you write:

<You show no real concern for the women being described, <and your defense has apparently left you blind to real <injustices in the world, (…) In a word, you ought to be <ashamed of yourself. Go learn about abuses to women and do <something about it instead of trying to drown the <discussion with your digital logorrhea.

I have nothing to be ashamed of and you need not be ashamed of misjudging me. You are young and you have time to learn.

I have a long experience in the field of abuse and family violence, with some publications on the subjet and 5 years as a forensic expert at the appelate court in French Polynesia. I have seen more gruesome violence than you could ever imagine or that I could ever forget; a few examples would provide you with nightmares for a long time.

Alas, arresting and punishing the offenders often results in further punishing the victims for reasons a bit long to explain here.

If you wish to do something about PREVENTING or ERADICATING abuse and gender violence, I suggest that you study and promote this excellent document by the NSA of the US available at:

http://www.bahai.us/domestic-violence

since you are involved in helping Baha’i victims mishandled by immature Baha’i institutions, have you used the document by teh NSA of the US in helping victims and the intitutions into better handling of these cases? It is available at:

http://www.bahai.us/domestic-violence

Eric,

The Faith offers education to all; we have individuals at different levels of spiritual growth; those in kindergarten need prizes, encouragements and sometimes a tap on their bottoms; then they become understanding and run for diplomas an good exam results… in time they learn to serve humanity out of sheer love for this planet, for the creator and teh beauty of His creation, and will continue to do so, whether encoouraged or blamed. You start by pushing a child into learning notes and reading music, he ends up as Mozart producing for the love of music.

<how people in power falsely appropriate the real or <perceived accomplishments and manipulate and abuse their <position and scapegoat or belittle those that are not in <power.

Those are obviously the immature ones.

<I have a transcript of one ABM in the USA that literally <screamed at a bunch of LSA members about how every failing <of the BF was caused by “lazy believers” where weren’t <willing to make enough sacrifices.

We do have some incompetent apparatchiks amongst us; should we destry and eliminate them, or help them improve?

<What you and many other “establishment defenders” don’t <realize is that many people with complaints don’t want to <discomfort your type of people with the truth.

You are wrong as far as I am concerned, otherwise I would not be spending time here.

<SED projects are empty shells designed to make it look <like some NSA, (…) was doing something to help poor or <disadvantaged people, but in reality was a hollow PR <project with nothing but “FEEL GOOD” activities.

Yes, i have seen that kind of behaviour too; not easy opposing it, but it is possible and I often manage to do so, with support from the majority.
<You are quite simply living in a bubble and are ignorant.

You are wrong, Eric; We have many problems, and i believe we have to find sustainable solutions by helping people into more spiritual mature behaviours.

What I am saying is that when the toilet is overflowing, it is immature to just stir it and wait for enough smell to rise so that “someone” will do “something” about it. The mature way is to inspect the pipes, have a look at the sewage tank, call the plummers and think how the mess can be avoided in the future by preventive measures: putting up signs on what not to throw down the toilets.

<I don’t know who the “we” is, but the establishmentarians <in the bahai community

Neither you or i are in a situation to label any one; we can identify disfunctions and suggest solutions and preventive measures

<No one that “loves” humanity would adhere to the kind of <silly, discredited medieval metaphysics that you and other <dull establishmentarians use all the time to defend the <status quo.

If you have better metaphysics, suggest them and we will consider them;

<bahai culture is becoming insitutionalized, which is the <natural progression of religious cultures.

Yes, Eric, the crysalis is breaking appart and a butterfy is emerging.

<unfortunately bahai culture is stuck in a pattern of <institutionalization that most of the rest of the world

Some Baha’is are bing left behind, still attached to personnal power as opposed to institutional and collegial responsibility, but not the mass of the believers and of our institutions are increasingly adapting to newly emergent realities and circumstances.

<the establishmentarians live in bubbles, and any <unfortunate person that dares to try to break out is <subject to irrational diatribes, personal attacks, etc.

I agree with you here on the behaviours of some of our zealots who feel unable to question their own Faith and who in fact are lacking Faith.

<people at the national level who hate any evidence of a <new, innovative popular paradigm in the grass roots, and <are ever on the look out for fresh scapegoats to sacrifice <in order to distract the sheeple from the horrible <failures of the establishment.

