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Jahanshah Javid
by Jahanshah Javid
20-Jul-2008
 

I got a very nice email from a long-time site visitor complaining in part about the frequency of features about Bahais. She noted that iranian.com has been known as a secular site and therefore it's odd that so much attention is being given to Bahais and their faith.

It's true that once or twice a week, at most, there are features about Bahais. And there are Bahai bloggers who publish their own stuff. My motivation is still secular and humanistic, since I do not have any religious beliefs. I think it's important to listen to what Bahais have to say. I'm not saying you should accept their version of the truth or that the Bahai faith has more to offer than other religions. I'm just saying they are no different than followers of any other religion. We should see them not as heretics, not as British or Israeli spies, but just as Iranian and human as any.

It boggles my mind that so many Iranians don't want to even acknowledge that for the past 150 years or so, Bahais have been grossly mistreated, persecuted and denied basic rights in their own country. Why? Because their prophet was a Muslim molla who claimed to be the messiah and started his own faith, or whatever. Who cares? What's so great or extraordinary about Islam or Judaism or Zoroastrianism or Paganism or... and their followers? They have their own set of weird beliefs and the Bahais have theirs. But to deny any of these followers the right to choose and practice their religion or have full citizenship in their own country is cruel and archaic. How can we close our eyes to this? You don't have to like their religion in order to accpet their humanity. The latter should be a given. Sadly, it is not.

What I am hoping for is that by reading about the persecution of Bahais and their literature, we -- non-Bahai Iranians --  start understanding what the Bahais are about, what they have gone through and accept them as normal people rather than outcasts. As simple as that. Nothing less, nothing more. We are adults, we can think, we can distinguish between religious propaganda and truth.

So if you see things in iranian.com about Bahais more often than you are used to, get used to it :o) Featuring stuff about them is my kind of "affirmative action" to help right a terrible wrong. It's absolutely unacceptable to discriminate on the basis of race, gender, nationality, religion... we must know that by now. Wake up people! Barack Hussein Obama is well on his way to become the next president of the United States. Who would have guessed that in a country that is still grappling with race issues, where people are scared to death of Islam and have elected GW Bush not once, but twice?

No Bahai is going to be the president of Iran any time soon. But hameen keh we accept Bahais as fellow human beings khodesh kheyli honareh.

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Secular Schmecular site!!!!

by Nosrat Khajavi (not verified) on

Are we going to remain silent as so much abuse of power, blatant & criminal disregard for human rights, be it those of women and children or those of the Baha'is, takes place in Iran, under the disgraceful excuse of "this is a secular site"?
I applaud Mr. Javid's stand on this issue.
I allow you that religion is a total waste of time. What does that have to do with abusing, harassing, raping, imprisoning, or killing of innocent people simply because they prescribe to a different belief system?
A public medium such as this, whether it was intended as such or not, has a responsibility to broadcast, acknowledge, and report such abuses.
Are we so shallow that all we want to talk about is garbage music and meaningless chats?
Are we even curious what these people, our hamvatanan-our brothers and sisters, are all about? Why so much energy is being put in to ELIMINATING an entire section of the Iranian society? A segment that is non-political, non-partisan, and is OBLIGATED by its own teachings to be obedient to its government?
Perhaps it is because of a fear, a fear that if the Baha'is are allowed to practice their teachings freely, they might attract millions to their faith.
Perhaps it is because of the, not so unjustified fear, that the Baha’is' social teachings, even if viewed as a non-religious entity, are so powerful and attractive that it will destroy the whole corrupt system of Aakhund Baazi.

My advice is to look in to this quite inquisitively, bedoon-e ta’asub (without prejudice), not to convert, but rather to learn what it is that the Mullahs are so afraid of.

You will learn that the Baha'is, and even more so, the Babis provided the cornerstones of what became the fight for Mashrutiyat and the birth of democratic movement in Iran during the Ghajar dynasty.
We owe a debt of gratitude to these people, our brothers and sisters.


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Thank you

by Rachel (not verified) on

Thank you Mr. Javid for your impartial focus on educating us about the issues being faced in Iran, by everyone.

I am not Iranian. I am however, Baha'i'.


