Publication: The Baha'i faith 1957-1988: A survey of contemporary developments
Issued Date
1989-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
0048721X
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-38249021921
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Religion. Vol.19, No.1 (1989), 63-91
Suggested Citation
Peter Smith, Moojan Momen The Baha'i faith 1957-1988: A survey of contemporary developments. Religion. Vol.19, No.1 (1989), 63-91. doi:10.1016/0048-721X(89)90077-8 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/15700
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Authors
Journal Issue
Thesis
Title
The Baha'i faith 1957-1988: A survey of contemporary developments
Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
This paper gives a general account of the developments in the Baha'i Faith over the last three decades. The period began with the Baha'i Faith as a little-known religion with a hereditary leadership of predominantly Iranian membership but with some spread to the West. At the present time the religion has been transformed into a much better-known religion led by an elected council. It has increased some 20-fold in numbers and is now world-wide in membership. The major structural changes involved as the previous hereditary leadership at the international level was converted into the leadership of an elected council are analysed. The growth and development of the religion over this period are described and some statistical information is given. The central concerns of the religion during this time are described in terms of a number of motifs: polar, legalism, millenarianism, social reformism, universalism, liberalism, and martyrdom and sacrifice. An attempt is made to analyse some of the present problems facing the Baha'i community, both in terms of the persecutions that it suffers as well as the problems presented by its successful expansion, and to describe the ways in which it copes with these. © 1989.