Baha’i Justice

Martin wrote:
Dear Investigator of Truth,
You announce that «_Everyone_ is welcome to attend the 3rd Annual Choral Concert (…) at the Baha’i House of Worship.»
Are Orthodox Baha’is welcome too? Some members of the Orthodox Baha’i Faith would love to go, I am sure!
Sincerely,
Martin

Covenant Breaking is truly a Spiritual disease, and the whole view-point and attitude of a Covenant Breaker is so poisonous that the Master likened it to leprosy, and warned the friends to breathe the same air was dangerous.

(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 183)

The more and more these individuals speak the more I see what Abdul-Baha meant. Visiting all their websites I see only poison and hate.

So to answer your question, from the Baha’i viewpoint the answer is no for the above reason, and for the viewpoint of 40 individuals in the U.S. the answer is no for the same reason.
Lorenzo

Dear Investigator of Truth,

You announce that «_Everyone_ is welcome to attend the 3rd Annual Choral Concert (…) at the Baha’i House of Worship.»

Are Orthodox Baha’is welcome too? Some members of the Orthodox Baha’i Faith would love to go, I am sure!

Sincerely,

Martin

To the writer of the piece, Manya A. Brachear. Thank you for your article, but I wish you’d done your research more thoroughly. As others have pointed out, the Bahai faith is NOT a sect of Islam or any other religion. It is a completely independent religion
A core tenet of the Bahai faith is the principle of the progressive Revelation, stipulating its belief in the World other major religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam etc), but according to their own era in history. The progressive nature of the principle means that the word of God is not limited and does not end with a particular religion.
New religions come and replace older religions. This is because although the spiritual teachings of the major religions are essentially the same, their message on social issues differ to better suit their particular eras. So, at some point new messengers of God bring the message of God for the new age in which they live to better reflect the realities, cultural, social and spiritual changes of that time.
As to the main issue of the article, it is sad to see a smaller number of Bahais (or ex-Bahais) have separated themselves from the Faith and are trying to establish a separate, and wholly artificial, strand of what they erroneously consider to be the Bahai faith. However, as a Bahai, I believe in freedom of speech and I’m not altogether certain if court action and suing this group is the right way to proceed. Paul

I already addressed the first question as to why Mason made the appointments he did. Why didn’t Shoghi appoint a successor? You ask why it wasn’t done in a Will, but where in the W&T of Abdu’l-Baha does it say that the Guardian must appoint his successor in a Will? It just says that he must appoint one in his lifetime. It leaves the manner and style up to the Guardian. Any way the Guardian chooses is the way the appointment is made. So Shoghi didn’t have a Will, so what? Shoghi Effendi was infallible by himself as he was of both “hallowed and sacred Lote Trees” as stated in the W&T. This means Shoghi was of both the lineage of Baha’u’llah, through Abdu’l-Baha’s daughter, and through the Bab, through Mirza Hadi Afnan. These two lineages are represented in the two forces of the House of Justice. One is the Guardianship which is the male line of David or “Aghsan” through Baha’u’llah and the body of the UHJ is represented by the lineage of the Bab which is the line of Muhammad. Abdu’l-Baha speaks of this union:
“The meaning is that certain personages guided the people with a staff grown out of the earth, and shepherded them with a rod, like unto the rod of Moses. Others trained and shepherded the people with a rod of iron, as in the dispensation of Muhammad. And in this present cycle, because it is the mightiest of Dispensations, that rod grown out of the vegetable kingdom and that rod of iron will be transformed into a rod of purest gold, taken from out the endless treasure houses in the Kingdom of the Lord. By this rod will the people be trained.”
(Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 166)
These two rods are the “two forces” of the legislative and the executive of the UHJ. The rod of wood is the Aghsan lineage or “branch”. The legislative body is the rod of iron because in the dispensation of Muhammad, it was governend by the law of attraction, in that the personages and Covenant of Islam were not confined to a particular lineage as the lineage of David was. All people, of all faiths could enter into the Covenant of Islam which means to “submit” and submit to the Will of God. This is manifested in the body of the UHJ as it is comprised of many people from many different countries who submit to the Will of God through the electoral process. It is the power of attraction represented by the rod of iron as when a rod of iron is electrified,(elected) it becomes a magnet. Today, the institution the Sans-Guardians call the “UHJ” has none of the constituent ingedients that are called for in the W&T, thus it is not the true Universal House of Justice.
Shoghi Effendi had a successor but it wasn’t Mason. Mason was Abdu’l-Baha’s adopted “Aghsan” and was grafted into the line of David. Like Abdu’l-Baha was the Greatest Branch, Mirza Mihdhi, the Purest Branch, Mason Remey was the “Grafted Branch” as he was a gentile grafted into the line of David according to prophecy. But Shoghi Effendi was of both rods, the rod of wood and the rod of iron and was, by himself, infallible in his mission. For Shoghi to have a successor he must have one that emodies both forces and so Shoghi Effendei’s successor was not any one person, but a body of people that would become the true UHJ. In 1951 Shoghi apponted his successor and this successor was the 1st International Baha’i Council to which he “greatly welcomes” Mason Remey as it was not Shoghi Effendi’s job to appoint Mason as he was the only candidate for the position, Mason being the only Aghsan left of which Shoghi acknowledged publicly. Shoghi’s successor was the IBC with the Aghsan Guardian at its head. This was the two rods of authority joined together that was to evolve into the UHJ, but the “Hands” went against Shoghi Effendi and aborted Shoghi’s plan and made one up of their own. Hope this helps. If not read this:
http://bupc.org/test-of-god.html
Victor

