A Baha’i theocracy would suck. The big reason is that Baha’is have a goal and advocate for a one world government where Baha’i institutions slowly replace secular institutions. Baha’i institutions only allow Baha’is in good standing and over the age of 21 to vote and do not allow for campaigning during elections. This means all minorities have no right to vote and that nobody who is a Baha’i can meaningfully advocate for reform peacefully because you can’t run a campaign even if you are a Baha’i in good standing. This means Baha’is have less political mobility than even people in Iran (Iranians of multiple religions can vote and hold office despite it being an Islamic theocracy, and Iranians can hold campaigns and advocate for reform. I hate the Islamic Republic as an Iranian myself, so it takes a lot for me to admit even this shitty society still allows more political mobility than Baha’i politics does)
In this Baha’i society, alcohol and any other drugs would likely be banned, premarital sex (or even just kissing or holding hands) would be a punishable offense (loss of voting rights and fine), and women would be discriminated against in inheritance laws as well as not be eligible for the Universal House of Justice (highest religious court and main leadership arm of the faith). Also since the faith advocates for conversion therapy to this day, it is likely there would be state sponsored gay conversion therapy.
A Baha’i may defend this by saying only Baha’is must uphold Baha’i law, but this just means that the only way to have voting rights would be to uphold these laws and convert to the religion. And even if you have voting rights, you can’t campaign in favor of reform because campaigning is banned. In a Baha’i election, everyone in good standing is on the ballot of Local Spiritual assembly (this is the only election regular Baha’is can participate in, only higher up members can elect higher offices like National positions) and the people with the most votes win. The people with the most cotes tend to be the richest and most popular people on a community. This means even though you have elections, the same people tend to always win anyways, especially since all votes are closed door and you cannot see who votes for what or what the voting margin is. This would be like if the supreme court made a ruling but you don’t get to see the voting margin, who voted for what, or what the dissenting opinion was.
I also wanna clarify that most Baha’is are perfectly lovely people and I condemn infinitely how the Islamic Republic and other parts of the world treat Baha’is. Nobody deserves to have their human rights trampled on. I just wanted to write this rant because when the Baha’i Faith is discussed, it’s usually just the narrative the Baha’i Faith pushes and not the nuances or baggage associated with their narrative. If your answer is still the same, that’s fine, I just don’t want people to think Baha’i Theocracy is sunshine and rainbows. No theocracy is and a Baha’i Theocracy isn’t even uniquely better. Its just softer than conservative/fundamentalist Islamic law.
In this Baha’i society, alcohol and any other drugs would likely be banned, premarital sex (or even just kissing or holding hands) would be a punishable offense (loss of voting rights and fine), and women would be discriminated against in inheritance laws as well as not be eligible for the Universal House of Justice (highest religious court and main leadership arm of the faith). Also since the faith advocates for conversion therapy to this day, it is likely there would be state sponsored gay conversion therapy.
A Baha’i may defend this by saying only Baha’is must uphold Baha’i law, but this just means that the only way to have voting rights would be to uphold these laws and convert to the religion. And even if you have voting rights, you can’t campaign in favor of reform because campaigning is banned. In a Baha’i election, everyone in good standing is on the ballot of Local Spiritual assembly (this is the only election regular Baha’is can participate in, only higher up members can elect higher offices like National positions) and the people with the most votes win. The people with the most cotes tend to be the richest and most popular people on a community. This means even though you have elections, the same people tend to always win anyways, especially since all votes are closed door and you cannot see who votes for what or what the voting margin is. This would be like if the supreme court made a ruling but you don’t get to see the voting margin, who voted for what, or what the dissenting opinion was.
I also wanna clarify that most Baha’is are perfectly lovely people and I condemn infinitely how the Islamic Republic and other parts of the world treat Baha’is. Nobody deserves to have their human rights trampled on. I just wanted to write this rant because when the Baha’i Faith is discussed, it’s usually just the narrative the Baha’i Faith pushes and not the nuances or baggage associated with their narrative. If your answer is still the same, that’s fine, I just don’t want people to think Baha’i Theocracy is sunshine and rainbows. No theocracy is and a Baha’i Theocracy isn’t even uniquely better. Its just softer than conservative/fundamentalist Islamic law.
https://old.reddit.com/r/religion/comments/1mhmjfx/if_you_had_to_live_as_a_religious_minority_in_a/