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Baha'i Faith and Its Claims

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Baha'i Faith and Its Claims Baha’i Faith and Its Claims Bahaism and Its Claims By SAMUEL G. WILSON, M.A., P.P. Baha’ism and Its Claims. A Study of the Religions Promulgated by Baha’U’llah and Abdul Baha. Baha’i Faith is a revolt from the fold of Islam which in recent years has been bidding vigorously for the support of Occidental minds. Many of its princi ples are culled from the Christian religion which it insidiously seeks to supplant. What this Oriental cult is, what it stands for, and what it aims at, is told in a volume which forms a notable addition to the History of Comparative Religions. Persian Life and Customs. With Incidents of Residence and Travel in the Land of the Lion and the Sun. With a map and other illustrations, and an index. 8vo, cloth, net, $1.25. "Not only a valuable contribution to the mis sionary literature of modern times, but is, in ad dition, a volume rich in the facts it contains in regard to that historic country. The American people generally should read this book, and thereby acquire much needed information about the Persians." Religious Telescope. Baha’i Faith and Its Claims A Study of the Religion Promulgated by Baha’u’llah and Abdul Baha By SAMUEL GRAHAM WILSON, D. D. Thirty-two Tears Resident in Persia Author of "Persian Life and Customs" etc. NEW YORK CHICAGO TORONTO Fleming H. Revell Company LONDON AND EDINBURGH Copyright, 1915, by FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY New York: 158 Fifth Avenue Chicago: 125 North Wabash Ave. Toronto: 25 Richmond Street, W. London: 21 Paternoster Square Edinburgh: 100 Princes Street JAM 8 1989 To my Wife whose love and appreciation are a constant inspiration in our far-away home Contents INTRODUCTION n I. HISTORICAL SKETCH 17 The East productive of religions Imamat Shiahism, its sects Sheikhiism The Bab-Subh i Azal Baha Ullah His policy His haram Abdul Baha Jour ney to Occident Education Number of Bahais. II. THE GENERAL CLAIMS OF BAHA’I FAITH . 29 (I) New religion needed (II) Baha’i Faith that new re ligion To supersede Christianity Doctrines Baha God His Revelation The Akdas Conditions of discipleship Position of Abdul Baha (III) Claims superiority to former religions In founder, books and doctrines Not superlative (IV) To be a uni versal religion Defects in rites, regulations, cal endar, civil government House of Justice Al phabet Universal language. III. ITS SPECIFIC CLAIMS 61 Unification of Mankind Divisions in Persia Of Bahais Compulsory uniformity One Language Peace Movement History of Abdul Baha on war Baha’i Faith dogmatic and boastful. IV. BAHA’I FAITH AND CHRISTIANITY . .81 Antagonistic Makes Christianity one among many Abrogates it Dethrones Christ Presumes to be Christ s Second Coming And the fulfillment of prophecy Bahai meeting in Chicago Method of interpretation The " Ikan " Dishonours and be littles the historic Christ. V. BAHA’I FAITH AND CHRISTIANITY (Continued} . 109 Immortality and sin Faith in Baha Bahai Scriptures Its worship Hierarchy Substitutes for Baptism and Lord s Supper Christ s words imitated Rites Ablution Fast Prayer Pilgrimage Acca Shrines Festivals Era Propaganda anti-Chris tian. 7 8 CONTENTS VI. BAHA’I FAITH AND THE STATE . I3 1 Babism political Mahdiism Hostile to Shah Insur rections Baha’i Faith opportunism Sought reconcili ation Tolerated Indifferent to Constitutional struggle Aided reactionary Shah Rewarded by him Its political scheme Houses of Justice Dangerous to liberty. VII. BAHA’I FAITH AND WOMAN . 149 Abdul Baha teaches equality of sexes Baha does not Education of girls neglected Marriage enjoined Bigamy allowed And practiced Polygamy of Baha His family Loose divorce Intermarriage of races Aims at amelioration of woman Moslem efforts Babi Kurrat ul Ayn No successor to Baha s haram Men only to be rulers Women secluded. VIII. ITS RECORD AS TO MORALS . 177 Claim superior conduct Falsification of religious his tory Suppression of facts Changing sacred Writ ings Surat ul Maluk Lawh i Basharat Forging quotations Perversion of political history Of Shahs Of plot to assassinate False claim to Martyrs Double view of Abdul Hamid Fact about imprison ment of Baha Tagiya Dissimulation Orient Occident Unity Pretense regarding Azal s succes sion Maskin Kalam. IX. ITS RECORD AS TO MORALS (Continued} . 207 Boast of Love Hatred for Shiahs For Persecutors For Mullahs Abusive language Vindictiveness Addiction to alcohol and opium Testimonies. X. RELIGIOUS ASSASSINATION .... 219 Strife between Baha and Azal in Bagdad Baha goes to Kurdistan Dissension at Adrianople Testimony of an eye-witness Attempted assassinations Plots and counter plots Bahais assassinate Azalis at Acca Other assassinations In Bagdad, in Persia Attitude towards taking of life Suicide commended Psychological attestation Traditional custom Assassination practiced in Islam Testimonies Azali hatred. CONTENTS 9 XI. THE QUARREL OVER THE SUCCESSION . 