Universal Religion

Discussion:

Universal Religion

(too old to reply)

Jenabe Fazel Mazandarani

2009-08-28 00:31:34 UTC

http://www.reformbahai.org/Jenabe_Fazel.html

Jenabe Fazel Mazandarani was commissioned by Abdul-Baha to speak on his
behalf throughout North America, largely during the year prior to his
own death in 1921. His speeches are, therefore, especially
representative of Abdul-Baha's Interpretation of Baha'u'llah's
Teachings. Mirza Ahmad Sohrab accompanied and translated for him during
much of Jenabe Fazel's speaking tour.

"His honor Fazel, in reality, is perfect in all grades—in knowledge and
virtue, in sincerity of intention, in beauty of character, in severance
from aught else save God and attraction with the fragrances of God."
—Abdul-Baha to Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, July 1920.

"His honor Fazel is a revered person. He has been growing for a long
time in the Cause. Next to his honor, Mirza Abul Fazel, he is the best
informed of his contemporaries. He has no aspiration save service to the
Cause of God. He is a scholar." —Abdul-Baha to Roy C. Wilhelm, August 9,
1920.

"All these physical and outward improvements in the realm of science and
industry whisper into our ears that we are living in an age of Universal
Religion. They convince us that just as the physical globe in its
material aspect has become more and more united, likewise the endless
realms of the hearts must be swayed and conquered by dynamic spiritual
force which may bring into the higher consciousness of man that
Universal faith, that world religion, of which men and women have been
dreaming for ages and ages. We are in need of a Universal Religion today
which may act as the light in the globe of material civilization; a
Universal Religion which may function as spirit in the body politic, in
the commonwealth of humanity; a Universal Religion which may bring under
its tabernacle all the faiths of the world, melting them into one, and
enabling them to enter into the realm of unity." "The Elements of
Universal Religion." New Thought Auditorium, Seattle, Washington.
January 23, 1921. http://www.reformbahai.org/Jenabe_Fazel.html

"The Temple of Universal Religion: The Fundamental Oneness of all
Existing Faiths." April 24, 1921. Bahai Congress. Auditorium Hotel, Chicago.

"Religion Must Be the Cause of Love and Unity." Bahai Congress.
Auditorium Hotel, Chicago. April 25, 1921.

"The Conformity of Science and Religion: The Universal Education of the
Future." Bahai Congress. Auditorium Hotel, Chicago. April 26, 1921.

"The Dawn of the Sun of Reality and the Power of the Influence of
Baha'u'llah." Bahai Congress. Auditorium Hotel, Chicago. April 27, 1921.

"Bible Prophecies Fulfilled in this Age." Reality June 1921.

1920

First Public Address in USA. Bahai Congress. New York. April 27, 1920.

"The Bahai Revelation." Bahai Congress. New York. April 27, 1920.

"The Investigation of Truth." Bahai Congress. New York. April 28, 1920.

"The House of Spirituality in Persia." Bahai Congress. New York. April
29, 1920.

A partial Itinerary of his lectures throughout the United States and
Canada, during 1920 to 1921, which conveys the scope and importance that
Abdul-Baha placed on his tour.

"The Message of Jenabe Fazel." Harrison G. Dyar, in Short Talks
Practical Application of the Bahai Revelation, 1922. One man's attempt
to understand Abdul-Baha's Message.
--
Baha'i Faith & Religious Freedom of Conscience
http://www.fglaysher.c

Chicago Tribune. Baha'i rift. Baha'is upset with Orthodox Baha'i Faith
May 18, 2009
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/may/18/local/chi-bahai-18-may18

All my comments posted to The Chicago Tribune Forum on one page:
http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/Chicago_Tribune.html

Yahoo Group - ReformBahai
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ReformBahai

Reform Bahai Faith
Rochester, Michigan USA
www.ReformBahai.org

NUR

2009-08-28 02:52:25 UTC

Permalink

Fred, *Jenab* is not a proper name. It's a title meaning 'sir' or
'exaltedness', 'highness' etc.

