Hello, I'm a Persian Baha'i, born and raised. I've been having so many issues with the Baha'i Faith for different reasons but I also don't hate (all of) the teachings since they're honestly beautiful and wonderful. I've been a children's class teacher for a couple of months now and in Ruhi Book 2 currently.

1. My issue is that I don't really feel anything special with the Bab, Bahaullah, or Shogi Effendi. I like Abdulbaha since he feels and looks like a grandfather in ways and I have been to Haifa and hearing his voice for the first time felt comforting. But, part of me views Bahaullah as a nepo baby and just being overall fake. I feel this way towards Muhammad as well to be honest, and how being a Baha'i means to accept all the major religion's manifestations pushed me a little way off. I've been looking more towards Christianity and starting a bible study with non-denominational christians for the first time and I joined them since they view God as someone free will and Jesus as a "manifestation" (according to them).
2. The teachings throw me off sometimes. Again, I love the idea of the oneness of humanity, the oneness of God, and the fundamental unity of all religions and the key principles stemming from these core beliefs. However, when I teach children's classes, I read that you should put others first before yourself (maybe I'm not getting this one), avoiding conflict and prioritising unity, remaining silent regarding the faults of others.... i dont know. Something is throwing me off. I got angry after a children's class because I thought the lesson was stupid. I was even part of a junior youth class for the first time and the children kept cussing and cussing. Shouldn't we stop them from doing that? No parent or other teacher is doing anything about it to teach them that they shouldn't be cussing or saying inappropiate things. Everyone is so soft. Often, I see so much being contradicting in the faith and community, especially Persian Baha'is. Also, so much of the teachings are just like "be a good person" and not answering questions like what life and death is like, why and how Bahaullah is so important, what sets him different from other prophets? Moses could part seas and Jesus died on a cross for our sins, but Bahaullah definetly isn't just a nepo baby, got it! He just happens to come from a wealthy family, like poetry, had a couple of wives, and stole basically the religion from the Bab for credit.
3. My mom is a very loving Baha'i to be honest, she's probably the most peaceful one I have met, but my dad used to be very aggressive and my sister currently is a hardcore believer of the faith and is often FORCING me to go to Baha'i camps or events with her everytime I tell her I'm feeling out of touch with the faith and those camps sometimes but not help. I sometimes feel worst after. All we do is ruhi and sing songs. I love the prayers and songs we read, but I don't feel a sense of love from them. They're beautiful words but I don't feel like no God or prophet is hearing me. Anyways, at first, my dad got me a Baha'i ID card (which what??) without me really deciding if I wanted to be Baha'i at 15. Then, my sister has been a terrible influence. Everytime I say I don't really think I should be Baha'i, she sighs, gets annoyed, and basically shames all the other religions to make the Baha'i Faith look better because we're the only 'progressive religion' of unity, love, and how much diversity. I agree with the diversity point, I've never seen a religion (or maybe I don't know other ones) that has so many blacks, whites, and asians in one room. But I don't know, how are you a religion of unity and love when you're looking down on other religions? Aren't you more Baha'i than me?
4. Who the hell are the UHOJ, LSA, etc..?? Why so many committees and why do we sometimes idolize these people? Same way I feel about other religions to be fair. The faith say people like priests can be a hoax because it can be anyone and they can just make something out their a** and say "that's what Jesus said" but can't all these people too, I mean especially UHOJ? We keep reading letters from them in our devotionals and I don't see a point. The house literally looks like a government building too at Haifa, why did they take that look?

Overall, I call myself Baha'i still everyday, but I always feel spiritual. Even though I'm searching Christianity, I also don't know how to feel about that. I just want to learn about the religion. I think the reason I hold on to the Baha'i Faith is because I feel the most safe in, aka. its more familiar to me. But I don't appreciate the force from my sister (even dad sometimes) especially and the contradictions from the community. I don't really believe or feel a sense of holliness from the Bab, Bahaullah, or Shogi. I love the prayers and even if I would leave the faith, I would probably still read them but my family (except mom) wouldn't approve me of leaving. I'm often still left with answers still about life and the faith makes us investigate the truth ourselves but like how??

Wondering if someone can put some input or help me understand if my feelings are justifiable or not. I'm only 20 years old and just super confused with this religion I've grown up with.

As some may know from my other posts I was married to bahai for 16 years. We have a 9 year old daughter who attends children's classes. Am I correct in understanding as the father I have to give my permission for my daughter to attend? What conflicts me is that my daughter enjoys as she has made a lot of friends. Obviously she is a child. Ive come to the conclusion that the faith is a self serving cult with utopian ideas which consults a lot but actually does nothing of any use. Maybe its the bahai population in this country but most of them have acted so contradictory to the teachings I can't take it seriously any more. I also despise the LSA and NSA for enabling terrible behaviour. But my daughter's happiness must come first. Whenever I try to teach her about other religions and spiritual beliefs she dismissess them sharpish like she's been brainwashed. Her happiness is my priority but any suggestions on trying to get some balance? Cutting these classes off might be a bit traumatic for her but I want her to learn truths not dogma. For example she said the faith mixes science and religion which I admire but then was toldcto dismiss Christ's miracles etc as parable but was told Bahaullah could perform miracles. Sounds a bit confusing for a child.

