Why the Baha’i Faith Can’t Keep its Converts?
March 6, 2013 24 Comments
The National Baha’i Center in Wilmette, IL claims that there are 140,000 Baha’is in the United States. However, it is almost axiomatic among Baha’is that half of the Faith’s enrolled members are inactive. In fact, the reality may be even worse than that. One independent poll on American religions estimated that there are only 28,000 people in this country who consider themselves Baha’is.
One reason for this huge discrepancy is that no one is ever removed from the membership rolls unless they write a letter to the National Center renouncing their belief. So a person who becomes disillusioned and simply drifts away can remain on the rolls indefinitely. While the 28,000 figure is probably low, the Baha’i assumption that there are thousands of people who consider themselves Baha’is but have no contact with the community is not realistic. (There is the possibility that some do maintain their belief in isolation, but there are not likely to be many who do so.)
What I propose to examine here are the possible reasons for that. This article is not based on scientific data, but my own observations. I would not have the resources to research something like this, even if I had the training. However, I did spend thirteen years in the Baha’i community, and watch a lot of people come and go. Also, the Internet is rife with “ex-Baha’i” stories, and I think the Baha’i community can learn something from what these people are saying. The teachings of the Baha’i Faith — the unity of religion, the individual’s right to investigate truth, racial harmony , and the agreement of reason and religion — have a wide appeal. The Baha’i Faith appears to be a religion that is wasting its potential.
I have no way of knowing which of the problems I mention is responsible for the greatest amount of convert dissatisfaction, I have therefore put them in the order that a convert is likely to encounter them:
THE FALSE FRONT
The Baha’i Faith, in its public presentations, emphasizes the more broad and tolerant aspects of Baha’u’llah’s teachings. The itself is not dishonest, since those liberal teachings are actually present in Baha’i scripture, and historically, converts into the Faith have been from among more open-minded and educated people. However, these free-spirited seekers often do not find out about the more authoritarian and exclusive aspects of Baha’i thought until after they have enrolled.
There are a few things commonly told to converts that can hardly be seen as anything other than deceptions. (To be fair, however, Baha’is often convince themselves that they are true.) One example is that the public is told that Baha’is do not proselytize; they merely teach the Faith as long as a person is interested. However, the new believer soon discovers that community life is centered around the need to gain new converts, and finds himself pressured into “teaching” plans and projects. So a person who has perhaps always held a dim view of those who try to push their religious beliefs on others now must participate in exactly that type of activity. It is hardly surprising that some of them decide that they’ve made a mistake.
One convert who rapidly left after discovering this called the Baha’i Faith “the Amway of religions.” Another more bluntly said “No proselytizing, my rear end!”
Another example is the exclusion of women from the Universal House of Justice, the religion’s supreme governing body, even though equality of the sexes is promoted as a fundamental principle. That fact also can come as a shock to a new convert, and perhaps cause them to leave. [For a more detailed look at this issue, see my Themestream article “But Some are More Equal than Others”.]
UNSATISFYING COMMUNITY LIFE
One of the least understood aspects of the Baha’i Faith by the general public is the central place administration holds in Baha’i community life. Life as a Baha’i can seem like an endless series of frustrating committee meetings. Building a multitude of LSAs scattered geographically all over the country has taken priority over building solid communities. Once a community has the nine adults necessary to form an Assembly it can be left virtually on its own. In fact, Assemblies exist on paper that never actually meet because not enough of the people in the community are active. But such Assemblies are counted in the impressive statistics given to the public.
The vast majority of Baha’i communities are too small to offer much in the way of services. In an era when mega churches that provide something for everyone are all the rage, the Baha’is look pretty thin. In a very small community, sometimes just getting together for any activity at all can be difficult. Baha’is are often enjoined to be patient, and told that the Faith is only in its infancy. Realistically, however, a religious movement that has been part of the American scene for the last 100 years can hardly continue the claim that it is “embryonic”. The simple fact is that the Baha’i Faith has just done a terrible job in creating a rich and rewarding community life for its members, and many of them drift away for that reason.
