NOT ON SANTA'S LIST?

"I try to avoid cults," says Jolly Old Elf.

SANTA HAS COME TO VISIT the Baha'i Fantasy News Service. Through his close resemblance (but absolutely no spiritual relationship) to 'Abdu'l-Baha, Santa has been able to bring a smidgen of Baha'i love to children around the world. Since his last trip, Santa has heard a lot of grumbling from the Baha'is about Who is the Boss of Whom. Some complain that the academics and intellectuals and relatives have taken over the Faith. Who cares! But in excluding the Common Man and Woman from the affairs of the Faith, its leaders are dangerously constricting the flow of justice to those whose feet still walk the earth. Santa has looked into this and agrees that in the U.S. at least, the Baha'i Faith is run like a research lab instead of a religion. "The academics and intellectuals and relatives are the scientists and you, my human friend, are the mice." He let out a long sigh. "At least they haven't gotten to caging up the mythological characters yet!"

Your reporter did not let this statement go by unchallenged. "Look," Santa explained kindly. "The Lords and Ladies of the Baha'i Faith have quietly enacted a system of rule that makes the body of the believers accept the fallacy that every member of the administration is infallible." "But Santa" your reporter complained. "How could they? After all, they are Baha'is!"

"My goodness!" exclaimed Santa. "They've got you believing it too! My friend, it takes only a brief study of the Baha'i Writings to see that its Founder never intended to let a ruling class take root. However, due to the effete's ambition and the hoi polloi's natural inertial, things have come to the point where the Baha'is below the Class Abha consider every institution and every office holder infallible."

"My God!' cried your reporter. "This is worse than the Railroad Retirement System! Is there anything that can be done?"

Santa slowly shook his head. "Whatever it is," he said, "will take courage on the part of the commoners. The elite will never give up their titles and privileges and powers - or their "infallibility." So the ordinary Baha'is will simply have to trust their Christ, so to speak, and in their love for The Bab, Baha'u'llah, 'Abdu'l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi, speak out. Even if it means removing the mask of the Superman from their human faces and seeing someone a lot like themselves. Even if it means being shunned (which, actually, is a blessing!). The common Baha'i must know that the Word is our center and truth. No amount of academia can change that. And if the administrators don't agree, but follow their own way, away from the path the Writings show us, then abandon the administration! No valid administration violates the laws and principles. Better no religion, said Baha'u'llah, than one wrapped in contention and conflict. The academics will do their best to convince the other Baha'is through intimidation and outright administrative banditry. The ordinary Baha'i is an American, and Americans have a tradition of refusing to put up with guff. Let them throw off this yoke of artificial Baha'i administration and wait for better days. For these elite would devour them, contrive definitions and rules and practices to make a believer think he was breaking the covenant when he was actually defending it. Already Baha'i administration, from Assistants and up, practice spying, gossip, lying, and slander to protect their interests. The ordinary Baha'i must protect his."

Your reporter noted that the blogpage was getting full, but it's getting full of some very good information that a Baha'i worth the name must know. You are not alone. The Auxiliary Board Members and their Assistants has assaulted many a firm believer. It is against these violators that Baha'u'llah warns one day the gate of God's mercy will close shut on them.

"Hasten the day," said Santa. "Forgive them."