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Baha'is

by Lori (not verified) on

I am an American Baha'i. How or why I choose to become one is of no consequence. I have many Iranian friends. One of the saddest parts of people being so unacceptable of others race,gender or religion is that it prevents us from learning, sharing and experiencing things. I would so much love to visit Iran and experience the culture. Too bad the Iranian government forbids me from seeing your beautiful contry, enjoying your wonderful foods, meeting new people and sharing life with others. One of my best friends beloved father who was from Iran wished so much to teach me Persian and share his culture with me. Sadly he has passed and I have lost the chance to learn. My friend is a Baha'i and was born and raised in Iran. Unfortunately, her own country no longer recognizes her. She is unable to visit, obtain a birth certificate or return to her homeland.
I have nothing but great praise for Jahanshah Javid.
At least he has respect for the fact that we should all be permitted to believe what we choose. Is there something wrong the person who believes in ghosts? how about wishes coming true? I could go on and on, but I guess you get the point.
Kudos to Jahanshah Javid. He has my admiration.

Lori


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//www-personal.umich.edu

by flash-eyed-mother (not verified) on


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The right to take away rights!

by Noghteh (not verified) on

To all those who for various reasons continue to question the Baha’i Faith and contribute to this discussion, I say: go ahead and express your belief and firmly stand behind it because you don’t have to fear any repercussions; as no one will break down your door in the middle of the night and drag you out, no one will take your possessions or set them on fire( or you for that matter), that no one will take your loved ones and put them in front of the firing squad and charge you for the bullets before they would release the body, no one will raze down the cemetery that your family members or friends have been buried, no one will take your children and put them for adoption because they deem your marriage illegal, your children will not be denied education and you will not lose your job; SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT A BAHAI AND YOU DON’T LIVE IN IRAN! Persistent and systematic atrocities fueled by blind ignorance has deprived the Baha’i community in Iran from its basic human rights for more than 165 years. However, it has exposed the nature of the people behind these crimes, proving once again that religious fanaticism does not deliver anything except destruction and pain that unfortunately through passage of time have become tolerated norms of the Iranian society. An example of this is described here: //news.bahai.org/story/645


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Arsonists in Iran target Baha’i homes, vehicles

by farsi (not verified) on

Arsonists in Iran target Baha’i homes, vehicles

//news.bahai.org/story/645


kaleh dar

plight of Bahai's

by kaleh dar on

Now days , among us Iranian , very fashionable to talk about Azzadi and Democracy, but the minute that you talk about Bahai's, a group of peacefull and loyal religious minority,then the old Iranian sense of religious fanatisisem ang bigotary wakes up among us  the so called intellectuals, Till we realize that people who beleive differently from us could be equal to us, we will remain an ignorant and fennatic nation , who deserves to be rulled by bunch of  ignorant and fanatic thugs.


faryarm

Jahanshah: No Bahai is going to be the president..But

by faryarm on

Jahanshah humorously commented: "No Bahai is going to be the president of Iran any time soon."   However, soon Americans might elect a President that is being wrongly  labelled as a  Bahai because of Berlin speech, although obviously not a member of Bahai Faith.   Unfortunately  the political opposition may borrow a few dirty tricks from the IR to try portrayi him as less patriotic because of his view of a "World that stands as ONE".   Please see:     "Citizen of the World, Barack Obama, Bahaist"

"We do not want or need a world citizen to head ourcountry, we need an American President.

Obama, in Berlin and at his most vacuous announced," Tonight, I speak to you not as a candidate for President, but as acitizen - a proud citizen of the United States, and a fellow citizen of theworld."

Obama has undergone a metamorphosis from presidentialcandidate to world messenger. He has clarified his religion. He is not aMuslim, he is a divine messenger. He is the fruit of his hippy mother, thefruit of flower power. Obama is a Baháist. A Baháist is a follower of areligion founded in 1863 in Persia and emphasizing the spiritual unity of allhumankind. Obama has revealed himself to humanity in Germany as a new age guruand not just a messenger but perhaps, "The Messenger".

Hereis the official web site of the Bahai

 //2164th.blogspot.com/2008/07/citizen-of-world-barack-obama-bahaist.html

 

 

 

 

     

faryarm

delete duplicate

by faryarm on

please delete duplicate

faryarm

"The most disorganized Religion...."

by faryarm on

For a good humoured look at the Bahai Faith and its youth in The US

please see Rain Wilson's tongue in cheek irreverent talk at a recent Bahai gathering. Rainn Wilson is the well known actor who appears i the US version of "the office" as well as a number of recent Hollywood feature films. In this clip he describes his early experience as a Bahai, his brief estrangement, followed  by the lessons of his continuing spiritual journey.

