• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

Are Baha’u’llah’s prophecies coming true?

CG Didymus

Veteran Member
New religions can do whatever they want. I'm saying in context of talking about Judaism during the OT, in scripture Yahweh was seen and had body parts and red skin and so on.
I agree with everything you've said so far. I'm absolutely fine with all the religious writings being based on myths made up or borrowed. The Baha'is come so close to saying that. They'll say traditions of men were added in and that some stories are fictional. But then they go and claim the stories are symbolically true. Whatever that means. And it ends up, it can mean whatever they want it to mean.
 

joelr

Well-Known Member
The lesser peace is not about the Baha'i.

It is in prophecy

Regards Tony

What religion is the prophecy from? Baha'i? Then yes this prophecy is about the Bahai religion.
The prophecy itself is about the world. First it failed to happen which resulted in apologetics like crazy.

So whatever, it's still going to happen at some later point, they just mis-read scripture. Uh huh.

There is a war going on. It is not going to lead to world disarmament and reconstruction. Whatever Russia does they are not going to disarm, nor will the Middle East, China or North Korea. To even suggest this is possible is absurd? No country is going to disarm and wait for a dictatorship to invade? I don't know why you are even bringing this up unless there was actually a situation where the world might be headed in this direction?

So a paper explaining the prophecy prediction of lesser peace by 2000 was a mis-translation goes on to make a claim -

"The House of Justice states in its letter of 19 April, 2001 to an individual accompanying the Memorandum of the Research Department of the same date, that: "...there can be no doubt that promise of `Abdu'l-Bahá has now been fulfilled, and the unity of nations securely established in the century now concluded."

No doubt huh?

Did Prophecy Fail? The Lesser Peace and the Year 2000
 

InvestigateTruth

Veteran Member
But there are sects. So far, they haven't amounted to much. I looked it up. Can you explain what all this is about...?
In his lifetime Mirza Ali Mohammed had appointed Mirza Yahya, the son of Mirza Buzurg, and the stepbrother of Mirza Husain Ali as his successor. The same Mirza Husain Ali later came to be known as "Bahá'u'lláh."

Mirza Ali Mohammed Shirazi (The Bab) had given Mirza Yahya the title of "Subhe' Azal" (Everlasting Dawn). He also gave his ring, his personal effects and also the authority to explain and comment on his (Mirza Ali Mohammed Bab's) writings.

While in exile in constantinopole where Bahá'u'lláh stayed for 4 years and it was from there that he announced that he was the real and true successor of Mirza Ali Mohammed Bab (And not his step brother Mirza Yahya Subh-e-Azal) and also that Allah, the Most High, had given him a more honored and lofty position than his predecessor.

Despite Mirza Ali Mohammed's clear announcement of the appointment of Mirza Yahya as his successor, a few others also rose up with claims of successorship after his death. Amongst them was a Bahá'í from Tabriz, Mirza Abdullah, who was thrown in the Arabian rivers by some Bahá'ís on the orders of Mirza Husain Ali. Likewise an Indian Bahá'í, Aga Bashir Mohammed had also forwarded his claim but he did not receive any response.

Subh-e-Azal along with most of the 18 special companions of Mirza Ali Mohammed Bab severely opposed this claim of Mirza Husain Ali and came to Constantinople to bring back Mirza Husain Ali to the right path. Thus a severe discord broke out amongst the Bahá'ís themselves and they began to kill each other openly. Finally, Mirza Yahya went into a recluse and Mirza Husain Ali became the sovereign leader of Bahá'ís.

In view of such serious circumstances, the Ottoman government intervened and sent Subh-e-Azal along with his family to Cyprus and Mirza Husain Ali with his family to Palestine. The Bahá'ís thus got divided into two distinct groups, the followers of Subh-e-Azal came to be known as "Azalis" (The Bayanis) and the followers of Mirza Husain Ali became famous as "Bahá'ís."​
Bayanis and Azalis are not sects in Bahai Faith.
They do not believe in Baha'u'llah, so, it cannot be said they are a sect in Bahai Faith.
 

