Full Movie: Baha’is In My Backyard

Here is the full movie (excuse two short commercial interruptions) Baha’is In My Backyard.

When you finish watching, drop me a comment below (anonymously if you wish) about your thoughts or reactions:

Alternatively, can watch the full video here.

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  • farhan

    Ben Wells asked:

    Why would you need a police force in a totaly peacefull world? and lets not get away from the whole concept of a ‘World Police Force’. Is there currently a World Government being planed that you have knoledge of? A World Government that you need a World Police Force for?
    “Where we are at right now is, we are at an age of transition. We are removing society based on nation states, to a global identity. Nations will eventually give up (He almost sais ‘succum to’ It almost slipps out…it’s kind of worrying) their sovereignty and turn it over to a One World Government.

    Ben, as a Baha’i, my present understanding of the evolution of mankind is that the process of moving from a present structure to that of a “Golden Age” is one that will take perhaps several centuries. We advance by steps. Hence the world vision of Baha’u’llah will require successive plans and projects. The disintegration of outdated institutions and the elaboration of new institutions are simultaneous processes. The major plan of God is associated with the indirect response of humanity to the revelation given to the world some 150 years ago. The minor plan of God is the direct elaboration of the Baha’i institutions that will dispense the spiritual inspiration necessary for that change.

    These twin processes will lead to a “Lesser Peace” which will be the political process outcome of the new structures, but not true peace, as long as humanity will not have evolved spiritually. We will need police forces to maintain peace. Baha’u’llah clearly mandates states to intervene by military force to subdue aggressors.

    With the spiritualisation of humanity, a change in heart and mind, we will eventually come to a “Greater Peace” with a new world order upheld by a “Super State”. After some centuries, perhaps, this will evolve into the “Most Great Peace” upheld by a Baha’i World Commonwealth.

    How fast we get there, and how much we suffer in the process, depends on our efforts towards that ideal.

    As far as we can extrapolate, this is the programme as explained by Ali Nakhjavani, a former member of the UHJ. I will be happy to provide documents and links I required.

  • Farhan Yazdani

    Ben Wells asked:

    Why would you need a police force in a totaly peacefull world? and lets not get away from the whole concept of a ‘World Police Force’. Is there currently a World Government being planed that you have knoledge of? A World Government that you need a World Police Force for?
    “Where we are at right now is, we are at an age of transition. We are removing society based on nation states, to a global identity. Nations will eventually give up (He almost sais ‘succum to’ It almost slipps out…it’s kind of worrying) their sovereignty and turn it over to a One World Government.

    Ben, as a Baha’i, my present understanding of the evolution of mankind is that the process of moving from a present structure to that of a “Golden Age” is one that will take perhaps several centuries. We advance by steps. Hence the world vision of Baha’u’llah will require successive plans and projects. The disintegration of outdated institutions and the elaboration of new institutions are simultaneous processes. The major plan of God is associated with the indirect response of humanity to the revelation given to the world some 150 years ago. The minor plan of God is the direct elaboration of the Baha’i institutions that will dispense the spiritual inspiration necessary for that change.

    These twin processes will lead to a “Lesser Peace” which will be the political process outcome of the new structures, but not true peace, as long as humanity will not have evolved spiritually. We will need police forces to maintain peace. Baha’u’llah clearly mandates states to intervene by military force to subdue aggressors.

    With the spiritualisation of humanity, a change in heart and mind, we will eventually come to a “Greater Peace” with a new world order upheld by a “Super State”. After some centuries, perhaps, this will evolve into the “Most Great Peace” upheld by a Baha’i World Commonwealth.

    How fast we get there, and how much we suffer in the process, depends on our efforts towards that ideal.

    As far as we can extrapolate, this is the programme as explained by Ali Nakhjavani, a former member of the UHJ. I will be happy to provide documents and links I required.

  • Grover

    Awww Ben, what gave it away? Mostly devoid of jargon? Practical? Pragmatic? Virtues that are a complete anathema to any good Baha’i. For your information, I am a lapsed Baha’i, I haven’t had my voting rights removed or been unenrolled. I haven’t resigned either (not yet anyway).