On the bright side, however, there has been some recognition of this problem on the part of the Baha’i institutions, and in some areas, greater efforts towards community development have been made.
SANCTIONS AND PUNISHMENTS
Like Judaism and Islam, the Baha’i Faith has a religious law code that adherents are expected to abide by. Persistent, public, and continued violation of one of these laws (for example, drinking alcohol, or cohabitation without marriage) can result in sanctions, most commonly the removal of administrative rights. A person so sanctioned cannot participate in any administrative activity, including Feast, the main worship service. This can prove to be an extremely alienating experience, and can result in a person leaving the Baha’i Faith altogether. Even the threat of such sanctions can be the cause of disillusionment. Also, unfortunately, some Baha’is feel it is their duty to “turn in” people who are not living up to Baha’i standards.
The most common reason for a Baha’i to be sanctioned is failure to have a Baha’i marriage ceremony, which requires the consent of all living parents. Baha’is who are married before conversion don’t have to face this, but for those who marry afterwards will not be recognized as being married unless they do so in a Baha’i ceremony. If parental permission is withheld, for whatever reason (including animosity to the Baha’i Faith itself), then a person is left with the choice of either abandoning one’s intended marriage partner or facing sanction by his religious community.
INTIMIDATION BY BAHA’I AUTHORITIES
There are abundant stories on the Internet that tell of Baha’is leaving after an encounter with a Counselor or Auxiliary Board Member (ABM). These appointed officials have the responsibility for the “protection and propagation of the Faith”. It is primarily those who have responsibiltiy for “protection” that show up to investigate cases of possible impropriety. The primary target of these officials are people who are showing an interest in one of the small Baha’i sects, known to mainstream Baha’is as “covenant-breakers”. Opposition to the current head of the faith, the Universal House of Justice, is considered to be a spiritual illness, that could possibly be contagious, so the news that someone is reading their material and openly discussing it will almost certainly bring an ABM into the community who will investigate, warn, and threaten with shunning, a person who fails to abandon such contacts.
However, with the advent of the Internet, “protection” duties will also include the monitoring of email traffic for anything that seems heterodox. The most notorious incident of this was the Talisman crackdown in 1996, where professors and intellectuals were threatened with shunning for statements made on an email forum.
Besides associating with schismatics, or email heresy,a Baha’i can attract the attention of Baha’i authorities simply for oral statements, or being seen as a “charismatic leader”. Independent and innovative thinking are viewed with suspicion, with submission to the institutions viewed as a fundamental value. This can drive some of the more talented members away from the Faith.
Author’s note: This article first appeared in Themestream December 8, 2000.
About imranshaykh
The Bahai Insider 
Your observations are dead on. There’s no reason to become a Bahai. Other faiths offer better communities. Secular organizations offer more effective models for world change. And there is nothing fresh about Bahai writings. A quick peek at a bestselling book on spirituality will offer more relatable material.
For a faith that is over 150 years old, it has gained little traction. People are not stupid. The faith is not at an embryonic stage- it has simply failed to sell an inherently unappealing product.
It would be an embarrassment to reveal to another educated person that they belong to a faith that espouses gender equality, but ahem.. actually women are prohibited from the faith’s highest governing body.
And to articulate to that Science and Religion should be compatible.. yet insist that homosexuality is wrong, when all of Science is demonstrating that it is a biological state, not a moral failing.
There’s a reason why many people are familiar with the saying” If you don’t do politics, then politics will do you”, but are completely clueless that the Bahai faith exists:
The faith’s fundamental truths simply don’t resonate with those who have basic critical thinking skills. Among the “intelligent” thinking Bahais “trapped” within it’s clutches, regular mental acrobatics have to be performed to justify their beliefs.
There is no calamity awaiting mankind in which troops will come to recognize the genius of the Bahai faith. Just as there is no Second Coming of Christ.
