Cornel West Speaks on the Baha'i Faith

rossinibkk Says:

Oct 25, 2011 - Thank you for your openness and sincerity. My friend's sister was hanged in Iran just for being a Baha'i. Its been going on for a long time and its time for the world to know what has been going on in Iran.

holobody Says:

Nov 5, 2011 - Thank you Dr. Cornel! I have long admired you, especially when listening to the solid wisdom and conviction you provide in your various talks and interviews. I am always riveted!

9bahai9 Says:

Nov 16, 2011 - Thank you Dr. West! I heard you speak at Sonoma State University some years ago in Northern California. You said you were a democrat, with a small "d", and that you were a lay minister, but you "hang loose!" You are very open-minded and God will surely bless you for that. Your comments here are right on target.

waiotahi52 Says:

Dec 10, 2011 - I am neither rich nor highly educated, but I am a Baha'i, and have done my best to improve on my education since becoming one. Wealth,alas, continues to elude me

waiotahi52 Says:

Dec 11, 2011 - I am not wealthy or highly educated.But I am a Baha'i

ChadC919 Says:

Jan 29, 2012 - Drum major of justice -- love it!

fctchk Says:

Jan 29, 2012 - Then it's also time for Bahais to face up to the discriminatory and denigrating Bahai position on the rights and liberties of homosexuals which describes homosexuality as:an "Immorality"; "spiritually condemned in the writings of Baha'u'llah;" "not a permissible way of life;" "A distortion of his or her nature which should be controlled and overcome;" An "aberration subject to treatment."

BahaiNationalCenter Says:

Jan 31, 2012 - Thank you for your comment. There are Baha'is who have a homosexual orientation yet still are active members of the Baha'i Faith. It is not the homosexuals' desire to love that is considered unacceptable, but rather the expression of love in the sexual act. A letter written in 1995 by the international governing body of the Baha'i Faith, the Universal House of Justice, states: "To regard homosexuals with prejudice and disdain would be entirely against the spirit of Baha'i Teachings."

fctchk Says:

Feb 1, 2012 - Homosexual expression of love in the sexual act is prohibited. Heterosexual expression of love in the sexual act is not prohibited. Do you not notice the discrimination against homosexuals? Do you not see that prejudice - injury or damage resulting from some judgment or action of another in disregard of one's rights - i.e. condemning gays for expressing their sexuality is the exact result of this position?

fctchk Says:

Feb 1, 2012 - @Bahai Do you not see that disdain is inherent to baselessly judging someone who engages in what you have branded as "unacceptable" i.e. objectionable, undesirable, unwelcome, damaged, displeasing, distasteful, improper, inadmissible, insupportable, objectionable, offensive, reject, repugnant, unappealing, undesirable, unpleasant, unwanted, unwelcome, bad?You may not use that water fountain and you have to ride in the back of the bus but we won't regard you with disdain.

BahaiNationalCenter Says:

Feb 1, 2012 - For Baha'is, chastity prior to marriage is required of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. Baha'is do not expect those who are not members of their religion to follow Baha'i laws and teachings and because the unification of humanity is at the heart of the Baha'i Faith, Baha'is are more than willing to extend a hand to all. As noted above Baha'is are forbidden from condemning or judging any individual's journey or path towards God.

BahaiNationalCenter Says:

Feb 1, 2012 - Again it is against the Baha'i Teachings to condemn or judge others. Baha'is believe in the oneness of humanity. 'Abdu'l-Baha, the son of the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, stated, "We must not make distinctions between individual members of the human family. We must not consider any soul as barren or deprived. The more love is expressed among mankind and the stronger the power of unity, the greater will be this reflection and revelation, for the greatest bestowal of God is love."

43894674126438564036 Says:

Feb 5, 2012 - Ya why can't we have compassion and let everyone who wants to come to America just come. Why must we force these oppressed people to stay in their corrupt country. Let everyone come to America. Then who would corrupt people have to oppress. Enough of this hypocrisy.

43894674126438564036 Says:

Feb 5, 2012 - Iran is not keeping people in. We are keeping people out. Let them come here. Let everyone come here.

fctchk Says:

Feb 7, 2012 - @Bahai You are just sidestepping, not addressing the point, filibustering with recitations of typical empty stock religious platitudes and strawmanning: I am not talking about "chastity prior to marriage". I am not talking about expecting non Bahais to follow Bahai teachings. I am talking about, e.g. a married gay Bahai couple whose religion judges it unacceptable for them to fully live their sexuality. What do you propose in their case?