W

Post by Jenabe Fazel Mazandarani
http://www.reformbahai.org/Jenabe_Fazel.html
Jenabe Fazel Mazandarani was commissioned by Abdul-Baha to speak on his
behalf throughout North America, largely during the year prior to his
own death in 1921. His speeches are, therefore, especially
representative of Abdul-Baha's Interpretation of Baha'u'llah's
Teachings. Mirza Ahmad Sohrab accompanied and translated for him during
much of Jenabe Fazel's speaking tour.
"His honor Fazel, in reality, is perfect in all grades—in knowledge and
virtue, in sincerity of intention, in beauty of character, in severance
from aught else save God and attraction with the fragrances of God."
—Abdul-Baha to Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, July 1920.
"His honor Fazel is a revered person. He has been growing for a long
time in the Cause. Next to his honor, Mirza Abul Fazel, he is the best
informed of his contemporaries. He has no aspiration save service to the
Cause of God. He is a scholar." —Abdul-Baha to Roy C. Wilhelm, August 9,
1920.
"All these physical and outward improvements in the realm of science and
industry whisper into our ears that we are living in an age of Universal
Religion. They convince us that just as the physical globe in its
material aspect has become more and more united, likewise the endless
realms of the hearts must be swayed and conquered by dynamic spiritual
force which may bring into the higher consciousness of man that
Universal faith, that world religion, of which men and women have been
dreaming for ages and ages. We are in need of a Universal Religion today
which may act as the light in the globe of material civilization; a
Universal Religion which may function as spirit in the body politic, in
the commonwealth of humanity; a Universal Religion which may bring under
its tabernacle all the faiths of the world, melting them into one, and
enabling them to enter into the realm of unity." "The Elements of
Universal Religion." New Thought Auditorium, Seattle, Washington.
January 23, 1921.http://www.reformbahai.org/Jenabe_Fazel.html
"The Temple of Universal Religion: The Fundamental Oneness of all
Existing Faiths." April 24, 1921. Bahai Congress. Auditorium Hotel, Chicago.
"Religion Must Be the Cause of Love and Unity." Bahai Congress.
Auditorium Hotel, Chicago. April 25, 1921.
"The Conformity of Science and Religion: The Universal Education of the
Future." Bahai Congress. Auditorium Hotel, Chicago. April 26, 1921.
"The Dawn of the Sun of Reality and the Power of the Influence of
Baha'u'llah." Bahai Congress. Auditorium Hotel, Chicago. April 27, 1921.
"Bible Prophecies Fulfilled in this Age." Reality June 1921.
1920
First Public Address in USA. Bahai Congress. New York. April 27, 1920.
"The Bahai Revelation." Bahai Congress. New York. April 27, 1920.
"The Investigation of Truth." Bahai Congress. New York. April 28, 1920.
"The House of Spirituality in Persia." Bahai Congress. New York. April
29, 1920.
A partial Itinerary of his lectures throughout the United States and
Canada, during 1920 to 1921, which conveys the scope and importance that
Abdul-Baha placed on his tour.
"The Message of Jenabe Fazel." Harrison G. Dyar, in Short Talks
Practical Application of the Bahai Revelation, 1922. One man's attempt
to understand Abdul-Baha's Message.
--
Baha'i Faith & Religious Freedom of Consciencehttp://www.fglaysher.c
Chicago Tribune. Baha'i rift. Baha'is upset with Orthodox Baha'i Faith
May 18, 2009http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/may/18/local/chi-bahai-18-may18
All my comments posted to The Chicago Tribune Forum on one page:http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/Chicago_Tribune.html
Yahoo Group - ReformBahaihttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/ReformBahai
Reform Bahai Faith
Rochester, Michigan USAwww.ReformBahai.org

