Questions and Answers about the Baha'i Faith

Prayers

2006-09-11T00:52:00.000-07:00

Which do you like the most? I'm a fan of the short obligatory prayer. Just saying. :-)

The line between service and fulfillment

2006-08-27T23:53:00.000-07:00

Ever since I started serving on the LSA, I tend to view most Baha’i activities as a chore instead of something fun to look forward to and enjoy. Any suggestions for spicing up my Baha’i life?

OH—and I got into an argument with a Christian Evangelical at the state fair yesterday. He told me he didn’t think I was going to heaven because I’m Baha’i. I disagreed. Fun times!

Other LSA's

2006-07-25T07:56:00.000-07:00

I'm curious...what are other LSA meetings like? How long do they last? What sort of things are discussed? I just have no basis for comparison about the Forest Grove LSA, so I thought I would ask.

Mormons

2006-07-22T22:37:00.000-07:00

So I heard that someone important (can't remember who at the moment) was asked about Joseph Smith and he said that he wasn't a prophet in no uncertain terms. Is that true, and it it is, where does that leave Mormons? If they're worshipping a false prophet but still doing good things, are they still better off than having done nothing at all?

Being a pioneer

2006-06-15T14:58:00.000-07:00

I'm going to Ukraine in late September and according to the NSA, that makes me a pioneer for the faith. Any suggestions on how to represent the faith well?

Ruhi classes

2006-05-29T00:22:00.000-07:00

I've decided to get Baha'i as a kite. :-) But seriously, I'm going to start taking Ruhi classes in a week or so...any tips?

Baha'i Burials

2006-05-06T00:02:00.000-07:00

I just noticed that on the back of my membership card it reads that if I die folks are supposed to observe all proper Baha'i funeral rituals with my body. What are those exactly?

Local Spiritual Assemblies

2006-04-22T11:15:00.000-07:00

Howdy! Sorry I haven't updated on here in a while! I guess I just haven't had a lot of questions about the Faith lately; the local Bahai's have been great about giving me resources to keep exploring the faith on my own. However, recent events have raised another issue that I would appreciate some guidance on. Last week I was elected to the LSA of Forest Grove! While this is a surprising and humbling event for me, I am also very excited about it and want to do a good job over the next year. Any suggestions for being a good LSA member?

So...what do I do now?

2006-02-13T18:41:00.000-08:00

I really think this blog has been great. I've learned a lot, thanks to all of you. Brianna in particular is awesome for opening my eyes to this wonderful faith. As you all have likely gathered from my less and less frequent posting, I am running out of things to ask, and I think that's great. My only question left, then, is what do I do now? I've already taken to reading a prayer before I go to bed at night, and am trying to be as good of a person as I can be. What else should I do as a new Baha'i?

Is God vengeful?

2006-02-08T20:48:00.000-08:00

Do Bahai's believe that God would do seemingly destructive things like destroying the earth with a big flood?

When's the next manifestation coming?

2006-02-07T00:12:00.000-08:00

Any guesses on when the next prophet will show up?

What's up with the Bab?

2006-01-31T23:22:00.000-08:00

His whole deal was letting everyone know that Bahullah was coming, right? Was he a prophet then, too, or just the Paul Revere (sort of, I know it's not the best analogy) of the Religion?

Name changes?

2006-01-31T00:14:00.000-08:00

So, we're Bahai's because we're named after Bahullah...but if another prophet comes along, do we switch our name to him/her? Speaking of which, have there ever been female prophets?

What happens to bad Bahai's?

2006-01-19T17:10:00.000-08:00

Can you get kicked out of the faith? How does that happen?

Abortion

2006-01-16T18:25:00.000-08:00

Yea, I'm asking. Sorry. Is there an official policy on it spelled out by the UHJ? What about folks who have had one? If it is a sin (is that even the right word for when someone violates a Baha'i law?), is there confession or something of the sort that could absolve someone of it?

Why can’t women be in the Universal House of Justice?

