Depending on synergizing among media, universal organizing and the cyberspace, this cult is trying to impose its concepts to different addresses in the form of attractive coverages of human rights and cultural ones. Recognizing these means exactly for elites, cultural analysts and decision makers will be a key step to bridle this cult softly and consciously.
Bahaism cult [1] which was formed and branched from Babism [2] has followed multi-layered hidden and medium-oriented approach for proselytizing and recruiting at the middle of 19th century AD. Baha’is proselytizing has changed its form consistently in accordance with geography, the dominant religion, social structure and the country laws and has also country las applied different means. This report investigates proselytizing means and facilities of the Baha’is separating them inside and outside the Iranian country and also among Muslim and non-Muslim communities.
آنچه در ادامه می خوانید
Part 1: The proselytizing means of the Baha’is inside Iran:
I) Field and informal advertising in the field of humane communications:
Regarding the formal prohibition of proselytizing of Bahaism in the Islamic Republic of Iran, this cult has applied net, loop and family approach inside the country. The Baha’is of Iran are holding their proselytizing through:
– informal and friendly invitations in the form of family meetings, the classes for strengthening various dimensions of character and language learning classes and etc.
– using school environments, charities, private institutes, hair saloons, gyms and even physicians’ offices to have social intercourses with the youth and introduce Bahaism concepts gradually.
Some ex-Baha’is explain about the method of recruiting as follows:
“I didn’t know the classes I participated were related to Bahaism. Later on, I figured out that the family meetings have been held by Bahaism.”
II) Using cultural and artistic coverage:
– Some members of the cult ting are recruiting young artists by running artistic centers, painting galleries and music associations.
-The produced content is usually based on concepts like peace, religions unity, universal kindness and opposition against religious violence; the concepts which are considered as neutral or positive in the first look, but they contain deviation of theological concepts of Islam in their depths.
III) Virtual proselytizing via VPN and social media:
– Using VPN capacity and platforms like Instagram, Telegram, You Tube and Clubhouse, the Baha’is are proselytizing and recruiting people towards Bahaism.
Part 2- The proselytizing means of the Baha’is outside Iran:
I) formal media and satellite nets:
The most important field of Baha’is proselytizing outside Iran are Persian-spoken media which are against the Islamic Republic of Iran. These media are directly directed by the Baha’is or provide facilities for them.
Zamaneh Radio, Manoto, Iran International and some of the programs of BBC Farsi have invited well-known people during the current years and have overtly defended their activities.
For example, various dialogues in BBC channels, Manoto and etc. were overt tribune with the members related to Bahaism like Erfan Sabiti to interpret Bahaism teachings without challenging the correctness of his speech.
II) Security foundations and human rights coverages:
One of the important strategies of the cult is exploiting human rights foundations to gain international legitimacy. Posing the claims of “education, occupation and theology deprivation, they ask for support from organizations like Amnesty International, human right watch, human rights counsel of the united nations and even some countries such as Canada and Germany.
– Most of these activities are directed by the office of the universal house of justice in Haifa and related institutes in the north America and western Europe.
III) Academic and scientific coverage institutes:
– The Baha’is outside Iran have established institutes such as Baha’i higher education institute (BIHE), the universal peace center in Canada, civilization dialogues association in Switzerland to influence on the scientific assemblies to preach concepts like “the equality of all religions”, and “spiritual secularism”.
Pant 3- strategic separation in proselytizing between Muslims and non-Muslims:
– confronting Muslims:
– Proselytizing secretly, softly and informally focusing on inefficiency of Islam and replacing Islam with modern spirituality.
Phrases like “religion must be up-to-date”, “all prophets are the same”, “Imam Hussein was just a historical reformist” are of the repeated phrases used in media and proselytizing productions.
– Confronting non-Muslims
– The Baha’is outside Iran pose their teachings more frankly.
– The cult structure in this part is extremely similar to church organization.
Conclusion:
Bahaism cult has applied various kinds of proselytizing means exploiting multi-layered, hidden and accordable with the addressee and place.
Depending on synergizing among media, universal organizing and the cyberspace, this cult is trying to impose its concepts to different addressees in the form of attractive coverages of human rights.
Recognizing these means exactly for elites, cultural analysts and decision makers will be a key step to bridle this cult softly and consciously.
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