InvestigateTruth

Veteran Member
What religion is the prophecy from? Baha'i? Then yes this prophecy is about the Bahai religion.
The prophecy itself is about the world. First it failed to happen which resulted in apologetics like crazy.

So whatever, it's still going to happen at some later point, they just mis-read scripture. Uh huh.

There is a war going on. It is not going to lead to world disarmament and reconstruction. Whatever Russia does they are not going to disarm, nor will the Middle East, China or North Korea. To even suggest this is possible is absurd? No country is going to disarm and wait for a dictatorship to invade? I don't know why you are even bringing this up unless there was actually a situation where the world might be headed in this direction?

So a paper explaining the prophecy prediction of lesser peace by 2000 was a mis-translation goes on to make a claim -

"The House of Justice states in its letter of 19 April, 2001 to an individual accompanying the Memorandum of the Research Department of the same date, that: "...there can be no doubt that promise of `Abdu'l-Bahá has now been fulfilled, and the unity of nations securely established in the century now concluded."

No doubt huh?

Did Prophecy Fail? The Lesser Peace and the Year 2000
Hi

"unity of nations" is a different term than "lessor peace".

Unity of nations, is in the sense that people of the world consider each other as one humanity. This is a relative statement though, in comparison with nationalism.
I suppose it is not something that we can measure. Because this is about the feeling of people that they are connected as one family.

But Most people agree that the 20th century, the world has more international relations.
It is more like internationalism. But the lessor peace in Bahai Writings, is another subject, which will happen be after the catastrophe.
 
Last edited:

Muffled

Jesus in me
The old world order being rolled up and a new world order is rising in its stead. Not only the Baha’is but many other people have seen this process unfolding all over the world at an ever-increasing pace but it has become even more apparent now that war has broken out in the Ukraine.

Top stories

Opinion: Putin’s assault on Ukraine will shape a new world order

How Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Could Change the Global Order Forever

China ponders how Russia’s actions in Ukraine could reshape world order

Bury the Old World Order

Are Baha’u’llah’s prophecies coming true? In the latter half of the 19th century, Baha’u’llah prophesied that what we are seeing now would take place. I believe that humans will build the new world order with the assistance of God and what was revealed by Baha’u’llah.

“Beseech ye the one true God to grant that all men may be graciously assisted to fulfil that which is acceptable in Our sight. Soon will the present-day order be rolled up, and a new one spread out in its stead. Verily, thy Lord speaketh the truth, and is the Knower of things unseen.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 7

“By My Self! The day is approaching when We will have rolled up the world and all that is therein, and spread out a new order in its stead. He, verily, is powerful over all things.” Gleanings, p. 313

“The world’s equilibrium hath been upset through the vibrating influence of this most great, this new World Order. Mankind’s ordered life hath been revolutionized through the agency of this unique, this wondrous System—the like of which mortal eyes have never witnessed.” Gleanings, p. 136

The phrase "new world order" in the Baháʼí Faith refers to the replacement of the collective political norms and values of the 19th century with a new system of worldwide governance that incorporates the Baháʼí ideals of unity and justice for all nations, races, creeds, and classes. The idea of world unification, both politically and spiritually, is at the heart of Baháʼí teachings.[1][2]

Baháʼu'lláh taught that the future order will be the embodiment God's scheme for mankind.[3] Later on his successors, ʻAbdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi, interpreted "unification of mankind" as the eventual establishment of a world commonwealth, later as a democratic elected world government based on principles of equity and justice.[4]

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_world_order_(Baháʼí)

I believe that was already prophesied. This is just a rehash.
 

TransmutingSoul

One Planet, One People, Please!
Premium Member
I believe the less information the least likely that it is a prophecy.

A good example of how much prophecy can contain in so few words is the "Lords Prayer".

It is a prophecy of the end of ages, yet how much detail does it provide?

In it l see It contains the details of an entire new revelation, it contains a new heaven and a new earth, all in but one small prayer.

