The Baha'i Studies Listserv Found the source artice: Daheshists believe that their leader, Dr. Dahesh – Saleem Moosa El-Awshee ("Peaceful Moses Elisha") (1912-1984), founded a new religion called DAHESHISM in Beirut Lebanon is the "Return" of The Báb (Ali Mohammed Shirazi). The followers of Dr. Dahesh claim that he was the miracle-working Prophet of Lebanon. They also claim that he performed thousands of supernatural miracles which were witnessed by hundreds; many of whom are alive still today. He produced five books which he claimed were divinely inspired. With respect to the relation of this new Faith to the Bahais, the followers of Dr. Dahesh claim that he was the “return” of the Bab – the forerunner to Bahaullah. Just as the Bab claimed to be the “spiritual return” of the Mahdi, Dr. Dahesh is the return of the Bab. The Bab did in fact teach a form or reincarnation called "return" in various books he wrote. These books have not been published by the Baha'is, and the Universal House of Justice in Haifa has refused to publish these books in full. They however publish certain carefully selected "selections" from them; leaving out all inferences of "return" as reincarnation. The UHJ has also denied Baha'i scholars photocopies of the originals for study from these books by The Bab, but a few have "leaked out" or were in possession of Baha'is in Iran for generations, and a few translations are coming forth from former Baha'i scholars. To justify their point, Daheshis empahsise that Baha'u'llah himself proclaimed that he was the "return" of the Imaam Husein; the martyred grandson of the prophet Muhammad. The emissary to Dr. Dahesh, Prof Brax, who is credited with being the return of Apostle Paul clarified that Bahaullah was a “Guide” and not a “Prophet.” A "Guide" is different from a Prophet. A Prophet can perform supernatural miracles, but a Guide cannot. Yet, a Guide can receive divine inspiration like a Prophet, but is not a Prophet is the strictist sense of the word. Daheshism raises the following questions for the Bahai Faith: * By concealing the revelations of the Bab, the Bahais are attempting to veil the references to the concepts of “return” or “recincarnation” that Bab preached and which forms the crux of the Daheshi faith.
* Bahais have misinterpreted the words of Bahaullah which state that there would not be another revelation for another 1,000 years. While Bahais claim that this edict indicates that there would not be another manifestation for 1,000 years after Bahaullah, the Daheshis claim that these words of Bahaullah were directed towards the revelation of the Bab whose law came exactly 1,000 years after the disappearance of the Imam Mahdi (Bab rose in 1260 AH, while the Imam is rumored to have disappeared in 260 AH). * There is ample of evidence that 'Abdu'l-Baha was NOT infallible, and never claimed infallibility. In 1917, 'Abdu'l-Baha predicted that "universal peace" would be established by 1957. This prediction was contained in all editions of the book Baha'u'llah and the New Era before 1950. In the 1950 edition, the prediction was removed without explanation. Also, 'Abdu'l-Baha has said certain things (dates/names/incidents) that do not coincide with known historical or scientific facts; such as the date of the rise of the Umayyids, Socrates visiting the Prophets of Israel, the Law of Moses commanding that thieves have their hand cut off, etc. 'Abdu'l-Baha was clearly NOT infallible, and never claimed to be. * In line with Reform Bahais, Daheshis question the authenticity of the Will and Testament of Abdul Baha. They claim that it was doctored in favour of Shoghi Effendi. They produce documentary evidence to establish their claim. Daheshis also draw inspirations from the symbols produced by Bahaullah claiming that the Ringstone Symbol actually points to the “advent” of Dr. Dahesh. The Ringstone is a symbol of two 5-pointed stars with two Arabic letters in the middle: BA (twice) and HA (twice). ="B" ("bah") ="H" ("hah") "B" (vertical) Two 5-pointed Stars The "meaning" behind the Ringstone symbol Baha'is believe that the meaning is this: Top "H"="World of God" Middle "B"="World of the Prophets" Lower "H"="World of Creation" Verticle "B"="Revelation of the Prophets" Twin Stars="The Twin Manifestations of God (The Baab and Baha'u'llah) Here is what we KNOW it means: Read from left to right: * The first 5 pointed-star represents The Baab, whose symbol was a 5 pointes star.... * The BA (twice) and HA (twice) is BAHA said twice: meaning Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'-Baha. * The Vertical "B" unites the two "H"s together: BAHA'u'llah Abdu'l-BAHA They are UNITED because they are father and son. * The final 5 pointed-star represents DAHESH, whose symbol was also a 5 pointed star..... Thus, for Daheshists, the Ringstone contains the following Message.... * The Baab (5-pointed star) will be followed by TWO BAHAS (Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha), then there shall come Dahesh (5-pointed star) to SEAL this Revelation. Daheshists Questions for Baha'is 1. Where in the Writings of Baha'u'llah does he claim to be a "Prophet"? 2. Why did Shoghi Effendi and the House forbid the publishing of books by The Baab (other than "selections")? 3. Why did Shoghi Effendi and the House deny Baha'i scholars photocopies of books and epistles by The Baab...without explanation? 4. Why did 'Abdu'l-Baha say in Some Answered Questions that the Baha'i Revelation would have "twenty four guardians" when the Baha'i Revelation had only one? 5. Why was Shoghi Effendi working on a "House of the Guardian" (Dar-i-Valiat) at the time of his death, when he--being infallible as he claimed--KNEW before his death that he was to be the very last Guardian? Who was the "House of the Guardian" for? 6. Why didn't Shoghi Effendi "appoint" a successor, having no children, and all the other Aghsan (blood descendants of Baha'u'llah) were declared "Covenant-Breakers"? 