BREAK THE CHAIN

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I need not expound on the many benefits to be derived from the use of the Internet. It has enabled us to explore our world like never before. One of the biggest uses for the Internet is the sending and receiving of email. Ordinarily, I dont mind email forwarded to me from friends since I, too, have been "guilty" of forwarding email to friends that I think will find the subject matter interesting. However, I do have concerns about chain letters forwarded to me. Wikipedia defines a chain letter as ". . . a message that attempts to induce the recipient to make a number of copies of the letter and then pass them on to as many recipients as possible." Some of these chain letters describe: easy ways to make a quick buck, how to help find a missing child, how to claim an unclaimed inheritance, the need for charitable donations, and so forth. Youve seen them all. A little research will reveal many of these as hoaxes. We can delete these . . . no harm done. However, there are some chain letters that just cannot be ignored, especially those that attempt to belittle and smear.A chain letter, forwarded to me by a friend, included a document written by a prison minister (I won't provide a name at this time). According to this minister, the event described took place in May of 2003. It is likely that this chain letter has been sent throughout the United States and, very possibly, throughout the world. The following document was written by this minister:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Last month I attended my annual training session that's required for maintaining my state prison security clearance. During the training session there was a presentation by three speakers representing the Roman Catholic, Protestant and Muslim faiths who explained their belief systems. I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to say. The Imam gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam, complete with a video. After the presentations, time was provided for questions and answers. When it was my turn, I directed my question to the Imam and asked, "Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that most Imams and clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [Holy war] against the infidels of the world and, that by killing an infidel, which is a command to all Muslims, they are assured of a place in heaven. If that's the case, can you give me the definition of an infidel?"There was no disagreement with my statements and without hesitation he replied, "Non-believers!" I responded, "So, let me make sure I have this straight. All followers of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith so they can go to Heaven. Is that correct?" The ex-pression on his face changed from one of authority and command to that of a little boy who had just gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He sheepishly replied, "Yes." I then stated, "Well, sir, I have a real problem trying to imagine Pope John Paul commanding all Catholics to kill those of your faith or Pat Robertson or Dr. Stanley ordering Protestants to do the same in order to go to Heaven!" The Imam was speechless.I continued, "I also have a problem with being your friend when you and your brother clerics are telling your followers to kill me. Let me ask you a question! ...would you rather have your Allah who tells you to kill me in order to go to Heaven or my Jesus who tells me to love you because I am going to Heaven and wants you to be with me?" You could have heard a pin drop as the Imam hung his head in shame. Chuck Colson once told me something that has sustained me these 20 years of prison ministry. He said to me, "Rick, remember that the truth will prevail." And it will!_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _Unfortunately, many who received this slanderous email, probably accepted it's message as fact (probably because they wanted to). And, as with most chain letters, this sender encouraged the recipients to forward it to all of their contacts.Fortunately, there are responsible people out whose business it is to refute falsehoods and other untruths. BreakTheChain.org is once such organization. Their response to the minister's document follows: The veracity of the claims made in it, however, is the author's to prove. Unfortunately, the minister told BreakTheChain.org that he will not provide further details because, in his words, "I fear retribution - I have a 20 year prison ministry to protect."Third-party accounts of the events in question paint a significantly different picture than the one offered by the minister. Tim Kniest, spokesman for the Missouri Department of Corrections, told the Lee news service that the training session in question was for prison volunteers and took place in a corrections facility in Fulton, MO. However, according to Kniest, prison officials' recollection of events that day differ from the minister's in several aspects:
Religious leaders representing faiths followed by current inmates were invited to present. The presenter on Islam was not an Imam, but rather a Muslim inmate who was pressed into presenting after no Imam could be arranged. Prison officials confirm that the Muslim inmate was asked a few questions that he was unable to answer, but none along the lines of those suggested by the minister. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _So, as a person of faith, should I have replied to my friend? Yes, I think so. Therefore, I did respond to my friend's email, encouraging her to research this particular issue on her own. I suggested checking out the BreakTheChain.org web page. To avoid embarrassment to her, I did not copy the others that had received the same "chain letter." Happily, I did hear back and, fortunately, in a positive manner. She thanked me for providing a different side to the story. I feel that we all have the responsibility for questioning inflammatory email (and for that matter, any other falsehoods), researching the issue, and responding with the truth as revealed through our research. Research Links: http://www.breakthechain.org/exclusives/rickmathes.htmlhttp://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/allah.asp

--Written By Larry

The Baha'i Administrative Order

Working in groups effectively requires some kind of organization.
Therefore, Baha'u'llah provided for an administrative order at the local, national and international levels to guide the Baha'i World after His passing.
Houses of Justice
The Baha'i Administrative Order is organized into Houses of Justice of nine members each.
The Local House of Justice is elected by the believers in the local community.
The National House of Justice is elected by delegates at a national convention.
The Universal House of Justice, the supreme international body in the administrative order, is elected by the National Houses at a world convention.
The Universal House of Justice is authorized to rule on any aspect of the Faith not expressly revealed in Baha'i scriptures. This hierarchy of elected representative bodies constitutes the administrative wing of the Baha'i Order.