This is so obvious to those outside of the faith. That’s why we simply look at your faith, kindly reject it and don’t even bother mentioning it to anyone we know because there is nothing notable to report.
So true. Like you said, the intelligent ones left. The fanatics remained. I saw a lot of those fanatics latched on other spiritual platforms on internet and tried to lure ppl in discussion. They followed a marketing selling tactic exactly like any pyramid scheme. Horrifying to see at this date and age.They really think by stealing others’ ideals and slogans they could create some utopia. No wonder got kicked out by their parent religion, Iranian Islam. More like a monkey has too many bananas in its hands yet keep on grasping and exposing it’s behinds. Hungry for their quota for souls!
When is the “”future””” for the bahai faith?
I was a Baha’i for a few years in the 70’s and can testify that I departed for the first reason cited. It is strange that Baha’i is referred to as “the Amway of religions” for I had previously been an Amway dealer who quickly discovered that their products were overpriced versions of offerings in the regular retail market.
I soon came to realize that most Baha’i meetings primarily focused on gaining new members and establishing new LSA’s. And then there was always the pressure of the “Five Year Plan”. For these reasons and others, I became disillusioned and quietly departed.
I do appreciate my involvement as a learning experience, and I like their philosophy that all races are equal and deserving of respect. But I have since come to believe that “Man created God in his own image”. I remain very interested in religions but will never subscribe to one again.
The key for any Baha’i needs to be reading and reflecting on the Baha’i writings and developing a relationship with Baha’u’llah and Abdu’l-Baha.
I am not in the least surprised that those Baha’is who spend all their time going to meetings and proselytizing (contrary to the Baha’i teachings!) instead of deepening and developing their understanding of reality and relationship with God are likely to leave the Faith. They, and those who introduced them to Baha’u’llah, never really understood who Baha’u’llah is and why He came.
“One hour’s reflection is preferable to seventy years pious worship” – Baha’u’llah
How I wish that Bahais would have read their original books and not the trash dished out by the UHJ. I dont think Bahais know who the fraud that Bahaullah actually was – how he took what he wanted from Islam and created his own trash which is now known as the Bahai Faith.
Bahai’s do not have any form of leader in order to tell them what the book says. A bahai reads their own book & interprets in for themselves. Do not give incorrect information please. Thank you
Dear Pariyasg:
That is what you are made to believe by UHJ. If that is true, then you can take my site BahaiAwareness.com as an interpretation of Bahai books and accept it for what it is. Why do you oppose it.
Also every person who rose against Abdul Baha and the UHJ and Shoghi was removed from the Faith. Tell me if that is true or false.
What are the things he took from Islam!!??
You know is easy to say bad things about your religion too and people are saying!
Please see my articles on http://www.bahaiawareness.com. You will see lots of items which Bahais tout as their own actually came from Islam.
Equality of mankind etc.
Regards
Imran
You capitalized, “He”, for Baha’u’llah. Is he God?
Nope. Bahaullah is not God. Not for me.
Some Bahais willing take him as God. And some take him as ammanifestation of God. Both are wrong.
The word He for Bahaullah is a mistake from my side. Can you please point me in the right direction where it appears so that I can correct it.
Religion is a man-made concept, but where the truth is taught and practiced sincerely it can and will bring us closer to God. One’s belief in God should transcend an allegiance to any one religion. Humulity is required to admit that your religion (or rather the way that it is practiced) may have serious shortcomings. Constant self examination is essential. Religion (and more particulary its followers and leaders) can only serve as condiuts of the Spirit of truth, but it can never claim to be the Spirit of truth (or God) in itself. Rather we should constantly strive sincerely to be one with God by returning to God (and not any one particular religion). The Spirit of truth is infinitely greater than any one man and his ideas.
Dear RobonStanley:
I disagree with you on several counts:
1. I do not believe that religion is a man made concept. I believe that man is born with the belief in one God.
2. Belief in God should be as God wants us to believe Him and not the other wway around. It means that we should worship Him the way He wants to be worshipped and not how we want to worship Him.
