focus on the number of countries in which they are the majority, which the Baha'is entirely lack at present.)

Another oft-encountered statement is that the Baha'i religion is the "fastest-growing" world religion, whose current obscurity is comparable to that of say, second-century Christianity. The claim of course refers to percentile growth rather than the absolute number of new believers. Its veracity would depend heavily upon the criteria for inclusion, as tiny religions (which Baha'is avoid listing) find it much easier to achieve rapid percentile growth. Meanwhile, critics challenge the assumption that the Baha'i religion is growing at all. Baha'i demographic estimates may be influenced by a theological belief that the religion is uniquely destined to grow in numbers and influence.

Divisions

Baha'is view their sacred history in terms of "Covenants": on one hand a "Greater Covenant" encompasses previous dispensations, which has existed from time immemorial; and on the other hand a "Lesser Covenant" which binds a major prophet and his followers. Examples of the latter would include Jesus's recognition of Saint Peter (and therefore of the Roman Catholic Church); as well as Muhammad's appointment of Ali as his successor, as per the Shi'a claim.

The Baha'i religion, they say, is unique in that its founder has not only appointed successors, but also guaranteed that they will never suffer usurpation. Therefore it is said that the Baha'i religion can never dissolve into sects, as have other religions. While schisms have in fact occurred, mainstream Baha'is note with satisfaction that none of their presumed rivals have attracted a significant following, and that many have disappeared.

For Baha'is, to accept Baha'u'llah while rejecting his chosen successors is one of the most terrible of sins--the sin of "covenant breaking". The question of which claimant qualifies as the genuine successor is therefore a matter of profound spiritual importance. Members of different Baha'i "denominations" are generally instructed to shun one another.

Of the several millions (?) of people identifying as Baha'is, all but a few hundred recognize an institution called Universal House of Justice in Haifa, Israel (est. 1963) as their religion's supreme body. Extant splinter groups include:

• The Orthodox Bahá'í Faith - accepts Charles Mason Remey as the Second Guardian (after Shoghi Effendi, their last point of commonality with the Baha'i mainstream), and Joel Marangella as the third.

• Bahá'ís Under the Provisions of the Covenant - established by Leland Jensen, one of the followers of Mason Remey, who believed that Pepe Remey was the Third Guardian. Apart from issues of leadership, this group differs from the majority of Bahá'ís in many areas of belief, most notably in its focus on and interpretation of Christian prophecy.

• The Reform Baha'i Faith -- founded 2004 by Frederick Glaysher, who aspires to unite liberal, ex-, and "unenrolled" Baha'is under a common banner. Its activities are limited mainly to the internet. Uniquely among Baha'i groups, it rejects the practice of shunning.

Some critics complain of what they see as a rise of Baha'i Fundamentalism. Official Baha'i sources reject for theological reasons the suggestion that the religion might suffer any form of divisions, including a conservative / liberal split. In fact Baha'i tradition incorporates classic liberal emphases (such as feminism and race unity) as well as conservative ones (such as submission to authority); outsiders are somewhat more likely to encounter the former.

Sect or Religion?

Baha'is consider theirs to be an "independent world religion" whose relationship to Islam is similar to that of Christianity to Judaism, or of Buddhism to Hinduism. That is to say, while Baha'is recognize Islam as their parent religion, and the source of much of their theology and practice, they categorically reject a Muslim identity for themselves. Much Baha'i literature insists on the religion's equal status with "other" major world religions (size nothwithstanding). Terms such as "sect" are rejected on theological grounds as they tend to reduce the Baha'i religion to a subset of Islam.

This perspective became normative under the leadership of Shoghi Effendi. Previously, Baha'is from Muslim backgrounds would have been assumed to be Muslims, albeit of a special sect; whereas early Western converts often assumed the Baha'is to be an ecumenical group open to members of any religion.

A number of Muslim authorities reject the notion that Baha'is constitute an independent religion. Islamic law recognizes as a Muslim, anyone who accepts Muhammad as a prophet of God (which Baha'is do). Baha'is accept Muhammad as the Seal of the Prophets, but interpret this phrase in such a way as to allow additional prophets (such as Baha'u'llah) after Muhammad. Thus, from a Muslim perspective they resemble the Ahmadiyyah movement, with the crucial difference that Baha'is claim that Islamic law has been superceded.

The Baha'i religion is sometimes treated as a New Religious Movement (NRM), by those who accept 19th-century movements as "new." As such it would be grouped with Mormonism or Theosophy, or (limiting ourselves to groups claiming to be independent religions) to Tenrikyo or Caodaism--and indeed, constitute one of the largest and most established of such groups. No other NRM claiming to be a religion per se, can boast such a widespread and diverse body of believers.

Ex-Baha'is sometimes accuse their former religion of qualifying as a cult in the pejorative sense. In this case a comparison with Utah Mormonism is particularly apt. Both groups are open about their beliefs, boast more than 150 years of tradition (though with major changes), and are now led by institutions as opposed to charismatic leaders. On the other hand, each has expelled dissidents and liberal scholars, and taken various other steps to maintain the authority of its leadership, and the perceived integrity of its teachings.

