Status Updates From Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era...

"Its uniqueness is that for the first time in religious history[...]provides for the authorized interpretation of [h]is Word, and ensures the continuity of the divinely appointed authority with flows from the Source of the Faith."

I think the Sages of Judaism would disagree. And the pope. And the Orthodox Patriarchs. And—

Also, gotta say, Baha'is actually having a plan to create a "New World Order," laid out in EXHAUSTIVE detail...I get that it's mostly a combination of utopianism and poor choice of words, but this reads less like an apologetic and more like someone took The Protocols of the Elders of Zion and copy/replaced "Jews" for "Baha'is."

SHUT UP ALREADY! You're going on and on and on with a level of ecstatic grandeur that other religions reserve for actual miracles and divine revelations. It's your religion's FREAKING BUREAUCRACY! Baha'ullah saying "Hey, our organization should have local, national and international levels!" is not some ineffable knowledge that only God could have devised! The Catholic Church does it too! And secular governments!

(Also, in a lot of cases, these movements have been gaining ground at specific times and specific places. I can certainly point to some parts of the world today that disprove the idea that feminism/ecumenicalism/etc. are on the verge of utopian victory.)

The war thing is, again, nonsense ("the two worst wars in history prove that he brought world peace!"), but the other examples are movements that were happening before Baha'ullah.

There's a lot to like about Baha'i ethics, but jumping on a moving bandwagon doesn't somehow make you the driver.

"I acknowledge that I did not offer any actual proof of my claims, so here are other books that supposedly do."

Jesus: There are going to be many false prophets, including ones who will claim to be me.

Esslemont: This prophecy proves that Baha'ullah is a real prophet and also Jesus, somehow!

Once again, I am very confused by the arguments he chooses to make.

"Had [h]e come there as a free man, people might have said that it was the trick of an imposter."

Yeah, well, you cite "his name means 'glory of God'" as evidence, and he DID pick that name.

"Baha'ullah brought world peace!"

*WWI happens*

"This somehow proves it more!"

*WWII happens*

"THIS SOMEHOW PROVES IT MORE!"

More anti-Semitism. Yaaaaay.

"...we may expect that none but the appointed Messenger of God will be able to break the seal and disclose the meanings concealed in the casket of the prophetic parables."

I get the feeling this is leading up to, "Our prophets are true because they say they're true. Who are you gonna believe, them or your lying eyes?"

"The measure of agreement between this view, which is founded on careful scientific research, and that of the Baha'i teachings, is truly remarkable."

N.B.: This comes after a long digression about how science has apparently proven the existence of telepathy.

I'm pretty sure a lot of these other examples are also BS, but I don't have time right now to do a thorough investigation.

I will say, though, that it's funny that he ends with "even ESPERANTO wasn't instantly accepted as a great idea!" Yeah, those skeptics sure have egg on their face now, right?

"Columbus was laughed to scorn by the so-called scientists of his day"

NO HE WASN'T.

EVERYONE KNEW THE WORLD WAS ROUND SINCE AT LEAST THE ANCIENT GREEKS. Columbus' contribution was thinking that the world was small enough for him to sail around it to Asia. Which he was wrong about.

Another problem with this book: it gets bogged down navel-gazing about minutiae or metaphors. Yes, John, I know how seeds work. I know evaporation is a thing. Get to the point already.

So, again: Abdul-Baha predicts his own imminent death, and when he gets better, suddenly declares that anyone who thought he was going to die (i.e., anyone who believed his own prediction) was a wicked fool. And in the author's mind, this somehow all proves his divine wisdom.

It's not just that I'm unconvinced that Bahaism is correct; it's that the author is doing such a ridiculous job TRYING to convince me.

I'm actually kind of laughing at this, where the author insists that Baha'u'llah is the prophesized leader who will bring world peace, then tries to argue that all the wars that happened during and since his life somehow prove it.

To be fair, they do start explaining the Bab's teachings eventually, instead of just gushing about how right they are. Seems like it would have been smarter to incorporate them into his biography, though.

Okay, cool, a miracle story. Something that theoretically proves your religion's rightness, instead of just telling us how it's so right and proof is unnecessary.

"...just as Moses and Jesus before Him had been regarded as imposters."

When was Moses regarded as an imposter? Is this talking about the Korah rebellion or something?

"The fire of His eloquence, the wonder of His rapid and inspired writing..."

Examples?

"...His extraordinary wisdom and knowledge..."

Examples?

"...His courage and zeal as a reformer..."

EXAMPLES?