2006-01-11T23:14:00.000-08:00

First, they can’t be in the UHJ, right? At least that’s my understanding, or what I was told. Second, if that’s true, what’s the deal with that? It doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense given that a huge part of the Baha’i Faith is equality of the sexes. What gives?

Art

2006-01-10T16:38:00.000-08:00

I just read that "there is nothing that can be considered Baha'i art." How come? I mean, I know several Bahai's and they're all creative, wonderful folks. Why hasn't anyone painted something by now?

Conversion

2006-01-08T21:42:00.000-08:00

How do Bahai's convert people? It is my understanding that Bahai’s are forbidden to proselytize. Also, it is my understanding that Bahai’s want other people who do now know the Faith to know it and eventually become Baha’i. So…how does that happen without outreach and to some extent proselytizing? Where is the line drawn between outreach/service and proselytizing? Does the UHJ have a formal opinion on this one?

More Baha’i and Christian stuff

2006-01-04T21:57:00.000-08:00

My girlfriend Mandy (a real sweetheart that I’m sure you would all love) and I had a really long talk about the Faith the other day, and her first major question was one that I couldn’t really answer that well. I told her about Jesus being a prophet for God, and she replied that there is a big difference in her (and I imagine a lot of people’s minds) between being a prophet of God and being the ONE AND ONLY SON of God, a Catholic belief, and as such, being Christian and Baha'i are not mutually exclusive. How do Bahai’s reconcile that, aside from the standard “the word of God was lost in translation/humans messed it up somewhere along the way” answer?

International organizations

2006-01-03T15:40:00.000-08:00

There's this section on how Baha'u'lla'h advocates the establishment of an international body composed of representatives of all nations. Does the UHJ think that such a body is the UN?

Justice

2005-12-30T16:03:00.000-08:00

I'm almost done with my first Baha'i book! Gold star for me! Anyway, I just finished a big section on justice and why it is really important in the Baha'i faith. Abdu'l Baha' says that "Kindness cannot be shown the tyrant." Does that mean that dictators should be removed by force? For example, was the second Iraq war justified? How about the intervention in Rwanda?

School Prayer

2005-12-27T16:35:00.000-08:00

One section I just read argued that Bahullah emphasized freedom of conscience, which permits a person to follow his/her chosen religion. Does that also mean that people are free to choose no religion at all? If not, should people learn about the faith through government initiatives like school prayer?

Science and religion

2005-12-26T19:40:00.000-08:00

I just finished a really good chapter about science and religion. One section talked about how science without religion is problematic, and I agree completely. I think science needs an ethic of care about it or it is ultimately pointless (i.e. creating AIDS drugs but not giving them to the poor folks who need them, etc).

However, the author also discussed that religion without science is superstition, and I found that a little harder to accept. For me, science is something that’s verifiable. However, at the heart of all Baha’i beliefs is faith in the idea that the Bab and Bahullah are prophets of God. Ultimately, all religion comes down faith anyway, and that, at the core, can’t be proven with scientific data. Soooo….while science without religion is bad, how is religion without science bad, and how can the Baha’i beliefs stand up to scientific scrutiny?

The devil, demons and angels

2005-12-25T19:52:00.000-08:00

I was watching a movie the other day and a trailer for the DVD release of “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” came on, and I got to thinking—do possessions exist in the Baha'i Faith? How about demons or angels? How about Satan?

Show me the magic

2005-12-23T12:37:00.000-08:00

I know someone is a prophet for God for sure if they perform some sort of miracle. The Bab dodged bullets the first time they tried to execute him so I’m on board with him as a prophet. However, so far, all people keep saying about the Baha'u'llah is that he’s really smart and writes and speaks well. If that’s all it takes to be a prophet then Bill Clinton qualifies. I’m not saying that to be rude, I’m just honestly curious…what sort of miracles has Baha'u'llah performed? Have I just not read that far yet? Seriously, show me the magic.

Questioning Baha'u'llah

2005-12-23T12:24:00.000-08:00

It’s my understanding that in the Baha’i faith, material possessions are not important and that the focus should be on spiritual growth and maturation. That makes sense to me, which is why I was confused with the account I just read of the Baha'u'llah's time in Akka. After he was released from prison and a few years had passed, he mentioned to his son how he missed horseback riding, so he moved into a MANSION in the country where he could RIDE HORSES.

