To my Wife
whose love and appreciation
are a constant inspiration
in our far-away home
Contents
| Introduction | [11] | |
| I. | Historical Sketch | [17] |
| The East productive of religions—Imamat—Shiahism, its sects—Sheikhiism—The Bab-Subh i Azal—Baha Ullah—His policy—His haram—Abdul Baha—Journey to Occident—Education—Number of Bahais. | ||
| II. | The General Claims of Bahaism | [29] |
| (I) New religion needed—(II) Bahaism that new religion—To supersede Christianity—Doctrines—Baha God—His Revelation—The Akdas—Conditions of discipleship—Position of Abdul Baha—(III) Claims superiority to former religions—In founder, books and doctrines—Not superlative—(IV) To be a universal religion—Defects in rites, regulations, calendar, civil government—House of Justice—Alphabet—Universal language. | ||
| III. | Its Specific Claims | [61] |
| Unification of Mankind—Divisions in Persia—Of Bahais—Compulsory uniformity—One Language—Peace Movement—History of—Abdul Baha on war—Bahaism dogmatic and boastful. | ||
| IV. | Bahaism and Christianity | [81] |
| Antagonistic—Makes Christianity one among many—Abrogatesit—Dethrones Christ—Presumes to beChrist's Second Coming—And the fulfillment ofprophecy—Bahai meeting in Chicago—Method ofinterpretation—The "Ikan"—Dishonours and belittlesthe historic Christ. | ||
| V. | Bahaism and Christianity (Continued) | [109] |
| Immortality and sin—Faith in Baha—Bahai Scriptures—Itsworship—Hierarchy—Substitutes for Baptismand Lord's Supper—Christ's wordsimitated—Rites—Ablution—Fast—Prayer—Pilgrimage—AccaShrines—Festivals—Era—Propaganda anti-Christian. | ||
| VI. | Bahaism and the State (Continued) | [131] |
| Babism political Mahdiism—Hostile to Shah—Insurrections—Bahaismopportunism—Sought reconciliation—Tolerated—Indifferentto Constitutionalstruggle—Aided reactionary Shah—Rewarded byhim Its political scheme—Houses of Justice—Dangerousto liberty. | ||
| VII. | Bahaism and Woman | [149] |
| Abdul Baha teaches equality of sexes—Baha does not—Educationof girls neglected—Marriage enjoined—Bigamyallowed—And practiced—Polygamy ofBaha—His family—Loose divorce—Intermarriageof races—Aims at amelioration of woman—Moslemefforts—Babi Kurrat ul Ayn—No successor to—Baha'sharam—Men only to be rulers—Womensecluded. | ||
| VIII. | Its Record as to Morals | [177] |
| Claim superior conduct—Falsification of religious history—Suppressionof facts—Changing sacred Writings—Suratul Maluk—Lawh i Basharat—Forgingquotations—Perversion of political history—Of Shahs—Ofplot to assassinate—False claim to Martyrs—Doubleview of Abdul Hamid—Fact about imprisonmentof Baha—Tagiya—Dissimulation—OrientOccident Unity—Pretense regarding Azal's succession—MaskinKalam. | ||
| IX. | ITS RECORD AS TO MORALS (Continued) | [207] |
| Boast of Love—Hatred for Shiahs—For Persecutors—ForMullahs—Abusive language—Vindictiveness—Addictionto alcohol and opium—Testimonies. | ||
| X. | Religious Assassination | [219] |
| Strife between Baha and Azal in Bagdad—Baha goesto Kurdistan—Dissension at Adrianople—Testimonyof an eye-witness—Attempted assassinations—Plotsand counter plots—Bahais assassinate Azalis atAcca—Other assassinations—In Bagdad, in Persia—Attitudetowards taking of life—Suicide commended—Psychologicalattestation—Traditional custom—Assassinationpracticed in Islam—Testimonies—Azali hatred. | ||
| XI. | The Quarrel Over the Succession | [247] |
| Claim to love refuted—Death of Baha—Titles of sons—Quarrelover will—Abbas assumes Pontiffship—Brothersprotest—Bitter schism—Boycott, anathema—Appealto Turkish government—Results in restrictionof liberty—Quarrel and schism in Persia—InAmerica. | ||
| XII. | Bahaism in America | [263] |
| First notices of—Kheiralla—His converts—Writings—AnAmerican Azali—Pilgrims to Acca—Quarrel andschism—Abdul Karim—Abul Fazl—Methods ofpropaganda—Publications—Orient Occident Unity—AbdulBaha visits America—Press agents—Photographs,movies—Addresses—Attitude of public—Communionservice of Bahais—Bahai Temple,Mashrak ul Azkar—Memorial vase—Influence inAmerica—Chicago congregation—Number in U. S.A. exaggerated—Statistics of other religious fads—Christianliberalism excessive. | ||
| Bibliography | [287] | |
| Index | [291] |
Introduction
AMONG movements in the Mohammedan world in modern times Babi-Bahaism is one of the most interesting. It is a definite revolt from Islam within its own fold. It has won its way in Persia amid considerable persecution to a position as a separate religion. It has added another to the permanent sects of the Near East. There Christian missions, inspired to long-postponed effort to convert Mohammedanism, have come face to face with Bahaism as a new and aggressive force. It has laid out a program as a universal religion, has crossed the seas and aspires to convert Christendom. Interest in it has been increased by this propaganda in the West and by the visits to Europe for this purpose of its present head, Abdul Baha Abbas, in 1911 and 1912.
Besides those who are interested in Bahaism as students of history and comparative religions, there are several classes who have shown marked favour to Bahaism.
(1) One class are simply bent on seeking some novelty. They are well described by the Egyptian Gazette, of Alexandria, in speaking of the reception of Abdul Baha in London: "About the London meetings there was a certain air of gush and self-advertisement on the part of Baha's friends, which was quite patent to all who are familiar with that kind of religion which will listen to anything so long as it is unorthodox, new, and sensational."[1]