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Amen.

Thy kingdom, like wow how big is that?

On earth as it is in Heaven, like wow a whole new Revelation!

Daily Bread, like wow, all the Words of God!

I see that demonstrates how the outward word has myriads of meaning and potential.

The only one that can unlock that, it the Messenger that brings that Kingdom to Earth as it is in Heaven.

Regards Tony
 

TransmutingSoul

One Planet, One People, Please!
Premium Member
"The House of Justice states in its letter of 19 April, 2001 to an individual accompanying the Memorandum of the Research Department of the same date, that: "...there can be no doubt that promise of `Abdu'l-Bahá has now been fulfilled, and the unity of nations securely established in the century now concluded."

Hi

"unity of nations" is a different term than "lessor peace".

Unity of nations, is in the sense that people of the world consider each other as one humanity. This is a relative statement though, in comparison with nationalism.
I suppose it is not something that we can measure. Because this is about the feeling of people that they are connected as one family.

But Most people agree that the 20th century, the world has more international relations.
It is more like internationalism. But the lessor peace in Bahai Writings, is another subject, which will happen be after the catastrophe.

Yes the process where Nations saw the need to work together was after the first world war, the League of Nations was established on January 10, 1920, at the initiative of the victorious Allied powers at the end of World War I. war, before Abdul'baha passed away, but the foundations were weak. Abdul'baha was aware this was not the foundation. He had already predicted where that foundation would be built.

It needed a 2nd world war, then the "United Nations" came into existence on October 24, 1945.

"...Now, more than 75 years later, the United Nations is still working to maintain international peace and security, give humanitarian assistance to those in need, protect human rights, and uphold international law.

At the same time, the United Nations is doing new work not envisioned for it in 1945 by its founders. The United Nations has set sustainable development goals for 2030, in order to achieve a better and more sustainable future for us all. UN Member States have also agreed to climate action to limit global warming......"

History of the United Nations | United Nations

Thus it is indeed firmly established since 1945 when it started with 51 Nations.

It is also started in the City that Abdul'baha had foretold.

"...Abdu’l-Baha had prophetically declared in San Francisco, a third of a century before, “May the first flag of international peace be upraised in this state.” And when the cornerstone of the United Nations’ permanent seat was laid in New York City in 1949, the Baha’is recalled Abdu’l-Baha’s visionary statement thirty-seven years earlier, declaring New York as the “City of the Covenant” and saying, in an address at the Astor Hotel to the New York Peace Society:

There is no doubt that … the banner of international agreement will be unfurled here to spread onward and outward among all the nations of the world." – The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 125
The Baha’is, the United Nations and Universal Peace

Another sound prediction of future events.

Regards Tony
 
Last edited:

Sheldon

Veteran Member
For example, Book of Iqan is one of the best evidences. One should read it and decide if it is work of divine or work of man. At the end, it is according to a person's judgement. How many people here have read Book of Iqan in depth?

Then it is demonstrably not objective evidence.
 

InvestigateTruth

Veteran Member
Pick the best you have and post it then please.
First, please say what kind of evidence are you looking for, by giving an example, if you can. Or at least the type that you think is an objective evidence, so I can see if that exist in Bahai Faith.
You know objective evidence might be a relative expression. Something might be an objective evidence to someone, but it may not be an objective evidence to another. So, maybe first define, and make up an evidence that you want.
 

InvestigateTruth

Veteran Member
Then it is demonstrably not objective evidence.
Just the game I thought.

