Here is the Universal House of Justice’s Ridvan Message for 2008.
If you have trouble reading it below, you can follow the above link to download the document to your computer. You can also use the menu to print it out (click or hover where it says iPaper below).
Hi Baquia,
As this Ridvan Message obviously places great importance on the “core activities”, Ruhi etal, I thought you would also be interested in the latest requirements for international pioneers, as outlined in our last Feast letter.
“It is clear that, at this time, the deployment of pioneers is more systematic and also more geared towards supporting growth through the new processes…in many ways, the age of Assembly forming has given way to a more focused effort to establish community activities open to all and to develop a SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO TEACHING (my emphasis). For this reason, pioneer requirements are generally for those well-versed in …this process.”
In other words, international pioneers should have been through the Ruhi course for starters. I wonder what some of the early Baha’i pioneers would have made of it?
“That such receptivity will increase as the agonies of humanity deepen is certain.”
They’re still rootin’ on Armageddon?
“Just wait until things get REALLY f&$@ed up! Then they’ll be really desperate, and sh&t, they fall for anything!”
I can hardly imagine a more counterproductive world view. What kind of victory are they hoping for?
All I can say is regarding the Ridvan letter, what a load of crap. Disciplined my arse. Its cause we haven’t been given any freedom in our “individual initiative”, its either Ruhi, devotional meetings, or kiddies classes, and thats drummed into us at Feast, cluster meetings, summer schools, conferences, and in the newsletters. You can show individual initiative, so long as it is in those three.
Soon we’ll be going around knocking on doors (oh hang on they’re doing that already) and asking “do you believe the world is getting worse today?” And the people at the doors will go “excuse me, are you the Jehova’s Witnesses?”
The stupid thing about it was the world was really in the crapper with World War One and Two. Anyone who knows their history knows about the mad dictators etc running around being nasty little sods to all and sundry during that time. How can anything that is happening today even possibly compare?
I am going to stay out of cyber space for a few days. I just can’t take it anymore. Is it just me or is this stuff just pure congitive dissonance or am I losing my mind? When I took Ruhi Book One over a six week period I thought I was going to lose my job as a professional software engineer and Java/xHarbour programmer. My powers of reasoning and gognitive functioning deterioriated so shockingly that I really feared that my mental job skills would be permanently damaged. To reiterate in mental Ruhi Speak to my statement so far:
“When I took Ruhi ____ ___ over _ ___ ___ ____ I ______ I was ______ to _____ my job as a __________ _______ ________ and _____/_________ _______. My _______ of _________ and __________ __________ ___________ so shockingly ______ __ ________ ________ that __ _______ _____ ______ _______ be permanently _________.”
Is everyone getting this so far?
If I had to take all of the Ruhi books in the “Full Sequence of Courses” I would surely end up homeless and in the gutter. I just could not do it. I am NOT joking. I found the whole experience completely mentally disturbing to my reasoning ability like a dangerous substance of some sort causing mind altering changes. Maybe it is age? I just don’t know? Did anyone else here experience anything like this in the functioning of their brain chemistry during the agony of the ordeal?
It does appear that they have bet the entire Baha’i Faith on this fate lock stock and barrell. If you are not a “Ruhi Certified Baha’i” you are now completely out of the “AO system”.
I found this sad letter just a common garden variety “editorial prayer” that you would hear in any church or business organization at any time of the day or night. Just a list of the things the “organization” wants you to believe. “Read the list. Repeat. Read it again. Repeat. Etc.”
With the Armageddon tone it rings oddly like Official German Wehrmacht Messages to the Front as the last troops fell back in April 1945. It does have that odd “bet the farm” and “take no prisoners” tone.
It also had that Pol Pot “Year Zero” tone to us. Just march everybody into the jungle and start building the “New Society” COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED from anything REALLY HUMAN HAPPENING in the world. All emotional contact of ANY KIND with the “world” is to ALWAYS be THROUGH the “official” plans of the “ORGANIZATION”.
It is the lizard brain chemistry stem 101. The same old, same old. Everyone has seen this movie in human history. It was really big in the 20th Century.
