BAHAI

Dear Curious, cult...

... as you have chosen to use it has a pejorative connotation, which if you were to remain respectful you would have refrained from using it. Now that you have chosen to use it, and you have received a barrage of responses, please be assured that the responses are driven by the forum you have chosen to make your views known.

Let me explain something about group dynamics:

Case 1 - You and I

If you and I were to meet in person and you were to accuse me wrongfully for whatever reason, including my religious beliefs, then my response would indeed be to simply walk away and choose to leave you to yourself without a single response. This would be because, the accusation is private and directed at me. I would feel no compulsion to respond, particularly if I sense that it is born out a deep rooted bias.

Case 2 - You and I and people that know me well

If you were to do this amongst a group of people that know me well, I would probably respond in the same way as in case 1. I would feel no compulsion to set the record straight amongst those that know me well and would rely on their judgment and evidences to the contrary.

Case 3 - You and I, amongst a mixed group

My response in this case would be different and I would feel compelled to respond with vigor and diligence, while I adhere to my principles. In fact those that would know me may even step in to counter your accusation and express themselves in ways which I have no control over nor approve of. While they may mean well and their intent appreciated, I don't have any means to control the form in which this support is expressed.

Expression of opinions on this site is like Case 3. You made a cheap shot at JJ and in the process also made an offensive statement against the Baha'is. The response that you are getting, whether it is from me or anyone else, is in no way a reflection of the Baha'i Faith and its principles. They are the expressed opinions of the writers. In fact how many of the readers, including you, can claim to be perfect in your adherence to principles that you consider to be valuable and timeless? In fact many deviate from these principles with impunity because they have no principles and at best choose not to associate themselves with any religion which would then create a case for hypocrisy.

So don't judge the Baha'i Faith by the statements of me or others here, just as I don't judge Islam or any other religion by its adherents and what they are guided to emulated. I may feel sorry for them, but I won't judge them or be disrespectful.

Just because you and I can hack out a few sentences on a keyboard does not lend any credibility to the labels. As for what you think of the Baha'is, either keep it to yourself, say to it to a Baha'i in person (case 1), or if you have to say it here (case 3), then be prepared for a vigilant and committed response. Lucky would be any Faith that had followers that enjoyed the same clean and clear reputation that the Baha'is enjoy today. This is due to the adherence of its followers to principles that are based on the Unity of Mankind. Cults operate on the fringes of society and the Baha'is are in the mainstream of society and transparent in every aspect of their lives.

In any event, don't mistake commitment with fanaticism. Don't mistake commitment to faith with commitment to dogma.

"By faith is meant, first, conscious knowledge, and second, the practice of good deeds." - Abdu'l Baha

Thanks for the opportunity to clear the air!

Alborz

The Mrs:

به عروس خانم هم امروز با اسم جدید امده...

You know cane became the serpant , that explains your presence here today!!!!!!owch!!!!

Buterffly 08, I am in a fetal position and crying!!!

NOT:))))

I have said it before , I do not pretend, and the answer to ignorance is a reply at  the same level.You want to be rude and disrespectful then we start to react, you say oh my God they were suppose to be silent , sweet, and kind. Oh yes I forgot , I have to die kindly and silently , so it does not upset the attacker!!!!

You do not like my attitude do not read my comments, as simple as that.

If this happened to your neice would you be calm, kind and sweet?

//naghmeyevargha.blogfa.com/

Tahirih

He is The Promised One ...

"I am, I am, I am the Promised One! I am the One whose name you have for a thousand years invoked, at whose mention you have risen, whose advent you have longed to witness, and the hour of whose Revelation you have prayed to God to hasten....the day will come when you will have recognized me;that day I shall have ceased to be with you." ~ The Bab

Mona

Tahirih

Are you a Bahai !!! I have few good friends that are bahai and they are nothing like you. You are so volgur and can not take any criticism. You go into attacking mode and there is so much rage behind you...maybe you should learn from your friend Mona19 whose compasionate and kind. Now that's a true bahaism practice.