247 Claim to love refuted Death of Baha Titles of sons Quarrel over will Abbas assumes Pontirfship Brothers protest Bitter schism Boycott, anathema Appeal to Turkish government Results in re striction of liberty Quarrel and schism in Persia In America. XII. BAHA’I FAITH IN AMERICA .... 263 First notices of Kheiralla His converts Writings An American Azali Pilgrims to Acca Quarrel and schism Abdul Karim Abul Fazl Methods of propaganda Publications Orient Occident Unity Abdul Baha visits America Press agents Photo graphs, movies Addresses Attitude of public Communion service of Bahais Bahai Temple, Mashrak ul Azkar Memorial vase Influence in America Chicago congregation Number in U. S. A. exaggerated Statistics of other religious fads Christian liberalism excessive. BIBLIOGRAPHY 287 INDEX 291 Introduction AMONG movements in the Mohammedan world in modern times Babi-Baha’i Faith is one of the most interesting. It is a definite revolt from Islam within its own fold. It has won its way in Persia amid considerable persecution to a position as a separate religion. It has added another to the permanent sects of the Near East. There Christian missions, inspired to long-postponed"effort to convert Mohammedanism, have come face to face with Baha’i Faith as a new and aggressive force. It has laid out a program as a universal religion, has crossed the seas and aspires to convert Christen dom. Interest in it has been increased by this propaganda in the West and by the visits to Europe for this purpose of its present head, Abdul Baha Abbas, in 1911 and 1912. J Besides those who are interested in Baha’i Faith as students of history and comparative religions, there are several classes who have shown marked favour to Baha’i Faith. (i) One class are simply bent on seeking some novelty. They are well described by the Egyptian Gazette, of Alexandria, in speaking of the reception of Abdul Baha in London : " About the London meetings there was a certain air of gush and self- advertisement on the part of Baha s friends, which 11 12 BAHA’I FAITH AND ITS CLAIMS was quite patent to all who are familiar with that kind of religion which will listen to anything so long as it is unorthodox, new, and sensational." (2) Another class are believers in the truth of all great religions, and, with a vague pantheistic notion, recognize all great men as God-inspired. They are willing to put Baha’u’llah and Abdul Baha on the list of true religious leaders. Such is Rev. R. J. Campbell,i who, in receiving Abdul Baha in London, spoke of the " diverse religious faiths that are all aspects of the one religion," and of the services as " a wonderful manifestation of the Spirit of God." He said to the congregation : " We as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is to us and always will be the Light of the World, give greeting to Abdul Baha." Mr. Campbell gives opportunity to the Bahai propaganda in the Christian Commonwealth, and has enlisted Abdul Baha as a contributor. (3) Another class look on Baha’i Faith as an ethical system, and Baha and Abdul Baha as world teachers. Their relation to Christ has been only that of a dis ciple to a teacher of morals. They recognize in Baha a new schoolmaster. Being Bahais to them consists in admiration of certain principles on which Abdul Baha is in the habit of dilating. But these are not Baha’i Faith any more than Romans xii.-xv. are Pauline Christianity. Paul s gospel is Romans i.-viii. In its moral precepts and social principles, Baha’i Faith is a borrower from Christ s teaching, and 1 Nov. 16, 1911, quoted in Star of the West, Dec. II, 1911. INTEODUCTION 13 sometimes from Mohammed. However, Baha’i Faith is a religion, not a system of morals. (4) ISome adherents regard Baha’i Faith as Christi anity continued or renewed by the Second Coming of Christ, whom they recognize in Abdul Baha. Most American Bahais are of this class, with faith in Baha’u’llah as God the Father. How can I classify the late Prof. T. K. Cheyne of Oxford ? This widely known critic in his last work (1914), "The Reconciliation of Races and Relig ions," bewilders me by his credulity. It is only charitable to excuse it as the product of his dotage. How otherwise could an Oxford scholar take pride in adopting the " new name " and titles given to him by Abdul Baha, sign his preface " Ruhani," Spiritual, and have pleasure in being called the " di vine philosopher," " priest of the Prince of Peace (Baha)," and being compared to St. Paul as a herald of the Kingdom, and write himself a " member of the Bahai community." At the same time Doctor Cheyne wrote himself down as a " member of the Nava Vidhan, Lahore " (Brahma-Samaj).
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