History

Baha'is conceive of human history in terms of hazaran ("millennia"), prophetic dispensations of approximately a thousand years each. For example, the dispensation of Muhammad is held to have lasted from the seventh century until AD 1844. We are now living in the "Baha'i Era," the "millennium" of Baha'u'llah which is to last at least a thousand years (until the appearance of the next prophet).

Within this hazar, Baha'is distinguish between a "Heroic Age" of the religion (1844-1892) characterized by the activity of the Bab and Baha'u'llah; an "Apostolic Age" (1892-1921) dominated by Abdul-Baha; and a "Formative Age" (1921-present) of institution-building. The latter is subdivided into (so far) two "epochs" respectively dominated by Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice. A fourth, "Golden Age" of world peace and unity is expected to arise in the future.

"The Forerunner," the Bab

The Baha'i calendar begins with AD 1844 as the Year One of the "Baha'i Era" (or 1 B.E.). This year marks not the beginning of the Baha'i religion but of its predecessor movement, called Babism, which flourished in Iran between 1845 and 1852.

As one faction within the Shaykhi school of Iraqi Shi'ism, the Babis recognized a special (but debated) religious station for their leader, the Bab. According to the Baha'i interpretation, the Bab was the next major prophet after Muhammad; and the last before Baha'u'llah. In contrast to other prophetic dispensations, which tend to endure for many centuries, the Babi movement--again according to the Baha'i understanding--barely outlived the execution of its founder, which occurred in 1850. (In fact a remnant of several thousand continues to exist today under the name of Bayani.) The Bab's main purpose, say Baha'is, was to pave the way for the dispensation of Baha'u'llah.

In 1852, vengeful Babis failed in an assassination attempt against Nasser-al-Din Shah Qajar. This led to the expulsion from Iran of surviving Babis, who found themselves exiled to the Ottoman Empire, Russian Transcaspia, or India. Included in the Ottoman exile community was the Bab's chosen successor--known to Baha'is as "Mirza Yahya" and to Bayanis as Subh-i-Azal ("Morning of Eternity")--as well as his younger half-brother Baha'u'llah.

The Bab's chief works were his Qayyum al-Asma ("Resurrection of Names," a commentary on the Qur'anic Sura of Joseph,) and Persian and Arabic versions of the Bayan("Exposition"). Baha'is would be most familiar with a volume of extracts entitled Selections from the Writings of the Bab.

The Founder, Baha'u'llah

By the 1860's, a rift had developed among the Babi exiles in the Ottoman Empire, between the partisans of Subh-i-Azal and Baha'u'llah. While Subh-i-Azal had been named as the Bab's successor, Baha'u'llah claimed to be "Him Whom God Shall Make Manifest" (man yuzhatir'u'llah), a messianic figure predicted by the Bab to appear in the future.

According to the Baha'i interpretation, the authority of a prophet ought to be considered greater than that of the leader of a religion founded by a previous prophet. (The pope, for example, ought to submit to the returned Christ.) Thus, they say, the Babis had a duty to follow Baha'u'llah in place of Subh-i-Azal. Those who did not are remembered as "covenant-breakers," despite the fact that they were never Baha'is to begin with, following what Baha'is consider to have been another religion.

Public announcement of Baha'u'llah's claim led to violence between the two factions in 1866, and finally to their enforced separation. The Ottoman government sent the Babis to Famagusta, Cyprus, and the Baha'is to Acre in Palestine. Baha'u'llah spent the remainder of his life in the area of Acre, as a prisoner. From there he received visitors and composed religious writings, which Baha'is regard as infallible.

Baha'u'llah's writings cover the spectrum of traditional Iranian literary subjects and include Sufi maxims (e.g. The Hidden Words), interpretations of scriptural prophecies (notably the Kitab-i-Iqan, the "Book of Certitude"), and legal interpretations (the Kitab-i-Aqdas, discussed below). In addition he apparently contacted various world leaders, inviting them to accept his claims and commands. These letters are collected under the title Summons of the Lord of Hosts.

"The Master", Abdul-Baha

After Baha'u'llah's death in 1892, his son Abdul-Baha (1844-1921) became his successor. Early Western converts were under the impression that just as Baha'u'llah was God, his son Abdul-Baha must be the Second Coming of Christ. Abdul-Baha, however, disclaimed such a role for himself. Baha'is refer to him as "The Master" and as "The Center of the Covenant," and view him as the faithful servant of his father Baha'u'llah, an ideal model for Baha'is to follow. He is said to be infallible in matters of religious interpretation. A photo of Abdul-Baha can often be found in the place of honor in Baha'i homes. (Baha'u'llah's is avoided owing to the suggestion of idolatry.)

Thanks to the Young Turk Revolution, Abdul-Baha was able to leave Ottoman territory for Europe and America during the years 1912-1913. He spoke on various liberal causes of the day (racial amity, women's suffrage, Esperanto), to various audiences, many consisting of Western spiritual seekers interested in such things as Theosophy or Spiritualism. Kahlil Gibran drew his portrait at this time (and according to one account, considered becoming a Baha'i).