But in terms of a “religion” it is all very wishful thinking for one very simple reason: it has nothing whatsoever to do with spirituality and it has nothing whatsoever to do with God. They say the Ruhi methods are built on the “Word of God”. That is a total bold faced “organizational” lie. They aren’t! They are just based upon the personal interpetations of a tiny clique of people. These materials are based on absolutely nothing Baha’u'llah or Abdu’l-Baba taught. Nor Jesus. Nor Buddha. Nor anyone. Zero. Nada. Zippo. It’s just air guitar from apparatchiks in badly fitting suits and it is all going to fail miserably.
The link below was the reality of this world in 1945 (WARNING: be advised not to investigate if you want to avoid seeing the horrors of war).
The Baha’is have had 63 years to get to the facts of the matter. For a few brief wonderful years in the 1960’s and 1970’s they once began to move. The the AO took all control back over the next several decades. The rest is history.
And Shoghi Effendi sadly failed to honor the suffering of the world in World War II by completely failing to appoint a Living Guardian in his lifetoime or at the very least write a Will or Testament to leave some jind of written instructions to keep the great work of the Faith on track.
http://faculty.ucmerced.edu/smalloy/atomic_tragedy/photos.html
So now in 2008 there is no living Guardian of the Baha’i Faith to tell these deranged people that they are destroying the seed corn. Everything the Baha’i Faith is doing now is in an emotionally incestuous vacuum that is growing ever larger with each passing day.
Just incredible.
I, for one, am done after 32 years of steadfast service and 4 more years of just laying in the road stunned after getting thrown under the bus. I am still alive and I will find a way to go on with life. The Universe/Multiverse is big. But it truly is an incredible tragedy how the Baha’i Faith is being led to mind bending catastrophe.
I’m taking a rest from cyber space. I have alot of critical tasks at work. I’ll be back in a week when I feel better.
Craig my I suggest the Fire Tablet.
Craig wrote:
“If I had to take all of the Ruhi books in the “Full Sequence of Courses” I would surely end up homeless and in the gutter.”
Craig, I am sorry you have had such negative experiences with Ruhi and perhaps with some “zealots” that the UHJ condemned.
Ruhi is not intended for deepening experienced Baha’is, but for providing experienced baha’is with a simplified curriculum that they can use with new-comers, and help these new-comers not only to seek further into the writings, but also to organiose core activities in order to make our communities more lively.
We will never have priests, so the service once rendered by priests has to be done by each one of us. Those who do the courses will in turn to become teachers. This is the idea of yeast that “leaveneth the lump”.
When the US university professor comes to the islands of French Polynesia, the Ruhi book in English in one hand and in French in the other, he starts his work the same day and those he has taught will not be waiting for his return, but will start the same curriculum by themselves the day he leaves;
The courses are made to fit the low educational level of the vast masses of humanity, not ony in the third world, but also in the streets behind your house. I had a look at the litteracy statistics in the US: shocking…
Ruhi is designed to make “human ressources” out of us: teachers who will teach would be teachers how to teach future would be teachers… not to deepen us.
Dan Wrote:
“That such receptivity will increase as the agonies of humanity deepen is certain.”
They’re still rootin’ on Armageddon?
“Just wait until things get REALLY f&$@ed up! Then they’ll be really desperate, and sh&t, they fall for anything!”
I can hardly imagine a more counterproductive world view. What kind of victory are they hoping for?”
Right no Dan!
Are Baha’is Looking forward to more agony? Great; just what a spiritually enlightened person would do.
I have an idea — why not help!?
Nah, I guess Baha’is are just above all that. After all this isn’t the world of reality so the pain can’t be real. Right?
Peace everyone — work and pray for peace. Or study Ruhi and pray for more agony — you choose.
Frank
Frank wrote:
“Peace everyone — work and pray for peace. Or study Ruhi and pray for more agony — you choose.”