  • Grover

    Awww Ben, what gave it away? Mostly devoid of jargon? Practical? Pragmatic? Virtues that are a complete anathema to any good Baha’i. For your information, I am a lapsed Baha’i, I haven’t had my voting rights removed or been unenrolled. I haven’t resigned either (not yet anyway).

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  • lyal

    great doco of book of amos chapter 9 verse 3 God will melt Mt Carmal antichrists headquaters lyal.

  • lyal

    great doco of book of amos chapter 9 verse 3 God will melt Mt Carmal antichrists headquaters lyal.

  • Badi

    Be very, very careful not to lean on your own misunderstandings!!! There is a covenant in place, pray for guidance and for relief from your idle fancies and vain imaginations! May God be with you

  • Craig Parke

    Sorry Badi, the Baha’is have now broken their own Covenant by the actual standards of the Writings of Baha’u'llah. All bets are now off. The Divine Powers of the World Age have gone to other bottom up and not top down peoples and movements that can think straight beyond impaired Blind Faith. Blind Faith is just not good enough in the Internet Age. Deeds not mere Words. People have to actually DO SOMETHING USEFUL.

    http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/

    http://www.thezeitgeistmovement.com/

  • Desir0101

    Hello Badi,
    I really wish you are right.
    Take it literally,.
    To night close your eyes and fix your gaze upon your inner world and you will discern hidden realities. Don’t think. don’t remember.

    After you will feel that you are one with everything, the four and the fifth element.

    Only GOD exist.

  • Baquia

    Badi, after a lengthy absence from correspondence you arrive to drop a cryptic caution on a post which is about a tongue-in-cheek mockumentary about the Baha’ Faith? I’m puzzled. What exactly are you saying? And why comment on this post specifically?

  • http://bahaisonline.net Steve

    I joined the Bahai Faith because it had no clergy, so I find your post to be a bit preachy.

  • Desir0101

    Hi Baquia. Good day.
    I would like to know.sincerely,if by the time a person claim to have divine revelation and till his death , all His gesture and all that comes from his mouth is revealed words and emanate direct from God…..

    Or, only at a particular time and circumstance can it be consider as divinely revealed.

    Thanks for your response.

  • Baquia

    Desir,
    everyone will have a different opinion on this. Personally, I think that only written revelation with a capital R is considered of divine origin. Of course, because of the direct connection the minutia of the life of the person (manifestation, prophet, etc.) is studied and retold.

    In Baha’u'llah’s case, this was a specific act done mostly in private with a scribe or amanuensis. You can see an example of it here.

  • Desir0101

    Thanks.
    This has been a puzzle to me.
    In the case of Abdulbaha and Shoghi Effendi did every thing that they have penned down from and words be consider as infallible.

    Did this state of infallibity is permanent during the whole ministry of the person.

    As far as I know The pilgrims notes are not consider as authenticity sayings, even the notes date April 15 – 23, 1953 by Alice Dudley, approved on behalf of the Guardian, dated 30.08.1957. The Guardian himself confirmed to Winston Evans.

    The Paris Talk by Abdulbaha has not been authenticated by any two central figures but yet use by Bahais as words of Abdulbaha. Which is which.??????

  • Craig Parke

    “If you are going to take the writing of one person and treat the writing as if it were the institution itself, then we could very well take all the writing of the UHJ and say for example, we don’t need to elect the UHJ anymore! We can just refer to all of that voluminous writing we already have.”

    We don’t because that is exactly what has happened. The Faith, therefore, is completely dead in the water as a consequence. It is now a straight jacket and the world will now completely pass it by. There is no way out of this bind. The Divine Powers of the new unfolding World Age have going to others. As far as the Baha’i Faith is concerned, Elvis has left the building.

  • Baquia

    Basically, there are levels. The highest is any text which was written or authored. The next is through a secretary which was then approved. And then there are speeches, pilgrims notes, etc.

    Infallibility itself is a sticky wicket and usually misunderstood. Most Baha’is, to be safe, take it to the nth degree but it is in reality much more nuanced. The infallibility that Baha’u'llah claimed is quite different than that of Abdul-Baha and Shoghi Effendi or the UHJ. As well, Shoghi Effendi made nor abrogated laws – the the Guardianship and the UHJ have two separate and distinct spheres of authority.

