Judging Others

[future_bhai]

I am interested in the Baha'i faith and have a few questions. My first post here.

I am interested in what the Baha'i faith teaches in regarding to judging others.

My personal belief (not region based) is that it can be important to judge others. For example, people sometimes do not know or realise they are doing something wrong unless someone tells them that they are. This is usually family or a good friend - people who can be bluntly honest with you.

What do peope think?

 

[radarmark]

Not a Baha'i (though I respect and read them). Of course honesty and truthfulness is the key. But not agressive bluntness and fault-finding. If you look into RSOF (Religious Socviety of Freinds) decision-making (see http://www.pendlehill.org/images/pamphlets/php065b.pdf) you can find ways to soften the impact (we are big non-confrontationalists).

 

[arthra]

I am interested in the Baha'i faith and have a few questions. My first post here.

I am interested in what the Baha'i faith teaches in regarding to judging others.

My personal belief (not region based) is that it can be important to judge others. For example, people sometimes do not know or realise they are doing something wrong unless someone tells them that they are. This is usually family or a good friend - people who can be bluntly honest with you.

What do peope think?

Thanks for your post future Baha'i! and hope you enjoy the Baha'i Forum..

Indeed sometimes we all can do things and some will be "judgemental"... One of the principles of a Baha'i community is not to offend others and to overlook the sins of others..to have a "sin covering eye" on the other hand we are told to not allow ourselves to be exploited or abused...so where ever that line is.

Let me share a few excerpts from Baha'i sources and let's see what we have...

Here's something Howard Colby Ives wrote about:

If we test our sense of justice, for instance, by Bahá'u'lláh's definition:
"Wert thou to observe justice choose for others that
which thou choosest for thyself," how many of us would
measure up?

Abdul-Baha on the matter:

We must look upon our enemies with a sin-covering eye and act with justice when confronted with any injustice whatsoever, forgive all, consider the whole of humanity as our own family, the whole earth as our own country, be sympathetic with all suffering, nurse the sick, offer a shelter to the exiled, help the poor and those in need, dress all wounds and share the happiness of each one.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 41)

If it's an important issue that could affect the community a Baha'i can always consult with the Spiritual Assembly in confidence and it's then up to the Assembly to consult and decide what should be done.