There’s a reason Jerry Seinfeld makes fun of people who ride horses; that hobby (even in that time and place since Baha'u'llah admits that it was for recreation and his followers could meet with him already) is the epitome of a wealthy luxury. Add to that the fact that he was riding these horses on his COUNTRY ESTATE outside of his MANSION, and it seems pretty clear that in this instance, Baha'u'llah enjoyed and took advantage of really superficial, material possessions.

So, at best, Baha'u'llah and his close followers used money to buy luxurious material things that could have been spent on feeding the hungry or other good spiritual things. At worst, Baha'u'llah and others were hypocritical in their material vs. spiritual priorities. In my opinion, hypocrisy is worse than ignorance. Since He KNEW material possessions shouldn’t be valued and he did it anyway, that’s WORSE than non-Bahai’s riding their horses and ignoring spiritual concerns all together.

Please explain this to me because I’m having a really hard time with this one.

Good works?

2005-12-22T14:55:00.000-08:00

First, I want to thank all of you for posting on this blog. Honestly, it's really been helpful. Ya'll are awesome! :-)

Anyway, so a response to a previous post got me thinking about good works and their place in the Baha'i Faith: "Further, Bahaullah teaches that goodly deeds are unacceptable unless the doer recognizes Bahaullah." Does that mean that all those people who ring bells outside of stores so poor kids can have toys at Christmas are doing something unacceptable to God? Like, all of the really awesome Mormons I know who run soup kitchens and give clothes to orphans in Sudan are doing unacceptable things in the eyes of God because they don't believe in the divine power of the Bahaullah? Aren't good things still good regardless of who you believe in when you do them?

Relationship with God?

2005-12-21T14:16:00.000-08:00

I was reading God Speaks Again today and one line jumped off the page at me: "Since human being cannot know God directly..." Really? Why not? I was under the impression that I was talking to God several times a day whenever I pray. If that's true, then what have I been doing all these years? Also, if I can only deal with His prophets instead of him, then shouldn't I be praying to them? If so, isn't that just sort of going through a middle-man and is a really watered-down version of faith? If I can't know God directly then how is it possible to have a meaningful relationship with Him?

Unenrolled?

2005-12-21T14:13:00.000-08:00

What does it mean to be an un-enrolled Baha'i? Why would someone want to do that?

Education

2005-12-20T15:29:00.000-08:00

I've been reading God Speaks Again and it seems that most of the more recent leaders of the Baha'i Faith (the Bab, the Bahullah), didn't have a lot of formal education. Why is it, then, that there is a such an emphasis on education in this faith? I mean, I agree with this one, but where does it come from?

Devotional Programs

2005-12-14T22:08:00.000-08:00

Tonight I attended my first Devotional Program with some very nice people named Roger, Leslie and Nancy. There was meditation, music, and readings from various world religions. A good time was had by all. My question is, is that a typical Devotional Program? Do they have different themes (this one focused on peace)? How often are they in other communities (i.e., is there a set time for them?)?

What is wrong with the Baha'i faith?

2005-12-14T22:02:00.000-08:00

I'll just come right out and ask: what is wrong with this religion?

I told Briana tonight that I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop with the Baha'i faith, and that's part of the reason why I've been so eager on this blog. See, I've been burned by religions before. Like, at first they're all "yea, we love everyone" and then later I find out that they mean everyone except people who don't agree with their notion of God, or people who love someone of the same sex, etc. However, I have yet to get any of that from the Baha'i faith, so I'm asking ya'll.

What's your frustration(s) with the church? Briana mentioned that the UHJ doesn't have any women. I'm sure that must bother some people, it seems a little off to me. What else in the faith is bothersome? How have you made peace (if you have) with it?

Holy day(s)?

2005-12-11T12:25:00.000-08:00

It's Sunday. Are Bahai's everywhere doing something cool, or was that yesterday or the day before?

Heaven/Hell?

