Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Defeat of Haifan Baha'is

http://bupc.org/covenant-in-court/victory-2010.pdf


This is a victory for the Baha'i's Under the Provisions of the Covenant, and a victory for the freedom of speech, the separation of church and state and the core values of the American system as espoused and envisioned by the American founding fathers.

Now at the 390th year anniversary of the Mayflower Compact and the Pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock both in 1620; and in precise time for both the Day of the Covenant celebration and the memorial ascension of Abdu'l-Baha commemorating the activation of the sacred Charter of the Kingdom (see World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 144) the Will and Testament (W&T) of Abdu'l-Baha, on the 26th and 28th of November respectively; as well as coinciding with the American Thanksgiving Holiday: once again the Covenant-breakers in Wilmette and Haifa have been thwarted in their attempts to shut down the public teaching effort and close down all the websites and publications of the Baha'i's under the provisions of the Covenant.

In order to get out of the 6-66 injunction Joel Marangella and the other splinter groups fearing that if Abdu'l-Baha's aghsan son, Mason Remey was bound by the 6-66 injunction, this would pass on down to his successors, stood up and publically confessed in the courts of law that in fact they were not the successors toMason Remey at al but his RIVALS!! Thus a legal confession to being a) boldfaced usurpers attacking Mason; and b) to being outside the provisions of the Covenant altogether. Thus, in order to save their own butts, so to speak, they admit they are not the successors to Baha'u'llah, Abdu'l-Baha,Shoghi Effendi and Mason Remey the son of Abdu'l-Baha!!!

In the case of the BUPC, we were able to testify in open court, 1) that Dr. Jensen who left the NSA in New Mexico in 1964 was never bound by the 6-66 injunction at all. We further pointed out that the Publishers and the IBC/UHJ established by him are not the sucessorship to Mason Remey, but are the lineal sucessorship to Baha'u'llah, Abdu'l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi, and then comes the UHJ set up on January 9, 1951 by Shoghi Effendi as that first IBC that the Hands demolished and which was then re-established on January 9, 1991 by Dr. Leland Jensen. As such, none of the entities, Dr. Jensen, the Publishers or the IBC/UHJ (www.UHJ.net) were in legal succession to Mason Remey, therefore none of them are bound by the 6-66 injunction.

Judge: Baha'i believers can call themselves Baha'i

November 23, 2010 9:11 PM
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/11/judge-bahai-believers-can-call-themselves-bahai.html

A federal court in Chicago has ruled a group of self-proclaimed orthodox Baha'i believers can keep calling themselves Baha'i despite a 1966 court decision that stopped an offshoot organization from using the Baha'I name.

Today, the federal 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the 1966 decision does not apply to a different offshoot known as the Orthodox Baha'i Faith.

Though the judges criticized the ruling from more than four decades ago as wrongfully trying to resolve a question of religious authority, they determined it was amoot point since the original defendants led a denomination that no longer exists.

Tuesday's ruling sidestepped any questions about whether a religious organization can trademark its name or icons.

North American Baha'is have been based in Chicago ever since believers came to the U.S. about 90 years ago.

Adherents of the Orthodox Baha'i Faith--about 50 strong in the U.S.--believe the mainstream Baha'i faith -- about 5 million strong in the world -- has strayed from the religion's original teachings.

-- Manya A. Brachear

Saturday, January 2, 2010

RESEARCH SURVEY FOR RELIGIOUS BOOK

I am writing a book on the search for eternal life and which religions lead to it. As part of my research, I'm seeking to learn firsthand from the faithful in each religion. My inquiry is focused on the proof of your faith, how do we know whether it's teachings inform us correctly.Your answers only need to be a few sentences long for each question, although more detail is welcome. I do request that you give your faith's standard position, reflecting the majority opinion. Many heartfelt thanks for taking the time to answer these questions on such an important topic.

Lawrence BerknerRoseville,
MinnesotaLawrenceBerkner@Gmail.com

Answer as if each question begins with: "According to the standard teachings of your faith, . . ."

What is the name of your religion?

The Baha'i Faith Is there one supreme being or God, and can you give a brief description? There is one God. God is the ultimate cause of all things existing and that everything reflects His power, man particularly reflecting His attributes. To the Baha’is, God is Himself, unknowable, and can only be known through his manifestations: Adam, Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, Krishna, The Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Bab, and Baha’u’llah.

How does God communicate with mankind, and how do we know for sure if it is God speaking?

God sends a Manifestation (teacher) approximately every thousand years. The Manifestation comes to renew the spiritual teachings which are the same in all religions (i.e. the Golden Rule) and to bring new social teachings appropriate for mankind in that day.