I will tell you a story about Bahaullah and His encounter with some Ulama:

On one occasion Baha'u'llah challenged to perform a miracle. Here is an account of the incident as Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’u’llah’s eldest son, relates it:

It often happened that in Baghdad certain Muhammadan ulama [divines], Jewish rabbis and Christians met together with some European scholars, in a blessed reunion [i.e., a meeting with Baha’u’llah]: each one had some question to propose, and although they were possessed of varying degrees of culture, they each heard a sufficient and convincing reply, and retired satisfied. Even the Persian ulama who were at Karbila and Najaf chose a wise man whom they sent on a mission to Him; his name was Mulla Hasan Amu. He came into the Holy Presence, and proposed a number of questions on behalf of the ulama, to which Baha’u’llah replied. Then Hasan Amu said, “The ulama recognize without hesitation and confess the knowledge and virtue of Baha’u’llah, and they are unanimously convinced that in all learning he has no peer or equal; and it is also evident that he has never studied or acquired this learning; but still the ulama say, ‘We are not contented with this; we do not acknowledge the reality of his mission by virtue of his wisdom and righteousness. Therefore, we ask him to show us a miracle in order to satisfy and tranquilize our hearts.’”

Baha’u’llah replied, “Although you have no right to ask this, for God should test His creatures, and they should not test God, still I allow and accept this request. But the Cause of God is not a theatrical display that is presented every hour, of which some new diversion may be asked for every day. If it were thus, the Cause of God would become mere child’s play.

“The ulamas must, therefore, assemble, and with one accord, choose one miracle, and write that, after the performance of this miracle they will no longer entertain doubts about me, and that all will acknowledge and confess the truth of My Cause. Let them seal this paper, and bring it to me. This must be the accepted criterion: if the miracle is performed, no doubt will remain for them; and if not, we shall be convicted of imposture.” The learned man, Hasan Amu, rose and replied, “There is no more to be said”; he then kissed the knee of the Blessed One although he was not a believer, and went.

He gathered the ulama and gave them the sacred message. They consulted together and said, “This man is an enchanter; perhaps he will perform an enchantment, and then we shall have nothing more to say.” Acting on this belief, they did not dare to push the matter further.

This man, Hasan Amu, mentioned this fact at many meetings. After leaving Karbila he went to Kirmanshah and Tihran and spread a detailed account of it everywhere, laying emphasis on the fear and withdrawal of the ulama. Briefly, all his adversaries in the Orient acknowledged His greatness, grandeur, knowledge and virtue; and though they were his enemies, they always spoke of him as “the renowned Baha’u’llah.” – Abdu’l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, pp. 28-30
 

TransmutingSoul

One Planet, One People, Please!
Premium Member
Pick the best you have and post it then please.

The Persons and Life of Baha'ullah and Abdul'baha is what I submit as objective evidence.

Baha'u'llah has offered that is the greatest proof of God, the person of the Messenger. I also offer Abdul'baha as Baha'u'llah gifted Abdul'baha as a perfect example of that evidence.

So let's use the Lawful terms, as in fact we put them on trail to determine the evidence.

"Objective Versus Subjective Evidence" (In Law)

"The law dictionary defines “objective” evidence as “evidence that is not subject to bias and is quantifiable and able to be independently confirmed and verified by using analytical or other tools.” Simply put, objective evidence is based on facts and is the kind of evidence that can be independently examined, evaluated, and verified.

“Subjective” evidence, on the other hand, is evidence that is in the form of an opinion or self-report that cannot be independently examined, evaluated, or verified, but must be either accepted on faith, or rejected."

Objective Medical Evidence | LawMed-Disability Attorneys, LLP

We can use Abdul'baha as the example as Abdul'baha travelled the World and there is truckloads of Objective evidence recorded about His Character and Life, that can be used to determine if he was indeed trustworthy and truthful.

Regards Tony
 

CG Didymus

Veteran Member
A good example of how much prophecy can contain in so few words is the "Lords Prayer".

It is a prophecy of the end of ages, yet how much detail does it provide?

In it l see It contains the details of an entire new revelation, it contains a new heaven and a new earth, all in but one small prayer.

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Amen.

Thy kingdom, like wow how big is that?

On earth as it is in Heaven, like wow a whole new Revelation!

Daily Bread, like wow, all the Words of God!

I see that demonstrates how the outward word has myriads of meaning and potential.

The only one that can unlock that, it the Messenger that brings that Kingdom to Earth as it is in Heaven.