Frank, this is not how I understand it;
Baha’is are working and praying for peace, not for more agony; and Ruhi is designed to make them better servants of humanity ; Baha’is are not seeking personnal victory, but the collective security of humankind, in which they live;
At the same time, they are saying that until and unless spiritual values are adopted, humanity will continue to suffer, and unless and until religious strife is removed, humanity will not attain spiritual development. In Building Momentum, p 19 we read:
“Having an “outward-looking orientation” also suggests that it is important for Baha’is to understand more deeply the forces operating on the world stage and the solutions offered by the Revelation of Baha’u'llah. Our task is to convey to seekers that we are all living in the same world, facing common trials, and striving to fulfill similar, long-held aspirations for the human race. Our expressions of solidarity with our fellow human beings must be
sincerely voiced and genuinely felt. “
Frank wrote:
“I can hardly imagine a more counterproductive world view. What kind of victory are they hoping for?”(…) Are Baha’is Looking forward to more agony? Great; just what a spiritually enlightened person would do (…) Peace everyone — work and pray for peace. Or study Ruhi and pray for more agony — you choose.”
Frank, this is not how I understand it;
Baha’is are working and praying for peace, not for more agony; and Ruhi is designed to make them better servants of humanity and not a victorious minority; Baha’is are not seeking personnal victory, but the collective security of humankind, of which they are a part;
At the same time, they are saying that until and unless spiritual values are adopted, humanity will continue to suffer, and unless and until religious strife is removed, humanity will not attain spiritual development. As the human efforts twards peace fall short, humanity will turn to God. In Building Momentum, p 19 we read:
« Having an “outward-looking orientation” also suggests that it is important for Baha’is to understand more deeply the forces operating on the world stage and the solutions offered by the Revelation of Baha’u'llah. Our task is to convey to seekers that we are all living in the same world, facing common trials, and striving to fulfill similar, long-held aspirations for the human race. Our expressions of solidarity with our fellow human beings must be sincerely voiced and genuinely felt. »
Oh yeah? Then what are you doing — doing about it? IOW — actions speak louder than words.
Studying Ruhi and having meetings while staying out of politics and doing almost no out reach almost no community service will not cut the mustard, no matter how holy you look with googly eyes set deep in your spiritual sockets.
Expressions of solidarity I don’t see. I see them and us. We have the truth the others need to suffer so they will wake up.
Right — huh? — isn’t that what it all nets out to?
Frank
Christie wrote:
“In other words, international pioneers should have been through the Ruhi course for starters. I wonder what some of the early Baha’i pioneers would have made of it?”
Christie, times change and the community needs and structures evolve; what was required during the Bab’s lifetime, Baha’u'llah’s and Abdu’l-Baha’s time, SE’s epoque etc are not what we needed 30 years ago and now. When electric lighting arrived in Europe, the candle manufacturers rioted because of the unfair competition electricity were producing. One day ironmongers stopped making horse-shoes and sold tyres…In WOB p 9-10 Shoghi Effendi writes:
“…that the whole machinery of assemblies, of committees and conventions is to be regarded as a means, and not an end in itself; that they will rise or fall according to their capacity to further the interests, to co-ordinate the activities, to apply the principles, to embody the ideals and execute the purpose of the Baha’i Faith.”
When my parents went pioneering to Tanganyika in 1952, Shoghi Effendi asked us to set up Teacher Training Institutes so that the indigenous populations would be able to carry on the teaching work once the pioneers had left.
This is the whole purpose of the Institute Process now: enabling people at grass roots to carry on their own teaching work by themselves, in tune with their own culture, without the help of paternalising missionnaries.
We have been having communities structured around LSA’s with 19 day’s feasts and little to offer the outside world. Now theses LSA’s will progressively become Local Houses of Justice and much of the teaching work will be organised throught the institute process, with new institutions, and open to all, enrolled or not within what is now called “the community of interest”.
We dont have professionnal priests, but every one, Baha’i or not is welcome into becoming a human ressource in the process of “spiritualising” humanity; in some places, more non-Baha’is than Baha’is are tutoring the Ruhi books; here is how Shoghi Effendi expressed it:
“Baha’u'llah has enjoined upon the Baha’is the sacred obligation of teaching. We have no priests, therefore the service once rendered by priests to their religions is the service every single Baha’i is expected to render individually to his religion. He must be the one who enlightens new souls, confirms them, heals the wounded and the weary upon the road of life, and gives them to quaff from the chalice of everlasting life - the knowledge of the Manifestation of God in His Day.”
