Baha'i Administrative Institutions (conveniently forgetting the Guardianship)

by Vahid Ajepuh Oloro The defining feature for any religion is its teaching and leadership. These are the pillars that shape its growth. The Baha’i Faith however, has a very distinct leadership system never found in any religion before. While other religions are led through ecclesiastical based systems, the Baha’i Faith has democratically elected and appointed institutions. There are three elected administrative institutions established in the Kitab-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book), the local, the secondary and the international administrative institutions. During the evolution of the Faith regional administrative institutions have also been added to the list of elected institutions but are active in relatively large countries.... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Mr. Oloro fails to mention the other non-elected institution of the Baha'i Faith - The Guardianship. The first Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, stated: "Divorced from the institution of the Guardianship the World Order of Bahá'u'lláh would be mutilated and permanently deprived of that hereditary principle" And, Without such an institution, [the Guardianship] the integrity of the Faith would be imperiled and the stability of the entire fabric would be gravely endangered. Its prestige would suffer, the means required to enable it to take a long and uninterrupted view over a series of generations would be completely lacking, and the necessary guidance to define the sphere of the legislative action of its elected representatives would be totally withdrawn....