The Development of the Baha'i Faith in America : The Impact of a Religious Minority on a Protestant Society
Material type:
TextProducer: Sichuan University 2007Subject(s): Abstract: As an independent World religion, the Baha'i Faith still remains widely unknown today. The faith was introduced into America in 1894, where it soon experienced a rapid growth. Over a long period of time, converts from Protestant background successfully sustained a dominant position in the American Baha'i community. In such a dominantly Protestant nation, how could the Baha'i Faith manage to secure a foothold in America? Since the Baha'i Faith is constantly confronted with the threat of assimilation fostered by Protestantism, what has ensured it a stable growth instead? This thesis attempts to find reasons behind the questions through an investigation of the origin of the Baha'i Faith, its basic principles, its American experience and the Protestant religious background of America. Moreover, a comparison between Baha'i and Protestant practices is also provided as a way to search for the reasons. Based on the whole process of investigation and comparison, the impact of the Baha'i Faith is revealed. The thesis consists of four chapters, an introduction and a conclusion. In the introduction, questions are raised for the discussion of this thesis. This part also tries to explain the significance, purpose, design and limitation of the study. Chapter One introduces the origin of the Baha'i Faith and its basic principles. A summary is followed to analyze some of the traits of the Faith. Chapter Two focuses on the development of the Baha'i Faith in America. Chapter Three first premises the discussion by presenting the Protestant background of America to the readers, and then expounds how Protestantism influenced the Baha'i Faith. Chapter Four gives a comparison between Protestantism and the Baha'i Faith on several aspects of their practices. Finally, through the whole process of exploration, the thesis reaches its conclusion by answering the questions posed and summing up the impact of the Baha'i Faith. [Author abstract]
As an independent World religion, the Baha'i Faith still remains widely unknown today. The faith was introduced into America in 1894, where it soon experienced a rapid growth. Over a long period of time, converts from Protestant background successfully sustained a dominant position in the American Baha'i community. In such a dominantly Protestant nation, how could the Baha'i Faith manage to secure a foothold in America? Since the Baha'i Faith is constantly confronted with the threat of assimilation fostered by Protestantism, what has ensured it a stable growth instead? This thesis attempts to find reasons behind the questions through an investigation of the origin of the Baha'i Faith, its basic principles, its American experience and the Protestant religious background of America. Moreover, a comparison between Baha'i and Protestant practices is also provided as a way to search for the reasons. Based on the whole process of investigation and comparison, the impact of the Baha'i Faith is revealed. The thesis consists of four chapters, an introduction and a conclusion. In the introduction, questions are raised for the discussion of this thesis. This part also tries to explain the significance, purpose, design and limitation of the study. Chapter One introduces the origin of the Baha'i Faith and its basic principles. A summary is followed to analyze some of the traits of the Faith. Chapter Two focuses on the development of the Baha'i Faith in America. Chapter Three first premises the discussion by presenting the Protestant background of America to the readers, and then expounds how Protestantism influenced the Baha'i Faith. Chapter Four gives a comparison between Protestantism and the Baha'i Faith on several aspects of their practices. Finally, through the whole process of exploration, the thesis reaches its conclusion by answering the questions posed and summing up the impact of the Baha'i Faith. [Author abstract]