Eric, when you look at a garden, you should not only concentrate on the compost beneath your feet; you should also raise your eyes and look at spring showers, teh warming sun, the tiny shoots, the buds, the sprouts and the flowering boughs above you;

<They will never learn.

I too have seen some intelligent, very resourceful, very succesful people fields ground into the dust, but these people do help bring about change and evolution. The Baha’i Faith brings together people who would never have met, let alone pray or work together. It will take generations to bring about this change, not your or my life span. Here is how Peter Khan expresses it:

“Every religion that we know about has either started off or after a fairly short time settled down into the active leader, who is on the edge of a nervous breakdown because he is so busy, and the passive congregation that is expected just to sit there and do what it’s told.

Bahá’u’lláh has broken that dichotomy down to create an active participating community of believers from which administrators are elected or appointed for limited periods. We have a lot of work to do to break down this tendency of Bahá’í communities to fall into that pattern of super-active individuals who either are exalted or who exalt themselves, and the passive rest of us who do what we’re told and try not to make too much trouble. We have to break that down as our teachings tell us it is not the right pattern. We have a lot of work to do to absorb it within our bones, to make it an integral part of our functioning; it will take generations to do that. Our core activities rest upon the fact that we do not have any leader or guru who tells us what the words mean, but rather we rely on the power of consultation and understanding in order to develop a deeper vision of what the Creative Word is about. This is quite different from the elected Assemblies with their decision-making powers in the realm of action, and the appointed Counsellors and their helpers to provide advice, encouragement and counsel.”
(Peter Khan, Torronto 2nd August 2006)

Thanks to Bequia who has permitted me to express my views here.

warmest

Farhan

You write:

“They will never learn. I’ve seen dozens of very intelligent, very resourceful, very succesful people that are leaders in their professional fields ground into the dust by power mongers and abusers for daring to think that the high and mightly bahai establishment might be able to reform itself in the same kinds of ways that these people have seen, over and over, other organizations and businesses change and adapt to new paradigms.

bahai culture has a “broken incentive system”. peolpe are usually rewarded for doing the wrong thing and punished for doing the right thing.

mass distortion of reality is normal, feedback systems are broken or absent, the truth is feared except as doled out in small doses by self-serving people reinforcing that use it to present a distorted picture of the status quo.”

I have been up tonight working on a very hard Java programming business process engineering project for the company I work for involving millions of dollars and the improved livelihoods in a deteriorating economy for over 400 people and their families which has steam coming out of my pleasantly tired brain! But I thought I would stop by BR and read some posts to relax before retiring for the night.

Wow.

Your post is one of the BEST POSTS on here in quite some time! You have hit the nail EXACTLY on the head. It is very late and I can’t write anything in reply but I will at some point over time. There are other very interesting posts here tonight too. There are many recent developments of late out in the world in the discussion of “quantum thought”. I will also comment on this topic when I get the time.

I have been reading both Ken Wilber and your guy Jean Gebser of late and am enjoying this system of thought and insight very much.

http://www.kheper.net/integral/index.html

The current world is in very, very big trouble. The current Baha’i Faith is in very, very big trouble.

What is needed by people trying to move forward is first thought, and then action. There is zero of that amid all the present franchised systems of appalling Potemkin villages on this sorry planet.

The only thing anyone can do now is keep the discussion going with people who are alive ANYWHERE you can find them.

It seems these days all you can say as the CAMERA MOVES IN for a CLOSE-UP like that kid in “The Sixth Sense” is:

“I see dead people.”

Everyone keep posting!

Sorry, Eric,
I replied to Craig for your post
You write :
« For many years, the incompetent, corrupt and wayward leadership elites « (”big pigs”) simply took credit for all the hard, dirty and/or boring work that « the “little pigs” did (pioneers, LSA secretaries, etc.).

Took crédit for what, Eric, before whom ?

For the “accomplishments”, such as they are, of the community. Building/running Baha’i centers, SED, “teaching” projects, PR, administrative activities, deepenings, social activities, inspiring people, and so forth.

What is actually accomplished, or not, isn’t the issue, it is how people in power falsely appropriate the real or perceived accomplishments and manipulate and abuse their position and scapegoat or belittle those that are not in power.

The locations vary. National conventions, unit conventions, feasts, etc., etc.