Among Abdul-Baha's writings and recorded speeches, Baha'is would be most familiar with Paris Talks, Tablets of the Divine Plan, The Promulgation of Universal Peace and Some Answered Questions. In addition, Abdul-Baha was the anonymous author of A Traveller's Narrative: Written To Illustrate the Episode of the Bab.

"The Guardian," Shoghi Effendi

In his will, Baha'u'llah named his son Abdul-Baha as his immediate successor--but further specified that after Abdul-Baha's death, leadership should pass to another son of Baha'u'llah, Muhammad 'Ali. Instead, Abdul-Baha excommunicated Muhammad 'Ali, and in his own will named as his successor, his (Abdul-Baha's) grandson Shoghi Effendi (1897-1957).

Each side excommunicated and vilified the other, calling on the new British government of Palestine to intervene in their dispute. At stake were not only spiritual honor but also property rights and access to gravesites. Mindful perhaps of Abdul-Baha's wartime support, the British government decided in Shoghi Effendi's favor. Muhammad 'Ali's partisans became known as Unitarian Baha'is, and are apparently no longer extant as a religious identity (their descendents having reverted to Islam).

Baha'is refer to Shoghi Effendi as "the Guardian" of the faith. Oxford-educated, his role was primarily one of translation (Baha'is view his translations, and interpretations of meaning, as divinely inspired) and management (for example, he organized a major wave of Baha'i missionary work). Critics point to Shoghi's authoritarian leadership style, which led him to expel numerous Baha'is including most of his family members (often for disobeying him in non-religious matters).

A dissident faction called the New History Society, which met in New York City, objected to Shoghi's attempts to control the Baha'i movement, as well as to his characterization of it as a religion (as opposed to an ecumenical gathering). Luminaries such as Albert Einstein and Helen Keller spoke at the society's meetings. Nevertheless, support for it dwindled, leaving Shoghi Effendi triumphant.

Shoghi Effendi's writings include The Advent of Divine Justice, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, and a historical work, God Passes By. He is credited as the translator of The Dawn-Breakers, also called Nabil's Narrative, a history of the Babi movement; critics allege that this understates his active editorial role. (The original Persian ms. has never been released.)

The Hands of the Cause

Shoghi Effendi died without having left a will (which is, ironically, a duty for Baha'is). He had no children. A group of key supporters called the "Hands of the Cause" took charge of the religion, arranging for the 1963 election of the Universal House of Justice. While some Baha'is insisted that this institution was meant to function in tandem with that of the Guardianship, the Hands decided that there would be no future Guardians.

Later one of their number, Charles Mason Remey, decided that Shoghi Effendi had named him (Remey) as the Second Guardian. The result was yet another Baha'i splinter group--and later several more, as the "Remey-ites" disagreed as to who should be the Third Guardian.

The Universal House of Justice

Baha'u'llah's writings allude to one or several "Houses of Justice" which would arise in the future, and have authority over Baha'is (if not others). As interpreted by his successors, and inaugurated by the Hands of the Cause, the Universal House of Justice is an all-male nine-member executive, and the supreme authority of the Baha'i religion throughout the world. As an elected council, the House has avoided the succession crises which plagued previous Baha'i regimes.

The UHJ announces multi-year "plans," somewhat in the style of the former Soviet Union, which set forth its goals for that period. It also delivers progress reports in the form of its annual Ridvan and Naw Ruz messages. Baha'is are also likely to encounter the UHJ's pronouncements in the form of published documents and letters.

Governance

The Baha'i religion lacks a professional clergy (though some of its leaders and functionaries receive salaries), and is governed by a hierarchy of elected councils. These include

• Local Spiritual Assemblies (LSA's)--the most basic level of administration, associated with such localities as towns, cities, or counties. These consist of nine-member councils which are elected annually, from among all local believers. For this reason the community which it represents must be able to muster a quorum of at least nine adult believers.

• National Spiritual Assemblies (NSA's)--similarly-conceived nine-member councils, with national rather than local responsibilities. Like LSA's, NSA's are elected annually, but by delegates chosen by LSA's, rather than directly. NB: Some NSA's represent "nations" which are now defunct, such as Hawaii.

• Regional Baha'i Councils--exist in certain populous countries such as India, as an intermediate level in between the LSA's and NSA.

• The Universal House of Justice (UHJ)--a global body, the religion's highest authority. Its members are elected every five years, by an electoral college consisting of all the members of each NSA. In contrast to other Baha'i bodies, only men are eligible for election to the UHJ. Its "Seat" (headquarters) is located on Mount Carmel, in a campus of neoclassical buildings overlooking the city of Haifa, Israel.

Baha'i elections take place through secret ballot. Elections are decided on the basis of plurality. In the event of a tie, preference is given to members of minority groups within that region. Individual Baha'is are urged to vote for whomever they feel would be best for the role. They may not engage in campaigning, or even announce their candidacy; nor may they discuss with others the question of for whom to vote.

Once elected, the deliberations of Baha'i bodies are also kept secret. Baha'i tradition places great emphasis on consensus--not in the Quaker sense of waiting for agreement, but in the sense that dissenters are encouraged to respect the will of the majority. After a decision is made, all assembly members must support it for the sake of unity, regardless of what their earlier position may have been.

Critics charge that the system is deeply flawed and fundamentally unfair, notwithstanding its portrayal in Baha'i literature as an improvement over secular democratic models, and allege the following:

• The process favors incumbants in that absent a system of nominations and campaigning, dissatisfied voters will tend to scatter their votes. This is especially visible at the national and international levels, where voters cannot be familiar with many of the potential candidates. (Indeed, since the founding of the UHJ none of its members have ever failed to be re-elected, save through announced retirement.)

• Since the deliberations of such councils are secret--the bodies issue joint statements, never revealing such things as minutes or voting records--voters have little basis on which to evaluate individual leaders.

• The Baha'i leadership has been able to circumvent the ban on nominating candidates by promoting those whom it favors in Baha'i publications. Conversely, Baha'is not so favored by the administration, who nevertheless gain sufficient prominence to be elected on their own, may be arbitrarily eliminated--either by being stripped of their administrative rights (on the pretext they they are "gathering a following", for example), or by expulsion from the faith.

In addition to this hierarchy of councils, there exists a "staff" function--a bureaucracy--which advises the elected bodies. The UHJ appoints nine International Counselors, who direct Continental Counselors, who in turn appoint Auxilliary Boards (for the local and regional level), which appoint Assistants. Critics portray the appointed wing as a mechanism of control, analogous to the Catholic Inquisition.

Any Baha'i assembly has the right to expel individual Baha'is, or strip them of their "administrative rights" (such as the right to vote, or be elected). Outright expulsion is rare and typically involves challenges to the authority of Baha'i institutions. Removal of adminisrative rights is a more common community response to public violations of Baha'i law, such as a couple living together outside of marriage. Only the UHJ may declare Baha'i to be a "covenant breaker," which requires shunning.

Higher-level assemblies additionally have the right to suspend the operations of lower-level ones within their jurisdiction. During the 1980's, the NSA of the United States suspended the LSA of Los Angeles, citing multiple reasons.

Beliefs

Baha'i literature often cites lists of core "principles" formulated by Abdul-Baha during his tour of Europe and America. The first three of this list are commonly referred to as the "three onenesses":

The Oneness of God

The Baha'i religion is monotheistic. God's essence is said to be unfathomable. Revelation takes place only by means of his prophets, who have both human and divine aspects. This resembles Shi'i ghulat theories of the imams, as well as the Christian conception of the two natures of Christ. Many Muslims would reject the claim of such teachings to be monotheistic, since they appear to "associate companions" with God.

While God's essence may not be known, his attributes (or "names") may be known. These are likened to gems and include such divine qualities as compassion or wisdom, which human beings are urged to cultivate in their spiritual lives. Baha'is believe that our spiritual development in the physical world becomes a basis for judgment and advancement in the spiritual world, conceived as an endless expanse of ever-higher realms through which a soul may advance. "Heaven" and "hell" respectively refer to nearness or distance from God.

In an early writing, the "Tablet of All Food" (Lawh-i-Kullu't-Ta'am), Baha'u'llah adopts a Sufi-derived schema similar to that of Ibn al-'Arabi, to describe five levels between God and the physical world:

• Hahut--"He-ness", i.e. God in his unapproachable essence
• Lahut--roughly, "Divinity", the root being the same as the word for God (al-Lah Allah)
• Jabarut--the world of "Spirits" (ruh), or archetypes
• Malakut--"the Kingdom", the heaven of the angels
• Nasut--the human, mortal world.

The Oneness of Religion

Baha'is recognize a succession of prophets or "Manifestations" (mazhar). Besides the familiar prophets of the Bible and Islamic tradition--from Adam to Muhammad--Baha'is additionally recognize the divinity of Zarathustra, Krishna, Buddha, the Bab, and Baha'u'llah. The names of many prophets from the distant past are said to be unknown; others are to arrive in the far future, after at least 1000 years have passed from the time of Baha'u'llah. The Baha'i doctrine of progressive revelation holds that each successive prophet reveals a gradually more advanced teaching suitable for his times, thereby guiding human social and spiritual evolution.

Baha'i tradition distinguishes between the spiritual teachings of these prophets, which is said to be identical; and the social and legal provisions, which vary according to time (though apparently not geography). If religions appear to disagree with respect to metaphysics (e.g., Baha'is reject the theory of reincarnation), this is attributed to the corruption of the pristine, "original" teachings of their founders. (Like Islam, the Baha'i religion assumes religions to require founders.) Only the Qur'an, and the Babi and Baha'i scriptures are considered textually reliable records of the prophets.

Religions whose divinity is not officially recognized include Sikhism and Taoism. Confucianism is regarded as a secular philosophy, Tribal religions are assumed to contain truth, but few specifics are given. Following Islamic tradition, the Baha'i religion accepts Sabeanism as a God-given religion, but is unsure of what to identify as Sabeanism.