 

 

 

 


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There are two tracks of

by Amused (not verified) on

There are two tracks of discussion here. Those who genuinely want to discuss issues relating to the Bahai Faith and those who wish the Bahais to simply shut up and go away.

There is immeasurably more “propaganda” and religious material from Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists etc on the net, but if Bahais dare talk about their beliefs they are somehow perceived as pushing their faith down people’s throats.

It seems that for some people feel it is perfectly fine for them to criticize and spread misinformation and accusations about the Bahais, but it if Bahais choose to respond they are spreading their propaganda. The upshot of this (as it has effectively been repeatedly made clear to JJ) is that if Bahais want to be tolerated then they should keep their mouths firmly shut. And this, after decades of shameful mistreatment and persecution not only under the IRI, but under the Shah’s regime too (some people need to acquaint themselves how under Shah’s rule, Islamic cleric Falsafi and Fadaayoon Islam persecuted the Bahais).

We may not be living under the IRI, but sadly IRI’s philosophy of intolerance and repression is alive and well among some posters on iranian.com. Thank goodness that the site’s owner and other more enlightened posters stand for freedom of expression and tolerance.


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Dear Faryam

by AnonymousPasser by (not verified) on

Thanks.
All same wishes to you too.


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dear Anon PB

by Anonymous faryar (not verified) on

..thanks for the response..
all i can say is please keep digging...
hope you will find peace within yourself..

faryar


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Thank you Dr. “Seagull” Freud

by Anonymous Passer by (not verified) on

Your “psychoanalytical critic” doesn’t carry any water. Did you write that by yourself or somebody helped you in your Arz-e andaam?


faryarm

Unless there is good spirited amicable exchange here...lets stop

by faryarm on

with due respect...

faryar 


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My apologies to Faryarm

by Anonymous Passer by (not verified) on

I sincerely apologies for my “B, B, B” comment. For a short moment the humor took over my rational, I am only human.

You wrote: “Your impression is one of a cult like”. What cult? I am only sitting here writing my free thoughts while you are a member of a huge religious organization following a collective purpose and goal, based on a belief. Isn’t that the definition of a cult? Then I am accused to one of a cult like?

I don’t think that the expression “brilliant intellectual” was addressed to me but in case; I don’t even claim to be an intellectual in first place. Then, the superlative “brilliant” would be a long shot for me (!) On the other hand how you can be that sure that one person can not be at the level of maturity and awareness without what you call “spirituality”? If somebody does not carry the membership card of a certain circle, she/he is not capable of having any notion of: “Humanity, Love, humility, devotion, generosity, purity, selflessness, lack of Ego, etc”? Just because she/he is a non believer?

As for grief and suffering I can’t agree more. I sympathize with you and all your community over those tragedies. But please don’t twist the meaning of the word “substance” in favor of your argument. Those wonderful people gave their lives for their own substantial beliefs. But I am not sure that all the people who give their lives because of certain “substance” or cause are necessarily in a rational or even a true spiritual path. One example, without any comparison, is Branch Davidians of David Koresh. Remember Waco, Texas? Seventy people refused to exit and died in fire for their own absurd “substance”.

Nobody forces you to “spend hours to respond to obstinate remarks”. If you don’t have any duty, obligation or certain “substantial” reasons, stop suffering and don’t write any more. There is always- at least- one solution to find freedom, no matter how difficult it might be. Why do you think I am here? I don’t even have nor need the backing of a community. Nobody, except for those who read this site, is even aware of my “hours responding to obstinate remarks” of all of you. I do it because I have chosen to.

I didn’t mean to offend you by not having the desire for a meeting. Yes, there might be other subjects in what we could have common affinity. But the elephant of religion would be too big in the middle of the room while we are fundamentally and diagonally on opposite sides. I would be simply a boring interlocutor for you.