“If Remey was the “infallible” Guardian in all matters pertaining to the faith then why did he make not one, but two, errors in appointing a successor?”

If Shoghi Effendi was infallible why didn’t he (according to the official line) leave a will and testament? Moreover why is there a need for elections if the body institutions are inffallible and divinely guided? Azal

Also, George?…thanks so much for all your blog listings. A great resource.

I guess I’ll have to comment on the reference to “arcane explanations”. Well, I just posted something to that effect above referring to how Baha’u’llah says Himself that His Revelation is “abstruse” which I think is synonymous with “arcane” as well as the idea of being “mysterious” or “esoteric”. It is explained in the writings that there are two levels of reality when it comes to the Revelations of God. One is outward or apparent and the other is esoteric or “arcane” and this pattern of communicating with His Creation through this method of both the apparent and the “arcane” will continue as long as there is life on this planet. If you read the Babi and Baha’i histories, you don’t find the things that occured and the events and the turmoil and the disputes and the martyrdoms and everything that has happened in the last 150 years “arcane” or just your everyday hum drum apparently nice religion? The events that occured are “sorely trying and highly perplexing” and so they wil continue to be to continue to test His servants to see who will cleave to the Spirit or who will whither away as they cut themselves off by putting the blinders of materialism on and put out their third spiritual eye to see the exact same patterns happening over and over again.

Oh, also about the 99 and 44/100ths…what’s left to me sounds like a mere handful of people…..

XCII. The Book of God is wide open, and His Word is summoning mankind unto Him. No more than a mere handful, however, hath been found willing to cleave to His Cause, or to become the instruments for its promotion.

(Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 183)

The Cause of God is to usher in a great peaceful World civilization centererd around the knowledge and love of God which is given to us in a great Promise also called a Covenant and this Covenant is the same Covenant that has existed for six thousand years. The Center of this Covenant is the Guardianship that is the focal point of unity as proclaimed in the writings. The Guardianship is the continuation of the line of David through Baha’u’llah and is the manifestation of the words of Christ: Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Victor

Ok, fair enough…no dodge ball here, but hopefully my written explanation will be understood to convey my knowledge as best I can. For one, we’re talking about the Baha’i Faith here. The Revelation of Baha’u’llah is not a simple street-corner religion where you go to for one hour every week. Baha’u’llah says His Revelation is

“Verily Our Word is abstruse, bewilderingly abstruse.” In another instance, it is said: “Our Cause is sorely trying, highly perplexing; none can bear it except a favorite of heaven, or an inspired Prophet, or he whose faith God hath tested.”

(Baha’u’llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 82)

Baha’u’llah also says:

But inasmuch as the divine Purpose hath decreed that the true should be known from the false, and the sun from the shadow, He hath, therefore, in every season sent down upon mankind the showers of tests from His realm of glory.

(Baha’u’llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 51)

To answer your question in this context, Mason continued the test of the Guardianship to see who would go by the criteria of being a son, or who would as it says “turn on their heels, afrighted **** fleeing from a lion.” This has always been the test. Mason wasn’t making an error in appointing these people, in as much as Baha’u’llah wasn’t making an error when, in His Will, He appointed Muhammad-Ali to succeed after Abdu’l-Baha, knowing full well that Muhammad-Ali would break the Covenant. But, also, just as the body (UHJ) cannot live without a head (Guardian) the head cannot live without a body as this is where the true line of infallibility comes from when, as it says in the W&T,

“The legislative body must reinforce the executive, the executive must aid and assist the legislative body so that through the close union and harmony of these two forces, the foundation of fairness and justice may become firm and strong, that all the regions of the world may become even as Paradise itself.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, The Will and Testament, p. 14)

So you see it isn’t until these “two forces” are brought together that there infallibility. The Guardians must function within the confines of being one member of the legislative body with a vote of one and no veto power. The job of the Guardian is to execute the decisions of the body, thus “executive head”. Juctice does not come from one person telling everybody what to do, this is tyranny and dictatorship. Baha’u’llah brought justice.

I hope that answers your question to a degree. If not, just ask me to clarify.
Victor

I’m a Baha’i blogger. As such I have come to enjoy over the years the rich fare to be found online in the thousands of posts by other Baha’i bloggers that reflect their Baha’i life.