According to Baha'i theology, Baha'u'llah represents the fulfillment of the millennarian expectations of various other religions. For example he is the Second Coming of Christ, the Mahdi and Qa'im of Islamic eschatology, the future Buddha Maitreya, and Shah Bahram, as well as "He Whom God Shall Manifest" from Babism. In that spirit Baha'is note that 1844 was the year of the "Great Disappointment" from Adventism, as well as marking the thousandth year after the occultation of the Hidden Imam.

Baha'u'llah urged his follows to "consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship" (Tarazat, second Taraz); and Baha'is have done so actively, taking part in numerous ecumenical gatherings. Belonging to more than one religion is, however, forbidden.

The Oneness of Humanity

Baha'i teaching emphasizes that humans are biologically one race, with racial differences seen as ephemeral or superficial. A common Baha'i expression is that of "unity in diversity," like a garden consisting of numerous species of flowers.

We are also said to be spiritually one, though as yet this often goes unrecognized. In the future the unity of humanity is to have a political dimension as well, with the rise of a world government. This development has been willed by God, and will certainly come about, thanks to the (often unseen) spiritual influences of Baha'u'llah and the Baha'i religion.

An interesting question is the extent to which Baha'i views on the unity of humanity subject to revision by science. For example, supposing that science one day embraces the sociobiological view that race differences are not superficial, or the perspective of game theory that our division into quarrelsome identity groups is inherent part of human nature, would Baha'is accept these conclusions?

The Equality of Men and Women

The Baha'i religion explicitly champions the equality of men and women, making this one of its major principles. While its major figures and recognized prophets have been exclusively male, Baha'i history celebrates a number of prominent women including Tahirih (a Babi heroine, not actually a Baha'i), Navváb (one of Baha'u'llah's wives), Queen Marie of Romania, Bahíyyih Khánum (one of Baha'u'llah's daughters), Martha Root (a prominent Baha'i missionary), and Lidia Zamenhof (daughter of the Esperanto founder).

A number of provisions of the Baha'i religion discriminate on the basis of gender. Women may not serve on the Universal House of Justice, its highest body, and receive less compensation than men in the Baha'i intestate will (an inequality inherited from Muslim family law). On the other hand, in the event that Baha'i parents find themselves unable to afford to educate both sons and daughters, they are instructed to give priority to girls.

The "Elimination of All Forms of Prejudice"

This provision is closely related to the Baha'i teachings on the unity of humanity, and the equality of men and women. Critics point to other "forms of prejudice" which the Baha'i religion has not sought to eliminate. Shoghi Effendi specified that the Baha'i religion is opposed to homosexuality, though Baha'is add that gays and lesbians ought to be treated with politeness and goodwill. Additionally, Baha'i antipathy towards Bayanis (remnant Babis) and the so-called "covenant breaker" groups may qualify as forms of religious prejudice.

World Peace, under a World Government

Baha'is expect the immanent arrival of "the Lesser Peace" in which world leaders shall (in the words of 'Abdul-Baha) "...establish a board of international arbitration; that from all nations and governments of the world there should be delegates selected for a congress of nations which should constitute a universal abitral court of justice to settle international disputes" (Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 203). Some older Baha'i literature suggests that the advent of the Lesser Peace would occur prior to the year 2000.

This is to be followed by "the Most Great Peace," a more distant time when "Warfare and strife will be uprooted, disagreement and dissension pass away and universal peace unite the nations and peoples of the world. All mankind will dwell together as one family, blend as the waves of one sea, shine as stars of one firmament, and appear as fruits of the same tree." (ibid., p. 145).

In 1993 the UHJ endorsed the U.S.-led alliance during the Gulf War, on the grounds that as a United Nations-approved military action designed to reverse Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Operation Desert Storm fit the conditions specified by Baha'u'llah in the Lawh-i-Maqsud: "Should any king take arms against another, all should unitedly arise and prevent him."

A point which is debated within Baha'i circles, is that of whether Baha'i institutions such as the UHJ will constitute the future world government (at a time when most of the world's people have converted); or whether these will retain a purely spiritual function, serving parallel to secular institutions like the United Nations.

Since world unity is the primary theme of Baha'u'llah's dispensation, some Baha'is speculate that the mission of the next prophet may involve interplanetary unity.

Harmony Between Religion and Science

Baha'is view conflict between science and religion as misguided, since "truth is one", and each discipline is reliable within its own sphere of authority. In Paris Talks Abdul-Baha says that "Should a man try to fly with the wing of religion alone he would quickly fall into the quagmire of superstition, whilst on the other hand, with the wing of science alone he would also make no progress, but fall into the despairing slough of materialism."

A certain tension can be observed between this sentiment, and the Baha'i attribution of varying degrees of infallibility to its major figures, whose writings occasionally touch on scientific subjects. Baha'u'llah, for example, stated that "every planet [has] its own creatures," a generalization which at this writing appears to be scientifically false; while Abdul-Baha apparently denied that human beings evolved from animals. Other interpretations more congenial to current science are, however, possible. Less amenable to harmonization is Shoghi Effendi's diagnosis of homosexuality as a curable disease, a position now generally rejected by psychiatry.