2005-12-11T02:10:00.000-08:00

Where do well behaved Bahai's go when they die? What if I convert tomorrow and die thirty seconds later after leading a terrible life? What if I never convert, live a terrible life and die? What if I never convert, live a kind and loving life and die?

I don't know why it took me so long to ask these.

What are we progressing towards?

2005-12-11T02:08:00.000-08:00

I get that the point is to unify all religions (right?), but how will we know when we get there? The Universal House of Justice will tell us?

Holidays?

2005-12-11T02:06:00.000-08:00

Are there certain days which are celebrated within the Baha'i faith? Are all other holidays from other religions celebrated too?

Are Bahai's Christian?

2005-12-06T15:43:00.000-08:00

If all of the heads of religions have an equal part in the "one God," then it makes just as much sense to say that Bahai's are Muslim or Jewish. Thoughts?

Politics?

2005-12-01T19:35:00.000-08:00

The equal rights ammendment was defeated largely by the religious folks throughout the country who united against it. Most Republicans tend to go to Christian churches a lot, and the Mormon faith is VERY politically active. I guess my question is, do Baha'i churches have an official of un-official political leaning?

What happens in church?

2005-12-01T19:31:00.000-08:00

I was raised Baptist and have been to Mass with Mandy a few times, and in both cases, everything was very strict. Stand. Recite prayer. Answer priest. Sing. Pray. Shake hands. Eat cracker. Sit. Pray again. What happens in a Baha'i service? Briana wrote earlier that there isn't a lot of that, so I guess I'm wondering what ya'll do on Sunday's (are Sunday's your Holy day too? If so, who decided that? Don't Jews feel left out?)? I guess I could answer a lot of these by just going to a church service myself. Still, I thought I should ask.

Take me to your leader!

2005-12-01T19:29:00.000-08:00

I'm curious--is there a Baha'i answer to The Pope? How about priests? Nuns? Clericks? Rabbis?

Humans are not perfect...but aren't Baha'i humans too?

2005-12-01T19:27:00.000-08:00

How can we be sure, since the Bahallulah (sorry, I know that's spelled wrong, I'm new to this) lived over a hundred years ago, that Baha'i people haven't royal mis-interpreted his writings and teachings since then? After all, we're humans too and are capable of messing it up. I guess my question is, how are Baha'i people immune from the silver-bullet criticism of other religions that humans mess up really good teachings over time that are the fundamental basis of all religions?

Family Unity and interreligious relationships

2005-12-01T12:47:00.000-08:00

Question posed: "Mandy is Catholic. Can I be both Baha'i and Catholic?"

Any Answers???

Return of Christ and more progressive revelation stuff

2005-12-01T12:46:00.000-08:00

Question Posed: "A key tenant of Christianity is that Jesus will one day come back. What happens if he does? Isn't that one more spin of the time-on-earth wheel than the other religions got, and if so, doesn't that make Christianity superior to all the other faiths that are "one" with the other? My pointis, and I'm sure there are lots of examples of this, how does the Baha'i faith reconcile these conflicts? Like, say, "I am the lord your God, though shall worship NO OTHER GOD before me?" Lots of religions that are part of this "one" seem to say things that directly conflict with even the possibility that they could all be one at all."

Any Answers???

Proofs of Baha'u'llah, who is God?, Cults

2005-12-01T12:44:00.001-08:00

Question Posed: "By the way, how do we know that he's the most recent representative of God? How does the Baha'i church define who was one of these Gods? Was David Koresh? How about the Heaven's Gate Cult?"

Any Answers???

Progressive Revelation

2005-12-01T12:02:00.000-08:00

Question posed: "The pamphlet said that the Baha'ullah was the most recent...umm...incarnation (I know that's probably not the right word, but you get what I mean) of God. Since it also talked about evolution of theAmerican nation, I am left to assume that things that evolve are good inthe Baha'i faith, and if that's true, than isn't the Baha'ullah the most evolved of all the representations of God? If that's true, isn't that a hierarchy among these representations that contradicts the whole "ONE" God thing?"

Any Answers??