To reiterate a point I made earlier in this string, another proof of God is that something grows and lasts over time. Arcane explanations, of which this comment string is replete, do not, in themselves, constitute proof. Does the community associated with the Faith of Baha’u’llah, acting in accordance with the Holy Writings, grow and maintain its unity throughout the process of its growth. Does it become a mass movement that touches every corner of the globe? Can you extrapolate on the work it is doing in the present and see it as having the capacity to bring unity to a disunified and suffering world in the future?

Baha’u’llah didn’t come to the world for the purpose of creating esoteric, odd-ball, and stagnant communities devoted to grinding out arcane arguments to explain why the world has passed them by. He came to unite the world into one vibrant community of selfless servants who are interested in the betterment of entire neighborhood through the promotion of moral education for children, the adoption of spiritual practices that includes personal and community devotions and study of the essence of the holy texts, and a vigorous collective effort to eradicate social injustices.

Of those people who call themselves Baha’is in this world, “99 and 44/100ths” of them are members of the International Baha’i Community. The activities of these members are themselves provide proof of the power of the Covenant of Baha’u’llah to bring blessings not only upon the Baha’is themselves but on the larger communities within which they reside. These Baha’is are the leven in the loaf of the world.

Baha’is have the Minor Plan of God to carry out. God’s Major Plan proceeds mysteriously. What better way to see the proof that God is guiding the efforts of those who have His Minor Plan to carry out than to look in on the lives of individual Baha’is through reading their personal blogs. George

I asked specific questions which you utterly failed to answer. If Remey was the “infallible” Guardian in all matters pertaining to the faith then why did he make not one, but two, errors in appointing a successor? Didn’t he know the rules? Quinn

Number one, Mason did not authorize the council to take any such action and when he found out that this is what they had done, he told them to “cease and disist”, to not do anything more with the lawsuit, and thus the lawsuit that was instigated by the members of Mason’s sIBC was never persued and it went into default and the Baha’is of Wilmette counter sued and had an injunction placed in 1966.
As far as Mason’s appointments, Mason knew all along that the only candidate for his successor was his son, and if there is only one son left at the Guardian’s passing, the Guardianship passes to them. In the Will & Testament, Abdu’l-Baha never says that the succeeding Guardian has to accept his position, but that he can appoint someone to sit in his place. This is exactly what Pepe did. Pepe wrote letters where he states very emphatically that if the multitude of the Baha’is were to come to him and ask him to be their Guardian, he would do it and ackowledged that the Aghsan lineage continued through him. Pepe then, in the same style and manner that Abdu’l-Baha adopted Mason, Pepe adopted Neal Chase in letters written to him and other beleivers to be his successor. This is the “Mystery of the Kingdom” that is spoken of both in the bible and in the Baha’i Writings. The “Mystery of the Kingdom” the bible explains, is that the “Gentiles will inherit the kingdom” and this would be called the “times of the Gentiles” when the lineage of David would be grafted into by the Gentiles, i.e. a non-physical descendant of David.(Read Romans Chp. 11 as well as Abdu’l-Baha’s last Tablet to America where he mentions this same grafting in of the tree from “another branch”.) Baha’u’llah called Abdu’l-Baha “The Mystery of God” because Abdu’l-Baha chose a gentile to inherit the kingdom by adopting him as his son and appointing him. It is then prophesied in both the bible and the Baha’i writings that another “natural branch” would be grafted back into the tree which is another natural, blood-line descendant of David and collateral descendant through the male line of Baha’u’llah. This is Neal Chase ben Joseph Aghsan who is a Jew who is descended from the male line through the collateral descendants of Baha’u’llah who moved from Tabaristan to Russia. The natural blood-line of Baha’u’llah and the Aghsan lineage has been grafted back once again and thus the “times fo the Gentiles” is over. Read in the bible about what happens after this, it is very, very interesting.
AS far as the “sane” “insane” aspect of people feeling as if they are the ones who can decide of another’s mental capacity, it doesn’t nake any difference. Pepe wrote in a letter that even if the Guardian goes “gaga” that is no reason to abandon him and deny him and even more, try to usurp from him. The Guadianship issue is very simple; two criteria: he has to be a son “Aghsan” and he has to be appointed. Any other criteria that others try to add like he has to be young or old or knowledgeable or handsome or he has to accept it and proclaim his acceptance or anything, is not the identifying criteria. By this simple two-part criteria, the lineage of David has continued unbroken for over three thousand years.
Neal Chase is the only survivng natural branch who was appointed by the previous Guardian and who has compiled the Genealogy of Baha’u’llah as well as written inumerable tablets and epistles enumerating the history of the Baha’i Faith and how this history relates to the history of the ancients and the proofs contained therein as well as his research into the mathematical evidence contained throughout the world and its verying cultures and beliefs and continuous contact with the BUPC throughout the world. To see the first Fireside given by the Guardian Neal Chase Ben Joseph Aghsan and hear some of these explanations by him youself, go here:
www.bahaifireside.org
Victor