A Critical Examination of 20th-Century Baha’i Literature

By: Vance Salisbury

 

The tables below represent a survey of some of the major changes made in selected books, between

their original publication and later editions, which were written by Baha\'i authors during the 20th century. A major change is considered to be a revision which reflects a change in Western Baha\'i doctrine, practice or attitude toward a particular subject since the early 1900\'s. It should be noted however, that there have been literally hundreds of changes made in the few books examined to date

Below are the books where the Bahai Adminstration have made changes/alteration to suit their own ideology of discontinuation of Guardianship. The lover of justice are supposed to read the article and apply the principle of INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF THE TRUTH and can see just a glimpse of justice followed by the UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE!!!

Bahá\'u\'lláh and the New Era by John E. Esselmont

All Things Made New by John Ferraby

Christ and Baha\'u\'llah by George Townshend

Selected Writings of Shoghi Effendi by Shoghi Effendi

Bahá\'u\'lláh and the New Era by John E. Esselmont

1923 / 1980

Edition and Page Number:     8 / xiv

Synopsis :      Esselmont expressed his gratitude to the Bahá\'í historian, Avarih, who later left the faith and was declared a Covenant-breaker. This reference was completely removed.

Edition and Page Number:     13 / 14

Synopsis : \"Miracles\" were discussed which were intended to show how civilization has advanced since the nineteenth century. Some of these \"miracles\" have reversed and worsened since 1923. They have been edited from the text.

Edition and Page Number: 22 / 13

Synopsis:    The apostate Avarih was quoted, but his name has been replaced by \"a historian.\"

Edition and Page Number:  28 / 20

Synopsis :     In the original, Esselmont\'s remarks seem to indicate that the Bab was merely a forerunner to Bahá\'u\'lláh, a view which was quite common at the beginning of this century. Later editions reflect the current notion of the Bab and Bahá\'u\'lláh being the \"Co-founders of their Faith.\"

Edition and Page Number:  34 / 26

Synopsis :   Avarih\'s material was dropped completely.

Edition and Page Number:  39 / 33

Synopsis :    A quote of Avarih is left in the text, but his name was removed.

Edition and Page Number: 55-6 / 53-4

Synopsis :     Avarih provided a lengthy description of the marriage of Abdu\'l-Bahá, which remains in later editions with Avarih\'s name removed.

Edition and Page Number: 67-9 / 67-9

Synopsis :    This is a very important change. Esselmont spoke of the unique station of Abdu\'l-Bahá and stated that \"whatever Abdu\'l-Bahásays or does is to  be accepted as of equal authority with the direct utterance of the Manifestation.\" Further, he quoted Abdu\'l-Bahá to the effect that the Bab was \"the \'Promised Christ.\'\" Two pages have been completely reworked. The institution of the Guardianship was introduced and the views which Esselmont originally expressed are referred to as \"naive enthusiasm.\"

Edition and Page Number:  118/ 130

Synopsis : Bahá\'u\'lláh provided that Abdu\'l-Bahá would be the sole interpreter of his writings and after him the International House of Justice, but this has been changed to \"the authorized interpreter.\" The institution of the Guardianship was added in the 1937 edition (pg. 160) and it was clearly stated that there would be \"successive Guardians.\" However, this section was changed again in the 1970 revision and refers only to Shoghi Effendi as the Guardian, with no mention of succession.

Edition and Page Number:  123-4 / 135-7

Synopsis :  Esselmont was present when Abdu\'l-Bahá specifically advocated a form of constitutional monarchy under the heading \"True Civilization.\" This quotation has been dropped and replaced with two pages of general material which merely says that there will be different types of government under the Lesser Peace and the Most Great Peace.

Edition and Page Number: 146 / 165-6

Synopsis :   Emphasis on the use of Esperanto as the universal language is played down in later editions.

Edition and Page Number:   157-8 / 179-9

Synopsis :    A detailed two page account of Spiritual Assemblies in Persia by Jinab-i-Assad\'llah Fadil Mazindarani has been replaced by an updated description of functions.

Edition and Page Number:  161 / 186

Synopsis :    Nineteen Day Feast was added.

Edition and Page Number: 190/218

Synopsis :   The establishment of the League of Nations and reduction in armaments were cited as \"advances in fulfillment\" of prophecies of world peace. This statement has been removed.

Edition and Page Number: 209-10 / 244-7

Synopsis :    Under the heading of \"Social Troubles After the War,\" Esselmont gave an eyewitness account of some specific predictions by Abdu\'l-Bah¿, which did not take place. This section has been replaced by nearly three pages of general information summing up Bah^\'u\'ll^h\'s proclamation.

Edition and Page Number:  211-12 / 249-50

Synopsis :   Abdu\'l-Bah¿ was quoted, asserting that the Kingdom of God would be established in this century along with world peace and a universal language, specifically by 1957. This section has been replaced with material by Abdu\'l-Bah¿ which speaks generally of the effect of the Baha\'i Faith on the world. It has been made to appear as if Esselmont was referring to the progress of the movement at the one hundredth anniversary of Bah^\'u\'ll^h\'s declaration, or 1963. It is important to note that this change was not made in the major revision in 1937, but in the 1970 revision, after the events predicted did not take place.

Edition and Page Number:  215-6 / 253-4

Synopsis :    Avarih\'s estimates of the number of Baha\'is worldwide have been replaced. It is interesting to note that it was the issue of dishonesty in the Baha\'i administration over the numerical success of the movement, which Avarih cited as his reason for leaving the faith.

