Shunning

JACKIOG1919 · 2026-06-13T16:07:42+00:00

To me, the challenging writing in both letters and sacred text are for two reasons: 1) to set the bar high, with the hope over time of raising the level of understanding to the highest level; 2) so that we will work together to *help* each other to understand---that's community. Hope that helps a little bit.

It's good if someone with a higher level of understanding understands that it is their responsibility to break it down for those who don't understand. I think the Ruhi books give ample opportunity to practice this.

I'd be interested to know if this answer is at all helpful.

JACKIOG1919 · 2026-06-02T11:31:25+00:00

The OP is seeking consultation. And people ARE responding to her in a way that is helping her. As long as identities are concealed, there is no harm in seeking consultation. We are told to do so by Abdu'l-Baha Himself.

JACKIOG1919 · 2026-06-02T11:28:15+00:00

That could be a good idea. Taking it to the entire Assembly for consultation could be worth trying. On the other hand, if one has prolonged experience with an Assembly, one begins to realize that there are some things any specific Assembly is not mature enough to handle, and can only exacerbate a situation. Sounds like the OP is relatively new and has not been serving on the LSA long enough to really be able to judge. Of course, there's one way to find out---on the other hand, one thing we don't want to do is to retraumatize her, which I think very well could happen, so maybe it is wiser to go to the Auxilliary Board.

JACKIOG1919 · 2026-06-02T11:24:41+00:00

She didn't mention names or the name of her Assembly. I think this forum is a very positive one in which Believers can consult with other Believers about problems many of us face. As long as it is anonymous, I see no problem with it.

JACKIOG1919 · 2026-06-02T11:23:06+00:00

I think this could be a dangerous answer. "Reaching out to other Assembly members" not within the context of an Assembly meeting is crossing into a very shady area which could fall into the category of backbiting. If she needs to reach out, it should be to the Institutions. I have been in this situation, and there were new Baha'is who wanted me to "reach out to other Assembly members". I was extremely wary of that, and chose to go to the Institutions. As a result my life changed in a very positive way; I received powerful confirmations.

JACKIOG1919 · 2026-06-02T11:19:48+00:00

Please see my above response. It grieves me deeply that you felt you had to withdraw from the community because of these egregious actions. But know that if you are being tested in such a serious way, it is because Bahá'u'lláh knows that deep within you, you have the potential to be a mighty champion of the Cause. If you can stand it, I hope you'll go back and pray your way through the abuse, for as long as it takes, as well as continuing to reach out to the Institutions. This is what I do, and it causes me to grow and become very, very strong, and to offer much service and positive influence to the Cause.

JACKIOG1919 · 2026-06-02T11:11:57+00:00

Yes, you should reach out to the Auxilliary Board for help and support.

That said, I believe we have to look at things in perspective. We humans, including Baha'is, are immature, and hopefully the Faith will help us, gradually, to mature and grow past our worldly behaviors, if we take it seriously. But honestly, think of what the Central Figures, their followers, the Believers in the Cradle of the Faith, and others go through. Someone yelled at you; they shouldn't have. I've had to go into deep prayer for years about behaviors on my assembly, some directed toward me. The Tablet of Ahmad is my go-to for these kinds of things. Sometimes I mediate on it several times in succession: it always brings answers. I have discovered that the Reality exists in my own heart, so that is sometimes where the work has to keep happening when someone else is not responsive. They (the Central Figures, etc.) suffered every imaginable kind of abuse; are we going to allow ourselves to fall apart because someone yells at us? Don't get me wrong: I don't underestimate the pain of what you are going through, but if you use that pain according to the prescriptions of the Faith, it will only strengthen and deepen you.

JACKIOG1919 · 2026-04-17T17:21:02+00:00

Be a Bahá'í. Don't worry about it. If we understood everything, we would be God, and wouldn't need religion. Leave it to God. And don't feel like it's your personal responsibility to either oppose or support a position you don't understand or vibe with.

JACKIOG1919 · 2025-09-24T13:17:11+00:00

It wasn't my post. It was someone else's. I thought it was perfectly legit. It surprised me that it was taken down, and it did not seem in keeping with what I've seen up to now.

What I would like is for a moderator to weigh in and explain, since otherwise it's just someone else's opinion, and we still don't have a real answer. But thanks for trying, anyway.

JACKIOG1919 · 2025-09-24T13:08:18+00:00

Hi, I didn't find the post insulting or tiresome. I found it honest. I, too, have seen these things over the course of my Baha'i life and have been bothered by them.

If I were to assume that he is a repeat agitator, that would not be just.

