AboutSuzanne Gerstner Expertise I can answer questions on all aspects of the Baha`i Faith, but am most interested in the spiritual teachings of this and other Faiths, and the interconnectedness of all religions. I believe that true religion should bring about love and unity. This is what the world really needs right now and the Baha`i teachings have a lot to offer on this subject.
Experience I've been a Baha'i for the past 23 years and have been answering questions on the newsgroup soc.religion.bahai since 1998.
Education/Credentials BA in Liberal Arts; Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling and am currently working on an MA in psychotherapy.
Expert: Suzanne Gerstner Date: 7/3/2008 Subject: Followup re Baha'i administration
Question Suzanne,
Earlier today I asked you a question about a conflict within the Baha'i Faith inolving some Baha'i academics and their scholarly studies of the Faith. You sent me a link to an exchange of letters with the UHJ on this subject. I read both of them. Thank you very much for sending it.
Please correct me if I'm wrong -- but as I understand the letter from the UHJ, it says that any scholarly study of the Faith by a Baha'i must proceed from the *assumption* that the Baha'i revelation is true and that the current Baha'i administration is its legitimate instrument.
In my opinion this is totally inconsistent with the basic integrity and purpose of scholarly study. Obviously the social sciences are not as exact as the "hard" sciences. But the two are similar in that both are required to simply study the reality of our world, analyze it, and reach conclusions.
Obviously social scientists have different points of view. But they agree that this is the method which should be used. These analysts are *not* assuming that the Baha'i revelation is false or that the current Baha'i administration is not its legitimate instrument. They are [or should] approach the subject without assumptions. Making claims of religious truth is the job of others.
I would be very grateful if you could respond to the above and give your own views on this subject. Granted that I know next to nothing about this; but that said, the above is my opinion, and I welcome your far greater knowledge in responding. You might use your response to give me some of the context you referred to in your previous answer.
Suzanne, thank you very much for making yourself available for answering questions on the Baha'i Faith. As I noted earlier, I have a deep admiration for the Faith and its ideals. All best wishes to you.
-- David
Answer Dear David,
Independent investigation of the truth is a prerequisite of becoming a Baha'i. If a person doesn't believe the Baha'i Revelation is true, then why become Baha'i? Also, Baha'u'llah came for the unification of the human race. He promised His Faith would never divide into sects. The Covenant of Baha'u'llah has been created to protect the Faith from division, and the Covenant means that there are certain centers of infallibity which have been designated as such, and we are to turn to them for guidance for the affairs of our community. This is the source of our unity. A belief in this too is a part of becoming a Baha'i.
Materialistic methods of research preclude a person believing in things like infallibility. If adherents of this method exclude the mystic core of religion -- which is what it's actually all about -- and insist that only a materialistic reading of things is verifiable and accurate and they propound their views endlessly, insisting that they are the experts and others who believe actually believe are fanatics, then actually they are trying to destroy the foundation of the beliefs of others.
This has been a problem for all religions for over a century, and not the Baha'i Faith in particular. In fact the Baha'i Writings stress the importance of using one's reason when studying religion:
"Put all your beliefs into harmony with science; there can be no opposition, for truth is one. When religion, shorn of its superstitions, traditions, and unintelligent dogmas, shows its conformity with science, then will there be a great unifying, cleansing force in the world which will sweep before it all wars, disagreements, discords and struggles - and then will mankind be united in the power of the Love of God."
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Paris Talks*, Page: 146)
Of course anyone is free to believe whatever they like, but it's setting themselves up as authorities in the Faith and propounding endlessly a particular view that is antithetical to the actual teachings of it, and trying to change other people's beliefs to be like theirs that is the problem. These particular people on the internet are well known, since they've been saying the same things for years. They are actually just a handful, and the vast majority of Baha'i academics don't share their views at all.
I also don't know what you've read, but there is also the point that certain people on the internet are prone to slander and extreme distortions of the truth, and they repeat these untruths ad nauseum to anyone who will listen.
Anyway, you asked for my opinion and it is this. Religion needs to be understood in its own terms, and not through the lense of materialism.