Regards Tony
And can we find verses that disagree with what Baha'is like? Yes, we can. And what do Baha'is do with those verses? They say the NT wasn't written by Jesus. It is only what his followers wrote. And yes, that's true. So, how do we know what they quote about things Jesus said are true and the exact words? We don't. So, there is no "Wow!". Believe all of it or don't use any of it. The greatest miracle and climatic event in the NT is the resurrection. And Baha'is obliterate it. Wipe it off the pages. You say it didn't happen... Jesus is died and has rotted away. Only his spirit rose. The whole story is symbolic. Fine, that's what you want to believe. That makes it possible for a different person, not Jesus, to be the return.

Maybe so, but that's what we are trying to find out. Is the Baha'i Faith and their prophet for real. If so, it is the most important thing that has ever happened. The promised one of all the ages has appeared. And God's kingdom on Earth is going to be established. But there's a lot of discrepancies, lots of contradictions. So maybe he's not the promised one. If so, the Baha'i Faith is the biggest fraud the world has ever seen. And it won't change the world. It will only add one more religion to the many religions that think they have the truth.

And I predict now, that if God is consistent, then the next "promised" one is going to come 100 years too early. And Baha'is will deny him. And say, "It was told that 1000 years must pass. Therefore, this man cannot be the true one." And the people following that new supposed messenger will say, "Why are you so blind. Why do you hold on to your beliefs so literally?"
 

Trailblazer

Veteran Member
But there's a lot of discrepancies, lots of contradictions. So maybe he's not the promised one. If so, the Baha'i Faith is the biggest fraud the world has ever seen.
I cannot logically accommodate the Baha'i Faith being a fraud, it just makes no sense at all. Why would a fraudulent Prophet validate all the major religions of the past? Try to think about why a fraud would suffer persecution and exile and banishment for 40 years. It would make no sense. That is why I believe the Baha'i Faith is true.

People can and will always find what seem like contradictions and discrepancies if that is what they are looking for... This is the test we are given, to be able to see Baha'u'llah for who He was, without our personal biases.

You don't have to talk to me but I am glad you showed up on my thread and that other Baha'is showed up so you and others can talk to them. :) I needed some relief.
 

CG Didymus

Veteran Member
Bayanis and Azalis are not sects in Bahai Faith.
They do not believe in Baha'u'llah, so, it cannot be said they are a sect in Bahai Faith.
The article says that was divisions within the followers of The Bab. But if you want to get nit picky... I'm sure you been told and have a reasonable explanation for all this. Here's what is says about what happened when Baha'u'llah died...
Division amongst the followers of Bahá'u'lláh

The second major division arose amongst the Followers of Bahá'u'lláh was after his death. Mirza Husain Ali (Bahá'u'lláh) expired in May 1892 leaving behind 4 sons and 3 daughters. A severe dispute of successorship erupted among the brothers. The eldest, Abbas Effendi claimed to be the rightful successor in view of the continuation of divine inspirations. However, his brothers Mirza Mohammed Ali, Mirza Badiullah and Mirza Ziaullah and many other Bahá'ís countered that the Divine inspiration ended since "Bahá'u'lláh" had himself written in "Al Aqdas" that anyone who claims thus (Divine inspiration) before the completion of 1,000 years of Bahá'ísm, indeed was a liar and that this claim was false. Nevertheless Abbas Effendi was able to tide over these problems very soon. He assumed the title of "Abdu'l-Bahá" and called his followers as "Sabiteen" (Steadfasters) and followers of his younger brother as "Naqizeen" (Covenant Breakers).

The followers of Mirza Mohammed Ali call themselves as "Unitarian Bahá'ís".

Division amongst the followers of Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi
One of the biggest controversies in Bahá'í history was rapidly fading out of the memory of the mainstream Bahá'í community. But thanks to the internet and its vast repository of free-flowing information and the court case done by the Haifa-based Bahá'í Faith on two of its denomination, the Haifa-based Bahá'í Faith will never be able to cover up what happened in 1957, despite their best efforts to ignore it and minimize its importance. In that year, The Bahá'í Faith lost what was supposed to be its unending chain of infallible spiritual authority when the first Guardian of the faith died without clearly designating any successor.

