Bahai Temples (priests, rituals, follower, America, mission)

[arthra]

Well thanks Becky for your questions!

Becky wrote:

So how are marriages conducted?

My reply:

As above the Assembly designates a few witnesses to the couple vowing to abid eby the will of God...so this is very simple and free to do.

Becky:

I've also heard if a person doesn't get permission from their parents (no matter how old) they cannot marry -- wouldn't that be making life for that indivicdual worse by not being able to marry the person they want?

My reply:

Yes, it's true in a Baha'i marriage the living parents of the couple must freely consent to it. This probably seems very strange I must confess in a culture that appears to have forgotten the extended family to a great degree...but actually the reason for it is quite simple that it strengthens the family. Unity is a primary value in our Faith. So in my case my parents and my wifes parents supported the marriage and have been invaluable to our family from the beginning. We also don't have the proverbial "mother-in-law" either who was bitter about the marriage from the beginning.

Becky:

What are services (during the week) like? Do you have them? What day are they on?
Are there classes for all ages or just one big service?

My reply:

Baha'is meet every nineteen days according to our Calendar at a Feast which is named after an attribute of God. This Feast is divided into three simple portions: a spiritual portion with prayers; an administrative portion and finally a social portion with simple refreshments.

Becky:

Is all classes taught by volunteers?

My reply:

All the Baha'is in a community pitch in as they can...No body is paid. In larger communities we have childrens' classes, youth classes and adult classes with various study courses.

Is there tithes?

My reply:

Only Baha'is can contribute to the Faith and they do so voluntarily without anyone looking over their shoulder. We have a system called "Huquq" which means the portion of God that after expenses amounts to 19 % of the profits and this is a voluntary commitment made by the individual believer.

Sorry so many questions, I'm sure I'll have a ton more once Sharon gets that book to me!! (Thanks again Sharon, I'm so freaking excited!)

My reply:

Well I know Sharon will also be very pleased to respond to you..

God bless you!

- Art

[arthra]

There's a youtube video on Baha'i Temples that I thought would appropriate to attach to this thread:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2FQAQBI0fg

- Art

[Booko]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

So how are marriages conducted? I've also heard if a person doesn't get permission from their parents (no matter how old) they cannot marry -- wouldn't that be making life for that indivicdual worse by not being able to marry the person they want?

Yes, parental permission is essential. Art went into this already. I'll just add that while it may cause a hardship on a couple initially, that is far less than the hardship that comes of divorce, and particularly when there are children involved. It's possible to get married as a Baha'i without permission -- and you'll have your Administrative Rights taken away as a result. The thing is, without exception I have yet to see a marriage that happened without permission that survived more than 3 years. If that's not a "sign" I dunno what is.

What are services (during the week) like? Do you have them? What day are they on?

At the Temple itself, there's a devotional service on Sunday (at 2pm I think?). It's more for visitors, though. It's probably little like anything you're used to. There's a small reading stand where you can place a book or paper for reading, but pulpits are forbidden. There's a choir that sings a capalla music, there are readings, but NO sermons, as sermons are forbidden as well. The idea is that we should all be able to understand the readings and to have someone give a sermon is to assert one person's opinions over others. There's no collection, because we're forbidden to take money from non-Baha'is. Even at Baha'i events, the Fund box is tucked quietly in a corner, and no one refers to it.

Are there classes for all ages or just one big service?

The 19-day Feast, which is not what you'd see at the House of Worship, has 3 parts -- devotional, consultation, and social. The first and last parts are sort of self-explanatory. The middle part "consultation" is where members of the community discuss whatever issues are important to that community, read communications from the National Spiritual Assembly or sometimes the Universal House of Justice, or other institutions, give announcements, and the like. Sometimes there's a DVD or something to watch of events around the Baha'i world.

When there are children's classes, it's pretty normal practice in this country for the kids to have their classes during this portion.

Is all classes taught by volunteers?

Oh yes. Been there. Done that.

Is there tithes?

There is Haquq'u'llah (The Right of God), which functions as a tithe, but has some differences. First, it's more of a "luxury tax" than a straight up percentage. If your net worth is negative (you're in debt) then you pay nothing. You have to pay your bills first! You don't pay haquq on basic living expenses -- food, shelter, clothing and so forth. What constitutes "basic" living expences is between the individual believer and God. I've always been advised to read the Writings, pray about it, and then act accordingly. For the excess of one's wealth, Haquq is19% of that. For example, we have retirment savings. I pay Haqua on those. I don't pay it on our income as a whole, because we have the mortgage, the kids' education, medical bills, etc. Another important thing is while the institutions of the Faith can make *general* appeals about Haquq, making any individual appeal is forbidden. No one is going to contact any individual and tell them "yo -- pay up!"

Sorry so many questions, I'm sure I'll have a ton more once Sharon gets that book to me!! (Thanks again Sharon, I'm so freaking excited!)

Sorry I haven't mailed it yet. I was waiting on a spare book a friend has to include. "Hidden Words" is a short book, but a must.

[Bishka]

What are adminstrative rights?

[Booko]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

What are adminstrative rights?

The right to vote, the right to give to the Fund, and the right to be in the few "Baha'i only" meetings that take place.

[arthra]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

What are adminstrative rights?

Hi Becky!

Administrative Rights in the Baha'i Faith are exercised by adult Baha'is and include voting and holding elective office...attending the Nineteen Day Feasts and so on.

So an adult Baha'i votes at Ridwan for the members of their Local Spiritual Assembly for instance or attends a Unit Convention and votes for a delegate to attend the National Convention in next years election of a National Spiritual Assembly.

You can be elected to serve on the Spiritual Assembly in the twon where you live...or be a delegate to the National Convention..and so on.

"Bahá'ís in possession of their administrative rights may attend Nineteen
Day Feasts, vote and be voted for in Bahá'í elections, participate in
activities reserved for enrolled members in possession of their
administrative rights, contribute to the Bahá'í Funds, go on pilgrimage,
receive publications intended for Bahá'ís only, be appointed to service by
the institutions of the Faith, be married in the Faith, and enjoy the
blessings conferred through obedience to Bahá'í law."

- Guidance for Baha'i Groups by the NSA of the Baha'is of the United States, 2000

[Bishka]

So if you do't have those rights then you can't vote or give tithes?

So it's kind of like the LDS temple recommends in that sense?

[Booko]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

So if you do't have those rights then you can't vote or give tithes?

Right.

So it's kind of like the LDS temple recommends in that sense?

I don't know what a temple recommend entails. Could you elaborate?