Joseph’s Reviews > Baha'u'llah and the New Era: An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith > Status Update

"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.