The Babi Upheavals, 1848-1853
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Baha'i Studies Bulletin 4, 4-21Abstract: Study of the Babi upheavals through a critique of several paradigms: political revolt ; defense and martyrdom ; jihad ; social protest ; faction-fighting ; extirpation of heresy ; socialist/communist ; impact of the west. It is followed by an examination of what is meant by "truth" in history. Momen concludes that: there is no sense in which there can be a "true" or "correct" interpretation of the events of the Babi upheavals ; individual Babis may have acted within different paradigms at different times ; individuals usually act in accord with what they believe is the right thing to do, without reference to a grand schema ; the most useful account of the Babi upheavals will account for all paradigms.
Study of the Babi upheavals through a critique of several paradigms: political revolt ; defense and martyrdom ; jihad ; social protest ; faction-fighting ; extirpation of heresy ; socialist/communist ; impact of the west. It is followed by an examination of what is meant by "truth" in history. Momen concludes that: there is no sense in which there can be a "true" or "correct" interpretation of the events of the Babi upheavals ; individual Babis may have acted within different paradigms at different times ; individuals usually act in accord with what they believe is the right thing to do, without reference to a grand schema ; the most useful account of the Babi upheavals will account for all paradigms.