    Personally I can’t square the flexibility that was inherently built into the Guardianship with the ossified and artificial one that we have now. But that unfortunately is the way it is and there really is no way out of it.

    The role of the Guardian was to be a presence along with the UHJ. In fact, he was/is a permanent (not voted) member of the UHJ. We also have multiple references to the institutions with the plural, guardians – referring to future ones.

    If you are going to take the writing of one person and treat the writing as if it were the institution itself, then we could very well take all the writing of the UHJ and say for example, we don’t need to elect the UHJ anymore! We can just refer to all of that voluminous writing we already have.

    Obviously this is childish and nonsensical. The difference of course is that according to the Baha’i administrative order we can elect UHJ members whereas we can not appoint Guardians. That ship has sailed. But this is a huge topic. One that I’ve been thinking about writing for far too long.

    Also, Sen would be able to help you further if you’re interested since he’s written about various parts of this discussion in his blog.

  • Desir0101

    Hi Craig,
    The Faith is like a body without a soul.

    Surely there is something wrong somewhere.

    And thanks a lot Baquia for your reply.

    I got through these texts and different person and institution have different views on the concept of Infallibility

    Father said yes,Son said no, grandson said yes and then latter denied.

    A simple e.g.

    Shoghi effendi Denied categorically the practice of polygamy by the muslims in His letter dated 29 jan. 1939. and knew quite well that His Grandfather practiced same.

    And there are several examples like that.

    So, I will not further my discussion .

    Thanks to every body.

  • Desir0101

    In reply to Baquia.
    Even if the Aqdas have mentioned just monogamy, this would have make no difference as oppose to what you stated “”converted from Islam would have been simply devastating”" because many decades after that this “monogamy “law was enforced.

    And it was made clear by that time that those who are already living a polygamous life should continued to do so.

    Even to day if such polygamous family would join the faith, there no problem, they can continued to do so.

    I personally believe, that the Aqdas have laid emphasis on the right to have two wives..

    And tranquility with one wife come on the second plan.

    But something ridiculous, when you accept the Bahai faith freely and the Bahai marriage ceremony is imposed on you with the risk that your voting right be suppressed.

    I call this dictatorship.

    I am right Iam wrong .
    I don’t know.

  • Desir0101

    ”But implementing the law immediately without thought to the consequences to the thousands of families who had converted from Islam would have been simply devastating.” according to your reasoning,
    Islam specify not more than four wives.
    And Aqdas mention not more than two,
    so what about those by that time having more than two wives(polygamy) and become Bahai, was it not ”simply devastating” to them.

    From these words from the Aqdas (Beware ye take unto yourselves more
    wives than two) could help these people.

  • Franceswind

    I was generally aware of this discussion back in 2007 but didn’t follow it too closely. Thus I never noticed the tablet translated by Wahid (Nima).

    In it Baha’u'llah indicates another personage to follow Abdu’l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi:

    And after the branches, for the pious servant present in front of this throne, [we have made] an elevated station

  • Outsider

    Reaction:  Bravo!

  • Jijij

    thanks

  • Jerry

    I am a Baha’i, but I am speaking here as an individual..not for the institution.  I thought the movie explored all the most recent paranoia and conspiracy theories very well from the perspective of non-Baha’is.  It was definitely not about the spiritual message of the Baha’i Faith and it did not get much into the counter-claims of people the Baha’is consider “Covenant Breakers” because that was not what it was about.  –Unfortunately, if you wish to believe conspiracies exist, no logical presentation of information will convince you.  You see that in the end.  I can say with some certitude that the investigators here did their research well.  The movie showed that the Baha’is interviewed were cautious in responding because they’ve had to deal with all sorts of crazies attacking the Faith before.  The movie also showed that the Baha’is had nothing to hide and when asked properly, presented all the facts available.  Do you think many other religious organizations would have granted so many high level interviews or sent someone of such high stature to explain to an aspirant why he couldn’t join?   I found it humerous–being a Baha’i–that the dishonest attempt to pretend to be a Baha’i in order to sneak into the World Center was foiled right away by Baha’u'llah’s injunction.  How’s that for a Messenger of God’s foresight?