I have a transcript of one ABM in the USA that literally screamed at a bunch of LSA members about how every failing of the BF was caused by “lazy believers” where weren’t willing to make enough sacrifices.

This was witnessed by a number of people in the near proximity of a national bahai school in the northeastern usa.

What you and many other “establishment defenders” don’t realize is that many people with complaints don’t want to discomfort your type of people with the truth. You have an unending well of inane, meaningless platitudes that simply make it all the more obvious that bahai culture is corrupt, uninformed of advances the important areas of human advancement, and incompetent.

I was at a mysticism conference at a national bahai school on central california years ago (one of the “talisman” yellow-snow conferences), and a prominent, well travelled young bahai scholar/administrator told of the many examples where bahai SED projects are empty shells designed to make it look like some NSA, for instance of a particular asian country, was doing something to help poor or disadvantaged people, but in reality was a hollow PR project with nothing but “FEEL GOOD” activities.

The scholar contrasted the meaningless bahai SED project with various large “REAL” christian, buddhist and secular projects.

I’ve been on various “support lists” for a number of years where a large number of people have chronicled in detail the massive pattern of dysfunctionalty that is overwhelmingly typical of bahai communities in most of the major countries and many minor ones.

You are quite simply living in a bubble and are ignorant.

Are we working for crédit or for the love of humanity ?

I don’t know who the “we” is, but the establishmentarians in the bahai community are indulging themselves in vain imaginings and fantasy and are not about any kind of real love.

No one that “loves” humanity would adhere to the kind of silly, discredited medieval metaphysics that you and other dull establishmentarians use all the time to defend the status quo.

Anyone that “loves” humanity will be appropriately horrified at the manner in which bahai culture has been pulled back down into the “gravity well of shiism”, and will flee far and fast.

Are we not taking crédit for what Quddus and Mullah Husayn did ? I Wonder how those luminaries would act now if they were placed in an NSA or to an appointed position.

They would probably join taliban? they were absolutist and extremists, possible sociopaths/psychopaths.

(That is almost exactly what a friend of mine, who is descended from sharazi babis, told me.)

On the other hand, if you meant the conventional, romanticized, distorted version of babi/bahai history where they are heroic figures embracing a new, radical paradigm, and rejecting orthodox theological and cultural rigidity, that was just part of a larger response to european trade and colonialization across all of iranian society at the time, but especially in the south (e.g., shiraz) where trade with the west, and western military and economic power, was most evident.

certainly iranian society was worried and ready for change, and typically of corrupt islamic culture in general, the resulting innovations (such as babism) that were tried were harshly put down.

Did those pioneers (of whom I am part since my childhood) expect recognition, praise or a position for theit labors, or did they contribute for love ?

They contributed for various reasons, much of which was brainwashing, family and peer pressure, and so forth.

Sociologists are quite clearly aware that bahai culture has evolved away from the initial phases of organization where personal relationships by an elite leadership cadre of apostles with charismatic leaders (bab, bahaullah, abdul-baha, shoghi) was the driving force.

bahai culture is becoming insitutionalized, which is the natural progression of religious cultures.

unfortunately bahai culture is stuck in a pattern of institutionalization that most of the rest of the world left behind 50 to 75 years ago, and is increasingly unable to adapt to newly emergent realities and circumstances.

so, the establishmentarians live in bubbles, and any unfortunate person that dares to try to break out is subject to irrational diatribes, personal attacks, etc.

I saw one of the most promising bahai innovators in theology and social theory almost literally run out of a mysticism conference and then his local community by the adherents of rigid orthodoxy. The attack was orchestrated by vicious and evil people who severly abused their positions of authority, and who were in cohoots with people at the national level who hate any evidence of a new, innovative popular paradigm in the grass roots, and are ever on the look out for fresh scapegoats to sacrifice in order to distract the sheeple from the horrible failures of the establishment.

Yes, I agree, we do have people adopting attitudes of arrogance and superiority which are clear violations of our teachings, but these people will have to learn that this to is also part of our Faith :

They will never learn. I’ve seen dozens of very intelligent, very resourceful, very succesful people that are leaders in their professional fields ground into the dust by power mongers and abusers for daring to think that the high and mightly bahai establishment might be able to reform itself in the same kinds of ways that these people have seen, over and over, other organizations and businesses change and adapt to new paradigms.

bahai culture has a “broken incentive system”. peolpe are usually rewarded for doing the wrong thing and punished for doing the right thing.

mass distortion of reality is normal, feedback systems are broken or absent, the truth is feared except as doled out in small doses by self-serving people reinforcing that use it to present a distorted picture of the status quo.