7. Why didn't 'Abdu'l-Baha mention "Guardians" outside of his "Will and Testament" (first released by SE in 1925) or in "Some Answered Questions" (published by SE in 1930)? 8. Why did 'Abdu'l-Baha say that Baha'is could be Baha'i-Muslims or Baha'i-Christians or Baha'i-Freemasons, and Shoghi Effendi said the exact opposite? 9. Why did many Baha'i pilgrims who visited 'Abdu'l-Baha later say that he taught reincarnation, but 'Abdu'l-Baha taught against reincarnation in "Some Answered Questions" (a book never seen by anyone until published under the order of Shoghi Effendi in 1930)? 10. What did The Baab mean when he wrote that he was the "return" of the Imaam Mahdi, and that Mulla Husein (his first disciple) was the "return" of the Prophet Muhammad? How was Mulla Husein the "return" of the Prophet Muhammad? 11. Why did the Baabis claim that The Baab could perform supernatural miracles when Shoghi Effendi "explained away" all physical miracles as "mere parables" and "metaphors" and NOT literal supernatural events? 12. Why did it take Shoghi Effendi seven years (and a British Court order) to release photocopies of the "Will and Testament" of Abdu'l-Baha? 13. Why did a renowned British handwriting expert--one very familiar with Persian-- come to the conclusion that the "Will and Testament" was a forgery? ________________________________ From: "Iskandar Hai, M.D." <iskan...@buffalo.edu> To: Baha'i Studies <bahai-st@list.jccc.edu> Sent: Wed, January 27, 2010 8:48:14 AM Subject: Re: Sects The Baha'i Studies Listserv Some Answerd Questions, in its original language, was published in Leiden Holland around 1908 or 1909 by the prestigious Brill. Also, the Secret of Divine Civilization, in its original language, was published during the life time of the Author. Browne published A Traveller's Narrative around 1891 in its original langauge and in its English translation. Many of the Letters that He wrote were also published and disseminated in His lifetime in a variety of ways and they were later republished in various collections or compilations after His passing. Best regards, Iskandar Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry® ________________________________ From: Stephen Gray <skg_z...@yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 06:36:03 -0800 To: Baha'i Studies<bahai-st@list.jccc.edu> Subject: Re: Sects The Baha'i Studies Listserv He was born in 1909 and the Bab died in 1850, so other than the reincarnation claim he should not be even remotely considered to a successor candidate. He also based that claim on the Ruthite claim that all of the works of 'Abdu'l-Baha that were published posthumously (ie after 1921) are inauthentic. This would include (I relied on wiki for the dates): Foundations of World Unity (1972) Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha (1978) 'Abdu'l-Baha in London (1982) The Promulgation of Universal Peace (1982) Some Answered Questions (1990) The Secret of Divine Civilization (1990) Tablets of the Divine Plan (1991) The Will & Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha (1992) The Question of Universal Peace - The Tablet to the Hague by 'Abdu'l-Baha (1999) Paris Talks (1995) Memorial of the Faithful (1997) A Traveler's Narrative: Written to illustrate the episode of the Bab (2002) This list is way too long, but that is what they have condemned to being fake in their minds. ________________________________ From: Susan Maneck <sman...@gmail.com> To: Baha'i Studies <bahai-st@list.jccc.edu> Sent: Tue, January 26, 2010 7:10:34 PM Subject: Re: Sects The Baha'i Studies Listserv > They did so on the grounds that they think the Bab taught reincarnation, So because Dahesh thinks he is the reincarnation of the Bab that qualifies him to say that Some Answered Questions is a forgery? __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:skg_z...@yahoo.com Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:leave-483303-17190...@list.jccc.edu Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to ly...@list.jccc.edu Or subscribe: http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=bahai-st Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu Web - http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/?forum=bahai-st News (on-campus only) - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai...@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:iskan...@buffalo.edu Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:leave-483386-249...@list.jccc.edu Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to ly...@list.jccc.edu Or subscribe: http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=bahai-st Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu Web - http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/?forum=bahai-st News (on-campus only) - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai...@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:%%emailaddr%% Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:%%email.unsub%% Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to ly...@list.jccc.edu Or subscribe: http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=bahai-st Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu Web - http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/?forum=bahai-st News (on-campus only) - news://list.jccc.edu/%%list.name%% Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai...@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:arch...@mail-archive.com Unsubscribe: send a blank email to mailto:leave-483450-274...@list.jccc.edu Subscribe: send subscribe bahai-st in the message body to ly...@list.jccc.edu Or subscribe: http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=bahai-st Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu Web - http://list.jccc.edu:8080/read/?forum=bahai-st News (on-campus only) - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai...@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu