Criticism of the Baháʼí Faith

As a growing world religion with its own doctrines and history, the Bahá'í Faith has not been without its critics, who have from time to time found fault with some or all of its teachings and precepts, discovered what they have seen as contradictions and inconsistencies in its history, and even raised controversial questions about specific policies and actions of past and existing administrative bodies.

The common criticisms are sometimes compiled in books and blogs, and there are also common answers to the objections that have been compiled by Bahá'í authors.

This summary list of specific criticisms is expanded on in the main articles linked under each heading.

Criticism of Bahá'í teachings

Unity of religion

Main article: Bahá'í Faith and the 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

Main article: Bahá'í Faith and gender equality

Bahá'ís assert that gender equality is an incontrovertible reality of the human condition. Some critics are opposed to the very idea, while others object that certain teachings seem to compromise the principle, by favoring one gender or the other in education, inheritance, and membership on the Universal House of Justice.

Science

Main article: Bahá'í Faith and science

The harmony between science and religion is an important Baha'i principle. Criticism has come from both sides of the question: from those who stress the primacy of scriptural revelation, as well as those who consider some statements by the faith's founders "unscientific".

Homosexuality

Main article: Homosexuality and the Bahá'í Faith

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

Criticism based on historical events

Family of Bahá'u'lláh

Main articles: Bahá'u'lláh's family § Plurality of wives, and Bahá'u'lláh's family

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

Bahá'í Faith and slavery

Main article: Bahá'í Faith and slavery

Bahá'u'lláh very specifically abolished the slave trade among his followers in 1874, but the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh were raised in households that included slaves.

Babi split

Main article: Bahá'í/Bábí 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.

Guardianship

Main article: Guardian (Bahá'í Faith)

While the Bahá'í scriptures intend for a line of Guardians appointed by their predecessor, the first Guardian left no appointment and the line ended.

Divisions

Main article: Bahá'í divisions

Although the Faith emphasizes 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.

Criticism of leadership

Politics

Main article: Political accusations against the Baha'i Faith

Bahá'ís have been accused, particularly by successive Iranian governments, of being agents or spies of Russia, Britain, the Shah, the United States, and as agents of 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.

Statistics

Main article: Bahá'í statistics

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

Bahá'í review

Main article: 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, some of whom have characterized this requirement as a form of censorship.

References

• 'Abdu'l-Baha (1982). Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by Abdu'l Baha during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912. Bahai Publishing Trust, 2nd Edition. ISBN 978-0877431725.
• Abrahamian, E. (1993). Khomeinism: Essays on the Islamic Republic. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-08503-9.
• Afnan, Abul-Qasim (1999), Black Pearls: Servants in the Household of the Bab and Baha'u'llah, Kalimat Press, ISBN 1-890688-03-7
• 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-11-27. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
• Barrett, David (2001). The New Believers. London, UK: Cassell & Co. ISBN 0-304-35592-5.
• Blomfield, Sara Louisa Ryan (2007). The Chosen Highway. George Ronald Publisher. ISBN 978-0853985099.
• Buck, Christopher (2003). "Islam and Minorities: The Case of the Bahá'ís" (PDF). Studies in Contemporary Islam. 5 (1): 83–106. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-08. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
• Munirih Khánum (1987). Munirih Khánum: Memoirs and Letters. Kalimat Press. ISBN 978-0933770515.
• Nabíl-i-A`zam (1932), Dawn-Breakers: Nabil's Narrative of the Early Days of the Baha'i Revelation (1997 ed.), Bahá'í Publishing Trust, ISBN 978-0877430100
• 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