I liked the clip, it was well executed. As a response I would like to propose a short poem:

Regards
هرگز آرزو نکرده ام که یک ستاره بر فراز آسمان شوم
یا چو روح برگزیدگان همنشین خاموش فرشتگان شوم
هرگز از زمین جدا نبوده ام
با ستاره آشنا نیوده ام
روی خاک ایستاده ام
باتنم که مثل ساقه گیاه، باد و آفتاب و آب را می مکد
که زندگی کند...

فروغ فرخراد


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Passer by

by Seagull (not verified) on

This poem cries for motherly love first. First milk then solid food.
Sounds like Santa didnt deliver the christmas day gift on time.
After all that reading the degree of regress is stagering.


alborz

Passerby... "Processed Freedom is the only True Freedom"

by alborz on

Without rules of traffic, you would not have the freedom to get to any destination.  It is indeed this type of regulation and process that assures that your departure and arrival is according to plan with an acceptable level of risk to your safety.  This translates into true freedom of movement.

Your ability to express your views and have them take effect in the society that you live, are all assured by some form of regulation on freedom of speech and gathering that assures the most number of people have a similar chance and that by exercising this freedom, no one encroaches on the freedom of others.

So, unless you live in some remote island and have no contact with other human beings, your life is regulated and your freedoms are limited by standards that prevails in that society.  Even on that remote island you are governed by the laws and processes of nature.

Finally, if you are slandereous towards a group or person in public, you know full well that your freedom of speech would not shield you.  Here the respondents to your insults have shown you patience and respect while being diligent in addressing every spurious accusation and nonsense you have hurled at them. 

Alborz


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Dear Mona

by Anonymous Passer by (not verified) on

The poet is myself.

Regards


faryarm

Anon PB..Substance people have given lives for....

by faryarm on

PB

You refuse to or simply do not or can not understand the subsatnce of my words ,until you develop the means by which to understand it;  what you refer so very impolitely to as romanticized B...is obviously substantive and meaningful  Substance people have given lives for....

Substance that has stood the brutality of The Qajars, The Ottomans, The Pahlavis, The

Islamic Republic and all the baseless lies and persecution that has gone with it.. 

Substance that creates the love and patience to spend hours to respond to obstinate remarks;

Why bother, of what benefit is your acceptance to me or any other Bahai, but to your own well being...

Do you think those kids in shiraz who have ben arrested for helping the destitute lack substance? Surely , romantic or not, it is the substance that allows an educated 24 year old with all the promise in the world to endure the brutality , the interrogation and humiliation of an Islamic Jail.

Do you think the likes of Professor Hakim (prominent blood specialist) or Dr Davoudi had no purpose  or substance?

Do you think Professor Manochehr Hakim could not  have stayed in his paris apartment with his family while all hell was breaking loose for his Bahai colleagues in Iran..

what did he do? he took the next plane to tehran, because many of his patients were the poor of south tehran..what else but the substance of his belief, and those romantic words as  you put it..coud have proplled him to knowingly walk into certain danger.. 

Surely, 

What is there but substance in a faith that makes these people act selflessly  

What has more substance than love and commitment to an idea ?

be well 

faryar 

 

 


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To faryarm again

by Anonymous Passer by (not verified) on

I found one of your responses (about Hear) that I hadn’t seen on time. Sorry, but those words and the whole style was (again) some romanticized words with no substance. In other word: Baha, Baha, Baha…


alborz

Passerby, comments here

by alborz on

...have never been between two people.  Comments are put out there for others to read and comment on. You need not need have an exchange with me as I have not had one with you, just you comments.

When you make proclamations in a public forum, be prepared for responses to the contrary.  Analogies serve a purpose, so here is another one: 

"Spills in a public place should be cleaned up, irrespective of who made the spill".

Alborz


faryarm

Dear Passer By..My loss.

by faryarm on

Dear PB, (i wish i knew your name...)  

During these brief encounters...One may come across as one dimensional, closed minded, brain washed, "Bible thumping" , inflexible person .Nothing is further from the truth...

Your impression is one of a cult like mind controlled loonies..who can not think for themselves, Your perception of the truth is based purely on the intellectual, not the spiritual. to me its a balance between scientific reasoning and religious wisdom. Unfortunately you can not accept the wisdom part. For you the "organised" part has created a block , preventing you to see the merits in wider perspective.

its understandable because every person is at a diffrent stage in  spiritual awareness, needs, and level of maturity i am sure that's changes with time and life experience..in my estimation, and understanding of the Bahai faith is, that One's Humanity, ones Love , humility, devotion, generosity, purity of motive, selflessness, lack of Ego, as spiritual qualities , etc are more important than JUST being a brilliant intellectual writer , thinker, publisher. 

