I think its about time I let off some steam about the abomination plaguing the Baha´i community, known by its official name: Ruhi. Thanks to Marco who inspired me with his response to my previous entry on Baha´is and SED.Most defenders of the courses (its really more than just courses, for many communities it has become the end-all and the be-all) say that it is a good way for all Baha´is to have a common understanding of the Faith. How I wish this were so.

Unfortunately, Ruhi doesn´t really accomplish this because it is sadly deficient and downright incorrect. I don´t want to waste space here outlining the numerous errors and shortcomings of Ruhi. It has already been done elsewhere on the net, by fanatical defenders of the status quo, such as can be found on talk.relgion.bahai Even those who normally bend over backwards to accomodate the shortcomings of the the persons elected and appointed to work within the institutions, confess to Ruhi´s abismal content.

But if we leave aside the content of Ruhi, it is still one of the worst things that ever happened to the Baha´i international community because it has inculcated an introverted attitude within us. No longer are we interested in reaching out to the world and connecting with other people and groups with similar values. No longer are we interested in seeing how we can help those in need, or those less fortunate. No longer are we interested in truly deepening in the Writings through independent investigation of truth.

All of the above and more have been supplanted with the zombie-like Ruhi classes where navel gazing is the order of the day; where you park your brain at the door and pick it up when you leave (if you remember); where you memorize things and learn by repetition like a parrot rather than using your own imagination, intelligence and creativity; where whole communities become desperately and passionately preoccupied with how many of their members have done how many courses and filled out the blank spaces in books with the “correct” answers; where we hear such mind-numbing drivel such as What does our pyramid look like in our cluster? pass for wisdom (from the former ITC member, Paul Lample).

And long forgotten are Baha´u´llah and the Perfect Exemplar, Abdu´l-Baha and what they each have to teach us about how to live in this world.

As long as Bahaí communites continue to be preoccupied with Ruhi and its myriad forms and variations, they will encase themselves in a bubble of their own making. They will be living away from the real world, as well as the life giving waters of the Writings.

Now, if you are feeling rather brave today, contact your nearest Jehova´s Witness church and ask them sweetly if you can attend one of their Bible study classes. Pretty soon you´ll come running out of the class like a bat out of hell, screaming at the top of your lungs. And I dare say your view of Ruhi will be somewhat different.

And that, is what I think of Ruhi (without resorting to four letter words).

Related Links:

Ruhi Redux: More thoughts on Ruhi (less emotional, more informative).