Edition and Page Number:  203-4 / 235-7

Synopsis :   Esselmont claimed that Bahá\'u\'lláh\'s words have a \"creative power\" and he cited a number of specific advances as proof. He claimed that world temperance was advancing, military dictatorships had fallen and will not be revived, democracy was spreading, Esparanto was gaining worldwide acceptance as a universal language, and the \"emancipation of the workers\" was \"steady and irresistible.\" This has been rewritten in a more general fashion.

Edition and Page Number:  228-9 /287

Synopsis :     Esselmont supplied a bibliography for further study which included books from a variety of authors, including Edward G. Browne. In the 1937 edition it was removed completely, but a new list of references is included at the end of later editions. Although, Browne\'s material remains in the text, his work is missing from the latest bibliography.

All Things Made New by John Ferraby

1957 / 1987

Edition and Page Number: 5 / 7

Synopsis :   Ferraby dedicated his book to \"The First Guardian of the Baha\'i Faith.\" In the later edition, Ferraby\'s dedication is to \"The Guardian.\" This is the first of many changes concerning the perpetuity and indispensable nature of the Guardianship.

Edition and Page Number:  27-8 / 27-8

Synopsis :  Ferraby originally stated that the Guardianship was to be perpetual, but this section has been reworked, explaining that another Guardian could not be appointed since none were qualified. All references to the duties of the Guardian were in the present tense, but have been changed to the past tense, indicating that the Guardianship has ceased.

Edition and Page Number:  64 / 67

Synopsis :  Islam was said to be declining in influence and power in the world and that this trend will continue. Because of events in the Middle East during the past two decades, this section has been rewritten, shifting the emphasis to a decline in Islam\'s spirituality and reputation in the world.

Edition and Page Number:  246-7 / 252-3

Synopsis : In the original edition, Ferraby quoted the Will of Abdu\'l-Baháand demonstrated that the Cause would continue to have a visible Centre through the institution of successive Guardians. He referred to this as \"a Covenant so mighty that mankind has never seen its like.\" However, this section has been completely rewritten, stating that the Will only provided for the \"possibility\" for a succession of Guardians and that the writings nowhere \"promise or guarantee\" that the institution would continue. The Universal House of Justice is now presented as the \"visible centre.\"

Synopsis : The Will of Abdu\'l-Bahá and the Covenant were discussed. References to the Guardian have been replaced or amended with \"the Universal House of Justice.\"

Edition and Page Number:  250-5 / 256-61

Synopsis : The Will of Abdu\'l-Bahá and the Covenant were discussed. References to the Guardian have been replaced or amended with \"the Universal House of Justice.\"

Edition and Page Number:  256-62 / 262-72

Synopsis : This section has undergone major revision with the addition of hundreds of words. References to the Guardianship have been changed to the past tense or have been replaced with \"the Universal House of Justice.\"

Edition and Page Number:  272-4 / 288-90

Synopsis : Ferraby extolled the virtues of the Bahá\'í Administrative Order and cited evidences of its superiority over concepts of authority in Christianity and Islam. Because of the unexpected death of Shoghi Effendi, this information was modified to a great extent, with the notion of the hereditary Guardianship being played down.

Edition and Page Number: 279 / 295

Synopsis : Bahá\'í burial customs were discussed and Ferraby\'s statement that \"Cremation is forbidden, because the too sudden disintegration of the body may harm the departed soul\" has been replaced with a statement by Abdu\'l-Bahá.

Edition and Page Number:  308-12 / 326-31

Synopsis : A number of books have been dropped from Ferraby\'s bibliography, including those written by Edward G. Browne. References to Browne\'s works still appear in the text of later editions, but the notes refer the reader to books by otherBahá\'í authors who also quote Browne. Two of the Baha\'i books referred to also contain material which is critical of Browne, so these revisions were apparently made to divert the reader from the primary sources, which contain material that is at variance with orthodox versions of the history of the movement.

Christ and Baha\'u\'llah by George Townshend

1957 / 1985

Edition and Page Number:  79 / 79

Synopsis : Townshend originally referred to Shoghi Effendi as the \"first and present Guardian,\" but this phrase has been dropped.

Edition and Page Number:  98-9 / 98-9

Synopsis : Townshend discussed the Will and Testament of Abdu\'l-Baha and the provision for a succession of Guardians. The succession principle has been dropped and Shoghi Effendi is no longer spoken of as \"the first Guardian.\"

Edition and Page Number:  100-1 / 100-1

Synopsis : This section dealt with \"the lineage of succeeding Guardians,\" but it has been changed so it appears that Townshend is writing about \"divinely guided institutions\" in general.

Selected Writings of Shoghi Effendi by Shoghi Effendi

1942 / 1975

Edition and Page Number:  3 - 5 / vii

Synopsis : The original edition began with nearly three pages of excerpts from Abdu\'l-Baha\'s Will and Testament, in which he commanded his followers to \"turn unto Shoghi Effendi....\" This has been reduced in the 1975 edition to two paragraphs with statements concerning hereditary succession of the Guardianship and the role of the Guardian as the Head of the Universal House of Justice replaced with ellipses.

Edition and Page Number: 10/4

Synopsis : Two paragraphs have been removed, one of which deals mainly with outdated statistics concerning the growth of the Faith. The other is an assertion by Shoghi Effendi that he was \"appointed as First Guardian of the Bahá\'í Faith and Head of the Universal House of Justice....\"

Edition and Page Number: 2?-8 / 19

Synopsis : A paragraph has been removed which described the Administrative Order as \"the framework of the Will [of Abdu\'l-Bahá] itself, the inviolable stronghold \"

Edition and Page Number: 4S-5 / S2

Synopsis :   Two full pages have been removed, which formed an apologetic for the functions, the centrality, and the absolutely essential position of the Guardianship in Bahá\'u\'lláh\'s World Order.

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