It's interesting, I was listening to an interview with Eric Clapton, about his life and experiences and his  view of God...do try and find it, its a good example of how the spiritual "eyes" and "ear" develop  after life's humbling challenges,; in His case, drugs, the life on the road and the sad loss of his little son...

Sorry you rejected my invitation, My loss, the invitation was not based on winning an argument or to convince you on the merits of Bahai administration,  but simply to connect on a more human, humorous and productive interactive level.

best wishes

faryar

 

The "Chaee" offer still stands :) 

 

This Clip about faith makes absolutely no sense to the Intellect..and yet it is the power of love ,Faith and spirit that often wins lifes's battles.

 

 

 


Mona 19

Dear Passer By...

by Mona 19 on

May I ask you sth?...who is the poet?

Mona ;)


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Two responses from “Passer By”

by Anonymous Passer by (not verified) on

Dear Faryarm,

I truly appreciate your invitation, but religion is not my cup of “Chai”, especially if it’s about administrational structure of an “organization”. I am an independent “thinker”.

I agree hundred percent with you that “Faith is truly a personal "thing". I have already had my own share of looking in that path and found nothing that could diminish even one grain from the mountain of human condition. If that “Aspirin” alleviates your pain, good for you but, it never had any effect on my headache. In this regard I send you this poem:

آقایان!
آوازتان را هیچ دوست نمی دارم،
که این تکرار را هزاران سال است که مکرر می کنید.

اگر اینجا از فراز سنگ به زیر آیید
با فرمانهای نوشته در آغوش،
و یا از فراز نیستی، به تن پدیدار شوید،
با زنبیل های فراوان معجزه برکف،
اگر اکنون، چون رعد سرزمین های فراخ را درنوردید
با آیه های غیب بر لب:
من
آوازتان را هیچ دوست نمی دارم،
که این تکرار را هزاران سال است که مکرر می کنید.

نیایش آب را نیازی به ظهور شما نبود.

آتش خود می دانست چه برافروزد.

شور جان و راز مرگ در فلوت باد می دمید
و از پرواز برگ پرنده می شکفت.
تا شما پدید آمدید !
که رمز جادانه زمین و کهکشان به ما سپرده اند.
واز پی شما:
خواب گذار و شعبده
و قاری و حواری و کنیسه و امام...

از پشت دیوارهای دیرسال،
کرنای ناخوشنود شما،
بر این ههمه ی سرسام می افزاید
و باور با شما، نه آشوبی را فرو می نشاند
و نه پیدایی وجود چیزی می تواند.

کار دشوار جهان را نیازی به باید و نباید شما نبود.

گناه اگر بد است، گناه را شما پدید کرده اید.

نهایت پرواز پروانه های خیال، شعر بود و افشانه:
خیال و شعر شما، به مرثیه و وصف انبیا بگذشت.

کجا نوشته حرف خوش آیند در نوشته های عتیق؟
کتابتان همه درترس و کیفر خدا بگذشت.

آقایان !
آوازتان تاریک است
و من
آنرا هیچ دوست نمی دارم.

اکتبر 2004

Miss/ Mr. Alborz

Processed+ Processed+ Processed “freedom” is no freedom.

Reading your comment was like sitting in a ministerial staff meeting of Raah-o Taraabari (= transportation) and listening about organizational chart. Waste of time.

Your proud number of 5 million Bahai gathering does not impress or intimidate anybody. There are millions going to Jamkaran every Shab-e Jom’eh (= Friday night)

Your characterization of a detailed and polite criticism as “drinking from the water canal (jub = gutter) will certainly finish from your side by “Chaarvaadaari” (= vulgarity, profanity). Therefore I reject any additional exchange with you.

Regards


alborz

Dear Passerby, keep reading…

by alborz on

…as your journey may have just begun.

 

Relying on the self serving and authoritative sounding analyses and proclamations of Mr. Cole is akin to drinking from the water canal (joob) after it has passed through all of the neighborhoods in town.   Try to drink further upstream.  