Bahá'u'lláh had appointed his son Abdul-Baha to succeed him as leader of the religion and inspired interpreter of Bahá'í scriptures and teachings. Abdul-Baha continued this successorship by establishing a position called the Guardian of the Cause of God, to which he appointed his grandson Shoghi Effendi Rabbani in his will and commanded him to appoint his own successor during his lifetime. Shoghi Effendi developed complex theories of a "world order of Bahá'u'lláh" and appointed two main institutions of Bahá'í leadership, the International Bahá'í Council and the Hands of the Cause.

When Shoghi Effendi suddenly died, childless and without leaving any known will, a power struggle ensued. The Hands of the Cause, led by Shoghi Effendis widow Ruhiyyih Khanum, asserted a claim to be some form of temporary collective Guardianship. The Council President, Charles Mason Remey, claimed to be the second Guardian using arguments from the first Guardians writings on Bahá'í religious administration to support his case. The Hands used other arguments from Bahá'í sacred texts to repudiate him, and they ended up convincing a majority of Bahá'ís in the world to follow their own claim of authority rather than Remeys.

In 1963 they established their Universal House of Justice (UHJ) as the international ruling body at the "Bahá'í World Center" in Haifa, despite questions about whether this institution could be legitimately constituted without a Guardian as the head member.

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of France, Pakistan, India and a couple of more countries followed the claim of Mason Remey to be the second Guardian. All its members were summarily excommunicated by UHJ. In Reaction Mason Remy ex communicated all the Hands of Cause calling the Wife of Shoghi Effendi as ARCH COVENANT BREAKER

A lot of Bahá'ís simply left the faith in disappointment, realizing that a major leadership dispute ruins the credibility of a religion that prides itself on unity and seeks to rule the world. Among those Bahá'ís who remained committed to their faith, a schism developed, and the minority of Bahá'ís who followed Remey and rejected the "Haifan" UHJ persist to this day. They have had limited success attracting new converts, though the advent of the internet has helped their efforts somewhat in recent years. They are commonly known as Guardianists, emphasizing their belief in the continuation of the living Guardianship as an essential part of Bahá'í Faith. " Most of them currently follow Joel Bray Marangella, who claims to be the third Guardian. Some others follow Guardian-claimant Jacques Soghomonian instead.

The Haifan Bahá'í Faith stigmatizes the Guardianist Bahá'ís as "Covenant-breakers" and demands that all members of their organization should shun them, Then there is a pain of shunning if they refuse to shun. Haifan Bahá'ís can be severely punished just for reading Guardianist literature. Both the Haifans and the Guardianists believe that membership in their group is the only way to be a true Bahá'í; both assert that their leaders are infallible, despite the lack of solid evidence from Bahá'í scripture to support their claim; and both teach that one day the whole world should be governed by a Bahá'í theocracy led by their particular organization, even though their own religion is not unified under one authority.


 

InvestigateTruth

Veteran Member
The article says that was divisions within the followers of The Bab. But if you want to get nit picky... I'm sure you been told and have a reasonable explanation for all this. Here's what is says about what happened when Baha'u'llah died...
Division amongst the followers of Bahá'u'lláh

The second major division arose amongst the Followers of Bahá'u'lláh was after his death. Mirza Husain Ali (Bahá'u'lláh) expired in May 1892 leaving behind 4 sons and 3 daughters. A severe dispute of successorship erupted among the brothers. The eldest, Abbas Effendi claimed to be the rightful successor in view of the continuation of divine inspirations. However, his brothers Mirza Mohammed Ali, Mirza Badiullah and Mirza Ziaullah and many other Bahá'ís countered that the Divine inspiration ended since "Bahá'u'lláh" had himself written in "Al Aqdas" that anyone who claims thus (Divine inspiration) before the completion of 1,000 years of Bahá'ísm, indeed was a liar and that this claim was false. Nevertheless Abbas Effendi was able to tide over these problems very soon. He assumed the title of "Abdu'l-Bahá" and called his followers as "Sabiteen" (Steadfasters) and followers of his younger brother as "Naqizeen" (Covenant Breakers).