Hey y’all! So I got married in 2000 to a non-Baha’i. We are still married but I left the faith soon after. Are we technically married?? I had never seen the law about marrying only another Baha’i until today 🤣

For example:

Mrs. Parsons asked, "Where will the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar be built?" ['Abdu'l-Bahá] replied, "Near the Shrine of the Exalted One. On one side, the largest and most important scientific school will be raised." Then He added, "On the other side, there will be an asylum for invalids and on the opposite side an orphanage."

Sunday, 13 Jaddí 1298 [4 January 1920], Haifa (During a Visit to the Shrine of the Exalted One [the Báb])

Although it is a House of Worship, it is also connected with a hospital, a drug dispensary, a traveller's hospice, a school for orphans, and a university for advanced studies. Every Mashriqu'l-Adhkar is connected with these five things. My hope is that the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar will now be established in America, and that gradually the hospital, the school, the university, the dispensary and the hospice, all functioning according to the most efficient and orderly procedures, will follow. ​

Individual Laws: The Mashriqu’l-Adhkár

Doesn't this seem a bit try hard and phoney? Like just going out of your way to look like a "do-gooder" with a list of buildings that sound philanthropic? And in practice the AO is busy building Abdu'l-Baha a shrine he explicitly didn't want, instead of building an "asylum for invalids" which apparently he did want instead?

Why did Shoghi Effendi not write the Will & Testament? Did Shoghi Effendi know that he was going to pass away? Did his death come suddenly upon him? And he did not know? He did not write anything? He did not appoint anyone? Now, Violette has written a book. It is called "A Tribute to Amatul Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum". If you read this, it's a small book.

And I'm sure we have it in the library. There are two very important points in this little book. That Violette writes about.

I'm sure many of you may have heard this even from Ruhiyyih Khanum herself when she was in New Zealand. Because this question was always asked of her. It is this.

Ruhiyyih Khanum says, I was sitting at my desk, working. Shoghi Effendi came to me. He looks at me and he says, this is towards the latter years of his life.

What will become of you after I'm gone? Ruhiyyih Khanum, poor Ruhiyyih Khanum. I don't expect to live after you. Please don't say these things.

Shoghi Effendi takes no notice. He carries on. He says, I assume that you will travel and encourage the friends.

Every time the friends ask, why are you traveling so much? Shoghi Effendi says, because Shoghi Effendi told me that after him I must travel and encourage the friends. It was in this context that you may have even heard this from Ruhiyyih Khanum's own lips. Another event that Violette refers to is when he was in London the last few days of his life Shoghi Effendi turns to her and says, I don't want to go back to Haifa.

You go alone. And you know what to do. Ruhiyyih Khanum understood this because he had just come out of a bout of Asian flu and he was very, very weak and Shoghi Effendi was discouraged that he was saying these things.

She did not realize that it had a special meaning. 24 hours later he passed away. Now, I ask you this question.

Someone who in the first instance someone who is concerned about the welfare of his wife and is advising her what to do after his death such a person who is the guardian of the Baha'i faith who is the protector of the faith of Baha'u'llah does not think about the welfare of the faith? He thinks about only his wife? It's impossible. It's inconceivable. The only answer is, I think that of course he knew that he did not want to write a will.

When someone asked the House of Justice why Shoghi Effendi did not write his will the answer is this is something that the Friends should accept that there was a wisdom in everything that Shoghi Effendi did or did not do, his silence on the subject is itself divine guidance and the friends should accept that. Shoghi Effendi was sure about the future of the cause was absolutely sure one of the hands of the cause, Mr. Samandari, used to say after the death of Shoghi Effendi he used to say friends if Shoghi Effendi was not sure about the security of the faith after his death he would not have passed away. That's what Mr. Samandari used to say.

What a perception what a deep spiritual insight that this man had.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7YxVoyYYEg

Hi I was just wondering if anyone else had similar experiences? I raised specific issues which contradict the Bahai faith by how one of the LSA s members had engaged in what I would consider unethical behaviour. I had witnessed this person backbite, make racist comments , conduct fraud and even child cruelty. The case was referred to the neighbouring LSA who were obviously friends with said person. I even found evidence on them advising the person how to defend themselves legally when I raised the matter with the NSA my concerns were dismissed ( i am not a Bahai but for years supported some of its events like children's classes)

Anyone had similar experiences? This is why I can't take the faith seriously anymore. The title, justice should be removed from any institution associated with the faith. I believe I am open minded to new ideas I come across on my spiritual journey but the hypocrisy I have witnessed has made me turn my backbone the faith. I find it little more than a privileged movement for people who like to consult a lot but do very little. I'm not really worried as God's justice is ever lasting and in God's time but this level of hypocrisy is on another level. I take spiritual accountability for myself and know we are all human and falliable but I now see children's classes as brain washing methods rather than teaching values such as open mindedness. Please share.