 

Over 5 million Baha’is that participate in the annual local and national administrative election process or the elections held for the Universal House of  Justice every 5 years,  are a testament of the vibrancy of  Baha’i institutions. 

 

These institutions and the respect that Baha’is have for them, are founded on a sacred Covenant clearly described and explained in Baha’i sacred writings.  Each Baha’i that declares belief in Baha’u’llah also understands that faithfulness to the Covenant is also integral to this expression of faith.  Without it the Baha’i Faith would have suffered the same fate as Islam at Prophet Muhammad’s death bed.  The divisions within Islam were created on that very same moment and have continued ever since.

 

No Baha’i is prohibited from expressing their views.  There are processes by which any group can choose to consult and through the clash of ideas, greater and more valuable ideas are and have been generated.  These processes, in the Baha’i Faith, have been clearly defined as they are also defined in every organized body.  As an example, in the congress or a hearing there are processes by which the representative’s views are heard and acted upon.  If anyone chooses to defy the process because of ego or self aggrandizement, then not only would they be expelled, they would not be admitted to participate in the future.  The elected Baha’i institutions also have processes by which they consult, solicit input and communicate decisions.  More importantly, the commitment to the Covenant is the foundation of these institutions. Those that choose to do their own thing, are free to do so outside of the framework within which protects the Unity of the Baha’i Faith.  In this Faith there will not be a Shia and Sunni bloody divide.   There will not be a Protestant and Catholic.  Mr. Cole can certainly go on with his own personal pursuits, but his obsession with the Baha’i Faith is nothing but an ego trip. He writes as a ‘mole’ for effect and sounding credible.  I am hopeful that you will get past that.

 

 Transparency is a hallmark of the Baha’i Faith, its community and its institutions.  You have a standing invitation to visit with any Baha’i group or community and “refresh” yourself. 

 

Respectfully,

 

Alborz

 


faryarm

Dear Passer By..

by faryarm on

Thank you for your comments.. 

I can continue in responding with regard to every point  you made, discussing in more detail the dynamics within the Bahai faith as a member; with specific reference to those who sometime differ with its administration. I am familiar with one of them from England,. Faith is truly a personal "thing"; it has to withstand test and difficulties.

I have to say that it would be a pleasure to talk to you in person, perhaps we can discuss this more fluidly and if we are anywhere close , perhaps over a cup of "Chai"

best

faryar

Ps I have no way of contacting you , but you may contact me through this site or ask JJ  for my email. i look forward to hearing from you.

 


faryarm

Dear Shamse Vazir..Its men that have changed religions

by faryarm on

You are you correct.,".There are polytheistic, monotheistic, humanist, pagan, new-age, scientology, and tons of other variations......"

But they are in essence wrongful and unauthorized interpretations of  Religions; The priest and the clergy are mostly responsible for not having accepted the renewal of word of God for each age. Jesus Christ had no personal agenda, except to bring a new message of love and socila teachings and to abrogate Mosaic law of Moses..It was the The Rabbis who opposed Him, because in their view they He was not the literal "king" of the jews they were expecting; hence they portryaed Jesus as a heretic and a political trouble maker leading to His crucifiction, much like what the Mullahs did to the Bab,.

As a result of the non acceptance of Christ's teachings, the Rabbis tried to make up their own laws and interpret the old laws to keep pace with new conditions and requirements of the time. As a result what we know as the Jewish religion today is actually thousand years of human interpretation. This has led to many different branches of Judaism, from Orthodox, to reformed, to even secular, where there are many jews who have no belief in God; where Judaism is followed  as a culture not a religion.

This i hope will not be seen as disrespect to Judaism, but as an observation.

The same has happened in  Christianity, where the priests , even with the distinct warning that exists in the Bible, about not changing the words of God.

Even so in the Holy Bible it says: 

"But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." Daniel 12:4

"Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end." Daniel 12:9

Daniel by the way was a Persian official when Babylon was conquered by The Persians. 

You see , The interference by Man has led to false interretations leading to schisms and splits, even to wars and strife between religions and denominations.

In our age we have Ayatollahs who spend their lifetime stydying the Holy Quran, and come up with works of Figh like Khomeini's infamous Tozih al-Masa'il , which was famously published in parts by PlayBoy Magazine.