The followers of Mirza Mohammed Ali call themselves as "Unitarian Bahá'ís".

Division amongst the followers of Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi
One of the biggest controversies in Bahá'í history was rapidly fading out of the memory of the mainstream Bahá'í community. But thanks to the internet and its vast repository of free-flowing information and the court case done by the Haifa-based Bahá'í Faith on two of its denomination, the Haifa-based Bahá'í Faith will never be able to cover up what happened in 1957, despite their best efforts to ignore it and minimize its importance. In that year, The Bahá'í Faith lost what was supposed to be its unending chain of infallible spiritual authority when the first Guardian of the faith died without clearly designating any successor.

Bahá'u'lláh had appointed his son Abdul-Baha to succeed him as leader of the religion and inspired interpreter of Bahá'í scriptures and teachings. Abdul-Baha continued this successorship by establishing a position called the Guardian of the Cause of God, to which he appointed his grandson Shoghi Effendi Rabbani in his will and commanded him to appoint his own successor during his lifetime. Shoghi Effendi developed complex theories of a "world order of Bahá'u'lláh" and appointed two main institutions of Bahá'í leadership, the International Bahá'í Council and the Hands of the Cause.

When Shoghi Effendi suddenly died, childless and without leaving any known will, a power struggle ensued. The Hands of the Cause, led by Shoghi Effendis widow Ruhiyyih Khanum, asserted a claim to be some form of temporary collective Guardianship. The Council President, Charles Mason Remey, claimed to be the second Guardian using arguments from the first Guardians writings on Bahá'í religious administration to support his case. The Hands used other arguments from Bahá'í sacred texts to repudiate him, and they ended up convincing a majority of Bahá'ís in the world to follow their own claim of authority rather than Remeys.

In 1963 they established their Universal House of Justice (UHJ) as the international ruling body at the "Bahá'í World Center" in Haifa, despite questions about whether this institution could be legitimately constituted without a Guardian as the head member.

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of France, Pakistan, India and a couple of more countries followed the claim of Mason Remey to be the second Guardian. All its members were summarily excommunicated by UHJ. In Reaction Mason Remy ex communicated all the Hands of Cause calling the Wife of Shoghi Effendi as ARCH COVENANT BREAKER

A lot of Bahá'ís simply left the faith in disappointment, realizing that a major leadership dispute ruins the credibility of a religion that prides itself on unity and seeks to rule the world. Among those Bahá'ís who remained committed to their faith, a schism developed, and the minority of Bahá'ís who followed Remey and rejected the "Haifan" UHJ persist to this day. They have had limited success attracting new converts, though the advent of the internet has helped their efforts somewhat in recent years. They are commonly known as Guardianists, emphasizing their belief in the continuation of the living Guardianship as an essential part of Bahá'í Faith. " Most of them currently follow Joel Bray Marangella, who claims to be the third Guardian. Some others follow Guardian-claimant Jacques Soghomonian instead.

The Haifan Bahá'í Faith stigmatizes the Guardianist Bahá'ís as "Covenant-breakers" and demands that all members of their organization should shun them, Then there is a pain of shunning if they refuse to shun. Haifan Bahá'ís can be severely punished just for reading Guardianist literature. Both the Haifans and the Guardianists believe that membership in their group is the only way to be a true Bahá'í; both assert that their leaders are infallible, despite the lack of solid evidence from Bahá'í scripture to support their claim; and both teach that one day the whole world should be governed by a Bahá'í theocracy led by their particular organization, even though their own religion is not unified under one authority.



In our current time, what is the population of Bahais, and those others that you think are other sects? Do you know?
 
Top