BI 462 — Modern Day Cults
Tobias England
Baha’i Faith
The word “Baha’i” means “speander”. However, it is either used as an adjective to describe Faith or as a follower of this religion. It is not itself a noun.
History
Although the Baha’i faith would claim to be the world’s oldest religion, it was founded by Mirza Ali Muhammad in the early 1800s. Although it is definitely a cult, it could more properly be seen as an Islamic Cult than a Christian one.
For the most part, Christians are not known for killing those that dissent from orthodoxy. This is not the case in all other faiths, however. Mizra Muhammad, also known as “Bab”, meaning “gate”, was killed by Islamic fanatics in 1850 when he was only 31.
Legend tells us that he was sent to a firing squad, who opened fire. When the smoke cleared, he was still standing there before them. Once seen, he immediately disappears, only to be discovered later lecturing to his disciples. He once again surrendered himself to their will, saying that he was now done and ready to be killed. This was done by the same firing squad moments later.
Belief
Bab taught that most if not all religions share a common ancestry. This family tree included such equal but great prophets as Moses, Abraham, Jesus, and Mohammed. Buddha, Confucius and others were later added to this list. This leads itself to the teaching of “the oneness of all mankind”. Bab prophesied a promised one that would come and unite all of the faithful and would be the manifestation of the one true God.
“The new religion now seeks to unite all religions and to call all men to a life of faith, joy, and universal brotherhood. Every religion is declared to contain some truth, for all pro0phets are witnesses to the one Truth, which Bahai supremely represents.”[1]
Religion is seen as an evolution of God’s revelation. Each teaching established a religion that was suitable for that time and those people. They also believe that each of these teachers taught of the next. In this sense they are “dispensational”, and even have adopted that term.
They believe in one true God. Though this God is omnipotent, omniscient, eternal and personal, He is not accessible; nor do they believe in the trinity.
Bahaullah, also known as Mirza Husayn Ali, is said to have fulfilled this prophecy when he succeeded Bab as leader of the movement. It is from this man that the modern faith takes its name, and whose teachings are still much revered. Although he claimed immortality, he died in 1892 at the age of 75.
The Baha’is really began to grow once some of them migrated to America. Today they claim to have followers in over 2,100 racial and tribal groups. As we may have expected their teaching on the afterlife does not exactly line up with Biblical revelation. On their website, their believe in an afterlife is stated: For Bahá’ís, the concepts of Heaven and Hell are allegories for nearness and remoteness from God. When we die, the condition of our souls determines our experience of the afterlife. Heaven and Hell are not physical places, but spiritual realities.
[1] Noss, 742.