The Baha'i Studies Listserv
On 16 Apr 2010 at 7:36, David Regal wrote:
> family members tonight on the subject, as we used to live in NZ. One
> said it was common knowledge among NZ Baha'is that she wrote to the
> UHJ arguing that Shoghi Effendi could not have been the successor of
> 'Abdu'l-Baha. There wasn't agreement as to whether she had actually
> criticized the UHJ.
It's nice to know the current style in Kiwi Bahai backbiting. This is
a preposterous accusation.
> Isn't this a bit misleading? Describing Alison as 'not enrolled'
> hardly sounds accurate. The House decided she wasn't to be counted as
> a Baha'i. In saying Alison is a Baha'i are you disagreeing with
> the UHJ decision
No, I'm saying the UHJ has not said that Alison is not a Bahai. They
said she didn't meet the requirements for membership of the
community. Then Susan Maneck said here that Alison wasn't a Bahai,
which is how the conversation got started.
> in most countries whether a person is classified a Baha'i or not is
> determined by whether they are enrolled.
Sure, perhaps I'm just a stickler. I don't want to put words in the
UHJ's mouth they never said.
> House decided to disenroll you, and referring to yourself as a Baha'i
> seems to tacitly imply criticism of their decision.
No criticism is intended: I just repeat the words of the UHJ: "you
cannot properly be considered as meeting the requirements of Baha´i
membership." I accept entirely their right to decide who is a member
and who is not.
> They said you weren't a Baha'i, though.
Do you have a source for that, apart from Susan? If they have really
said that, that's what I will quote.
I appreciate the relationship between being a Bahai and being a
member is puzzling: I get quite a few queries about it. I've asked
the UHJ if they could clarify, in a letter on 22 March 2010:
-------
".. I would like to apply again to be enrolled in the community, and
also to ask for some clarification about the meaning of enrollment
and disenrollment. I ask this for myself, and also to assist some the
friends who feel some uncertainty on this score. In response to one
of those who have asked me about this, I have written:
"So far as I understand it - and this is something the UHJ might
clarify - being on the membership rolls is meant to be like
voluntary membership of an association, which is a free choice on
both sides. There seem to be no procedures or reason required for
taking away membership or not giving it in the first place. No
explanation is given. It´s like the coach deciding who doesn´t
make
the cut."
I can imagine various other ways of understanding the significance of
being enrolled, in relation to being a Bahai. I would like to be able
to respond to such questions in terms acceptable to the Universal
House of Justice, and I think some clarification of the thinking of
the Universal House of Justice would be helpful for the whole
community, especially if disenrollment is intended to be a life-time
situation, meaning that disenrolled Bahais will be a permanent part
of the Bahai scene.
Secondly, could the Universal House of Justice say whether
disenrollment is a form of sanction for breaching Bahai law. I think
that it is not, since the term `sanction´ has not been used, but a
clear statement would be helpful. Bahais have thought that
disenrollment is a more severe form of the removal of voting rights,
and have been quite imaginative in thinking of what sins might have
merited it! ..."
---------
I'll post the UHJ's answer on one of the information tabs on my blog.
Sen
[email protected]
senmcglinn.wordpress.com
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--
Happy are those who spend their days in gaining knowledge, in
discovering the secrets of nature, and in penetrating the subtleties
of
pure truth! Woe to those who are contented with ignorance, whose
hearts
are gladdened by thoughtless imitation, ... who have wasted their
lives!"(~Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions p.137)
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--
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