Community & Administration

The Baha’i worldwide community is organized from the grassroots up. Every local area or region, where nine or more Baha’is live, come together once a year and elect a Local Spiritual Assembly (LSA). Every country with a significant number of LSA’s then elect a National Spiritual Assembly (NSA). Members of these NSA’s then elect the international assembly that we call the Universal House of Justice. These Assemblies run the material affairs of the communities: organizing the gatherings, managing the resources, and inspiring the efforts of the Baha’is they serve.

The Universal House of Justice directs the activities of these elected bodies. The Baha’i administration is charged with the duties of helping the religion grow while protecting the community from schism and disunity. It is also responsible for gathering the financial contributions of the Baha’is and then for utilizing and/or redistributing these contributions to best serve humanity.

There is also an appointed group of Baha’is called Counselors. These are Baha’is who are appointed by the Universal House of Justice to work throughout the world for the propagation and protection of the Baha’i community. To help them, these Counselors then appoint auxiliaries and assistants. All of these individuals are also volunteers, and they do not have any real tangible power over budgets or administrative matters. Instead, they serve as sources of information, inspiration, and encouragement to the Baha’is.

It is important to understand that the ultimate purpose of this organization is to make the world a better place. It is not to exist for its own sake. There is no clergy or professional class of Baha’is that are making a career out of elected Baha’i service. All administrators are volunteers, chosen by their respective communities in silent elections where no campaigning, speeches, or political parties are allowed.

Therefore, Baha’is turn to the Administrative Order for leadership of their Faith. Baha’is turn to scholars of their Faith for insight and wisdom. But in the end, they must account for their own lives. There is no earthly shepherd with responsibility for their souls. There is no human being that can take their place when they stand before their Lord in judgment. Baha’is alone must face their Creator for how they have lived on this earth.

The Baha’i administrative system revolves around the Universal House of Justice. This Body’s role is to guide the community, and to be the ultimate judge of textual matters and laws of the Faith. To what degree are Baha’is supposed to turn to the Universal House of Justice? Baha’i Holy Texts state, “All must seek guidance and turn unto the Center of the Cause and the House of Justice. And he that turneth unto whatsoever else is indeed in grievous error.” (Abdu'l-Baha, WT, p. 25). This means that the Baha’i Holy Writings have clearly told Baha’is how to take care of their administrative affairs.

Administrators are ultimately servants of the community, charged with caring for the members with the utmost respect, love, and consideration. But in that service, they are also asked to dispense justice. Baha’i Assemblies can mediate between groups, and they can dispense limited sanctions on believers for doing things that may tarnish the reputation, or threaten the unity of the Baha’i Faith. These sanctions include ‘loosing voting rights,’ which means a person cannot vote in Baha’i elections; and in extreme cases it might mean excommunication, which means the Baha’i community cannot associate with such a person. Of course, these decisions are never taken lightly. They are made only after much energy and consultation is expensed trying to get people to understand the importance of the unity of our community.

Of course, different communities are in different stages of maturity when it comes to their ability to discharge these duties. Baha’is are all learning, and must be patient and loving towards their institutions as they develop. One day there will be millions of Baha’is in local cities from whom to choose the most capable people to be elected to their Assemblies and Institutions.

[caption id="attachment_2131" align="alignleft" width="577"] The Seat of the Universal House of Justice on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel[/caption]

The Universal House of Justice, first formed in 1963, is an elected Institution that consists of nine members chosen from the rank-and-file membership of the Baha’i world. Members are elected once every five years, and they reside in Haifa, Israel. This Institution has since taken on the responsibility of administering the affairs of the Baha’i community. It also has the duty of regulating the affairs of the Baha’i world. Baha’u’llah wrote about this Institution in His Most Holy book, the Kitab-i-Aqdas. He promised that He would inspire this elected group of Baha’is in their decision-making.