To dissociate the administrative principles of the Cause from the purely spiritual and humanitarian teachings would be tantamount to a mutilation of the body of the Cause, a separation that can only result in the disintegration of its component parts, and the extinction of the Faith itself (…)It is surely for those to whose hands so priceless a heritage has been committed to prayerfully watch lest the tool should supersede the Faith itself, lest undue concern for the minute details arising from the administration of the Cause obscure the vision of its promoters, lest partiality, ambition, and worldliness tend in the course of time to becloud the radiance, stain the purity, and impair the effectiveness of the Faith of Baha’u'llah. (Shoghi Effendi, WOB)

Yes, bahai culture is mutiliated. intellect, vision, creativity, humanitarianism and real (non-instrumentalized) spirituality is divorced from the organizational element, which is the “system” that has “colonized lifeworld” (Jurgen Habermas).

In short bahai culture has become “disinformocracy”, where its institutions are facing the same “crisis of legitimization” that Habermas and other social theorists and culture critics have clearly described.

An invariable feature of such delegitimated institutions is that they are in a constant PR war to keep the sheeple in a conforming, “dumbed down” herd.

In other words, the bahai faith has become exactly the same kind of encrusted, inflexible, dysfunctional orthodoxy that the “dawn breakers” tried to overthrow.

That process is of course predicted by Paolo Friere and other scholars of “revolutionary” movements.

At this point in history, bahai culture is at best a distant follower of the most “progressive”, avant guard, cutting age theories of human consciousness.

I predict that at some point in the future when integral thought becomes the most prevalent paradigm and will solve most of the current problems in the world, that bahais will attempt to take credit for inspiring integralism. that attempt will of course be seen as silly by peolpe capable of rational thought.

The bahai innovators that try to “pick and choose” are the only hope, but I am sorry to say that I see nothing in the 30+ years of previously being a bahai that indicates that such innovation will be embraced in a meaningful way. I cheer on anyone, such as my old friend Eric Hadley-Ives, that is still idealistic and energetic enough to try to advocate for a non-dysfunctional form of bahai culture.

Unfortunately I think that the great hearts and minds in the grass roots of the bahai faith, such as Eric H-I, are simply seen as quaint, marginal characters that can safely ignored by most of the bahai faith.

Make no mistake, the prevailing form of bahai culture, is in its “organized” aspects, dysfunctional and evil. It loaths deep, profound self-examination or REAL self-correction. It is rigid and incapable of embracing the best forms of new thought and new collective practice of enlightenment and action that have emerged all over planet earth.

Just paying lip service to high ideas won’t work anymore, the era of mindless platitudes, hypocrisy, fake action, disinformation and deception is over.

It’s time to move on to “something better” folks, and that is integral theory, neuroscience and all sorts of other exciting activities and movements that are integrating transcendance and rationalism (transrationalism).

While the rest of the world is full of thousands of flowers blooming, bahai fundamentalists/fascists/sympathisers are still running around dumping “spiritual herbicide” all over the place trying to turn the evolutionary clock backwards.

Regards,
Eric P.
Sacramento

you write:
For whatever reason, Farhan decided to characterize my words in that informal discussion as inappropriate. If I had chosen to make an official allegation of a specific party and use this blog as a platform, you are right that I should expect to provide documentation.

Seeing that you are engaged in the prevention of domestic violence, I withdraw my words. The impression I got from your post was that you were mainly concerned with trying to discredit the Baha’i AO and not defend the victims. i apologise for my mistake.

Since you are engaged in preventing domestic violence, please tell us how you feel about the directives of the NSA of the US to the Baha’i administration. Have you opposed this document to Baha’i institutions that were violating its rules? The document in case you have not studied it is available at : http://www.bahai.us/domestic-violence

Thanks for giving us your opinion.

warmest

Farhan

“I am a Sagittarius, my favorite color is red, and I enjoy long walks on the beach. I’m a pretty good google, if you’re interested. I’m still not giving you victim info, though, as it is only theirs to give. You can’t have my social security number or the change in my pockets, either.”