(From a letter dated 5 July 1957 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Bahá’ís of the Benelux)
Christie,
the pioneers that I know, either in person or through biographies and stories, are characterized by stalwart faith and a tenacious individualistic streak. How else would they venture into the unknown by themselves?
Regarding the main thrust of the Ridvan message, it is no different than the myriad other messages. If one chooses to look for the disintegrative elements in society, one will find them. If one chooses to look for the constructive and inspirational elements, one will likewise find many examples. I think this is true for the past, present and the future.
As Abdu’l-Baha says in a prayer: “I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life.”
Frank wrote: “Oh yeah? Then what are you doing — doing about it? IOW — actions speak louder than words.Studying Ruhi and having meetings while staying out of politics and doing almost no out reach almost no community service will not cut the mustard..”
You can always focus on a glass that is half full or half empty. When you say almost no outreach no community service what do you mean? There is a Baha’i Office of Social and Economic Development. Despite the fact that Baha’is don’t have a clergy so we do not have the resources of full-time volunteers except on a limited basis (e.g. youth who are on a year of service) Baha’i communities all over the world have started more than 1,500 development projects especially throughout Asia, Latin America, and Africa during the last ten years.
Baha’is operate more than 600 schools and seven radio stations broadcasting educational, health and agricultural programs as well as information about Baha’i community activities. They include tutorial schools, local clinics, classes in health care, agricultural projects, reforestation, alcoholism counselling, and children’s hostels. The community service programming of Bahá’í radio stations embraces not only such practical concerns but also the recognition of native culture. Isn’t all of this an indication of out reach and community service?
You can choose to focus on whatever you want but some Baha’is are trying to assist in their local communities. It isn’t easy when you have a full time job, family, 19 Day feast, etc etc and other responsibilities like being an LSA or committee member but they are still trying. Maybe if we had a clergy we could do more but we are trying with the limited resources we have to implement constructive community service in different part of the world where it is most needed.
Here is one of many examples: http://www.onecountry.org/e191/e19101as_Ghana_literacy_story.html
Carmen
Frank, I forgot to add some more examples of Baha’i community service activities: http://www.onecountry.org/listdev.html
Carmen
Carmen wrote:
“When you say almost no outreach no community service what do you mean?”
In my Baha’i experience I have seen almost none. When I read the Baha’i scripture or the letters from UHJ I see references to human agony as a sign of the coming of the new world order under Baha’i. So if agony is a good thing why help? With an attitude like that there will not be much community service from most Baha’is.
The activities in Africa or other places in need are laudable but the glass is far from half full. Its mostly empty as far as I can see.
I don’t hold myself up as a shining example either but I can choose the guidance I follow and the Baha’i attitude of ‘oh boy great — things are getting worse” is one of the most negative aspects of the faith.
Ironically — and too bad for Baha’i — things aren’t getting worse. Our wars still kill but they kill fewer people. There is more freedom in the world (some of us think that’s a good thing) and less disease. While we are still at risk of self destruction at least more of us are aware of the problems associated with weapons of mass destruction and climate change.
So I am hopeful. I’m also involved in the government of my town and help people who need it once in a while. But I know I should do much much more. I don’t think most Baha’is feel the same way. That’s because they are told that human agony is a sign of the coming kingdom of God.
Thing is — the Kingdom of God is within you, did you but know (sorry Baha’ullah)
Frank
Frank wrote:
“Thing is — the Kingdom of God is within you, did you but know (sorry Baha’ullah)”
Dear Frank,
Of course it is, and of course we know, but that kingdom of God within us is the reflection of the one brought by Divine Manifestations, when and if we turn to God, and that kingdom of God within us should now come IN EARTH, as it is in the heaven of our ideals, and as the Lord promised.
Carm wrote:
“I forgot to add some more examples of Baha’i community service activities: http://www.onecountry.org/listdev.html“
And Dear Carm, I would like to add that the greatest of Baha’i services is to propagate the idea that together with all other wonderful organisations, we are all contributing to the _same_ goal, unified and complementary in our efforts, and in no way competing or rivalising with others.