Baha’is believe that the Universal House of Justice is the ultimate arbitor and decision maker for the Baha’is of the world. All questions of doctrine, law, and authority are brought to this elected body. The Baha’i Writings state, “Unto the Most Holy Book every one must turn and all that is not expressly recorded therein must be referred to the Universal House of Justice. That which this body, whether unanimously or by a majority doth carry, that is verily the Truth and the Purpose of God himself. Whoso doth deviate therefrom is verily of them that love discord, hath shown forth malice and turned away from the Lord of the Covenant. By this House is meant that Universal House of Justice which is to be elected from all countries, that is, from those parts in the East and West where the loved ones are to be found, after the manner of the customary elections in Western countries such as those of England.” (Abdu'l-Baha, BWF, p. 447)

The men who are elected to this institution must give up their careers, their salaries, and their homelands. Past members have given up successful lifelong careers in engineering, physics, business, the arts and more. They have left behind their extended families and communities to move to Israel. In Israel they often live in humble homes, with modest furnishings, and they spend nearly 24-hours a day under constant scrutiny of the Baha’i community around the world. It is a job that demands constant attention to detail, voluminous reading and study, and the continuous regulation of one’s ego. They have little time to sleep, nonetheless spend with family.

Often people are tested when they learn that only men can be elected to the Universal House of Justice, the supreme Institution of the Baha’i Faith. The Baha’i Holy Writings promise that there is a clear and concise reason for this, and that this reason will become evident in the future. As Abdu’l-Baha wrote, “The House of Justice, however, according to the explicit text of the Law of God, is confined to men; this for a wisdom of the Lord God's, which will erelong be made manifest as clearly as the sun at high noon.” (SWA, p. 80). For many, though, this promise is difficult to accept. Many people who investigate the Baha’i Faith want to know why this great religion of equality does not allow women in its highest institution.

First of all, we must realize that there is no ‘career path’ in the Baha’i Administrative Order. Therefore, to be elected to a local, national, or international assembly is not ‘climbing the proverbial spiritual ladder.’ Baha’is understand that people in such positions have no authority as individuals. The men who are elected to the Universal House of Justice are not the most blessed or spiritual men in the world. It is only one of many thousands of positions inside the Baha’i administrative order that must be filled. It is the decisions that are made as a group that are binding. Additionally, Baha’i women are frequently appointed and elected to all other levels of administrative responsibility throughout the Faith: locally, nationally, and internationally. If Baha’is did not believe women were equal to men, then surely women would not be elected or appointed to serve at national or international levels.

We can be sure that the reason women are not elected to the Universal House of Justice is not because the Baha’i Faith says men are superior to women. To argue this fact would deny overwhelming evidence. Consider, for example, that it is also written in the Baha’i Faith that if a parent has a boy and a girl—and can only afford to educate one of them—then that parent should educate the girl. Is this discrimination? No, the Baha’i Faith has a logical and practical reason for this teaching. As Abdu’l-Baha wrote, “Baha’u’llah declares the education of woman to be of more importance than that of man. If the mother be ignorant, even if the father have great knowledge, the child's education will be at fault, for education begins with the milk.” (DP, p. 86). This is a teaching that may affect millions and millions of people for ages to come. The fact that just men can be on the House of Justice only affects a relatively small group of people.

Some Baha’is look to the requirements of the job and then balance that with the fact that society’s first priority is the education of the children. Since women are the ‘first educators,’ then even being a member of the Universal House of Justice may come second to raising children—the most important of all responsibilities. Therefore only men are asked to serve in this capacity in order to free women from the possibility of being forced to choose between their sacred obligations to educate their children, and serving as a House Member.

Baha’is believe that Baha’u’llah promised to give inspiration to their most beloved Institution: the Universal House of Justice. Baha’is trust that the decisions of this divinely ordained Institution reflect the Will of their God-inspired Founder. As Baha’u’llah wrote of ‘His men of the House of Justice,’ “God will verily inspire them with whatsoever He willeth, and He, verily, is the Provider, the Omniscient.” (TB pg. 68).

