Replying to your remark that the House of Justice functions as an ecclesiastical authority: It really doesn’t. It’s bound to enact the Laws of the Faith as written by Baha’u’llah & interpreted by Abdu’l-Baha. No member of the House is authorized to tell Baha’is how to practice their faith. Even the institution can’t create rituals for worship. So Lakota Baha’is may worship using hoop dances while Baha’is in Atlanta may sing gospel songs. Programs of the Faith often originate from a call by the House to accomplish a goal, then move back & forth between global & local levels to be collaboratively crafted. It’s an organic process unlike anything I’ve ever seen. AND it is unique in that it was designed by the Prophet, Himself.

I’d add that in references in 1&2 John, the apostle describes, not a single Antichrist, but a “spirit of antichrist” that “many” manifest by working against God. The word is self-defining: “anti Christ”. So, if the spirit of Christ is love, a person who manifests the spirit of antichrist will manifest hate. It’s that simple. Coming to that realization after a careful reading of scripture changed much in my world view, brought seemingly contradictory passages of scripture into agreement, and answered a myriad questions I had about the conflict between church doctrine and the words of Christ.

Hi Wendy, it’s true that you don’t have priests in the Baha’i Faith, but the Universal House of Justice certainly functions as an ecclesiastical authority for your religion (and it is a very uncompromising, strictly authoritarian structure, at that). Many Baha’is have understood and taught Baha’u’llah’s prophetic vision as a call for a uniting of Religion and a World State at some future time – with the UHJ decidedly in charge. This is a theocracy. Historically every theocratic system has believed it was building the Kingdom of God on earth, but always with tragic results. I’m still waiting patiently for Maya’s promised article explaining her understanding of this topic. God bless.

Hi, Bill, interesting comment. I didn’t know what a theocracy was, so I looked it up:
–a form of government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, the God’s or deity’s laws being interpreted by the ecclesiastical authorities.
–a system of government by priests claiming a divine commission.
–a commonwealth or state under such a form or system of government.

Since Bahá’ís don’t have priests or ecclesiastical authorities, I don’t think the term theocracy applies. We call what we’re building the Kingdom of God “on earth as it is in heaven.” Isn’t that what Christians have been praying for?

Thanks for your excellent question. I hope to go into more depth on this in a future article, but I have tried to offer a thumbnail sketch of my understanding of the subject in Comments.

The administration Baha’u’llah established is for Baha’is & those who are ready & willing to abide by Baha’i Law. Baha’i Scripture makes it clear that we can’t impose that Law on the unwilling. The purpose of faith is to transform hearts & strengthen the spiritual nature of those it touches so that they willingly abide by guidance they have come to see as beneficial—whether or not they accept its Divine origin. There are places where secular governments rely on Baha’i institutions for some things. Places where justice or socio-economic development or education are organized by Baha’is because they were asked to assume that role by the community. This is an organic process; our part is to keep kneading the leaven into the dough.