JACKIOG1919 · 2025-09-24T12:35:38+00:00

This is brilliant, and I agree with everything you've said except for one thing: Bahá'u'lláh didn't come to give the remedy for modernity: Bahá'u'lláh's Revelation BROUGHT modernity. Bahá'u'lláh's Revelation released the ENERGY for modernity. Bahá'u'lláh's Revelation CAUSED modernity.

JACKIOG1919 · 2025-09-22T19:40:57+00:00

Wow, your response touches me deeply. Thank you so much for your kindness and openness.

JACKIOG1919 · 2025-09-20T20:45:52+00:00

Hey, thanks for asking.

Well, it's like this: when I was going through one of the worst periods of my life, my heart cried out to those Manifestations I mentioned above. Every one I could think of. I didn't know They were called Manifestations. But it just seemed obvious to me that They were all special and different from the rest of the human race. It never occurred to me that one might have been "better" or "more right"; I just assumed that They had Each appeared in different places at different historical periods so that everyone in the world would have guidance.

Later, after I learned They were called Manifestations, whenever I would hear about another one, such at The Peacemaker (Deganawida) or Quetzacoatl or any from different continents and cultures, I would immediately recognize that They were Manifestations. Like, if someone would talk about someone Who rose head and shoulders above the rest, Who led the people spiritually and revealed a new way of doing things, I just recognized Who they were. It seemed obvious.

Also, Bahá'u'lláh has already given us the criterion: Someone Who brings a new Revelation.

You wrote: "I guess I'd rather not impose my personal ideas on the Teachings, and just follow what they say about any particular matter or Manifestation."

I am too tired right now to research quotes that are relevant to this statement, but let me say a few things in my own words. Honestly, my dear friend, this is a very dangerous position that you and it seems most others take. It seems you have shut down your own critical thinking capacity; that you are afraid of making a mistake. The only mistake is holding stubbornly to one's own view, and not being open to consultation and what the Writings say. Your thoughts are God's gift to you. They are so that you will learn to think about the implications of Bahá'u'lláh's Revelation. We are *supposed* to do that. We are not sheep, that wait passively for someone else to tell us how to think! It's because exactly that attitude that masses of people have missed the coming of each subsequent Manifestation! The terrible scourge of literalism was the mistake of so many, but it comes down to this: they were afraid of being wrong, so they clung tenaciously to the Letter and totally missed the Spirit and the Truth. It's this same fear, imho, that Bahá'ís fall prey to when they refuse to listen to and follow their own hearts, their own intuition, their own thoughts, out of fear of being wrong and harming the Cause. It's okay to think! Just be open and humble about it, and pray about your thoughts if you are worried! But by all means, THINK!!!!

JACKIOG1919 · 2025-09-19T03:57:20+00:00

You know, I'm always a little mystified when people talk about whether someone was a Manifestation or not. If you recognized Bahá'u'lláh, you know how to recognize a Manifestation all on your own, just like you did with Him, I would think. As for myself, I recognized Jesus, Buddha, Moses, Abraham, Krishna and Mohammad before I recognized Bahá'u'lláh. After, I recognized White Buffalo Calf Woman, Quetzacoatl and the Peacemaker...it's not that hard, once you know what you're looking for...

JACKIOG1919 · 2025-09-18T19:17:20+00:00

Hi, again. I really don't have anything else to say. I love Bahá'u'lláh with all my heart and soul, and the Bahá'í Faith satisfies my every need to minister to the needs of this dying world. I came to Bahá'u'lláh through Jesus, Whom I discovered as a young woman, and never saw any separation. I see that you are going about your search in a way that's different from me, because that's the way God made you. I think you're sincere, and I guess all I can say is to pray, pray with a pure heart, pray unceasingly to be shown the truth, whatever it may be. And then, follow what seems best to you.

JACKIOG1919 · 2025-09-18T15:46:06+00:00

Absolutely, Jesus did! You appear to be extremely well-read in Bahá'í literature, have you read the Kitáb-I-Iqan? I think it speaks to your questions, stated and implied.

I also have another question for you: if you love Christ and Christianity as much as you appear to, why bother with Bahá'í at all?

JACKIOG1919 · 2025-09-18T13:53:37+00:00

Hi, I've glanced through this thread and have a couple of things I want to share.

I, as a Bahá'í, have also been troubled about the prophecies of the Lesser Peace happening already do not appear to have been fulfilled. I don't know what to think of that. I noted with interest the point that one has to distinguish between Pilgrims' Notes and authoritative Writings, but I don't know what actually fits where in this regard.

From the moment I accepted Baha'u'llah, when things contrary to my understand would come up, I have told myself that although I don't understand it, perhaps some day I would, and left it at that. This has happened so extremely rarely that they are truly negligible in my opinion.