For some this belief is a test, as other religions have made claim to ‘infallibility’ in their decision-making, and then gone on to perpetrate horrific acts against humanity in the name of God. Again, the difference for Baha’is is that this Institution was ordained ‘by name,’ by their Founder in pen and ink, and the authority was directly given to it to guide and lead the Baha’i World. Our Writings state, “It is incumbent upon these members (of the Universal House of Justice) to gather in a certain place and deliberate upon all problems which have caused difference, questions that are obscure and matters that are not expressly recorded in the Book. Whatsoever they decide has the same effect as the Text itself. And inasmuch as this House of Justice hath power to enact laws that are not expressly recorded in the Book and bear upon daily transactions, so also it hath power to repeal the same. Thus for example, the House of Justice enacteth today a certain law and enforceth it, and a hundred years hence, circumstances having profoundly changed and the conditions having altered, another House of Justice will then have power, according to the exigencies of the time, to alter that law. This it can do because that law formeth no part of the Divine Explicit Text. The House of Justice is both the Initiator and the Abrogator of its own laws.” (Abdu'l-Baha, BWF, p. 447)

For critics of organized religions, the Baha’i Faith offers a number of unique aspects that can help them overcome their aversion. For one, there is no clergy or professional Baha’i class of believers. The Baha’i Faith is an all-volunteer organization. Additionally, leaders are chosen by silent elections, where Baha'is pray, meditate, and then vote for the people they think will do the best job. This helps avoid politicking and posturing for positions of power.  Finally, individuals in elected office enjoy no individual authority whatsoever over the Baha’is. It is only through decisions made by consensus that there is any authority over the affairs of the Baha’i’ community. This is an aspect of the Baha’i Faith that reduces the tendency for corruption and abuses of power.

Another aspect of the organized Baha’i faith is its unity. In other religions of the world, their efforts were dissipated and the divisions between sects fueled conflicts. The Baha’i Faith, while there have been, and still are, attempts to divide it; currently has no significant sects, and none that are recognized by the Baha’i Faith’s governing bodies.

The Baha’is in the world are under one administrative system that follows the Universal House of Justice. Indeed, to be a Baha’i one turns to obey the Universal House of Justice, and he or she agrees to shun those who try to divide our religion. Baha’is believe this is because Baha’u’llah promised that His Faith would never be broken up and divided, and that this was a hallmark of mankind’s attainment to maturity. As our Holy Texts state, “After the departure of Christ various sects and denominations arose, each one claiming to be the true channel of Christianity, but none of them possessed a written authority from Christ; none could produce proof from Him; yet all claimed His sanction and approval. Baha’u’llah has written a Covenant and Testament with His own pen, declaring that the One Whom He has appointed the Center of the Covenant shall be turned to and obeyed by all. Therefore, thank God that Baha’u’llah has made the pathway straight. He has clearly explained all things and opened every door for advancing souls. There is no reason for hesitation by anyone. The purpose of the Covenant was simply to ward off disunion and differences so that no one might say, "My opinion is the true and valid one.” (Abdu'l-Baha, PUP, p. 386)

A lot of people think the principles of the Baha’i Faith are great, the stories are amazing, and the goals are fantastic; but they just can’t join an ‘organized religion.’ People have many reasons for this. Some look at history and the corruption that has infected most of the world’s organized religions, and they conclude that all religions must be that way. Some have had bad experiences with leaders of religion; perhaps they just didn’t feel good about what they saw as fire and brimstone fear mongering; or perhaps they just don’t like authority.

Baha’is believe that organized religion is capable of doing great and wondrous things for civilization. Baha’is recognized that there were hundreds of years when the only people who could read or write were religious leaders, when the only people who had books and bothered to copy them were religious monks, when the only people who thought critically about philosophy and reason were religious thinkers. The fact that religions started the first hospitals, orphanages, and schools and universities is often overlooked. All the great civilizations of human history were founded on the backs of the world’s great religions such as Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam. Therefore, from this perspective, religion has truly enriched mankind’s experience. The Baha’i Holy Texts state that, “Briefly, it is demonstrable that in this life, both outwardly and inwardly the mightiest of structures, the most solidly established, the most enduring, standing guard over the world, assuring both the spiritual and the material perfections of mankind, and protecting the happiness and the civilization of society -- is religion.” (Abdu'l-Baha, SDC, p. 71)

On the other hand, most of the atrocities committed in history in the name of religion are not the religions’ fault. In reality, the people who commit such crimes are often disobeying the teachings of the Founders of their own religions. They are not following the teachings when they commit these atrocities. These people are making a choice to disobey their religions. This should not be blamed on the organized religion they claim to follow, but instead be a lesson to all that a religion is a force for good only when believers are true to the basic tenants, and only when they do not add their own misguided interpretations.

