I never said I know it's true, but nor do I know what Bahai's tell me is true either. There are always two sides to every story, that's all. Good to hear all sides, then use logic or gut to determine which is more likely. But one of the problems here is that my neutrality has meant I've been told I have a clear anti Bahai agenda. I thought that was a bit over the top. The anti-Bahai sites vary a lot. Some folks are really nasty to the extreme that some Bahai here are totally pro everything Bahai. Others, on both sides, are more open to looking at the other side as having some validity, or good points. So it's individualised, totally. Two folks I know of who were Baha'i have left this forum because of the intolerance and fundamentalism shown to them from other Baha'i, not from people like me.
I do not consider you unfair at all, nor do you seem to have an anti-Baha'i agenda. Even though I am a Baha'i, I consider myself neutral on the subject of what Baha'is do, since I am not actively involved with any Baha'is in person.
There is no reason not to look at both sides and I think one should look at both sides. If someone does not want to look that indicates that they are afraid of something. The exception would be looking at Covenant-breaker websites because those can have a deleterious effect upon the soul. But people who have dropped out of the Faith are different. As a Baha'i, it might be useful to know why people drop out, just in case we are in any way responsible owing to our behavior.
I think that if there is extremism on ether side that is a red flag because that shows that people are unduly affected by their emotions rather than reason.
At the end of the day, it boils down to what is actually the truth versus a distortion of the facts, but unfortunately, it is difficult to determine that by reading on websites. We just have to use our best judgment.
The Baha'i Faith is a very mixed group of people. There are Baha'is I agree with on certain issues and ones I disagree with, but as Baha'is we are supposed to look for points of unity so that is what I try to do. Still, there are some with whom I disagree regarding their interpretations of the Writings. That is one reason I keep to myself. I am kind of an island onto myself because I do take what Baha'u'llah wrote rather seriously and literally, not just as some kind of motivational speech.
I know I am not going to get other Baha'is to understand how I feel because I am very different from most Baha'is who are actively involved in the community, so it is just easier to keep to myself, at least for now. However, I am very grateful that I have Baha'is I can post to on various forums because otherwise all I would have is my husband who is a Baha'i, and he has got his face in politics most of the time.
