Since I was a member of the Baha’i Faith from 1972 until 1978. I read with interest the article on Baha’is in the Saturday issue of the newspaper. I was not surprised by what I read, as Kathy Giles presented much the same picture I was given of the faith when I decided to join. In all fairness, though, I think that a former member of the faith might be able to add some more objective information to that presented in the article.
Let me make it clear that the Baha’i Faith sounded like everything I was searching for, when I first heard of it as a student in Nebraska in 1972.
A small point is the fact that Baha’is always claim to be such a fast growing religion When I moved to Springfield five years ago the number of members of the local community was almost exactly the same as it is now. The faces may change, but the numbers stay basically the same Baha’is tend to move around a lot, to spread the faith, so groups continually get new faces. Baha’is are constantly trying to sign up new members, so many new faces appear. But many familiar faces have been known to withdraw from the faith as well.
I know for a fact that some dissenters have been excommunicated. And not only are those dissenters not allowed to participate in Baha’i activities, but members are not allowed to have ANY communication with the ousted members. Members can’t speak to an excommunicated person or even read mail from such a person. I was very surprised when I first heard of those rules, as I couldn’t understand the reason for them. Are the Baha’is so shaky in their faith that they are afraid to confront any who disagree”
Equality, tolerance and unity are frequently touted by Baha’is as basic tenets. But if the Baha’i Faith preaches the equality of men and women, why is it a fact that no woman can serve on the international Baha’i governing body?