Baha’is are told to serve mankind and improve the world. The Baha’i Writings state, “You have in your hearts the love of humanity, and as far as you are able, you exert yourselves in the cause of charitable work and in the bringing about of unity; this is especially what Baha’u’llah desired.” (Abdu'l-Baha, PT, p. 134). But often new Baha’is wonder why the Baha’i community spends so much time building Baha’i buildings, temples, and institutions around the globe. Some wonder why the Baha’i community does not do more to solve the immediate social ills of the world, such as feeding the hungry or healing the sick.

What we learn over time is that Baha’is are working to create a world very different from the one that surrounds us, a world where the spiritual nature of humankind is appreciated and honored, where the education of children is the central theme of our communities, where there is no war, famine, or plague. Baha’is work for a world that offers security, justice, and peace to every soul on the planet. This is what they are building in their Baha’i communities. This is the legacy they want to leave for their children. Therefore, as Baha’is, their first responsibility is to build up the Baha’i community, to educate and strengthen their children, and to offer true spiritual healing and enlightenment to all who want it.

What is a cult? There are many definitions for the word. For example, for the first few hundred years of Christianity, the religion was considered a dangerous Jewish cult by the Romans. So we must be clear what we are talking about. Today, the word ‘cult’ has very unique connotations. A cult can be a very dangerous and damaging phenomenon. When many people think of cults, they think of David Koresh or Jim Jones. These were charismatic figures who brainwashed people and then took them to some isolated area and were cut off from the outside world. We know that David Koresh then led his followers into a bloody standoff with government agents in Waco, Texas, where they were burned alive in a dramatic last stand. And we know that Jim Jones led his people to South America where everyone committed suicide together by drinking poison. These are clearly examples of dangerous ‘cults.’ Therefore, to be safe, we should honestly investigate whether or not any new religion is a dangerous cult.

The Baha’i Faith, by this definition, cannot be considered a cult. It does not cut people off from the outside world. In fact, Baha’is are encouraged to serve, respect, and love their families. For example, Baha’i marriage requires that the groom and bride get consent from the parents—whether or not they are Baha’is. Is this isolating? Is this dangerous? If anything it respects the family so much that it often drives Baha’i brides and bridegrooms crazy, and it serves the purpose of maintaining family unity. Additionally, the Baha’i Faith is not dominated by charismatic figures. All leadership in the Faith is elected for set periods, and all decisions are made by majority vote. Baha’is also do not brainwash. Instead they have a fundamental principle of ‘individual investigation of truth.’ This means that no one can tell you what to believe; instead you must investigate truth for yourselves. Finally, suicide is against the Baha’i Faith, and so is disobeying the government, so Baha’is cannot have standoffs with the ATF or commit mass suicides in the jungles of Central America. Clearly the Baha’i Faith is not a cult by these standards.

But the word ‘cult’ is often thrown around irresponsibly by people. People often put everything they do not agree with into a general catch-all category of ‘cult.’  So Baptists might call all Muslims cultists. Catholics could call Presbyterians cultists. Orthodox Christians could call Mormons cultists. Everyone could call everyone else cultists, and vice-versa. For a Baha’i this is all immaterial and unimportant. As Baha’u’llah said, we must guard ourselves against such religious fanaticism that leads to bigotry, closed-mindedness, and fear. As is written in the Bible, “the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31)—not a slave to fear, superstition, hate, tradition, and dogma. Baha’u’llah wrote, “Religious fanaticism and hatred are a world-devouring fire, whose violence none can quench. The Hand of Divine power can, alone, deliver mankind from this desolating affliction.” (ESW, p. 13).