OPEN INVITATION

Dear Bahai Friends
This is an open invitation to all bahais of the world to post your comments and thoughts about tarbiyat bahai faith on this blog.
We can have fruitful discussion to know the real message ofBahaullah.

Q: What is the difference between the Tarbiyat Baha'i Community and other Baha'i groups?

A: The only difference between the Tarbiyat Baha'i Community and the rest of the Baha'i world relates to the spiritual leadership of the Faith. The Tarbiyat Baha'i Community believes that the institution of the hereditary Guardianship, delineated by Abdu'l-Baha in his Last Will and Testament, is necessary to preserve the long-term integrity of the Faith. The Tarbiyat Baha'i Community believes that the Guardian must come from the bloodline of Baha'u'llah, and that a Guardian from the Holy Family will arise in due time. The largest Baha'i group, with American headquarters in Wilmette and international headquarters in Haifa, Israel, believes that the institution of the Guardianship terminated when the Faith's first Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, died without children and, apparently, without appointing a successor Guardian.

WHAT IS UHJ?

Q.What is the reason then why the present group of Baha’is under the leadership of the Haifa organization do not recognize the continuance of the Guardianship?Ans.Upon the passing of Shoghi Effendi in November 1957, a majority of the Baha’is were tragically led astray from their former faithful adherence to the provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha by the highly revered Hands of the Cause (distinguished and highly esteemed assistants appointed by the Guardian who serve under his direction) who, upon the passing of Shoghi Effendi, failed to recognize the import and significance of Shoghi Effendi’s appointment of Mason Remey as President of the first International Baha’i Council (the embryonic Universal House of Justice) over which according to the provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha only the Guardian of the Faith presides as its “sacred head” and for this reason had been carefully retained by Shoghi Effendi as an inactive body, pending his passing. These Hands, losing sight of the fact that the Guardian must appoint his successor “in his own life-time” and therefore not by a conventional will and testament, upon not finding such a will, erroneously concluded that the Guardianship had come to a premature end. They then appointed a body of nine Hands from their own number, a body outside the provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, which assumed the role and functions of the Guardianship and took control of the world administrative seat of the Faith in Haifa. Some six years later, in 1963,this body transferred the authority and functions it had illegitimately assumed to the UHJ in Haifa, a now headless and incomplete body in the absence of a presiding Guardian, whose successor elected bodies have been similarly named Universal Houses of Justice.

SHOGHI EFFENDI

Baha’i Faith would be imperiled without the Guardian.Shoghi Effendi warned to the Baha’is in his Spiritual Testament “The Administrative Order of The Dispensation of Baha’u’llah” that the Faith would be imperiled, and the stability of entire fabric would be gravely endangered without the guardian. Therefore Baha’is should obey his commandments and search the Living Guardian of Baha’i Faith.

BAHAI GATHERING

Nineteen days Feasts(NDF)
The only regular Baha'i activity which might be considered a religious service is the Feast. The Feast, which is held once every nineteen days, consists of three portions. The spiritual portion involves the reading of prayers. The administrative portion is a discussion of community business, and the material portion is the sharing of refreshments and fellowship.Baha'u'llah established a new calendar with nineteen months of nineteen days each and four "intercalary" days to adjust to the solar year. Therefore, the Baha'i community's monthly gatherings are known as the Nineteen Day Feast.

OUR BELIEFS

We are an organized community of Baha'is who accept the Teachings of Baha'u'llah, Founder of the Baha'i Faith, and uphold the validity of the continuing Guardianship of the Cause of God. The institution of the Guardianship was established to provide spiritual guidance to the Baha'i World. The Faith has been without that necessary leadership since the death of the first Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, in 1957. We believe a lineal descendant of Baha'u'llah will arise to take up the mantle of the Guardianship in the future. In the meantime, this community of believers is led by a Council of "Regents" who serve no other purpose than to unite Baha'is in anticipation of that day when the second Guardian arises to restore spiritual guidance to the Faith and reunify the Baha'i World.