Is eternal life offered, and what is it like? T

The worlds of God are infinite. The first world is the womb world, then the physical world into which we are born. The spirit, after the death of the body, progresses through all the worlds of God. The spirit is immortal.

Is there reward and punishment after death, and on what is it based?

God is the most merciful. The spirit can be born into the next life with no more spirituality than that of a stone--having ignored the spiritual teachings and lived a material life.


Are there sacred writings (scriptures) defining your faith, and roughly how long are they?

There are numerous sacred writings by the key figures in the Baha'i Faith. These writings are held in the Baha'i International Archives Building, erected in 1957, on Mount Carmel in Haifa Israel. The Archives building is a museum which holds the original writings of the Bab, Baha 'u' llah and Abdu' l Baha.

When were these scriptures written down and by whom?

The Bab is the Forerunner of the Baha'i Faith with many of his writings accomplished during his ministry during the 1880's. Baha 'u' llah is the prophet founder of the Baha'i Faith and the Manifestation of God for this day. He wrote volumes of teachings and letters during His ministry which extended from the 1860's through to His passing in 1892. Abdu' l Baha is Baha 'u' llah's eldest son and His designated successor. He, too, wrote many documents, letters, and prayers during his travels through the Middle East and America. Writings by Shoghi Effendi, first Guardian of the Baha'i Faith and only infallible interpreter of the sacred writings, are also stored here in the Baha'i International Archives Building.

How much of these scriptures contain historical accounts with real people, places and events?

Many of the writings of the key figures of the Baha'i Faith were in response to events taking place during their time on earth. Many documents have been written by those close to the key figures of the Baha'i Faith. One such example is a book referred to as, The Dawn-Breakers: Nabíl’s Narrative of the Early Days of the Bahá’í Revelation. The complete work carries the history of the Baha'i movement up to the death of Bahá’u’lláh in 1892.

Does your faith make a deliberate effort to translate these writings into many languages and distribute them?

Many of the writings of the Bab, Baha'u'llah, Abdu'l Baha, and Shoghi Effendi, as well as authors of texts describing the Baha'i Faith, have been translated into more than 20 languages.
One such source for the writings of the key figures of the Baha'i Faith and many other of the world's religions is the “Interfaith Explorer” ( http://bahairesearch.com/ ) which is free software offering over 5000 books in 20 languages.

Is there the concept of sin, and can it be forgiven?

There is no concept of sin in the Baha'i Faith. What is the main benefit of your faith, that is, what would motivate someone to convert to it? Baha'is believe in progressive revelation in that God sends to mankind teachers to impart new social teachings as the material/intellectual advancements of mankind develop and to renew the spiritual teachings which are one and the same in all major religions. Baha'is are responsible for their own spiritual development--there is no clergy in the Baha'i Faith. Independent investigation of the truth is a hallmark of the Baha'i Faith. What is the final destiny of this world, will it go on forever or experience an abrupt end?

Speaking of such things as wars which have plagued mankind for centuries and continue to do so to this very day, Baha'u'llah promises that, "These fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come." This is what Baha'is believe to be the final destiny of this world.

What is the primary proof that your faith informs us correctly on what it teaches?

Baha’i teachings are taken directly from the writings of the key figures of the Baha'i Faith. If there is uncertainty over what is meant by any of these writings, Baha'is believe that the Guardian is divinely guided in his interpretation of these writings.

Did the founders of your faith do miracles, and can you give examples?

Though Baha'u'llah did perform miracles, these are not used as proofs of his prophet-hood. A miracle is a miracle only to him who witnesses it.

Did the founders of your faith make predictions that came true, and can you give examples?

Baha'u'llah wrote tablets to the kings and sovereigns of the time in which he lived and predicted what are now historical facts about the downfall of their governments. Napoleon is one such sovereign.

Does your faith have stories of troubled, addicted or immoral people whose lives have been dramatically improved through converting to your faith?

Such stories are always of a personal nature, but many who have accepted the teachings of the Baha'i Faith are more than happy to explain how their conversions have improved their lives.

How has the authenticity of your faith been challenged by skeptics, and what are the standard answers to those challenges?

All religions have been and will continue to be challenged by skeptics. We believe that when people challenge the beliefs of each other, both parties are wrong. Baha'is share their beliefs with those who seek answers and then leave them to God. One key Baha'i principle is the independent search for truth.

Will other religions lead someone to the same results as yours?

If someone fully understands his own religion and investigates the teachings of the Baha'i Faith with an open mind, it is very possible that he will be lead to the same results.

Are faithful practitioners of your religion supposed to persuade people to convert to your faith?

We teach our faith, but we are forbidden to proselytize. If you would like to comment on a topic not covered by the questions, please do so.