Criticism of the Bahá'í Faith

The Baha'i Faith is in many ways a challenging religion, that raises many controversial and difficult questions. Aspects of the religion that are attractive to some are seen as major difficulties to others.

Unity of religion

Bahá'ís believe in the fundamental agreement in purpose of all the major world religions. At the same time it is incontrovertible that there are many differences between the different religions.

Gender equality

Bahá'ís assert that gender equality is an incontrovertible reality of the human condition. Certain teachings seem to favor one gender or the other in education, inheritance, and membership on the Universal House of Justice.

Science

Bahá'ís believe that science without religion leads to materialism, and religion without science leads to superstition. The idea that these two forces, sometimes seen as incompatible, are in harmony is fundamental to Bahá'í teachings. This viewpoint is not without its difficulties.

Auxiliary language

Bahá'ís call for a universal auxiliary language, meaning in addition to one's native tongue.

Statistics

Some criticism of the Bahá'í Faith has centered on apparently misleading statements concerning numbers of believers.

Homosexuality

Bahá'í teachings only permit sexual relationships between a married husband (male) and wife (female).

Divisions

Although the Faith emphasises its own unity, the Bahá'í Faith has had several challenges to leadership, resulting in the formation of breakaway factions. Claimants challenging the widely accepted successions of leadership are shunned by the majority group as Covenant-Breakers.

Babi split

The Bahá'í Faith identifies itself as the fulfillment of the Bábí Faith. The separation of the two, beginning in 1863, was accompanied by conflict and murders.

Politics

Bahá'ís have been accused, particularly by the Iranian government, of being agents or spies of Russia, Britain, the Shah, the United States, and as agents of international Zionism—each claim being linked to each regime's relevant enemy and justifying anti-Bahá'í actions. The last claim is partially rooted in the presence of the Bahá'í World Centre in northern Israel.

Family of Bahá'u'lláh

Although polygamy is forbidden by Bahá'í law, Bahá'u'lláh had three concurrent wives.

Bahá'í review

Bahá'ís wishing to publish books about the Bahá'í faith must first submit their work to their respective National Spiritual Assembly for approval through a review process. This process has not been without its critics, in fact some critics have characterized this requirement as a form of censorship, since there are penalties for non-compliance.^[1]

Notes

1. Momen, Moojan (2007). "Marginality and Apostasy in the Baha'i Community". Religion 37: 187–209. doi:10.1016/j.religion.2007.06.008. Retrieved 5–3–2012. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)

References

• Abrahamian, E. (1993). Khomeinism: Essays on the Islamic Republic. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-08503-9.
• Affolter, Friedrich W. (2005). "The Specter of Ideological Genocide: The Bahá'ís of Iran" (PDF). War Crimes, Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity 1 (1): 59– 89.
• Barrett, David (2001). The New Believers. London, UK: Cassell & Co. ISBN 0-304-35592-5.
• Buck, Christopher (2003). "Islam and Minorities: The Case of the Bahá'ís" (PDF). Studies in Contemporary Islam 5 (1): 83–106.
• Effendi, Shoghi (1974). Bahá'í Administration. Wilmette, Illinois, USA: Bahá'í Publishing Trust. ISBN 0-87743-166-3.
• Schaefer, U.; Towfigh, N.; Gollmer, U. (2000). Making the Crooked Straight: A Contribution to Bahá'í Apologetics. Oxford, UK: George Ronald. ISBN 0-85398-443-3. OL 11609763M.

External links

• The Bahá'í Faith as Panopticon, by Juan Cole, detailing his criticisms of the American Bahá'í community.
  • The Myth of the Objective Observer, reviewing the above article
  • Review of The Bahá'í Faith as Panopticon, also reviewing the above article