Regarding the more ancient religions: 

Abdul Baha had said that: 

That men had changed the teachings and added their own meanings; 

The real teaching of Buddha is the same as the teaching of Jesus Christ. The teachings of all the Prophets are the same in character. Now men have changed the teaching. If you look at the present practice of the Buddhist religion, you will see that there is little of the Reality left. Many worship idols although their teaching forbids it.

Buddha had disciples and he wished to send them out into the world to teach, so he asked them questions to see if they were prepared as he would have them be. "When you go to the East and to the West," said the Buddha, "and the people shut their doors to you and refuse to speak to you, what will you do?" -- The disciples answered and said: "We shall be very thankful that they do us no harm." -- "Then if they do you harm and mock, what will you do?" -- "We shall be very thankful that they do not give us worse treatment." -- "If they throw you into prison?" -- "We shall still be grateful that they do 64 not kill us." -- "What if they were to kill you?" the Master asked for the last time. "Still," answered the disciples, "we will be thankful, for they cause us to be martyrs. What more glorious fate is there than this, to die for the glory of God?" And the Buddha said: "Well done!"

The teaching of Buddha was like a young and beautiful child, and now it has become as an old and decrepit man. Like the aged man it cannot see, it cannot hear, it cannot remember anything. Why go so far back? Consider the laws of the Old Testament: the Jews do not follow Moses as their example nor keep his commands. So it is with many other religions.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 63) 

 

The Oneness That the Bahais claim has to do with  the reality of the Divine source of All religions, and not the additions, deletions and the corruption by men of the Word of God that to this day is the cause of religious strife and the cause of some shunning any form of religion.

The ritual and the dogma we call religion today is a once clean and shiny reflective mirror with centuries of human dust obscuring its very purpose.

Leading to "religions'' today worshiping  the Lamp and not the Light. 

best

faryarm 

 

 


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Mr. Faryarm

by Anonymous Passer by (not verified) on

You can not possibly tolerate any criticism of your faith or Baha Ulla, no matter how valid those remarks are. On the other hand you are accuse, finger point and wrap all those criticisms in your favorite word “Radiyeh” (= Refusal) and walk away happy and satisfied.

I don’t like to talk about myself but, because you show certain curiosity to understand my motivations I go very briefly into that. I got interested in Bahais while I was trying to understand the liberating movements in Iran. Bahai faith seemed to me as a reformist movement to bring down centuries of obscurantism. Adding to that, in my childhood I knew a devoted Bahai lady, a friend of my mother. I don’t remember any religious discussion with her but the fact that she was a long term friend of my mother was a positive point.
After the Islamic turmoil in Iran I got more interested in this movement.

So, I began to read more about it. A Bahai friend provided me two books, one from Dr. Davoodi as I mentioned before and the other, a small pocket book of Baha Ulla (vain romanticized words in praise of God). I don’t have those books in my possession and I can not give you the titles. I also read Tahereh’s poems, astonishingly beautiful writing from the literary point of view.
As I continued reading, I found out about Baha Ulla’s life and the Bahai leadership today.

That opened my eyes and I understood that although the genesis of the movement in Bab’s time was progressive but the leadership of Bahais from Baha ulla himself to Bahai World Center today is one organization like the others and Bahais today must continue their obedience and shut up. I got my conclusions in that step,long time ago; I don’t need to read about Bahai anymore.

Please have the intellectual integrity and stop having pre-conceived views and finger pointing without having any knowledge about other people. Evidently I respect your faith but not many flaws and short views of a fundamentalist social-o religious movement that you see as divine.

Off course you bring God in all equations, that’s the foundation of your “thoughts” but not necessarily rational. As a fact and contrary to your niew, what happened to Juan Cole is between him and fundamentalist tendencies of Bahai World Center. He, as a bahai had legitimate questions about censorship and the lack of freedom of expression in the Bahai leadership milieu. As a result he was shunned and isolated (although he has lots of friends now) but he stood for his right views and got out of this “faith”. By the way I am not advocating for him, don’t know him personally and have never met him. It’s only his writings in this and many other matters that seem interesting to me. //iranscope.ghandchi.com/Anthology/Bahai/fund...


Mona 19

Dear Mr.Kashani...

by Mona 19 on

Thanks for your kind and wisdom words...and the courage to raise your voice/opinion...Bless you and all the open minded hamvatans.

Kindest Regards,Mona ;)