Everytime I see your blogs or your commnets it makes me sick...you are very intolerant and prejudice in your own ways.

I doubt if you are truly bahai since the ones I know are so very different from you and practice what they preach.

So please go away with your attacking comments, you are just giving bahaism a bad name.

No one should die for religious belif BUT

"He had declared that He was a messenger of God whose mission was to prepare the way for the imminent arrival of the Promised One of all religions who would come to establish a new age of peace and prosperity in the world. In 1863, Baha’u’llah announced publicly that He was that Promised One. "

Isn't this the sort of thing you read in the news ... always followed by "Your honor, I fired my lawyer, I'm representing myself!"

"the crowd of 10,000 persons was amazed to find the Bab's companion standing, alive and unhurt, the ropes severed by the bullets."

Did day see the cane turn into a serpent too?

Dear Tahirih

Thank you for your comment. It is always good hearing from you.

I have read your comments in other blogs in defence of your faith. I have to say that every time that I read your comments, I start to wonder how much you truly believe in the 'Precepts' of your faith regarding kindeness, brother/sisterhood, sweetness of spirit, etc.

At least other Bahai'i's make an attempt not to show their true feelings in that regard. With you, it is all there to see.

I have to say that reading your comments and blogs is the best testimony to what I meant by Bahai'ism resembling a 'Cult'. If your attitude is what 'Bahai'ism' is all about, then who would want to become one.

I am not trying to be disrespectful to you. But as they say, 'The Proof Is In The Pudding'. In this case, in your 'Writings' :)

Have a great day!!

Curious George!!

"My comment being directed at JJ", come on if your comment was intended for JJ, you would have mailed it for him directly!! do you think Alborz( With this eloquent tongue) is stupid to buy it!

Or the readers for that matter, you meant it to discourage their resolve.

You know you have the freedom of "NOT CLICKING" then do not click!!! it is that simple. But if you are a prejudice ignorant person like Goldost, then you will click and open your foul mouth.

See I am not as nice as Alborz!! I talk to you at your level.

Tahirih

Dear alborz

First of all, my comment was directed towards JJ, and not you.

Second of all, the more I read about your religion, the more I come to the conclusion that it resembles more and more like a 'Cult', rather than a regular religion. The devotion that some of our Bahai'i friends have on this site towards their faith, in my opinion, is a bit 'over-the-top'.

And finally, although I don't personally consider myself a practicing Muslim, nevertheless I do have faith. You don't necessarily heve to be a practicing anything to be 'Spiritual'.

I hope that you get my message. Again, no other religion proseletyzes like yours on this site. It is a shame that Jahanshah allows that. This site is first and foremost a 'Secular' site. Period.

Simple fact of history...

Miracle or not, The Bab's story is a well documented historical fact and yet a minor detail compared to the spiritual revolution He brought in religion and social reform.
Unfortunately comments like "khaleh shodim" is indicative of not just intolerance , but rampant ignorance of history and its consequences.
Please care to dig a little deeper as to what happened in that critical period of our history...
surely you would see the lost opportunity for our nation to leap ahead , at a time when Iran under the yolk of the Qajars , was considered the most miseable and backward country on the planet .If the progressive ideas and teachings of the Bab and Baha'u'llah had not been so violently opposed and distorted by the backward Shia element in Iran , We as a nation would be two hundred years ahead of the rest of the world , because Iran was once again chosen by God to be the cradle of new Global spiritual civilisation .

Goldust, keep reading...

...and perhaps one day you will be able to ridicule based on knowledge and comprehension.  

I didn't realize that Bab was a moslem and considered to be the MEHDI!

That's good, you now know something you did not know before!

That's how all the religions have come about, by a miracle! This one by hanging, that one by Ankaboot, they other one cross, and the other crossing the water by opening it and so on!