Dear Frank,
“So if agony is a good thing why help? With an attitude like that there will not be much community service from most Baha’is.”
No Frank, agony is a terrible thing we have to overcome, just like a physician like myself has to overcome pain and would be sued if he did not.
At the same time, to those who believe that medicine is a point less science, I can reply that one day they will have pain and this will help them understand the need for medicine.
Dear Farhan,
Please don’t resort to your Old Testament prophet voice — it doesn’t suit a physician. And BTW you have just proven my point with your fatuous warning of coming pain. Of course there is pain in life but it is not a result of ignoring Baha’ullah, it is part of the human condition.
I’m sorry but the analogy doesn’t work. The Baha’i teachings are not the medicine the world needs. They are not always practical, they are not always true and they lead to fundamentalism.
Baha’ullah calls himself the ‘divine physician’ and you accept that. I do not.
I often think of the Hidden Word that says: “Love me that I may love Thee, if thou lovest me not my love can in no wise reach thee.” This is good advice — love God — or love the creation or love life or love spirit — this sort of love is good medicine. And love one another. These are eternal lessons found in almost all religions and Baha’ullah did a masterful job retelling them in the Hidden Words.
But then I think of the exhortations to live in fear of God to beseech God for eternal life, to live this life focused on the next rather than in the moment — this I find objectionable and far too left brained. I reject the idea that this world we live in is not real. While the point may be useful in philosophical discussions it doesn’t help most people struggling in real pain in this very real life.
Then I think of the state of affairs in the world today and the Baha’i response — and I repeat — some Baha’is beleve and are encouraged to believe that the agony of people is a good sign because it means that the time when Baha’is will rule the world is near. I have heard this repeated many times in my Baha’i experience.
You call this good medicine? I call this delusions of a sick kind of grandeur.
So please save your warning of pain for someone who is afraid.
BTW are you afraid of being sued — is that your motivation? I hope not because if so I’d choose another profession.
Cheers,
Frank
Farhan Wrote:
Dear Farhan,
I agree except I believe the Kingdom is here and now; within us here and now. Don’t look for it in the future or in the Holy Land or anywhere else. Look within yourself. In fact it was always within people. We can have heaven — or hell — on earth if we want it. That is the teaching of Buddha and Christ. I’m not so sure about Baha’ullah — I think he got confused toward the end of his life and focused on fear and the future.
Peace (of mind),
Frank
Farhan, how can a systematic, simplistic teaching course with a “one-size-fits-all” mentality be considered an individualistic, culturally sensitive programme suitable for all? No, there are no paternalising missionaries, but the Ruhi course is similarly paternalistic, no matter who teaches it.
My main problem with the letter I quoted above, though, is my fear that those not familiar with or not in sympathy with the Ruhi process will not be allowed/encouraged to pioneer or be involved in community projects. I think of a Doctor I know, now in his 80s, whose teaching work has been significant in the spread of the Faith, in England, Asia and in Australia. He prides independent investigation of truth above all else, and from his own readings of the Writings has taken certain courses of action accordingly eg. become a vegan. What if such a brave, knowledgeable soul had been excluded from pioneering just because he had not participated in the Ruhi process?
Frank wrote :
“I believe the Kingdom is here and now; within us here and now. Don’t look for it in the future or in the Holy Land or anywhere else. Look within yourself. In fact it was always within people. We can have heaven — or hell — on earth if we want it.”
Dear Frank, our views are a little different here; I believe that the prototype of the Kingdom of God is within me, only because I have turned to Baha’u'llah and not to the leaders in the tradition of the country where I was born.
This ideal can be put into practice if enough people, enrolled or not, are willing to enact it with me in order to transform the prevailing mess into a heaven.
I see this kingdom appearing in me and becoming reality in two steps: 1) us turning to a specific source of inspiration,
2) us collaborating with others in order to enact it.
We make an orchestra by reading the same page of music, and accepting the rhythm of the same maestro. Otherwise we play solo in a one-man-show and we are happy with our personnal peace of mind, with speculation and imagination, without bringing our ideals into reality and helping the masses that ar in agony.
