The Trouble with the World

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I doubt my ability to doubt
The topic being discussed currently in various Baha’i forums is a speech given by Peter Khan, on July 3rd 2009 titled “Reflections on the Ridvan Message”. You can read the complete speech here.

There isn’t much remarkable about it but if you manage to hack through the thick underbrush of verbiage you’ll find that almost at the end Khan says:

The solution is childish simple; the solution is so simple, it [sic] hardly worth mentioning. The solution is no more and no less than unreserved acceptance of whatever the central authority of the Cause, in this case the Universal House of Justice decrees.

Unfortunately Khan doesn’t explain what he really means by ‘decrees’.

Does that mean anything the House decides? every word they write? every answer they give to a questioner? every letter of guidance to members or national administrative bodies? or does it mean what they decree as in their legislative authority within Baha’i administrative structure?

It would seem that Khan has a wide understanding of ‘decrees’ since he mentions the guidance for ‘direct teaching’, as well as the implementation of Ruhi courses as the only option within the institute process.

This obviously opens up the hornets nest of the infallibility of the Universal House of Justice.

Oy vey! Here we go again.

Brendan wrote a commentary: Second Thoughts on Peter Khan.

Karen is dispassionate.

Alison believes that Khan is overstepping.

As for your humble scribe, I’m not sure what else I can add to what has already been written before here and elsewhere on this topic. I’m not comfortable with the conviction that Khan has in an absolutist understanding of the decrees of the House of Justice and can’t help but think of this gem of a quip:

The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.
Bertrand Russell

No advancement in any field would be possible if at least one person did not doubt if there was a better way to do things. If one person didn’t doubt the dogma of their day. If one person did not have so much doubt that they investigated other potential answers and avenues.

This is true for scientific advancements of course. But it is equally valid in any field of human endeavor.

Do you think that anyone would have believed in the Bab if they first hadn’t a seed of doubt regarding the commonly accepted notion within Islam that Muhammad was the ‘last prophet of God’?

So I respectfully submit to you that believing that we can simply put away questions and do without further investigation of truth is the biggest mistake that Baha’is make.

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  • Fubar

     Sar-Mad,

    Your ideas are irrational and silly, and a perfect reflection of the
    brainwashing and groupthink that has “infected” haifan bahaism and made
    it a dysfunctional religion full of empty promises.

    haifan bahaism is culturally imperialistic and exploits the people that are converted to it.

    haifan bahaism in france and swiss is a very small number of people that are irrelevant.

    the bahai world center promotes ruhi brainwashing on a wide level.

    why are you trying to deceive people?

  • Fubar

    Sar-Mad,

    You said: “I’m certainly suffering pain and distress in reading all this appalling contention. ”

    You should talk to someone that understands treatment of the psychology (psychopathology) of religious brainwashing, you will do damage to many people’s lives until you become a real human being again.

    What you believe in is a large pile of garbage wrapped in illusions that on the surface are appealing utopianisms. bahaism is a trap for weak minds. Make you mind strong, reject dysfunctional religion and make a real contribution to improving the world, your family, etc.

    there are many many many groups that help people find authentic forms of spiritual transformation, break out of the mental and psychological prison that bahaism has held you in. become a real human being, and learn how to be decent, compassionate and altruistic.

  • Roosterpen

    Well look. I think what you are saying is you and others know better than a Body divinely guided by the Bab and Baha’u'llah! This is what the Baha’i Covenant says about it and those who cannot accept it should revaluate whether they want to be Baha’is or not, You’re membership is voluntary so you’re free to leave if you decide you don’t want to agree with the Covenant but coming here and trying to discredit the Covenant is sinister.

    Humanity has never ever had an Infallible Body to guide it nor past religions and look at the mess they’re in  because of that. In the Most Holy Book Baha’u'llah said that in some cases He allowed freedom and in others forbade it. We are not free as Baha’is to do a lot of harmful things and one of them is to challenge the Covenant. If we don’t or can’t accept that then we should do the honest thing an resign.

    “The sacred and youthful Branch, the Guardian of the Cause of God, as well as
    the Universal House of Justice to be universally elected and established, are
    both under the care and protection of the Abhá Beauty, under the shelter and
    unerring guidance of the Exalted One (the Báb) (may my life be offered up for
    them both). Whatsoever they decide is of God.”

    (Shoghi Effendi: World Order of
    Bahá’u'lláh, p. 149)

    Now Whatsoever they decide is of GOD. FULL STOP. The Ruhi Courses are of GOD. The advice they give is of GOD. This is what the Centre of the Covenant tells us. So you’re ideas and interpreations and arguments are better than ones GOD revelas through the House of Justice?

    This is the Covenant which Bahá’u'lláh made. If a person shall deviate, he is
    not acceptable at the Threshold of Bahá’u'lláh. In case of differences,
    Abdu’l-Baha must be consulted. They must revolve around his good pleasure. After
    Abdu’l-Baha, whenever the Universal House of Justice is organized it will ward
    off differences.

    (‘Abdu’l-Baha: The Covenant, p.
    117)

    The House of Justice has the last say and those who disagree and try to infer error or cast doubt on the clear Infallibility of the House of Justice are according to Abdul-Baha ‘not acceptable at the Threshold of Baha’u'llah.

    Unto the Most Holy Book every one must turn, and all that is not expressly recorded therein must be referred to the Universal House of Justice. That which this body, whether unanimously or by a majority doth carry, that is verily the truth and the purpose of God Himself. Whoso doth deviate therefrom is verily of them that love discord, hath shown forth malice, and turned away from  the Lord of the Covenant (Will and Testament)

    and

    Beware lest anyone falsely interpret these words, and like unto them that have broken the Covenant after the Day of Ascension (of Bahá’u’lláh) advance a pretext, raise the standard of revolt, wax stubborn and open wide the door of false interpretation. To none is given the right to put forth his own opinion or express his particular conviction. All must seek guidance and turn unto the Center of the Cause and the House of Justice. And he that turneth unto whatsoever else is indeed in grievous error.  

    What’s going on here is not the independent investigation of truth but opposition to the Covenant.

  • Craig Parke

    So what do you think is the future course of the Baha’i Faith?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Stephen-Gray/100001692531472 Stephen Gray

    There are such a thing as Old Catholics and Traditionalist Catholics that are an exception to that.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Stephen-Gray/100001692531472 Stephen Gray

    Technically, there are only bureaucrats who claim to administer on behalf of God. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Stephen-Gray/100001692531472 Stephen Gray
  • Wahid Azal

    Emphasis on _claim_.

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