Regards,
imranshaykh,
You describe God as a selfish dictator that is all about it, not us. Why you follow God if that’s what you think? Wait don’t answer that, I know why, because you afraid to be punished by God. ( By the way, I avoid to call God HIM)
Today’s major religions are all manmade that is why they do not make sense. As soon as God’s messenger is gone, people start to make change and twist the religion.
I never said anything like that!
For the Islamic view on God, please refer to Holy Quran, chapter of Unity.
Regards
Imran
From my own experience in baha’i religion I can only say that baha’i followers are in extremely great pressure to attract new followers. Love bombing is their pretty important tool in doing so. Baha’i followers often engage in love affairs with potential converts, bahaism is now days spread by sexual urges, bahaism condemns sex out of marriage, but uses sex as a means to attract new followers.
There is not much other that Bahais can offer, they are advised not to introduce new followers to baha’i literature, with exception of ruhi institute courses, which don’t really have much in common with original baha’i literature which is full of hatte and historical nonsense.
Dave,
Looks like you were interested in a Baha’i woman who introduced you to the community, but that was not her intention to date you. Now you are angry and feels good to accuse.
Often guys show interest to know more about my religion or veganism only because they want to be with me, and I always refer them to a website.
In all my years of following and writing about the Bahai Faith, this excuse is perhaps the funniest!
Regards
Imran
Many bahai sects are a sect of the sect (babi) of the sect (sheikhi) of the sect (shiah) of the sect islam
I was briefly involved with my local Bahai community. What attracted me was their tolerance, their belief in racial equality, and the sense of belonging I felt when with them. I also really enjoyed their activities. The community near me had some wonderful gatherings, and I met a variety of interesting, intelligent people from various countries. However, when I studied their faith it was the rules and legalities that ended up turning me away from being a convert.
Just follow the goodness of the faiths . Weather Jesus was god,son of god, prophet, servent, or manifested.
Mohamed was a final prophet for humanity
Bubba was the most enlightened among all.
These are all doctrine which has divided mankind for centuries and has caused war and destruction through o out history. Is what we have been fought by tradition and culture through our parents and our community as we are all tribuilist by nature..
But thing is to discover on our own reasoning is existing of god with what we see seeing us.
One thing I love about bahullah’s teaching is to investigate for the truth to discover god and to know , love and serve god by serving one and other .
This the only true cemanmends was given by krishna, moses, Jesus, Muhammad and bahaullah.
So,greatest injustice to one another is to crush each others Faith based on doctrine and focus on the work
Bahaullah , and Jesus and Mohamed says conversion to believe in God only comes through good works not unnecessity doctrine.
So shame on us for causing division not unity.
What a tribalist comments. Sad
We like to destroy one and other for what we know as doctain and only god knows how much has been influenced by men.Every faith has one.
Examples
1( jesus is god, son of god, prophet, teacher. Messiah
2( Mohamad a final prophet for humanity
3( buddha was the most enlightened one among all.
As human we are tribal and have always been.
Instead of focusing on the only true message, we like to branching them so we could have others become a member of our view.
The only truth that is Expressed through all prophets is,
To know god lives, to love and serve him by serving one another in unity and love.a perfect golden rule.
Didn’t moses bring the law of god to obay him.
Didn’t jesus say the forget all camanments and just love god with all your heart an and love your neighbors as yourself.
Didn’t Mohammed say there is the teaching of the past and now submit (islam) yourselves to one god.
Didn’t bahaullah say these are the teaching that has been done that they were internal in the past and the future and now is time to unite all faith and nations for the couse of God.
So what are we arguing about.
No more tribalism but unity in god and faith, unity in nations. Race and genders.
These words are from all prophets of god .
Let’s unit in that one absolute truth not divide the truth.
That’s what makes us believers.
It doesn’t help that, like the Falun Gong, they’re a CIA propaganda front for ‘hooman rites’ imperialism and do terrorism for Mossad.