thing. This leader needs to be charismatic and persuasive, and in most cases, leads by love instead of fear. In the Baha'i Faith, there was two leaders. The first was called the Bab and he was the precursor to Baha'u'llah, pictured to the left, who then became the head of the new faith. The Bab started the movement and predicted the leadership that Baha'u'llah would eventually produce. To prove the idea of love over fear, there were mentions of suicide in the book at the thought of followers being separated from Baha'u'llah, their leader. The span of the section assigned was over twenty four years, and it was not until near the end of that time that the Babis changed their title to the Baha'is in honor of their leader. It also took Baha'u'llah an extended period of time to announce to his followers that he was "He Whom God shall make manifest," an individual that the Bab had foretold of. The Baha'u'llah's self proclaimed title indicated a change in authority, but not in his actions. Baha'u'llah was always non violent peaceful, choosing to talk with his attackers, assassins, and protesters instead of accepting the protection he was always offered. His ways of peace inspired many of his followers. Baha'u'llah's barber was propositioned by Azal, his half brother, to kill Baha'u'llah and the barber almost killed Azal on the spot, but instead restrained himself because he knew Baha'u'llah would ask him why he had done it and he did not have a good enough reason. Baha'u'llah and his family were continuously forced to move locations, basically being asked to go into exile. In every place he went, Baha'u'llah influenced a large gathering of those interested in the Babis/ Baha'is faith, inspiring intense loyalty and dedication until the group was deemed to large and dangerous to be allowed to remain. The leader is a figure that the followers are desperate to learn from and imitate. Without a leader to cling to, new groups would be impossible. The fierce love and devotion shown to Baha'u'llah allowed for him to help benevolently control and inspire the Babis/ Baha'is faith. The continuous process of motivation, defense, and movement that Baha'u'llah, his family and followers went through shows that instigating a new religion involves dedication, immense effort, a charismatic leader or two, as well as bloodshed.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Baha'u'llah and the Processes of a New Religion
To me, the founding of a new religion seems to be a intense process wrought with persecution, prevention, and premature deaths. The new religion needs a founder, a person on whom to base basically everything. This leader needs to be charismatic and persuasive, and in most cases, leads by love instead of fear. In the Baha'i Faith, there was two leaders. The first was called the Bab and he was the precursor to Baha'u'llah, pictured to the left, who then became the head of the new faith. The Bab started the movement and predicted the leadership that Baha'u'llah would eventually produce. To prove the idea of love over fear, there were mentions of suicide in the book at the thought of followers being separated from Baha'u'llah, their leader. The span of the section assigned was over twenty four years, and it was not until near the end of that time that the Babis changed their title to the Baha'is in honor of their leader. It also took Baha'u'llah an extended period of time to announce to his followers that he was "He Whom God shall make manifest," an individual that the Bab had foretold of. The Baha'u'llah's self proclaimed title indicated a change in authority, but not in his actions. Baha'u'llah was always non violent peaceful, choosing to talk with his attackers, assassins, and protesters instead of accepting the protection he was always offered. His ways of peace inspired many of his followers. Baha'u'llah's barber was propositioned by Azal, his half brother, to kill Baha'u'llah and the barber almost killed Azal on the spot, but instead restrained himself because he knew Baha'u'llah would ask him why he had done it and he did not have a good enough reason. Baha'u'llah and his family were continuously forced to move locations, basically being asked to go into exile. In every place he went, Baha'u'llah influenced a large gathering of those interested in the Babis/ Baha'is faith, inspiring intense loyalty and dedication until the group was deemed to large and dangerous to be allowed to remain. The leader is a figure that the followers are desperate to learn from and imitate. Without a leader to cling to, new groups would be impossible. The fierce love and devotion shown to Baha'u'llah allowed for him to help benevolently control and inspire the Babis/ Baha'is faith. The continuous process of motivation, defense, and movement that Baha'u'llah, his family and followers went through shows that instigating a new religion involves dedication, immense effort, a charismatic leader or two, as well as bloodshed.
thing. This leader needs to be charismatic and persuasive, and in most cases, leads by love instead of fear. In the Baha'i Faith, there was two leaders. The first was called the Bab and he was the precursor to Baha'u'llah, pictured to the left, who then became the head of the new faith. The Bab started the movement and predicted the leadership that Baha'u'llah would eventually produce. To prove the idea of love over fear, there were mentions of suicide in the book at the thought of followers being separated from Baha'u'llah, their leader. The span of the section assigned was over twenty four years, and it was not until near the end of that time that the Babis changed their title to the Baha'is in honor of their leader. It also took Baha'u'llah an extended period of time to announce to his followers that he was "He Whom God shall make manifest," an individual that the Bab had foretold of. The Baha'u'llah's self proclaimed title indicated a change in authority, but not in his actions. Baha'u'llah was always non violent peaceful, choosing to talk with his attackers, assassins, and protesters instead of accepting the protection he was always offered. His ways of peace inspired many of his followers. Baha'u'llah's barber was propositioned by Azal, his half brother, to kill Baha'u'llah and the barber almost killed Azal on the spot, but instead restrained himself because he knew Baha'u'llah would ask him why he had done it and he did not have a good enough reason. Baha'u'llah and his family were continuously forced to move locations, basically being asked to go into exile. In every place he went, Baha'u'llah influenced a large gathering of those interested in the Babis/ Baha'is faith, inspiring intense loyalty and dedication until the group was deemed to large and dangerous to be allowed to remain. The leader is a figure that the followers are desperate to learn from and imitate. Without a leader to cling to, new groups would be impossible. The fierce love and devotion shown to Baha'u'llah allowed for him to help benevolently control and inspire the Babis/ Baha'is faith. The continuous process of motivation, defense, and movement that Baha'u'llah, his family and followers went through shows that instigating a new religion involves dedication, immense effort, a charismatic leader or two, as well as bloodshed.
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Indeed the religion has spread not only around the world but into the arts - consider We are One, and Let all AssociateIndeed there's a nice series of talks by a modestly well known actor and Oprah.
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