As you search the Internet about the Baha’i Faith, you may come across people who call themselves things like ‘orthodox’ Baha’is or some other group. The easiest way to know you have stumbled onto these folks is if they start talking about a ‘new’ Guardian or a different leadership structure. You should be advised that the vast majority of those who call themselves Baha’is (perhaps 99%) remain within one world religious organization that follows the Universal House of Justice that is based in Haifa, Israel, on Mount Carmel. This worldwide organization can be easily accessed at http://www.bahai.org. Baha’is believe that Baha’u’llah promised His followers that His religion would never successfully split into sects when He wrote, “This is the Day that shall not be followed by night…” (SLH, p. 33). Baha’is believe that this means that this religion will never be successfully broken into different sects.

Religious history is filled with sectarian strife and bloodshed. This divisiveness has often halted the growth and hindered the development of the great religions of the world. So Baha’is believe it is no accident that while some have tried (and are still trying), no one has ever been able to break the Baha’i religion into sects. This is because Baha’u’llah has made a unique ‘Covenant’ with His followers that He will protect His community from schism. Baha’u’llah wrote, “Follow not, therefore, your earthly desires, and violate not the Covenant of God, nor break your pledge to Him.” (GWB, p. 328). This is not only by mystical forces working beyond our comprehension, but by the existence of a divinely appointed Administrative Order (or governing body) laid out clearly and unmistakably in the Writings of Baha’u’llah Himself, with checks and balances that will protect humanity from itself.

To break the Covenant of Baha’u’llah, then, is a very bad thing in the Baha’i Faith. Those who try to break up the Faith are called ‘Covenant-breakers’ and the community avoids these people and their messages lest their divisiveness spread to others. Baha’is believe the desire for power and influence, and thus the inclination to create schism, is like a plague that must be quarantined and contained. Therefore, Baha’is have a strong organized religion and one of its duties is to protect the Faith from the dangerous sectarianism that would sap the strength and dissolve the spirit of our faith.

In addition to not backbiting and not drinking, Baha’is try to treat everyone with equality and respect. This means that Baha’is strive to become the source of unity in their communities, often bringing people of different races, creeds, religions, ethnicities and nationalities together in their homes. Being a Baha’i then becomes a source of motivation to go out of their comfort zones and to get to know new people they might never have known otherwise—a process that can be one of the greatest rewards of life. As Abdu’l-Baha has exhorted, “For one another must ye give up even life itself. To every human being must ye be infinitely kind. Call none a stranger; think none to be your foe. Be ye as if all men were your close kin and honoured friends. Walk ye in such wise that this fleeting world will change into a splendour and this dismal heap of dust become a palace of delights. Such is the counsel of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, this hapless servant.” (SWA, p. 280).

“Blessed are the just souls who seek the truth.”  ~ Abdu'l-Baha 

Baha’is believe everyone must follow their heart. To those who cannot get over one or two of the Baha’i teachings or laws that may conflict with their predetermined notions; Baha’is can suggest prayer and meditation on the subject. They can suggest that you ask yourself if you are willing to accept the Baha’i Faith because of the bigger picture, because you believe this Faith is of God, and because you want to be part of something that is truly changing the world for the better. They can suggest that you ask God to explain these difficult teachings to you over time, and that, knowing what you know about all the other aspects of this Faith, you might give Baha’u’llah the benefit of the doubt. But to be clear, this is not out of blind faith! It is rather out of an honest admission that Baha’u’llah, if He is truly inspired by the Almighty, might know more than we do. The analogy of a mathematician is useful here. A person does not become a mathematician because he has solved every equation. A person becomes a mathematician because he loves the challenges of solving problems. So perhaps there are questions you cannot resolve today, but that you will resolve in the future. As Abdu’l-Baha promised, with time we gain new understandings. “The more a man seeketh light from the Sun of Truth, the nearer he will draw.” (Abdu'l-Baha, TA, p. 204). Perhaps there is wisdom in the equality of men and women, in the elimination of racism, or in forbidding homosexual relations that we cannot appreciate today? Perhaps there is something we just cannot see as long as we cling to our cultural definitions? And perhaps—if we truly open our minds and our hearts to God—we will get the answers we seek. As Abdu’l-Baha wrote, “Blessed are the just souls who seek the truth.” (SAQ, p. 71).