What is the Baha'i Faith?

The Baha'i Faith is a world religion Which calls for a renewal of the common spiritual teachings found in all religions and sets forth a dynamic body of social teachings specifically designed to lead humanity into a new world civilization and an era of peace based upon the Faith's twin teachings of unity and justice.The word "Baha'i" is taken from the title given to a man known as Baha'u'llah (which means the Glory of God). Baha'u'llah, whose ministry lasted from 1853 to 1892, was a Manifestation of God - a messenger to humanity with a new revelation from God for this day.The Baha'i Faith, which originated in Persia, was relatively unknown in the west until the early part of this century. Since then it has spread around the world as people have embraced its strong spiritual ethic, progressive social teachings, enlightening answers to age-old religious questions, and its vision of a world united in peace.

SPIRITUAL WING OF BAHAI ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER

The spiritual leader of the Baha'i Faith is known as the Guardian of the Faith.
1) He must be a male lineal descendant of Baha'u'llah and has sole authority to interpret Baha'i scriptures.
2)He also sits as chairman for life of the Universal House of Justice.
3)He has the right to define its proper sphere of legislative action and to require that body to reconsider any of its decisions. He is required to appoint a successor in his own lifetime.
4)The Guardian also appoints believers as Hands of the Cause to assist him in spiritual matters, particularly teaching and protection of the Faith.Thus, the Administrative Order reflects legislative and executive, elective and hereditary, material and spiritual principles.

The first Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, explained with regard to the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice, respectively: "The first [the Guardianship] preserves the identity of His Faith and guards the integrity of His law. The second [the Universal House of Justice] enables it, even as a living organism, to expand and adapt itself to the needs and requirements of an ever changing society."(World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 23)

CONTACT TARBIYAT BAHAI COMMUNITY

If you would like to reach us for more information, or simply for discussion, we welcome you to contact us in the following ways: By email: info@tarbiyatcenter.orgBy mail:
Tarbiyat Baha'i CommunityP.O. Box 1424Las Vegas, NM 87701By phone: 505.425.3688

Q: Who was Abdu'l-Baha and what is his role in the Baha'i Faith?

A: Abdu'l Baha, the eldest surviving son of Baha'u'llah, was appointed by his Father as the "Center of His Covenant" and the authorized Interpreter of His Writings.. In this capacity, unique in the history of religion, Abdu'l-Baha left many writings explaining and elucidating the teachings of Baha'u'llah. Although recognized as the "Perfect Exemplar" of Baha'u'llah's teaching, Abdu'l-Baha was, nevertheless, essentially human and held a station radically different from that of Baha'u'llah.

Q: What is the difference between the Tarbiyat Baha'i Community and other Baha'i groups?

A: The only difference between the Tarbiyat Baha'i Community and the rest of the Baha'i world relates to the spiritual leadership of the Faith. The Tarbiyat Baha'i Community believes that the institution of the hereditary Guardianship, delineated by Abdu'l-Baha in his Last Will and Testament, is necessary to preserve the long-term integrity of the Faith. The Tarbiyat Baha'i Community believes that the Guardian must come from the bloodline of Baha'u'llah, and that a Guardian from the Holy Family will arise in due time. The largest Baha'i group, with American headquarters in Wilmette and international headquarters in Haifa, Israel, believes that the institution of the Guardianship terminated when the Faith's first Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, died without children and, apparently, without appointing a successor Guardian.

ABDU'L BAHA - CENTER OF THE COVENANT

Since His childhood Abdu'l-Baha had recognized His father's station and was His closest companion and protector. From the time of His youth He actively participated in His father's ministry by assisting with correspondence, writing religious commentaries, and meeting with religious leaders.Throughout His life Abdu'l-Baha was known for His courteous and gracious manner, His kindness, His love for children, His generosity and His care for the poor and suffering. He was knighted by the British for the part he played in alleviating the suffering of the people of the Holy Land during the 1914-18 war, a title he accepted, but never used.Like His father, Abdu'l-Baha suffered persecution and was held a prisoner in Akka for 40 years. Still He continued spreading the Baha'i Faith. He was finally freed from governmental arrest in 1908. In 1911 and 1912 He traveled to Europe and the United States, teaching the Faith at the request of interested western inquirers and early believers. He, too, wrote many books and letters and had talks transcribed which today make up part of the scriptural resources available to Baha'is. Before Abdu'l-Baha died in 1921, He provided for the continued spiritual leadership of the Faith by establishing the Institution of the Guardianship.