Ann says:
Unity is a good thing, but not if it denies diversity (which is something I thought Bahais supported) and impedes change.
In response:
Baha’is support diversity and unity. Baha’is who form up and rally around an icon, a personality or a self determined authority are working their way through an impedement in their own march toward unity. Slowly but surely and individually those Baha’is learn that organization is not required, desired, nor needed and they “resign”, quit, fade away, get kicked out or what ever. Some very few have noticed that this seperation is a major step in their growth as a Baha’i. It seems everyone needs to go through a Kubler-Ross process upon reaching this stage in their growth.
Welcome to the club of humanity and I hope you have a speedy reinvigeration.

Robert Clifton

I have heard about this scenario a lot, but that is not what happened to me at all. I wrote to the National Spiritual Assembly of my country, didn’t give then ANY details as to why I wanted to resign, and within week or two they resigned me from the Faith.

Why is it that some people are ‘required’ to renounce their faith in Baha’u'llah, but with others there is no trouble resigning at all?

Nice to know that one could be Bahai and not be beholden to the administration. Something to think about.

Given that another “Manifestation” is not due to appear for a long time, I think these issues need to be addressed. Nobody in 500 years is going to accept certain ideas doing the rounds today.

Unity is a good thing, but not if it denies diversity (which is something I thought Bahais supported) and impedes change. Other Faiths wouldn’t have advanced if it wasn’t for trailbreakers like Bishop Spong et al.

Thanks.

It boggles the mind how out of touch people are. Do they think they can censor the internet?

ROFL

It is very good that you are thinking critically! Independent investigation of truth and all that pertains to that journey was once a big part of the Baha’i Faith before the Administrative Order Idolatry completely took over where the means to an end became the end in itself.

Come on over to these sites some time where the discussion is free thinking and open on the path of seeking spiritual insight in life using one’s own faculties and not through other people aggrandizing to themselves the oppressive self assigned duty to tell other people what to think.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unenrolledbahai/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/talisman9/

Thank you for your voice here on BR!

Best regards,

Craig

Sorry if I jumped the gun. I hear the word cult thrown around a lot and I think I overreacted. But in any case, I agree with you completely that there are decided fundamentalist and authoritarian tendencies in the Baha’i Faith today. The homosexual issue you mention is a great example of both of these things. On the one hand, fundamentalist interpretations mean there’s no flexibility. And then the authoritarian tendency manifests in the way that those who speak up are shut up.

As for being accused of Covenant-breaking, that’s unlikely, but it’s still possible to marginalize people very effectively without doing that, let me tell you. In any case, it’s good to know you’re thinking critically about this.

Brendan