NUR

2009-08-28 07:53:51 UTC

Permalink

Note also that Asad'ullah Fazel Mazandarani (his full name) was
initially appointed to be a Hand of the Cause by Shoghi Effendi. But
due to the publication of, at least the third volume, of his Tarikh-i-
Zuhur al-Haqq (History of the Manifestation of Truth) he had a serious
falling out with both Shoghi Effendi and notable members of the NSA of
Iran who attempted to halt the publication of its previous two and
subsequent six volumes. The reason being that his history diverged in
some parts significantly from the official narratives of Nabil
Zarrandi, and implicitly Abbas Effendi himself. After the ruckus over
his research in History of the Manifestation of Truth, Mazandarani
himself basically descended into obscurity among the official Baha'i
circles. Thankfully his pre-Zuhur al-Haqq publication and several
volumes of Zuhur al-Haqq can now be found here,

http://www.h-net.org/~bahai/index/diglib/mazand1.htm
Hand of the Cause
Asadu'llah Fadil Mazandarani
The Collected Works

Wahid

p.s. In case of confusion, note that the hard Arabic letter "d" in
Fadil is pronounced as a "z" in Persian so it is 'Fazel' rather than
'Fadi'l. FYI

Post by NUR
Fred, *Jenab* is not a proper name. It's a title meaning 'sir' or
'exaltedness', 'highness' etc.
W

Jenabe Fazel Mazandarani

2009-08-28 12:09:37 UTC

Permalink

Fadil Mazandarani
http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/Cole11.htm
http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/Cole10.htm

From: Juan Cole <***@umich.edu>
To: Dagur Nordberg <***@hotmail.com>
Cc: ***@umich.edu <***@umich.edu>; ***@umich.edu <***@umich.edu>
Subject: Re: uniting Talisman and Irfan
Date: Thursday, June 11, 1998 7:29 PM

Dear Dagur:

I know it is hard to hear that one's religious leaders are human beings who
have foibles, since for most people religion is about creating a fantasy
world that serves as an alternative to the real world. In the 'real world'
people can make mistakes. But, of course, the Shi`ite ayatollahs, the
popes, the hands of the cause and the members of the house of justice, the
televangelists, the Hindu gurus, the Buddhist monks--these are not ordinary
human beings, don't have prejudices, are pure and kind and angelic.
For anyone who believes such a thing, of course, it is almost impossible to
supply evidence to the contrary.

Let us take Furutan, for instance. When Fadil Mazandarani published the
third volume of his monumental history of the Babi-Baha'i religions in Iran
in the 1940s, Furutan was on the Iran NSA and he hit the roof. This book,
he said, contained reprinted Babi primary sources that contradicted the
accounts in Nabil's narrative. This could not be allowed. Furutan
organized an assault on Mazandarani, made him withdraw the book from
circulation, and made him sign a prepared confession that it was wrong of
him to have published those sources that contained discrepancies with
Nabil. Mazandarani was permanently silenced in Iran, and his children are
not Baha'is. His massive 9-volume history of the faith has never been
allowed to be published.

Now, Furutan may love children and dogs and be able to summon a kind smile
when greeting pilgrims. But he is an Inquisitor. He ruined Fadil
Mazandarani's life and destroyed the foundation of Baha'i historiography in
the twentieth century. Why? A) Because he had this moronic, narrow-minded
idea that Nabil's Narrative should be canonized as an unchallengeable piece
of scripture and that all other Babi historical texts should therefore be
suppressed (even if earlier and more reliable) and B) because he had gained
the power to do so by virtue of the transformation of the Baha'i
institutions into Leninist vanguards in the 1930s and 1940s.

I repeat that this man is a bigot, and by his anti-intellectualism and
fundamentalism contributed to the destruction of the Baha'i faith as a
religion for thinking people in this century. Of course, perhaps now he is
sorry for what he did to Fadil Mazandarani, whose shoes he is not good
enough to have shined. Perhaps he has changed for the better. I don't
know. I know he's never publicly apologized for his inquisition or his
destruction of Baha'i intellectual life.

The comforting thing is that if the Baha'i faith hasn't dwindled into
nothingness in 500 years (a real possibility if its leaders go on in the
present direction), people will still be reading Fadil Mazandarani's
histories, and Furutan will be remembered only as a footnote in that great
man's biographies, rather as the cardinal who persecuted Galileo is now
known for nothing else that he did.