Farhan wrote :
“We make an orchestra by reading the same page of music, and accepting the rhythm of the same maestro. Otherwise we play solo in a one-man-show and we are happy with our personal peace of mind, with speculation and imagination, without bringing our ideals into reality and helping the masses that are in agony.”
Of course we disagree! And you have used another false analogy! We are not in an orchestra! And I love to work with people, am not a one-man-show. I just don’t like the same leaders you do.
What is in you is not a prototype — its the only kingdom of God there is — the human heart. If enough of us follow it and live lives of compassion we will have a new heaven and new earth. In fact our earth and heaven are constantly being renewed.
And please don’t accuse every thoughtful person of ’speculation and imagination’ I think you know better than that — its a cheap shot meant to control people and thought.
Frank
Individualistic. My point exactly.
I agree totally and I don’t want anyone to think that I only have negative feelings about the Faith. If anything, your blog has had the opposite effect on me, it has confirmed to me that whatever happens with the Admin Order I am still a Baha’i - my underlying faith is still strong. Now any time I get frustrated by the state of the Faith today I can look on the lighter side of it, knowing there are some fantastic fellow Baha’is out there who have thoughts very similar to my own. So thanks!
Christie wrote:
“how can a systematic, simplistic teaching course with a “one-size-fits-all” mentality be considered an individualistic, culturally sensitive programme suitable for all? “
Christie, this course is an INTRODUCTION to the essential aspects of Baha’i life, a springboard that will introduce us not only to Baha’i knowledge, but to SERVICE. We have very knowledgeable Baha’is who cannot transmit their knowledge to others, let alone set an example of Bahá’í life or provide people with the essential tools that will help them become better teachers.
You write: “No, there are no paternalising missionaries, but the Ruhi course is similarly paternalistic, no matter who teaches it.”
You must have only met inexperienced tutors like some of those I have met; people like you should participate and set new examples; the whole purpose of the course is to enable common people become more efficient teacher trainers in a short time on a large scale. Fast food, side by side with sophisticated menus elsewhere, I jokingly say
“Love and efficiency” were the two words used by the UHJ describing the process. This will open to the portals of participants to further study and service. After some appalling mistakes I saw at the onset, it is working better and better now.
You write: “My main problem with the letter I quoted above, though, is my fear that those not familiar with or not in sympathy with the Ruhi process will not be allowed/encouraged to pioneer or be involved in community projects.”
Christie, This is a very real danger resulting from a poor understanding of the purpose of Ruhi and a lack of study of the abundant messages of the UHJ. Of course no one can discourage a Baha’I from settling down and being active somewhere, but I know some people who would try. The Ridvan 2008 message clearly warns against excess and fanaticism. This quote would reassure you:
“At the same time the House of Justice has explained that no special designation should be accorded to those who are studying in the institute or serving as tutors, nor should the friends feel any demarcation based on participation in the institute:
It is quite reasonable to expect that, as far as training by the institute is concerned, certain courses would have as their prerequisite the completion of other courses. However, this notion should not be carried over into other Baha’i activities, and clearly no distinction should be made between “trained” and “untrained” believers in the country. That for certain types of service the qualifications of the believers would need to be taken into account is natural. Yet the way should be open for all the friends, irrespective of the degree of their knowledge and experience, to participate in the affairs of the Faith….
(Letter dated 4 October 2000 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to the Spiritual Assembly of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In Building Momentum p4)
Frank wrote:
“And please don’t accuse every thoughtful person of ’speculation and imagination’ I think you know better than that — its a cheap shot meant to control people and thought.”
Dear frank, i didn’t mean to offend any one, but just to point out that there is a huge problem when we attempt to enact our internal ideal in collaboration with others. This is particularly true between many Baha’is who are the greatest tests for each other. Devoted believers when by themselves, but painfull in team-work.
Frank wrote:
“And please don’t accuse every thoughtful person of ’speculation and imagination’ I think you know better than that — its a cheap shot meant to control people and thought.”
Dear frank, i didn’t mean to offend any one, but just to point out that there is a huge problem when we attempt to enact our internal ideal in collaboration with others. This is particularly true between many Baha’is who are the greatest tests for each other. Devoted believers when by themselves, but painfull in team-work.
