The Birthdays of the Bab and Baha'u'llah are among the happiest occasions in the Baha'i calendar. But behind these celebrations is a message that remains deeply relevant today: truth does not require permission from religious authorities.
When the Bab declared His mission in 1844, He challenged the religious establishment of His time. He did not ask people to accept His message simply because the clergy told them to. He called souls to investigate, recognize and decide for themselves.
Mulla Husayn is one of the best examples. He was searching for the Promised One when he encountered the Bab in Shiraz. He had no institution telling him what conclusion to reach. He listened, questioned and recognized the truth for himself.
That same principle lies at the heart of the Baha'i teaching of independent investigation of truth.
So, what happens when an administration begins telling believers what they may question, whom they may read, what interpretations they must accept and which believers they must avoid?
This is where the Free Baha'i position begins.
We believe that standing against the Haifan Administration is not standing against Baha'u'llah. It is standing for the freedom that Baha'u'llah gave to every individual to investigate truth.
The Bab challenged the religious authorities of His day. Baha'u'llah challenged the traditions and assumptions that had imprisoned religion for centuries. Abdu'l Baha repeatedly demonstrated humility, service and freedom from the behaviour of a religious ruler.
Free Baha'is therefore ask a simple question:
If the Bab and Baha'u'llah taught us to investigate truth independently, why should we surrender that right to any modern institution?
We do not reject the Bab or Baha'u'llah by questioning the Administration. Quite the opposite.
We question the Administration because we take Their teachings seriously.
The Twin Birthdays are therefore more than celebrations of two historic Figures. They remind us that every generation must make its own journey toward truth.
The Bab opened the door.
Baha'u'llah called humanity through it.
Free Baha'is simply refuse to let any administration close that door again.
A QUESTION TO CONSIDER “The independent investigation of truth” We are not asked to accept truth simply because someone else has accepted it for us. The search for truth is personal. It requires us to read, question, reflect, investigate, and follow our conscience. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE WERE NEVER AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS?
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