The Bahai Faith

The final cult we will glance over briefly is the Bahai Faith. It is probably less well-known than the groups we already have considered and may have fewer members, but its errors are no less egregious.

Bahaism was founded in the mid-1800s in Persia, but it traces its roots to tenth-century Islam. According to Islamic tradition, one of the prophet Muhammad’s successors did not die but lives on and appears from time to time to give insight and wisdom to Muslims. He reveals himself through emissaries known as “babs,” or “gates” of wisdom. In 1852, one Mirza Hoseyn Ali claimed to be such an emissary. He suffered great hardships due to opposition from orthodox Muslims, but he nevertheless attracted a following, among whom he became known as Baha Ullah, or “the glory of God.” They considered him to be a divine manifestation and accorded him divine honor and worship. After his death in 1892, his son, Abbas Effendi, carried on the religion and became the authoritative interpreter of his father’s message. He is known as Abdul Baha, “the servant of God.” In 1912, he came to the United States and visited Chicago. That city since has become an important center for Bahaism in this country, for one of its seven worldwide “houses of worship” opened in 1953 just to the north in Wilmette, Ill. Like the other Bahai temples, it has nine sides, each of which represent a major world religion, of which Bahaism strives to achieve a synthesis.

Bahaism honors all great religious leaders—Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, Jesus, Muhammad—as manifestations of God in history. It teaches that all the religions founded by these leaders are true, but all of them are incomplete. Baha Ullah is regarded as the most recent manifestation of God in history, and he is accorded the highest esteem, for his teaching is said to bring all the other religions together. Bahais say that Jesus was not unique in history and that His prophecies of His future return referred to Baha Ullah. No person is intrinsically bad or evil, for sin is considered in terms of ignorance or sickness. It is produced by a lack of physical strength or knowledge. Thus, Bahaism stresses education as the key to salvation. It also seeks an end to prejudice, promotes international peace, and stands for equality of the sexes.