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Title: Bahá'í by Francis Beckwith ISBN: 0-87123-848-9 Publisher: Baker Book House Pub. Date: 01 October, 1985 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $4.99

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Average Customer Rating: 2.42 (26 reviews)

Rating: 3
Summary: New Thoughts
Comment: My old review has been the "spotlight" for a while here, and I have been thinking about this book recently, so I want to revisit this issue.

This book seems to have become a classic in Christian polemics against the Baha'i Faith; fair enough. The book argues that because Christianity is Christianity, and the Baha'i Religion is not Christianity, the Baha'i Faith is something which is not only ridiculous but a misguiding religion with probably connections to the Christian understanding of "satanism." This is the kind of work (so-called) "evangelical" Christians do.

But do not mistake this for a scholarly treatment of the Baha'i Faith--not even a scholarly treatment from a Christian perspective. As one reviewer seems to place weight, the book allegedley survived a thesis defense at a University. It is not the goal of Christian philosophy or theology, however, to devalue other living religious. To the contrary, the "encounter of world religions" (as Tillich put it) is to test one's own epistemological and metaphysical claims and hope for a mutual transformation--not an imperialist conversion.

I myself am in the midst of writing a replacement for Beckwith's book, as a Christian pastor who has dealt with the Baha'i faith in communities whom I have served. E-Mail me with you thoughts if you're interested. I don't see how Beckwith's book actaully serves the church outside of a pretentious waving of the Bible at the alien religion. The work that needs to be done is to (1) understand correctly what the Baha'i religion is, its debates and issues, its humanitarian views, (2) figure out appropriate ways to approach the religion in the local community, and (3) develop a sustained or sustaining theology of pluralism for Christian community which adequately addresses the complexities of this new religion in a way that is both explicitly Christian and ethical.

Rating: 1
Summary: Christian writer on the attack
Comment: This small book is a presentation of the Baha'i faith (or some aspects of it) from the viewpoint of an evangelical writer - one of those who fortifies his faith and thinks he shows his love for Jesus by attacking the beliefs of others. Eevn the attacks are unoriginal. There is nothing here that hasn't been written elsewhere. More to the point, there is nothing here that hasn't been refuted elsewhere.

Rating: 1
Summary: Bad choice - even for Christians
Comment: For those who pointed out that the Bahai reviewers did not site specific details, go to http://bci.org/prophecy-fulfilled/pterry.htm

It should be noted that Dr Beckwith has repeatedly quoted or paraphrased individual Bahai's with the intention of claiming this is what all Bahai's believe.

If you are looking for arguments to use against Bahai's, this is not a good book, since most Bahai's would question some of the assumptions made about Bahai beliefs, including the assumption made right on the title. Bahai's never use the word "Bahai'ism" Why should you? It would just make you look ignorant.

I'm sure you could investigate the Bahai beliefs on your own and come up with your own conclusions. Your arguments would have more weight, because they would be your arguments, not parroted half-truths.

If you are looking for information about what Bahai's believe, this is also not a good book, because the views presented by Dr Beckwith are not always accurate. If you want non-biased information, there are many sources written by non-Bahai's, and those sources are frequently much more accurate.

Read the websites opinion on the so-called "conspiracy" to edit out a prophesy... I think you'll se that this just illustrates my point.