Interesting little note: It is not immediately obvious that Baha'i is a religion of Islamic origin. Only the names of the founder and his son, along with a single segment of the video, give any indication of this. I wonder whether this is accidental or a deliberate attempt to remove specific religious trappings (either to make it easier for non-Baha'i to relate or to avoid prejudice from those with chips on their shoulders).
Another interesting note: Upon reading the specific laws of the Baha'i, most of the prohibitions are pretty self explanatory and are in line with Baha'u'llah's general message of unity and equality. For example: Be kind to animals, no slavery, no war, no drugs, etc. The prohibition against homosexuality is a little troubling, but still pretty standard for religion. The abolition of the priesthood and monasticism are fairly startling but I can see how those institutions could create divisions and prejudice which would run counter to the faith's message.
I have to ask though, what exactly is Baha'u'llah's problem with "the kissing of hands?" That's a pretty odd thing to forbid and I have no idea why it's on this list.
It is not immediately obvious that Baha'i is a religion of Islamic origin. Only the names of the founder and his son, along with a single segment of the video, give any indication of this. I wonder whether this is accidental or a deliberate attempt to remove specific religious trappings (either to make it easier for non-Baha'i to relate or to avoid prejudice from those with chips on their shoulders).
ReplyDeleteHmm accidental or deliberate? I guess I'd have to say deliberate but not for the reason you propose. We may have sprung from the context of Islam but we aren't Muslims. Does Christian art have to distinguish itself from Judaism on purpose to not be mistaken as such?
I have to ask though, what exactly is Baha'u'llah's problem with "the kissing of hands?" That's a pretty odd thing to forbid and I have no idea why it's on this list.
Hmm - never heard someone ponder the question before. To me it seems obvious that the kissing of the rings is a sign of dedication to the Pope of Rome. But here's the note of explanation given for the reference to not kissing rings:
In a number of earlier religious Dispensations and in certain cultures the kissing of the hand of a religious figure or of a prominent person was expected as a mark of reverence and deference to such persons and as a token of submission to their authority. Bahá'u'lláh prohibits the kissing of hands and, in His Tablets, He also condemns such practices as prostrating oneself before another person and other forms of behaviour that abase one individual in relation to another.
Not sure if it relates, just comes to mind, that there are injunctions against the family of Baha'u'llah having any claim on the property of followers of the religion. This has to do with the fact that all of us are equal before God I think. And as such none get to be kissed on a ring that signifies their prominence.