An interview with an ex- Baha’i called “S.A.”
– How did you become a Baha’i?
– As a person was born in each family having special belief such as Islam, Christianity, Judaism and etc. a person who is born in a Baha’i family is under the Baha’i trainings. The Baha’is are holding Golshan class for the kids who are 3 to 6 years of age. The Baha’i poems are being taught. Then, morality classes are being held concerning the history of Bahaism or the Baha’is who have been killed. These Baha’i beliefs are being taught by 16 years of age. Then, they are speaking about the independent of truth.
– What is the independent investigation of truth in Bahaism?
– The independent investigation of truth means you should know all religions and then you should select what you want, but there is an interesting note. I didn’t accept anything simply. I discussed with my father and said: You trained the Baha’i belief for 15 years. Although you said Islam and Christianity are right, too and we are after them, but we know more about the next rather than the previous religions. In Baha’i community, a person becomes formally Baha’i after so-called the independent investigation of truth, but how can a person investigate the truth independently having reception and moral classes? Meanwhile, when all of your relatives are Baha’i, you aren’t able to say I am you a Baha’i. If you say so, the community will look upon you with disfavor and you will be criticized and your friends will be separated from you. So, you become practically separated from them. This 15-16 years of age will be treated badly. So, I signed a paper when I was 15 or 16 of age and believed in Bahaism.
– How did the non-Baha’is behave with you?
– Outside the Baha’i community, when you say I am a Baha’i, nobody will practically befriend with you, because Muslims become separated from you for reasons; of course it is not right, too. I frankly said in classes that I am a Baha’i and discussed with my teacher and my other classmates supported me. So, I was dismissed.
– What was the influence of this issue on you?
When I was ex expelled, I wasn’t sad, but I proudly said I was expelled. However; now, I wish I weren’t expelled and my life course weren’t changed.
– Who did you deliver your paper of being formally Baha’i?
We must hand it over to one of the servants, but I delivered it to my teacher of morality class who was a good lady. They held a celebration, too.
– Was it a celebration for independent investigation of truth?
– No. The independent investigation of truth is before becoming Baha’i formally in order to find out the reality. Of course, 10-12 years ago, I concluded that I don’t believe in my religion. In brief, after being formally a Baha’i, a celebration is being held and the person enters into the administrative issues. Then, we start serving the Baha’i community. I was more active in scientific and cultural affairs. When I was 17-18 years of age, we left Iran and entered into Van city, Turkey as religious refugee.
– Is there any Baha’i assembly in Van city, Turkey?
– Yes, but the members of the assembly are the refugees.
– Did you participate at the assemblies there?
– Yes, I was the supervisor of the reception for a while. I wrote the programs of meetings or stories for youngsters, but after a year, I became separated from the Iranian people because I couldn’t live at that situation. As a refugee, I slept at 4-5 a.m. At 9-10, I went to police station just for a signature in a sleepy manner and I returned again.
We spent time in the meetings. Fortunately, I befriended in the university of Yuzuncu Yil, Van, Turkey.
– Did you study at Van university?
– No, I didn’t know English language. One day, I saw a boy in front of one of tourist companies who was speaking English with another person. I approached them and tried to speak with them. So, we became intimate friends. I gradually became separated from the Baha’i community. My friend helped me to teach computer, mathematics, infantile scientific games in a school. In brief, I became so busy. Of course, I didn’t receive any money, but being with kids is good and but most importantly, my life had become disciplined.
– Was the assembly of Turkey aware of your activities?
– Probably yes. Because I openly turned against it. Of course, the members of assembly were the refugees who were newcomers. So, I kept aloof of them.
– Who elected the person in charge of the assembly?
– At that community, there probably were more than 200 Iranian people who voted to elect one. Generally speaking, there isn’t any special principle there. I remember there was a baker whom people voted for fun to be elected as the member of assembly. He was illiterate.
– Did you remain in Turkey?
No, I was there for three or four years. Then, I was accepted to go to Australia. At First, I was going to the assembly of the Baha’is of Australia, but l became atheist at 27.
– Why? Weren’t you satisfied with the teachings of Bahaism?
At that time, satisfied – no religion satisfied me. I figured out that there isn’t anything in Bahaism teachings, so I took aloof of Bahaism. That separation caused me to investigate the truth independently in my higher ages. Now, if there is a Baha’i person here, I will prove him/her having documents that his/her path is deviated and full of contradictions.
– Please explain about these contradictions more?
– I am sure that 95 percent of the Baha’is are depressed or in lack of spiritualties.
According to me, the adventures of Babism and Baha’ism are made and political. They are not related to religion. It is said that their center is in Israel because Hussein Ali Noun, Bahaism founder had exiled to Haifa. However; according to me, it had quite planned. Their aims are clear and they go ahead systematically. There are some group’s which want to control the world. They are influential on banks.
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