So is this enough evidence for you?

cheers Juan
--
Baha'i Faith & Religious Freedom of Conscience
http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship

Chicago Tribune. Baha'i rift. Baha'is upset with Orthodox Baha'i Faith May 18, 2009
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/may/18/local/chi-bahai-18-may18

All my comments posted to The Chicago Tribune Forum on one page:
http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/Chicago_Tribune.html

Yahoo Group - ReformBahai
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ReformBahai

Reform Bahai Faith
Rochester, Michigan USA
www.ReformBahai.org

Post by Jenabe Fazel Mazandarani
http://www.reformbahai.org/Jenabe_Fazel.html
Jenabe Fazel Mazandarani was commissioned by Abdul-Baha to speak on his
behalf throughout North America, largely during the year prior to his
own death in 1921. His speeches are, therefore, especially
representative of Abdul-Baha's Interpretation of Baha'u'llah's
Teachings. Mirza Ahmad Sohrab accompanied and translated for him during
much of Jenabe Fazel's speaking tour.
"His honor Fazel, in reality, is perfect in all grades—in knowledge and
virtue, in sincerity of intention, in beauty of character, in severance
from aught else save God and attraction with the fragrances of God."
—Abdul-Baha to Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, July 1920.
"His honor Fazel is a revered person. He has been growing for a long
time in the Cause. Next to his honor, Mirza Abul Fazel, he is the best
informed of his contemporaries. He has no aspiration save service to the
Cause of God. He is a scholar." —Abdul-Baha to Roy C. Wilhelm, August 9,
1920.
"All these physical and outward improvements in the realm of science and
industry whisper into our ears that we are living in an age of Universal
Religion. They convince us that just as the physical globe in its
material aspect has become more and more united, likewise the endless
realms of the hearts must be swayed and conquered by dynamic spiritual
force which may bring into the higher consciousness of man that
Universal faith, that world religion, of which men and women have been
dreaming for ages and ages. We are in need of a Universal Religion today
which may act as the light in the globe of material civilization; a
Universal Religion which may function as spirit in the body politic, in
the commonwealth of humanity; a Universal Religion which may bring under
its tabernacle all the faiths of the world, melting them into one, and
enabling them to enter into the realm of unity." "The Elements of
Universal Religion." New Thought Auditorium, Seattle, Washington.
January 23, 1921. http://www.reformbahai.org/Jenabe_Fazel.html
"The Temple of Universal Religion: The Fundamental Oneness of all
Existing Faiths." April 24, 1921. Bahai Congress. Auditorium Hotel, Chicago.
"Religion Must Be the Cause of Love and Unity." Bahai Congress.
Auditorium Hotel, Chicago. April 25, 1921.
"The Conformity of Science and Religion: The Universal Education of the
Future." Bahai Congress. Auditorium Hotel, Chicago. April 26, 1921.
"The Dawn of the Sun of Reality and the Power of the Influence of
Baha'u'llah." Bahai Congress. Auditorium Hotel, Chicago. April 27, 1921.
"Bible Prophecies Fulfilled in this Age." Reality June 1921.
1920
First Public Address in USA. Bahai Congress. New York. April 27, 1920.
"The Bahai Revelation." Bahai Congress. New York. April 27, 1920.
"The Investigation of Truth." Bahai Congress. New York. April 28, 1920.
"The House of Spirituality in Persia." Bahai Congress. New York. April
29, 1920.
A partial Itinerary of his lectures throughout the United States and
Canada, during 1920 to 1921, which conveys the scope and importance that
Abdul-Baha placed on his tour.
"The Message of Jenabe Fazel." Harrison G. Dyar, in Short Talks
Practical Application of the Bahai Revelation, 1922. One man's attempt
to understand Abdul-Baha's Message.

--
Baha'i Faith & Religious Freedom of Conscience
http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship

Chicago Tribune. Baha'i rift. Baha'is upset with Orthodox Baha'i Faith May 18, 2009
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/may/18/local/chi-bahai-18-may18

All my comments posted to The Chicago Tribune Forum on one page:
http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/Chicago_Tribune.html

Yahoo Group - ReformBahai
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ReformBahai

Reform Bahai Faith
Rochester, Michigan USA
www.ReformBahai.org

NUR

2009-08-29 04:52:14 UTC

Permalink

Good find, Fred.