Hi Farhan,
I don’t understand your last sentence — was it cut off?
You don’t offend but I do get tried of the old ‘vain imaginings’ spin that Baha’ullah used in an attempt to shut thinking down. Our minds are important tools that we must use. We need to engage them when we work together and when we journey inward.
Thanks,
Frank
Frank wrote :
« Of course there is pain in life but it is not a result of ignoring Baha’u’llah, it is part of the human condition. »
Frank, sometimes pain, which is inherent to human condition, is avoidable, and sometimes it is not. In the case of religious strife, which is perhaps the major source of anguish today, the resulting pain is avoidable and as far as I am concerned, can be avoided through the prescriptions of Baha’u’llah. In the case of natural disasters, they could be eased through better collaboration and harmony. I would be delighted to hear your remedies; spiritual introspection is certainly one good start, but I believe that we ALSO need to convey that idea to others and collaborate with them, and that is where we fail.
You write :
« This is good advice — love God — or love the creation or love life or love spirit — this sort of love is good medicine. And love one another.
We clearly agree here ; my point is that we have to carry on this personal injunction into our social lives.
You write :
« But then I think of the exhortations to live in fear of God to beseech God for eternal life, to live this life focused on the next rather than in the moment — this I find objectionable and far too left brained. »
Again i agree, except that Baha’u’llah’s message is not ONLY that although ALSO that. We have writings addressing our left AND right brains and helping us to harmonise the two.
You write :
« I reject the idea that this world we live in is not real. »
Again I agree : it is real but transitory, just like the life in the womb is real but transitory and insignificant compared to this one, although just as essential…
You write :
« some Baha’is believe and are encouraged to believe that the agony of people is a good sign because it means that the time when Baha’is will rule the world is near. I have heard this repeated many times in my Baha’i experience. »
This is a morbid interpretation on their part that I also reject. One of the characteristics of Baha’u’llah’s commentary on Attar’s seven Valleys is that Baha’u’llah’s commentary is joyous, whereas Attar’s is morbid.
Yes, frank, the last sentence meant to say They are devoted Baha’is working by themselves, but they are not good at team work.
Vain imaginings are impractical ideas. Discrepencies between the left and right brains, if you like.
“Fear of God”, like fear of the teacher is addressing bad students: tyrants, unmotivated, naughty students; the good students function through love of the teacher and/or of the subject.
There’s no problem with a bit of Ruhi. Let the Baha’i Teaching Committees/BAO get on with what ever they think is useful.
Moderation in all things though. You’d expect more than just Ruhi. And there probably is, although my national newsletter doesn’t reflect that moderation but that’s because it’s the voice of the BAO (and far too happy-clappy - none of Baha’u'llahs writings were so unswervingly optimistic). And the newsletter is bland and boring but there you go. I can’t find a non-BAO Baha’i newsletter/magazine, anyone know of one?
It’ll be interesting to see how the Ruhi pans out.
I wish some small country or territory somewhere would hand over executive authority to the BAO. It would be informative to see how the practicalities of governing impact the BAO ideas.
Sympathise with Craig tho. The religion is getting a bit same old , same old. I’m not as passionate as Craig tho.
Does anyone pay Huq’u'llah? I don’t. Is it a requirement now in the west?
Glad to hear it
I was beginning to think everyone misunderstood my aims here. It is mollifying to hear that my true intentions are understood by some at least.
burning,
If Ruhi had been allowed to fend for itself and to compete for the honor of inspiring Baha’is within a “marketplace” of similar ideas, I wouldn’t have any problems with it at all. But when it is jammed down our gullets to produce the fois gras of “entry by troops”… well, I get a little ticked off. I think Ruhi is already panning out. I’ll write soon about that with some hard data to back it up. So much to write about, so little time!
What we, in the civilized world, call a free press does not exist within the international or national Baha’i community right now. The closest thing is the blogosphere and even then for every blog like mine or Karen or Alison’s there are ten more that gush a fountain of saccharin propaganda, totally bereft of any substance or intellectual discourse. This void is one reason why the Baha’i Faith has turned insular and unfortunately, even corrupt at times. A free press is a vital component of any advanced community.
