Reform Bahai Faith Forum

NEW > the Reform Bahai Faith Forum!

Reform Bahai Faith Forum
http://reformbahai.org/forum/


"To be a Bahai simply means to love all the world; to love humanity and try to serve it; to work for universal peace and universal brotherhood." -- Abdu'l-Baha

The Reform Bahai Faith affirms the universal spiritual and moral principles taught in all of the great religious traditions. Similar to Mahayana Buddhism and the Buddha's Example of compassion, Reform Bahais believe the Example set by Abdul-Baha during his travels to Europe and the United States in the early 20th century, an Example of universal love and brotherhood, was perhaps his greatest Teaching. As Abdul-Baha often suggested, far from having the exclusive truth and the fanaticism to which that notion has so often led, Reform Bahais look to what is universal in the world's religious experience, and include prayers and meditations from other religions in their private and community worship, listen to and learn from God's other religions.

The Reform Bahai Faith, known during Abdul-Baha's time as the Bahai Movement or Cause, is not an organization, but a way of life.

The Reform Bahai Faith is an independent denomination that reforms Baha'u'llah's Dispensation and offers humanity His Teachings in the universal Interpretation of Abdul-Baha. Reform Bahais follow Abdul-Baha's 1912 Authentic Covenant: http://www.reformbahai.org/Covenant.html

See the Reform Bahai Faith website for further details: http://www.reformbahai.org

NECESSARY POLICY:

This Bahai discussion forum is for members of the Reform Bahai Faith and people of *goodwill* interested in exploring Reform Bahai or just curious. The Reform Bahai Faith Forum is closed to members of the Wilmette-Haifan Baha'i Faith. Members of other Baha'i denominations are welcome. Acceptance of this Registration Agreement constitutes that you are not a member of the Baha'i denomination located in Haifa, Israel.

Disrespecting and denouncing other Bahais as "covenant breakers," essentially the Shiite practice of "takfir," violates the civil rights of the individual as well as the teachings of Baha'u'llah and Abdul-Baha. It will not be allowed or tolerated in this Forum. For details see the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruling against the Baha'is of Wilmette, Illinois, November 23, 2010: http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/fdocs/docs.fwx?caseno=08-2306&submit=showdkt&yr=08&num=2306

Baha'i Lawsuit Articles from The Chicago Tribune

Judge: Baha'i believers can call themselves Baha'i Chicago BreakingNews November 23, 2010
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/11/judge-bahai-believers-can-call-themselves-bahai.html

Orthodox believers can keep calling themselves Baha'i, court says. November 25, 2010 By Manya A. Brachear, Chicago Tribune reporter.
http://archive.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/11/federal-appeals-court-rules-in-favor-of-splinter-bahai-group.html

Federal appeals court rules in favor of splinter Baha'i group
November 25, 2010 8:12 PM
http://archive.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/11/federal-appeals-court-rules-in-favor-of-splinter-bahai-group.html


Chicago Tribune. Baha'i rift. Baha'is upset with Orthodox Baha'i Faith
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-05-18/news/0905170216_1_orthodox-community-rift-jesus-and-muhammad

Comments posted in response to The Chicago Tribune: 

http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/Chicago_Tribune.html 

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

From
http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/fdocs/docs.fwx?caseno=08-2306&submit=showdkt&yr=08&num=2306

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Public Access to Oral Argument recordings, Opinions, Unpublished Orders, and other selected case materials

View or Download Documents

08-2306 : Nat'l Spiritual v. Nat'l Spiritual Case Type: Civil ; Nature of Suit: Oth Stat Act-federal Question

If the document you are looking for is not in this system, keep in mind that most documents for 2008 and later cases are now located in the CMECF system.

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Doc	Uploaded	Filed	Description
2	02/20/2009	02/20/2009	Oral Argument
3	11/23/2010	11/23/2010	Opinion (SYKES)

Selected Newspaper Articles - Updated 12-6-2010

Selected Newspaper Articles

Ian RoeBuck commented on November 24, 2010 9:43 AM on chicagobreakingnews.com
"Actually after reading the decision, it did not "sidestep the issue of whether a religious organization can trademark its name or icons." It said 1. the original ruling was troubling because it was determining issues of sucession, and 2. because there is a difference between symbols and icons of a faith rather than a church. In other words one can trademark syumbol of hte Prevyterian church, one can not trade mark the symbol or name Christian or the cross as those are generic to the faith and not the church."
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/11/judge-bahai-believers-can-call-themselves-bahai.html#comment-784202

Federal appeals court rules in favor of splinter Baha'i group
(FULL TEXT on one page)
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/11/federal-appeals-court-rules-in-favor-of-splinter-bahai-group.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+ChicagoBreakingNews+(Chicago+Breaking+News)

The Kansas City Star
Orthodox believers can keep calling themselves Baha'i, court rules
(FULL TEXT on one page)
http://www.kansascity.com/2010/11/25/2472247/orthodox-believers-can-keep-calling.html

Chicago Tribune: Orthodox believers can keep calling themselves Baha'i, court rules
The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life
http://pewforum.org/Religion-News/Chicago-Tribune-Orthodox-believers-can-keep-calling-themselves-Bahai-court-rules.aspx

Orthodox believers can keep calling themselves Baha'i, court rules
The News & Observer
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/25/826913/orthodox-believers-can-keep-calling.html