W

Fadil Mazandaranihttp://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/Cole11.htmhttp://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/Cole10.htm
Subject: Re: uniting Talisman and Irfan
Date: Thursday, June 11, 1998 7:29 PM
I know it is hard to hear that one's religious leaders are human beings who
have foibles, since for most people religion is about creating a fantasy
world that serves as an alternative to the real world. In the 'real world'
people can make mistakes. But, of course, the Shi`ite ayatollahs, the
popes, the hands of the cause and the members of the house of justice, the
televangelists, the Hindu gurus, the Buddhist monks--these are not ordinary
human beings, don't have prejudices, are pure and kind and angelic.
For anyone who believes such a thing, of course, it is almost impossible to
supply evidence to the contrary.
Let us take Furutan, for instance. When Fadil Mazandarani published the
third volume of his monumental history of the Babi-Baha'i religions in Iran
in the 1940s, Furutan was on the Iran NSA and he hit the roof. This book,
he said, contained reprinted Babi primary sources that contradicted the
accounts in Nabil's narrative. This could not be allowed. Furutan
organized an assault on Mazandarani, made him withdraw the book from
circulation, and made him sign a prepared confession that it was wrong of
him to have published those sources that contained discrepancies with
Nabil. Mazandarani was permanently silenced in Iran, and his children are
not Baha'is. His massive 9-volume history of the faith has never been
allowed to be published.
Now, Furutan may love children and dogs and be able to summon a kind smile
when greeting pilgrims. But he is an Inquisitor. He ruined Fadil
Mazandarani's life and destroyed the foundation of Baha'i historiography in
the twentieth century. Why? A) Because he had this moronic, narrow-minded
idea that Nabil's Narrative should be canonized as an unchallengeable piece
of scripture and that all other Babi historical texts should therefore be
suppressed (even if earlier and more reliable) and B) because he had gained
the power to do so by virtue of the transformation of the Baha'i
institutions into Leninist vanguards in the 1930s and 1940s.
I repeat that this man is a bigot, and by his anti-intellectualism and
fundamentalism contributed to the destruction of the Baha'i faith as a
religion for thinking people in this century. Of course, perhaps now he is
sorry for what he did to Fadil Mazandarani, whose shoes he is not good
enough to have shined. Perhaps he has changed for the better. I don't
know. I know he's never publicly apologized for his inquisition or his
destruction of Baha'i intellectual life.
The comforting thing is that if the Baha'i faith hasn't dwindled into
nothingness in 500 years (a real possibility if its leaders go on in the
present direction), people will still be reading Fadil Mazandarani's
histories, and Furutan will be remembered only as a footnote in that great
man's biographies, rather as the cardinal who persecuted Galileo is now
known for nothing else that he did.
So is this enough evidence for you?
cheers Juan
--
Baha'i Faith & Religious Freedom of Consciencehttp://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship
Chicago Tribune. Baha'i rift. Baha'is upset with Orthodox Baha'i Faith May 18, 2009http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/may/18/local/chi-bahai-18-may18
All my comments posted to The Chicago Tribune Forum on one page:http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/Chicago_Tribune.html
Yahoo Group - ReformBahaihttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/ReformBahai
Reform Bahai Faith
Rochester, Michigan USAwww.ReformBahai.org

--
Baha'i Faith & Religious Freedom of Consciencehttp://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship
Chicago Tribune. Baha'i rift. Baha'is upset with Orthodox Baha'i Faith May 18, 2009http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/may/18/local/chi-bahai-18-may18
All my comments posted to The Chicago Tribune Forum on one page:http://www.fglaysher.com/bahaicensorship/Chicago_Tribune.html
Yahoo Group - ReformBahaihttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/ReformBahai
Reform Bahai Faith
Rochester, Michigan USAwww.ReformBahai.org