Me too, only I don’t have a favorite color…

I was “ranting” when I wrote that post. I do apologize for not thinking how it may be received. The word “shunned” is not something new to me and I was having a well earned pity party when I used it. I don’t get a chance to unwind often or for that matter the luxury to complain… It actually didn’t just start. It’s been going on for years. Not being invited to peoples homes or weddings, showers, parties because my kids are hyper or I talk too much about my business, or my husband needs his hand held TV for his sports on outings and it’s a distraction, not fitting into the clique of misfits…you would not believe the “loving” criticism I have received for who I am and just how I can be a better person, parent, contributor and friend… Don’t get me started…LOL , the irony is an abyss.

The person in the store can be rude in general, he is someone I would just consider the source. He is a very unhappy man, but I know because of his position he read my resignation letter, it was a sharp stare, and intended avoidance, but now, in more reflection, it just may be fear that was in his eyes, not distaste, who knows? He is a zealot, and in his mind he thinks he’s knows everything. He lives, breaths, gives, volunteers, teaches and has probably taken every Ruhi Book two or three times. That one I could fill a volume on. BTW- I intimidate the shit out of weak men because I am a very successful, smart, attractive, self made and confident woman; well regarded by my peers and employees.

In respects to my privacy, I was told by a LSA who had missed a meeting that a memo went out asking community members not to contact me, without explanation, possibly thinking I have asked to be inactive?…. Another person called me whose spouse sits on the LSA and ask if what he told her was true, she wanted to “hear it from the horse’s mouth” that I was no longer a Bahà’í and no longer believe in Baha’u’llah. Who knows what? Frankly, I don’t give a ….. any more…. Light fades, scene in my life ends, I walk away…

Considering that I have had a personal copy right release from the UHJ since 2000, and have been involved with creative marketing concepts for the BF, when I worded the following letter, I based my capital emphasis on the directives of that release, respectfully and as elegant as possible not to really draw to specifics or create a hostile or argument reaction. Retrospectively, I may have changed it. You tell me if you understand what I wanted and if I went about it in a befitting way…

XXXXXXXXXXXX
RE: Immediate Member Withdrawal

Dear NSA

May this communication confirm that I, XXXXXXXXX , and XXXXXXXXX, , as well as on behalf of our children, XXXXXX, XXXXXXX, & XXXXXX do hereby respectfully and without hesitation, request to be withdrawn from membership, un enrolled, resigned, effective immediately, from the BF. Neither of us, as individuals or under the unity of our marriage, consider ourselves as Baha’is and, in good conscience, we will not continue to declare ourselves as such.

The following exert is from an email communication to ABM after our recent…

Bird writes:

Thank you ever so much for your kindness and generosity of time. I have made the decision to become a un enrolled Bahà’í and will need to understand the process of proceeding forward. It is my understanding according to the Writings of the Beloved Guardian that all un enrolled Bahà’í’s are to be treated as a non-Bahà’í, with the courtesy of any human being. I would therefore still be entitled to engage in any open to the public gathering as a guest. It is also my understanding should I desire to re-declare at some future date I may do so. Please be assured that I have nothing but respect for the BF and its doctrine and do not intend to make any announcements or draw any attention to this well weighed decision.

To the very complex question with all that facts in place as to whether I am still a Bahà’í or not, that answer is no, not in it’s present day entirety and not at this juncture of my life. The conclusion is drawn from the presence that I am unable to rest on the unquestioning acceptance of labels, terms and conditioning of an organized religion. I am most certainly and ardently a life long friend and wealthy recipient of the guidance available in the Sacred Writings. I am simply a spiritual being with no label and my journey is ongoing. Where it brings me a great and laden sadness to leave the bitter sweet rapture of the organized religion of the Bahà’í Faith, it brings me hope and exhilarating liberation as the burdens of labels are now being lifted from my spirit. It is good to part amicably.

As stated above, the decision has already been well weighed, there will be no further discussion on what XXXXXX and XXXXXXX both agree is a very private matter.

Respectively, as well as respectfully, all Bahà’í materials have been returned to XXXXX. I am including my own Bahà’í card. XXXXX does not have one.

The return receipt of this correspondence will deem receipt of this request and its effective date.

Sincerely,

XXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXX

CC: LSA

Follow up to the LSA

Bird to LSA

With all the facts in place I would never have declared myself a Bahà’í.