Hardly!  The transforming power of religion has not been this at all.  The Greek root of the word Religion is Religare which means to "bind together".  Everything in this world that has any value has come about from a process of integration and has been supplanted through disintegration.  Read a few books and be fair in your judgement.  Religion has been one of the driving forces behind advancement of human civilization because of its integrative powers.   As each religion has disintegrated and lost its potency then people are left with just the dogma to which you refer.

We people are a bunch who believes in miracles and start a religion and no one can question it! Amazing, how much we still are so ignorant regardless of the religion! keep dividing! Amazing! As he had not been hanged and disappeared he would never become a bab! 

Question it and anything else as much as you want, by becoming informed. At least, then, you will be asking the right questions.  What occured on July 9th, 1850, is not the basis of the legitimacy of the Bab's station and claim.  Read before you reach a conclusion.

Alborz

Curoius - not so!

Curious - not so!

Excuse me for bringing this up, but are you being compensated by the Bahai'i"s for all of these articles and blogs that you are featuring by them.

Now that's a cheap shot at JJ.  Would it be appropriate to ask him the same question about those that bash Islam?  Would you ask him the same question about the many photos of the Pahlavis that get posted here?  Would you ask him the same question about any of the other recurring themes on this site?  Or is it just those topics that you have a bias against or remind you of some attrocity that you may feel linked to by simple association?  These are not anyone else's issues but yours.  So move on!

Do you see this being done by any other religion. I know that you are going to say that they are a persecuted minority. But as they say in English: 'Enough is Enough'.

What?  "Enough is Enough"???   If you care to write about your religion, whether it be Islam or any other, go ahead and write about it.  If you don't care to or have nothing so say then, as they say in English:  "keep it that way ". 

As I am sure you know how we say it in Farsi: 'Baba Khafeh Shodim .. Velemoon Kon'!!! Ah

This oen is not even worth commenting on ! 

Alborz

PS - The common people of Iran and their basic decency has been recognized as one of the key factors in keeping this oppressed community alive.  So why don't you read what is posted and find out why?  Perhaps then you will breathe easier.

So BAB spoke English? Another fairy tale & religion made in IRAN

I didn't realize that Bab was a moslem and considered to be the MEHDI! That's how all the religions have come about, by a miracle! This one by hanging, that one by Ankaboot, they other one cross, and the other crossing the water by opening it and so on! We people are a bunch who believes in miracles and start a religion and no one can question it! Amazing, how much we still are so ignorant regardless of the religion! keep dividing! Amazing! As he had not been hanged and disappeared he would never become a bab!  

JJ

Excuse me for bringing this up, but are you being compensated by the Bahai'i"s for all of these articles and blogs that you are featuring by them.

Do you see this being done by any other religion. I know that you are going to say that they are a persecuted minority. But as they say in English: 'Enough is Enough'.

As I am sure you know how we say it in Farsi: 'Baba Khafeh Shodim .. Velemoon Kon'!!! Ah

When rest of the world commemorates a date in Persian history

//www.nybahai.org/july9th/july9th_sr.html

What would you call..

What would you call being killed for selfless devotion to a noble

cause you believe would bring happiness to your Country and the World?

Your distaste  with "this Martyrdom stuff"  is however understandable in today's manipulation of the young , the poor and the uneducated in the Islamic world by extremists and clerics.

The Bab's essential Message was to put an end to the mindless superstition and the decadent rule of the Mullah; hence the brutal opposition that continues today and his execution. as commemorated today, by millions of people around the world. Perhaps a testament to the relevance and the efficacy of His message.

The Mullahs thought by killing Him they would put an end to the Bab's progreesive ideas, and the threat they posed to their power; they still do...there is a message, perhaps a lesson of History for  the current barbarians in our country: As Victor Hugo said, "All the forces in the world are not so powerful as an idea whose time has come."

faryarm 

Brutal indeed and brutality must stop. But plz…..

But also plz stop this Martyrdom stuff. Enough is enough with this martyr and martyrdom mentality.