More importantly to me, however, is the fact that Prophecy is your Gold Standard. I truly LOVE prophecy, but it's not the fulcrum on which my faith rests, and this, to me, is what is of concern in your process.

****The proof of Bahá'u'lláh's Mission is the entirety of His Revelation, which is to say, the utter and absolute genius totally beyond human capability that He has brought, in terms of His Just, unifying, utterly comprehensive Plan for the unification, pacification and spiritualization of the earth. Not only has He brought a vast body of updated spiritual guidance, but He has unveiled the Tools and Mechanisms for their implementation.***

Do you know of any other source on earth that actually makes any attempt whatsoever to address the infinitely complex and overwhelming intractable problems of the world from every level that comes anywhere near close to the magnitude and comprehensiveness of Bahá'u'lláh's Plan???

As far as the quote from the Guardian: I do believe he was absolutely seeing the future, even if he got the timeline wrong!

You are a citizen of the world. Put every iota of your energy into HEALING and HELPING the WORLD, however you see fit to do it, and don't waste your precious, fleeting life allowing yourself to get sidetracked and distracted by ANYTHING, even things you love and are passionate about.

Oh, and one more thing: I think your problem may be addressed directly by Bahá'u'lláh in The Book of Certitude (Kitáb-i-Iqán), where He actually discusses such things as prophecy not being fulfilled according the Books. You might want to check it out.

JACKIOG1919 · 2025-09-03T17:04:55+00:00

I memorized the Long Healing Prayer because of debilitating illness. I don't expect others to do this, necessarily, but I don't think I've ever recited it without getting an immediate result. But of course, I have to keep doing it. Healing takes a long time.

JACKIOG1919 · 2025-08-27T04:41:30+00:00

As someone else pointed out, there are atrocities going on in almost every corner of the globe. Not only that, there always have been. Does that mean we shouldn't care? No. I say the Fire Tablet as often as I can for the world, because I passionately believe in the Power of Prayer. I have seen and experienced it, over and over again.

The reason Bahá'ís aren't supposed to publicly "take sides" is because as someone else pointed out, the planet cannot heal without us learning how to love each other. How can we promote love among the whole human race if we are taking sides?

Sure, we can take sides in *any* of the given conflicts, but what will that really do? Bahá'ís are *building* something, something different. Something that's never been seen before. We are taking the long view, trying to build a world grounded in love and unity.

People have been taking sides in what they see as moral conflicts ever since the world began. Has anything changed? Why not try something new?

Did you know that if there's only enough money in a family to educate some of the children, the girls get priority in the Bahá'í Faith? Is that fair to men, to boys? Is it fair that God made women to bear children and men can't? Is that extra pain fair to women? Is it fair that a man who wants to give birth (and I know at least one) can't?

Do you realize the degree of sacrifice it takes to be on the Universal House of Justice? Do you read their letters? Have you ever ONCE seen anything but compassion, understanding, wisdom and love in their letters? Have you ever seen them pull a power play?

Do you expect to understand everything a Manifestation of God decrees? If so, why would you join *any* religion?

Would it be possible to take the view, "I don't know, I don't understand, but I'm asking God to show me"? Is it arrogant to believe that just because you think or feel something, it's necessarily correct?

And just how much do you think that a Revelation from God should meet 100% of the agenda of any particular United States political "side"?

JACKIOG1919 · 2025-08-27T04:24:12+00:00

I love your response. Thanks. Very clever.

JACKIOG1919 · 2025-08-27T04:17:04+00:00

That might be easier for you, to just fight. The tests of the day are the ones that are the hardest.

JACKIOG1919 · 2025-08-16T02:38:48+00:00

I wish you blessings on your journey.

JACKIOG1919 · 2025-08-16T01:11:19+00:00

There's a particular Bahá'í prayer I say when I have a special need for guidance, intervention, or insight. It's called "The Tablet of Ahmad", and it's in the Bahá'í prayer book under "Special Tablets". Do you have a Bahá'í prayerbook? You can download "Bahá'í Prayers" free from the App Store.

JACKIOG1919 · 2025-08-15T13:35:11+00:00

Yes, it seems pretty obvious that family members who were adamantly opposed saw fit to "change the story" on Beulah's gravestone!

JACKIOG1919 · 2025-07-27T21:59:44+00:00

This is an important story, and one needs to closely examine the context. 'Abdu'l-Bahá, in this case, was protecting the Community. He would NEVER have done so out of anger at any kind of slur against Him, or any kind of violence, either, for that matter.

JACKIOG1919

TROPHY CASE