Does the Baha'i endorsement of "science" extend to secular scholarship in general, for example in the field of religious history? While a number of conflicts in this area have occurred--for example, over the number of Babi deaths in Iran (scholar Denis MacEoin suggests a figure ten times smaller than Abdul-Baha's "20,000")--the Baha'i presumption seems to be that conducted properly, scholarship can only bolster Baha'i theology. In a 1998 position paper, the Universal House of Justice laments the domination of secular approaches to "researching, understanding, and writing about historical events, and the elements of these methods which the House of Justice regards as being influenced by materialism."

Independent Investigation of Truth

The point of this teaching is that spiritual seekers ought not to be satisfied with the religion of their ancestors or upbringing, but should investigate various religions for themselves, ideally becoming convinced of the claims of the Baha'i religion. It is also related to the principle of harmony between science and religion, since a religious teaching contradicted by science is held to be irrational, and therefore unworthy of belief.

Critics point to various Baha'i policies which they say are inconsistent with this principle--among them the warnings against reading "covenant breaker" material, or the requirement to submit writings on the Baha'i religion for pre-publication censorship ("Baha'i review"). The response is that the "independent investigation of truth" applies to those who have not yet become Baha'is. Once one accepts the stations of Baha'u'llah and his successors, however, the Baha'i acquires a new obligation, namely to accept whatever these have revealed or commanded.

Universal Compulsory Education

Baha'i theology conceives of human spiritual evolution in terms of "education," with the prophets as teachers. Conversely, education is conceived in spiritual terms. Says Baha'u'llah, "Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom."

Baha'i parents have a duty to educate their children (if they are able), a duty which is shared by Baha'i assemblies. Said education must at least include moral and spiritual instruction; reading and writing; training in a useful trade or profession; and in the universal auxilliary language, as soon as one is chosen. Baha'i writings also mention foreign languages, mathematics, science, technology, commerce, industry, the liberal arts, and religion as subjects suitable for study.

A Universal Auxilliary Language

Baha'u'llah urged that the nations of the world, through representatives, agree on "one universal language and one common script." Baha'is believe that such a council will one day be held (though as a practical matter, interest in it seems to have waned somewhat).

While the choice of language is reserved to this committee, many early Baha'is including 'Abdul Baha favored Esperanto (or a reformed version of it). Baha'u'llah spoke highly of the Arabic language, without recommending it directly; while today English is also frequently mentioned as a candidate. For purposes of international communication, the religion's working languages are English and Persian.

Obedience to Government, Non-involvement in Politics

Baha'is have an obligation to obey the government of the country in which they live, in all things except the renunciation of their faith (should this be commanded). They are forbidden to participate in partisan politics, on the grounds that partisan behavior contradicts the Baha'i emphasis on human unity. They may however accept appointment to nonpolitical positions such as judges, and are encouraged to vote in elections.

Faced with military conscription, Baha'is are instructed to request alternative service consistent with the principle of pacifism. Should this be denied, the principle of obedience to government then applies, and the Baha'i must accept military service.

Some dispute has occurred concerning the range of activities which qualify as partisan or political. For example, the UHJ has clarified that Baha'is may not take part in activities sponsored by Amnesty International or the World Council of Churches.

Elimination of Extremes of Wealth and Poverty

In contrast with some varieties of Communism, Baha'is accept the necessity of private property, and inequality of wealth, urging only the establishment of progressive taxation and a social safety net. Though the details of these must await the emergence of future Baha'i governments, Baha'i literature rues the prevalence of a "materialism" which blinds societies to spiritual truths, such as the necessity of helping the poor.

Practices

As their main scripture--comparable to the Bible for Christians or the Qur'an for Muslims--Baha'is recognize a book known as the Kitab-i-Aqdas, Bahá'u'lláh's book of laws. The Aqdas represents a revision of Babi law, which in turn revises Islamic law (fiqh). In it, Baha'is are commanded to

• Recite an obligatory prayer each day. There are three such prayers, among which one may be chosen.
• Read from / meditate upon Baha'i scripture each day.
• Avoid backbiting and gossip.
• Engage in useful work. (This would include unpaid labor such as parenting.)
• Observe a nineteen-day sunrise-to-sunset fast each year from March 2 through March 20. (For adult Baha'is in good health)
• Abstain from alcohol and drugs, unless prescribed by doctors.
• Abstain from all sexual relationships outside of marriage. Marriages must be heterosexual and monogamous.
• Receive the permission of their parents (if living) in order to marry.
• Observe a "year of patience" prior to divorce.
• Abstain from gambling.
• Pay a religious tax of huququ'llah (the "Right of God", analogous to the Islamic zakat) consisting of 19% of their surplus net-worth (i.e. those things that they do not need to live comfortably) at least once in their lifetime, after the discharge of all debts.
• Make a pilgrimage (technically a "visitation") to Haifa and Acre at least once in their lives, if they are able.

While some of the laws from the Kitáb-i-Aqdas are applicable at the present time, others have yet to come into effect.