BahaiNationalCenter Says:

Feb 8, 2012 - The institution of marriage is viewed as being primarily for the purpose of raising children, and marriage is intended for a woman and a man. But, it is important to note that as Baha'is, we believe that we are defined by our spirituality; our identity is that of a spiritual being, not sexual beings. Our sexual preference is not the foundation on which our characters and souls are shaped.

fctchk Says:

Feb 8, 2012 - @Bahai You continue to sidestep. Your persist in bringing up things which are irrelevant to the point that Bahai discriminates against gays in general and Bahai gays in particular by condemning their sexuality. A fact for which you have failed to offer any justification. Indeed for which there exists no justification as there exists no justification for discriminating against women which Bahai does by prohibiting women membership in its highest governing body.

BahaiNationalCenter Says:

Feb 9, 2012 - We find it unfortunate that you feel the Baha'i Faith is discriminatory towards homosexuals, when as previously noted, we are prohibited from being so. In regards to your comment about membership on the Universal House of Justice, 'Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'u'llah's son and chosen successor, stated "the wisdom of having no women on the International House of Justice, will become manifest in the future." This provision in no way diminishes the Baha'i commitment to gender equality.

BahaiNationalCenter Says:

Feb 9, 2012 - Women have held and continue to hold positions of high rank within the Baha'i Faith. For a period of time, the affairs of the Baha'i community were under the "headship" of Bahiyyih Khanum, the daughter of Baha'u'llah. Other women held the high rank of "Hands of the Cause" and today serve as international and continental Counsellors and National Assembly members. The rights, well-being and advancement of women in the Bahá'í community are vigorously pursued by Baha'i institutions.

bohemiandeborah Says:

Mar 3, 2012 - The reason Baha'is are being persecuted is that Baha'u;llah does away with clergy. There is NO clergy in the Baha'i Faith. That is because Independent Investigation of Truth is the first tenant of the Faith. Mankind can understand the pure word of God and does not need an intermediary anymore. We are mature enough as a people, now, to get it ourselves. Obviously the Moslem clergy cannot let people convert or they would be out of their positions of power. Sad that they would kill for it.

1luv4usall Says:

Mar 21, 2012 - @fctchk It is against the principles of the Bahai Faith, to discriminate against anyone, for any reason, period. There is no clergy, and you will never see Bahais "police" anyone. Bahais are, also, encouraged to be compassionate toward anyone being appressed, and one, in particular, homosexuals. No one is sidestepping the issue, society is NOT at its full maturity. This is where the oppression of homosexuallity comes from. All the Bahais, I know, do their best to embrace EVERYONE, period. 1luv

PeterJDeer Says:

Apr 20, 2012 - Hello fctchk, it's been a while. Baha'is have a strict definition of acceptable practice in many regards, from use of drugs to personal hygiene to sexual propriety. To determine some acts to be either moral or immoral does not necessitate prejudice, either towards those who have done such things in the past nor towards persons with conditions which incline them towards such behaviors. Forbidding alcohol does not discriminate towards alcoholics, for instance.

PeterJDeer Says:

Apr 20, 2012 - As for your statement that no justification has been offered for the stipulation that members of the Universal House of Justice be male, that is correct. It is the sole exception in the rights of man and woman in this faith. Assurance has been given that the matter will be made clear "as the mid-day sun", but that must be taken on faith. If you do not have faith in the validity of Baha'u'llah, you have no reason to trust in this and should not be a Baha'i, and the ruling has no relevance to you.

PeterJDeer Says:

Apr 20, 2012 - Finally I would like to point out that the stipulation within the Baha'i faith on the matter of homosexuality is on the act, not the condition, something which we are called on to be patient with, sympathetic of, and understanding for.Once more, if one believes that homosexual urges are a more correct form of moral guidance that the writings of Baha'u'llah have no right to curtail, then why would they be a Baha'i in the first place? Baha'u'llah's divine authority is fundamental to the faith.

PeterJDeer Says:

Apr 20, 2012 - Inshallah, one day.