Farhan wrote:
The horror! Its bad enough now with a bunch of bright eyed enthusiasts running around clacking on about “The Healing Medicine of Baha’u'llah”, “The Pure Word”, and “Spiritual Insights”. There is only one way this will end, badly.
World in agony? It’s a hell of a lot better now than what it was in the 1940s. Receptive population? Dunno about that, maybe towards Buddhism, charismatic christian groups, and other forms of spirituality. Entry by troops? Enrolments down by 66% or less compared to 1980s, no indications of enrolments going back up (Its all about process now). Teaching using Ruhi? Last I checked, it was unsuccessful in my howntown, 75% of non-Baha’is who started Ruhi never finished the first book, and most of those never wanted anything to do with the Baha’is again. Healing Message of Baha’i? >50% inactivity in my community. Apparently divorce rate amongst Baha’is in the western world is greater than general population.
I would say the Faith has been spectacularly unsuccessful. A good product should be able to sell itself. Yet we’re being asked to rush around the neighbourhoods, friends, colleagues etc, and fill their ears with the “Pure Word”. I don’t know about you, but I respect my friends too much to inflict all this upon them.
Grover:
You wrote:
“I would say the Faith has been spectacularly unsuccessful. A good product should be able to sell itself. Yet we’re being asked to rush around the neighbourhoods, friends, colleagues etc, and fill their ears with the “Pure Word”. I don’t know about you, but I respect my friends too much to inflict all this upon them.”
I agree 100%. But I do tell people about Baha’i when it comes up (as in — what is your religious background? — a question asked at my UU church) Except that I give the full story. Spiritual insights along with harassment of homosexuals and free thinkers.
Baha’i was once believable as a modern form of traditional religion; its has become so fundamentalist, fear mongering and insular (maybe it always was) that it has become a curiosity — not much more.
The Bahai’s in our town as invited to speak at church every once in a while. They are highly regarded based on their enthusiastic presentations. But our brilliant young pastor said to me a while ago that while she enjoys meeting with the Baha’is she is put off by them ultimately because in every conversation they try to convert her! Yet they are not involved in many efforts to improve our community. What they have forgotten is that deeds not words should be their adorning. Its an easy trap to fall into and that’s where many Baha’is have been led.
Frank
Thanks Grover and Frank.
I’m trying to find a way to be constructive here. Maybe this is nuts, but perhaps if the Baha’i Faith could recast itself as a peace movement inspired my a Muslim mystic, it might be able to gain some traction, and might even do the world some good. The world could use a few more Muslims for peace. The political good will and spiritual vitality could be preserved and even invigorated. No more conversions; no more creed. All the Covenant and Manifestation crap has got to be left behind. Baha’is don’t need to worship Baha’u'llah to be inspired by him. He doesn’t need to be seen as perfect or some kind of mirror or incarnation of God for his movement to do some good. To the contrary: all that idolatrous nonsense will only suffocate the Baha’i Faith, and leave it sinking into the mire and decaying as an archaeological curiosity. I’m not suggesting they abandon their prayers, pilgrimages, administrative pretensions, or architectural excesses entirely; only that they adopt some modesty about their religion, and see it as just one more group of people trying to do some good.
Dan
Good luck with that Dan. I was discussing Bahaullah’s status with a Persian Bahai who had just come from Iran (I am Persian too btw). I was telling him how in my eyes Bahaullah was equal in status to all other messengers, and he got very angry with me. He said NO, Bahaullah was the culmination of all of them- he is greater than them. Then I got pissed, and I said NO, that would be the antithesis of everything I’ve been taught, and I would not accept the Faith otherwise. Then he just got even madder- there was a fundamentalist anger in his eyes that really worried me. These nuts run the Bahai community and they want all to think like them. That’s why I haven’t been active (that and being gay). I think I’ll do like Frank and just join my local UU.
Hi P,
That’s a nice change. A Persian Baha’i complaining about Persian Baha’is. You sure know how to make us oppressed Anglo-Baha’is smile