The observance of personal laws such as prayer or fasting, while a universal obligation, is the sole responsibility of the individual. Other laws may be enforced to a degree by the administrative order (such as laws on sexuality), while still others are dependent upon the existence of a predominantly Bahá'í society, which is expected gradually to come into being. For example, the Aqdas specifies that arsonists are to be punished by being burned themselves.

Socially, Baha'is are urged to meet for "feasts" every nineteen days, plus Baha'i holidays (when they are to avoid working if possible). These "feasts" consist of a spiritual portion (scripture reading), business portion (this may include fund-raising, or elections), and social portion. Outsiders are barred from the business portion, but may be permitted to attend the other portions.

Participation in various committees is considered an important aspect of Baha'i spirituality, since their work is seen as a precursor to a future world government. Another important Baha'i emphasis is fund-raising. (Contributions are accepted only from Baha'is, who are frequently reminded of this duty.)

"Deepening" consists of the devotional study of Baha'i writings (typically, compilations of extracts) by groups of Baha'is. In recent years, Baha'is have been encouraged to form and participate in Baha'i study circles such as the Ruhi Institute classes. These feature a series of thematic textbooks.

Places of worship

Most Baha'i meetings occur in individuals' homes, local Baha'i centers, or rented facilities.

Baha'i writings refer to an institution called a Mashriqu'l-Adhkár (Dawning-place of the Mention of God), which is to form the center of a complex of institutions including a hospital, university, and so on. Only the first ever Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, was built to such a degree, but was seized during the 1917 Russian Revolution and later destroyed by earthquake.

Worldwide, there are currently seven Bahá'í Houses of Worship, basically one per continent, with an eighth under construction in Chile. These are nine-sided, domed structures which in several cases are noteworthy for their architecture.

Symbols

The official symbol of the Bahá'í Faith is the five-pointed star, but a nine-pointed star is more frequently used. The ringstone symbol and calligraphy of the Greatest Name are also often encountered. The former consists of two stars interspersed with a stylized Bahá’ (Template:ArB "splendor" or "glory") whose shape is meant to recall the three onenesses. The Greatest Name is Yá Bahá'u'l-'Abhá (Template:ArB "O Glory of the Most Glorious!")

Calendar

The Baha'i calendar is based upon the Badi ("Unique" or "Peerless") calendar established by the Bab. The year consists of 19 months of 19 days, with 4 or 5 intercalary days, to make a full solar year. Each of the 19 months is given a name which is an attribute of God; some examples include Bahá’ (Splendour), ‘Ilm (Knowledge), and Jamál (Beauty). Bahá'í communities gather at the beginning of each month at a meeting called a Nineteen Day Feast for worship, consultation and socializing.

The Baha'i New Year corresponds to the traditional Persian New Year, called Naw Ruz, and occurs on the vernal equinox, March 21, at the end of the month of fasting. In addition, Baha'is observe 11 Holy Days throughout the year, with work suspended on 9 of these. These days commemorate important anniversaries in Baha'i history.

Persecution

Baha'is claim to be persecuted in various Muslim countries, especially Iran, whose government argues that they are a revolutionary, criminal, and heretical group with ties to Israel and other enemy nations. The United Nations and various human rights groups regularly condemn Iran's treatment of its unrecognized Baha'i minority.

Baha'i sources say that Iran has executed some 200 Baha'is. Most of these deaths occurred in the wake of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.The most recent execution was of Ruhollah Rohani (for proselytism) in 1998. Another Baha'i, Zabihullah Mahrami, died in 2005 while serving a prison term (for espionage on behalf of Israel). The Iranian government claims that family members, acting on orders from the Baha'i leadership, refused the offer of an autopsy, which would reveal the cause of death to have been a heart attack rather than abuse in prison.

Several holy places relating to Babism or the Baha'i religion have been destroyed. In 1993, a Baha'i cemetery in Tehran was bulldozed in order to build a municipal centre. In April 2004, Iranian authorities demolished the shrine and gravesite of Muhammad-Ali Barfurushi (Quddus), a Babi leader. The following June, the Tehran house of Bahá'u'lláh's father was destroyed.

Baha'is claim to have been barred from higher education in Iran. Prospective students must take an examination in religion, choosing from among four recognized religions. Baha'is complain that choosing the examination in Islam might be interpreted by Iranian courts as evidence of Islamic identity. In response, the Baha'i community of Iran organized an underground university, the Bahá'í Institute of Higher Education. It operated from 1987 until a government crackdown in 1998.

Baha'is complain of being subject to arbitrary arrest and detention. For example, 54 youth were arrested for proselytism in May 2006 in the context of a teaching activity (possibly religious in nature). All were released by the following month.

A 2005 letter from an Iranian military official refers to instructions by Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to the effect that Baha'is should be monitored, with a view to suppressing their rights.

Outside of Iran, the situation of Baha'is in Egypt received press attention in 2006. There, the country's supreme court ruled that Baha'is do not have the right to identity cards bearing the name of their religion. (On Qur'anic grounds, only the three major Abrahamic faiths are recognized.) Whereas previously Egyptian Baha'is had been allowed to write in the name of their religion, or leave the line blank, the new system now compels them to either accept another designation, or forego identity documents. The Baha'i religion received recognition from the Egyptian government in 1925, but this was withdrawn by Nasser in 1960.

