Orthodox Baháʼí Faith

What Do Orthodox Baha'is Believe?

The Three Unities

• The Unity of God: There is only one God, and all mankind are His creation.

• The Unity of Religion: All the major religions have come from God, have been given by His Prophets; and these Prophets are equal in their stations.

• The Unity of Mankind: "There is but one race, the human race." - Bahá'u'lláh , Prophet-Founder of the Orthodox Baha'i Faith.

Some Principles of the Orthodox Baha'i Faith

• The unity of God and His Prophets

• The unity of the human race

• The independent investigation of the truth

• Elimination of all forms of prejudice and superstition

• The fundamental agreement of science and religion

• Equal opportunities, rights, and privilege of both sexes

• Abolition of extremes of poverty and wealth

• Establishment of an auxiliary international script and language

• Universal compulsary education

• Universal system of currency, weights, and measures

• World peace

A Brief Historic Overview

The Bab (pronounced like Bob, the word means Gate) on May 23, 1844,

announced in Persia that He was the forerunner of the Promised One of all

previous religions. During a six year ministry over 20,000 of His followers, known as Babis, (pronounced bob ees)

were martyred for their belief in the Bab's claims. The Bab was Himself

imprisoned, beaten, and tortured, and was executed by firing squad in the

public square of Tabriz in 1850.

Baha'u'llah (pronounced Bah hah oo lah, the title means Glory of God) announced

He was the One foretold by the Bab. He began His ministry in 1853 while a prisoner

in the Dark Pit of Teheran for His championing the Cause of the Bab. During that

period He received His Revelation, and publically announced it in 1863. He was

banished from Persia to a prison fortress of Akka. In the latter years of His ministry He pitched His tent on the slopes of Mount Carmel. He passed away in 1892.

Abdul-Baha (pronounced ab dool Bah Hah, means Servant of Baha), the son of

Baha'u'llah was appointed by Baha'u'llah the Center of His Covenant and Interpreter

of the Word. Imprisoned from the age of 9, in 1853, was released in 1908 by the

Young Turk Revolution. He traveled to Europe and America and Canada on an extensive teaching mission in 1912. He passed away in 1921.

Shoghi Effendi, the eldest grandson of Abdul-Baha was appointed by him to be Guardian of the Faith, and interpreter of the Word. Under his leadership the Faith expanded to over 250 different countries. Shoghi Effendi passed away in London in 1957.

Orthodox Baha'is believe Shoghi Effendi, in the only Proclamation ever issued by him, appointed Mason Remey as the Head of the First International Bahai Council, the embryonic Universal House of Justice, and that only a Guardian can be the President of the Universal House of Justice. In 1957, with the passing of Shoghi Effendi, Orthodox Baha'is believe that Mason Remey - as President of the embryonic Universal House of Justice - became the Second Guardian of the Baha'i Faith.

Between the years 1957 and 1960, the Baha'i Faith underwent a severe test of succession. Those who follow the Orthodox Baha'i Faith believe there will always be a living Guardian of the Faith. The majority of Baha'is under the Hands of the Cause of God, a group of Baha'is appointed by Shoghi Effendi according to the provisions of Abdul-Baha's Will and Testament, of which Mason Remey also was one, followed the Hands leadership of the Faith (See Baha'i Faith.) During that time Mason Remey attempted to change the plan of his fellow Hands who had determined to elect a Universal House of Justice mentioned by both Baha'u'llah and Abdul-Baha. Mason and the Orthodox Baha'is believe that under the Writings the Universal House of Justice was to have a living Guardian as its Head. Under the plan set up by the Hands there was to no longer be any Guardians. The belief as to whether there was a living Guardian, and whether the Universal House of Justice could properly function without a living Guardian was the basis for the divisions which followed.

Mason Remey remained silent to the general Baha'i community until 1960 when he stated that unity could not be preserved at the cost of the guardianship and that it became apparent to him that he would not be able to convince the Hands that a living Guardian was indispensable according to his interpretations of the Writings of the Faith.

In 1960 he announced that Shoghi Effendi had appointed him Second Guardian of the Baha'i World Faith. While the majority of Baha'is followed the Hands, others followed Mason Remey. These became known as Orthodox Baha'is. Mason Remey had appointed, by letter, a successor to him. He then appointed that successor to be President of the Second embryonic Universal House of Justice. In 1966 Mason Remey activated it, thereby resigning the Gaurdianship.

Joel Bray Marangella became Third Guardian of the Orthodox Baha'i Faith with the activation by Mason Remey and by his earlier written appointment of him. Orthodox Baha'is now reside in over 70 localities throughout the world.

What Must One Believe to Be an Orthodox Baha'i?

• That the Bab was an independent Manifestation of God Who inaugurated the Baha'i Era in 1844 and the Precurser of Baha'u'llah - He Whom God will make Manifest.

• That Baha'u'llah, the Author of the Baha'i Revelation, is the Promise of All Ages, and the Supreme Manifestation.

• That Abdul-Baha, the eldest son of Baha'u'llah, is the Center of His Covenant with the Baha'is, the sole Interpreter of His Holy Word, the perfect Exemplar of the Faith and the Author of a divinely-conceived Will and Testament whose immutable provisions constitute the Charter of the World Order of Baha'u'llah for as long as His Dispensation shall endure.

• That Shoghi Effendi was the first Guardian of the Baha'i Faith, appointed by Abdul-Baha in His Will and Testament, the designated Interpreter of the revealed Word of Baha'u'llah, the permanent and sacred head of the Universal House of Justice described in that Testament and the one towards whom all Baha'is were enjoined to show their obedience, submissiveness and subordination in matters of Faith.

• That Shoghi Effendi appointed his successor in his own life-time as he was enjoined to do by the provisions of Abdul-Baha's Will and Testament and the second Guardian of the Faith acceded to the guardianship coincident with the passing of Shoghi Effendi.

• That Joel Bray Marangella is the third living Guardian of the Baha'i Faith appointed by the second Guardian in his own life-time in accordance with the explicit instructions of the Will and Testament of Abdul-Baha and the one to whom all Baha'is faithful to the Covenant of Baha'u'llah and the Will and Testament of Abdul-Baha must turn as the Center of the Cause.

For further information http://www.rt66.com/~obfusa/council.htm

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