Breaking: Judge Rules in Favor of Minority Bahá'í Sect
http://wilmette.patch.com/articles/breaking-judge-rules-in-favor-of-minority-bahai-sect

7th Circuit: Baha'i Groups Not Bound By Old Trademark Injunction
By Howard M. Friedman
http://religionclause.blogspot.com/2010/11/7th-circuit-bahai-groups-not-bound-by.html

India Times
http://oneclick.indiatimes.com/article/00XA8NY3JId9y

7th Circuit Rules for Splinter Baha'i Group
By JOE CELENTINO
http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/11/29/32158.htm

Orthodox believers can keep calling themselves Baha'i, court rules
The Republic, Columbus, Indiana
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/RELIG-BAHAI_3810181/RELIG-BAHAI_3810181/

Orthodox believers can keep calling themselves Baha'i, court rules
The State, South Carolina's largest newspaper
http://www.thestate.com/2010/11/25/1578536/orthodox-believers-can-keep-calling.html

The Herald, Rock Hill, S.C.
http://www.heraldonline.com/2010/11/25/2642982/orthodox-believers-can-keep-calling.html

Orthodox believers can keep calling themselves Baha'i, court rules
The Olympian
http://www.theolympian.com/2010/11/25/1452828/orthodox-believers-can-keep-calling.html

Federal appeals court rules in favor of splinter Baha'i group
Orthodox believers can keep calling themselves Baha'i, court says.
November 25, 2010 By Manya A. Brachear, Chicago Tribune reporter
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-11-25/news/ct-met-bahai-decision-20101125_1_baha-u-llah-baha-i-community-shoghi-effendi

EagleTribune.com
http://www.eagletribune.com/worldnational/x1468309040/Orthodox-believers-can-call-themselves-Bahai

Orthodox believers can keep calling themselves Baha'i, court rules
http://dailyme.com/story/2010112500003716/orthodox-believers-calling-bahai-court-rules.html

Court sides with splinter group
http://missoulian.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/religion/article_020fcce2-ff2c-11df-90e3-001cc4c002e0.html
Leagle
http://www.leagle.com/xmlResult.aspx?xmldoc=In%20FCO%2020101123167.xml&docbase=CSLWAR3-2007-CURR

The News Tribune
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/11/25/1439701/orthodox-believers-can-keep-calling.html

Court of Appeals for the division of the Baha 'I Court Rules
http://www.dragonparadox.com/student-loans/studentloan-consolidatestudentloan-collegestudentloan-studentloandebt-federalstudentloanconsolidation/federal-agency-federal-ministry-of-the-court-of-appeals-for-the-division-of-the-baha-i-court-rules/comment-page-1/#comment-2078

2010 U.S. App. LEXIS NEXIS 24028 Full Case Display
http://www.lexisone.com/lx1/caselaw/freecaselaw?action=FCLRetrieveCaseDetail&caseID=1&format=FULL&resultHandle=8106795326bb30be50011f68f845d00e&pageLimit=10&xmlgTotalCount=1&citation=2010%20U.S.%20App.%20LEXIS%2024028

http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-7th-circuit/1545624.html

http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/tmp/3D1FFQRO.pdf

Orthodox Bahá'í Faith wins appeal before 7th Circuit Court of Appeals
http://www.truebahai.com/court_case.html 

Judge Sykes' Opinion - Wilmette, Haifan Baha'i

Again, Judge Sykes' Opinion did not sidestep "questions about whether a religious organization can trademark its name or icons." In fact, it directly answers the question:

p 14-15: "Considered in light of these First Amendment limitations on the court’s authority, certain aspects of the 1966 injunction are troubling. The decree declares that “there is only one Baha’i Faith,” that Shoghi Effendi was its last Guardian and none has come since, and the National Spiritual Assembly was its representative and “highest authority” in the United States and was “entitled to exclusive use of the marks and symbols of the Faith,” including the exclusive use of the word “Bahá’í.” Declarations of this sort push the boundaries of the court’s authority under Kedroff and Presbyterian Church. In church property disputes (trademark suits obviously qualify), the First Amendment limits the sphere in which civil courts may operate. When a district judge takes sides in a religious schism, purports to decide matters of spiritual succession, and excludes dissenters from using the name, symbols, and marks of the faith (as distinct from the name and marks of a church), the First Amendment line appears to have been crossed."
http://www.ca7.uscourts.gov/fdocs/docs.fwx?caseno=08-2306&submit=showdkt&yr=08&num=2306

The Court clearly states, as a matter of incontestable historical fact, that the Wilmette nsa merely constitutes one of many interpretations of the Baha'i Faith.

The Root of the Problem with the Wilmette, Haifan Baha'is

The root of the problem with the Wilmette, Haifan interpretation of the Baha'u'llah's Teachings is that it leaves out Abdul-Baha's actual 1912 Authentic Covenant, substituting the spurious will and testament forged by Shoghi Effendi's family in 1921.

The Bahai Faith can be Reformed but only by returning to the Interpretation clearly outlined by Abdul-Baha in Europe and America prior to his death. The evidence and record of his Interpretation has been preserved in the Star of the West for anyone willing to read with an independent mind, free of the decades of deception and brainwashing into blind belief administered by the Haifans.