Internal Controversies

In 1980 British academic Denis MacEoin quit the religion, complaining of a lack of freedom of speech and publication. At issue were his outspoken views (reflected in his dissertation on Babism, as well as numerous academic publications) to the effect that "received" Baha'i historical understandings are in error on many points.

In 1987, an unofficial Baha'i magazine called Dialogue (published by liberal Baha'is in California) submitted for "Baha'i review" (i.e. pre-publication censorship, required of Baha'is intending to write on their religion) an editorial by David Langness titled "A Modest Proposal". The editorial urged various reforms, including the abolution of censorship as well as term limits for Baha'i leaders. The U.S. NSA reacted harshly, leading to the (voluntary) closure of the magazine.

With the advent of the internet during the late 1980's and early 1990's, several disputes arose between Baha'is posting online, and Baha'i administrative institutions. One issue was that of whether material posted on the internet qualified as a "publication" requiring "review." Another was that of whether Baha'is could be punished, or even expelled, for their personal views. The UHJ would later complain of a "campaign of internal opposition to its teachings...currently being carried on through the use of the Internet" by "persons technically trained in Middle East studies."

In 1996, the UHJ investigated six Baha'i participants on the internet mailing list Talisman, including Juan Cole, and John and Linda Walbridge (all academics with specialties in Islam). In the course of the invesigation, the six were threatened with disenrollment as covenant-breakers. Four of them including Cole, Langness, and the Walbridges, resigned their membership in the Baha'i religion. Others, notably children's author Michael McKenny, were expelled from the religion as a result of such conflicts. Some of these have retained a Baha'i identity as "unenrolled Baha'is." A prominent example, would be New Zealand poet Alison Marshall, expelled in 2000.

In 2005 Sen McGlinn was expelled from the faith--ostensibly for introducing himself as a "Baha'i theologian" in his book Church and State: A Postmodern Political Theology. The book's criticism of the Baha'i leadership may also have been a factor in his disenrollment.

In 2006 the U.S. NSA declared a boycott of Kalimat Press, a Baha'i-oriented academic publisher run by Anthony Lee. Its objection was that Kalimat had published certain books (all of which, ironically, had passed Baha'i censorship) inimicable to the faith--including the aforementioned Church and State. The boycott quickly spread to other countries as well.The circulation of a petition protesting the decision led discussions of whether Baha'is are allowed to petition their institutions.

External links

• The Bahá'ís Official site.
• The Baha'i News and Press Release Archives News reports mentioning the Baha'i religion, as well as press releases by it. Compiled by the Baha'i Association of the University of Georgia (USA). An important source of information on persecution of Baha'is.
• Baha'i Library Online, edited by Baha'i academic Jonah Winters. Collects voluminous material, both primary and secondary. Readers seeking the writings of Baha'u'llah and other Baha'i figures, for example, can find them here.
• H-Baha'i Home of the Occasional Papers in Shaykhyi, Babi, and Baha'i Studies and an academic discussion list.
• Baha'i Studies Personal site of critical ex-member Juan Cole. Contains archives of the original "Talisman" discussion group.
• The Baha'i Faith and Religious Freedom of Conscience Site by "Reform Baha'i" founder Frederick Glaysher, with many articles and documents critical of the Haifa group.
• Planet Baha'i. Pro-Baha'i general site now edited by Larry Curtis.
• Baha'i Vision Pro-Baha'i general site edited by Dale and Kathleen Lehman.
• Baha'is Online Baha'i news blog edited by critic Steve Marshall.
• Karen's Thoughts A personal blog by critic Karen Bacquet.
• Baha'i Rants An anonymous (and critical) personal blog.
• The Baha'i Truth A Muslim anti-Baha'i site by Mohammed Alam Qurayshi.
• The Baha'i Faith: Its History and Teachings Introduction to the religion by the late William McElwee Miller, a Christian missionary in Iran. Contains much material on splinter groups.

Selected Bibliography

• Amanat, Abbas. Resurrection and Renewal: The Making of the Babi Movement in Iran, 1844-1850. Cornell UP, 1989.
• Cole, Juan. Modernity and the Millennium: The Genesis of the Baha'i Faith in the Nineteenth-Century Middle East. Columbia UP, 1998.
• Garlington, William. The Baha'i Faith in America. Praeger Publisher, 2005.
• MacEoin, Denis. Rituals in Babism and Baha'ism. London: British Academic Press, 1994.
• McGlinn, Sen. Church and State: A Postmodern Political Theology, Book One. Self-published, 2005.
• McMullin, Michael. The Baha'i: The Religious Construction of a Global Identity. Rutgers UP, 2000.
• Smith, Peter. The Babi and Baha'i Religions: From Messianic Shi'ism to a World Religion. Cambridge UP, 1987.

The Cole and Garlington volumes form part of the "Studies in the Babi and Baha'i Religions" series from Kalimat (general editor, Anthony Lee), currently 21 volumes.