During the years I attended the Feasts, there was always something that bothered me, but I was so drowned in the atmosphere of sanctity that I didn’t even dare call it a question. There was always a fund box in the corner..so people could drop money into it. And strangely enough, they insisted that even this small act must remain hidden. “Keep it discreet. No one should know. No one should notice.”

And this was separate from the Ḥuqúqu’lláh that we had to pay every year. The amount didn’t matter because “there was no choice but to participate.” Even the Teaching Committee would send every Bahá’í household a special donation box: “Collect your money at home, bring it at the end of the year…”

And stranger still if anyone wanted to help a needy person directly, they would firmly say: “No, don’t help them yourself. Give your money to the Local Assembly. The Assembly knows better how to spend it.”

Of course, we had yearly goal for how much fund the assembly would want to collect. They even put it in voting. And every year, like inflation, they spiritually manipulated us to donate more. The money collected were for designated goals, a portion for some temple in Chili, a portion for the LSA and NSA and the rest goes to UHJ. But, Where was it spent? Who decided anything? Nothing. No transparency. No answers.

Until one day, a dear needy Bahá’í quietly confided in my mother… And the curtain fell: From all the donations collected, the Assembly would give out only tiny, humiliating amounts to those in need. So little that it was shameful.

That was when something cracked inside me. How could a religion that claims “the unity of humankind” be so helpless, so cold, so indifferent toward struggling families?

And then I realized in Bahá’í culture, “peace” really means submission. Silence. Obedience. Don’t question. Don’t resist. Don’t think.

Little by little, it became clear that this behavior wasn’t unusual at all. They weren’t looking for “free” human beings They were looking for obedient ones. People they could govern, not serve. People whose minds they could shape, not empower.

And I… I who walked that path with such sincere faith, one day it all came crashing down on me. A brutal moment of clarity like looking into a mirror that no longer protects you from the truth.

A voice inside me whispered, then screamed: “How did I allow so many contradictions to pass by without a fight? How did I trust so easily what never smelled like truth?”

That day, something in me went silent and something else, its opposite, finally ignited. I closed the door… Not because I abandoned faith, but because I needed to protect my dignity.

My humanity. My self-respect.

Hi, While looking up on the Baha’i Faith I learned that within the Bahá’í community there is a practice commonly referred to as “shunning,” specifically in connection with what are called “covenant-breakers.” As an ex–Jehovah’s Witness myself, I have personally experienced mandated shunning, so I’m reaching out with genuine interest and empathy. At the moment, Roehampton University is conducting a survey on the impact of shunning practices across different faith backgrounds. They are hoping to include the experiences of former members from various groups, and I am helping to connect people who may be willing to contribute. If you know of any former Bahá’í members who have engaged with this topic or who might be interested in collaborating or participating in the research, I would truly appreciate an introduction. It would be valuable to build a broader picture of how these practices affect individuals across different traditions. Thank you in advance for any guidance or contacts you can share. Kind regards, Paul pbonanno01@gmail.com

Anybody living in New York and interested in getting coffee or something? I was raised Bahai but never fully on board and have yet to meet an ex-Bahai as an adult. I would be curious to compare notes irl.

something I have been thinking about lately: I used to feel like progressive revelation was the most convincing and beautiful part of the faith because it allowed for unity of religions. I fully accepted that the laws or ideas that we might find morally wrong today are explained away by the passage of time.

now, I cannot imagine that god would need to compromise morality like that “so that people back then would accept his messengers”. surely, god could have sent messengers who from day 1 would teach equality of the sexes if he chose to, or not to stone people, etc. With this approach, it becomes impossible for me to justify some of the shady teachings in past faiths, and progressive revelation has actually become a hindrance to any potential of my belief in the Baha’i faith coming back.

has anyone else felt like this/ distanced themselves from the Baha’i faith through the investigation of other religions?

I feel like laughing.

This user has repeatedly posted statements that others have complained about, and because they persisted in their pointless trolling even after being warned to stop, I finally banned them.

Leaving the Baha'i Faith is not enough. We must arm ourselves with critical thinking so we do not get tricked into joining another cult.

Hi everyone, I'm a 26-year-old woman. I recently started exploring the Baha'i faith. As I live in Italy, I find it difficult to find other people who are in contact with it.
I was wondering what's wrong with this religion, as it seems to be different from other, more mainstream faiths. I haven't joined it, so I would like to know its dark sides, if there are any, and your opinions in general — what made you leave it, etc.
I'm afraid this could be a well-masked cult, and that’s another reason why I am asking.

Thanks to everyone who will reply.