This study guide is designed to help you review the provided sources concerning alleged exaggerations in Baháʼí census figures.
I. Overview of the Central Claim
The primary assertion across the provided texts is that the Baháʼí Faith administration has consistently and deliberately inflated its membership numbers globally, particularly in countries like India, the US, and the UK. This exaggeration is presented as a "well-thought strategy" to project an inaccurate image of widespread success and influence, potentially to gain benefits like minority status.
II. Key Arguments and Supporting Evidence
A. Discrepancy between Baháʼí Claims and Official Census Data
India: Baháʼí administration claimed 2 million to 2.2 million adherents, while official Indian government censuses reported significantly lower figures:
1991: 5,575 Baháʼís
2001: 11,324 Baháʼís
2010/2011: Not more than 12,000 Baháʼís (one source mentions 4,572, another 4,573 for 2016 data).
United States: Baháʼís claimed 175,000 adherents. Official US census data:
1990: 28,000 Baháʼís
2001: 84,000 Baháʼís
2008: 49,000 Baháʼís
United Kingdom: Baháʼís claimed over 34,000 adherents. UK Census 2011 reported 5,021 Baháʼís, increasing from 4,645 in 2001. This is presented as a minimal annual growth (0.78%) compared to general population growth (0.70%), implying no new conversions beyond children of Baháʼí parents.
New Zealand: The New Zealand Baháʼí community is noted as an exception for acknowledging a reverse growth trend, aligning with official census data:
1996: 3,104 Baháʼís
2006: 2,772 Baháʼís
2013: 2,637 Baháʼís (a 5% decrease from 2006 to 2013).
Global Figures: Baháʼí administration claims 6-7.2 million worldwide, while the texts suggest the actual number is not more than 100,000 (0.1 million).
B. Alleged Reasons for Exaggeration
"Once a Baháʼí, always a Baháʼí": Individuals are reportedly never removed from membership rolls unless they formally renounce their belief, meaning inactive members or those who joined other religions remain counted.
"Entry by Troops": A strategy or expectation that led to gross exaggeration, particularly in North America, where many signed "declaration cards" but never truly became active members.
Self-deception and Deception of Converts: Shalom Scott, a former Baháʼí, states that potential converts were lied to about membership numbers, and the leadership inflated figures to make the Faith appear more successful.
Multiplication Factor: Baháʼís allegedly multiply their numbers by assuming every member is married with a family.
Non-existent Addresses: Paid workers in the Baháʼí Faith reportedly collected non-existent addresses to justify their salaries and perceived effectiveness.
Achieving Minority Status: Specifically in India, the exaggeration is linked to a desire to achieve minority status, which could confer benefits.
"Well-planned strategy" of Haifa-based administration: The central administration is accused of promoting those skilled in exaggerating numbers to show high acceptability and claim major religion status.
Ruhi book courses: These courses are seen as a means to collect addresses and claim participants as Baháʼís, fabricating stories of widespread conversion desire.
Historical precedent: The confusion and exaggeration in Baháʼí population figures are described as a continuation of practices from Abdul Baha and Shoghi Effendi's time.
C. Declining Trends and Retention Issues
US Declining Numbers: US Baháʼí numbers are reported to be dropping at a rate of 300-400 per year, with increasing "bad addresses" suggesting bogus entries.
High Attrition Rate: Professor Juan Cole noted in 2001 that 50% of people who entered the Baháʼí Faith since 1968 have left it, compared to an 80% retention rate for most Christian denominations.
Decrease in Local Spiritual Assemblies (LSAs) in India:Muhajir Era (1956-1983) saw 10,000 LSAs reported.
Post-Muhajir Era (1984-2010) saw a decrease to 500 LSAs claimed by administration, with actual working LSAs estimated at no more than 10 per state, primarily in metropolitan cities with Persian Baháʼís.
D. Characterization of the Baháʼí Faith
Described as a "cult" by some authors in the sources.
Characterized as a "footnote" religion by Shalom Scott.
Stated to have "no potential for growth" but only "vertical potential" in terms of sects.
"Essentially Persian dominated organization."
"Not the fastest growing religion, not the most widespread religion after Christianity."
"Most comfortable religion" but "not a religion" in that context.
III. Key Individuals and Entities Mentioned
Baháʼí Administration / Leadership: Accused of perpetuating the exaggeration.
Shalom Scott: Former Baháʼí who observed lying to potential converts and inflated numbers.
Professor Juan Cole: University of Michigan professor who commented on the high attrition rate (50%) in the Baháʼí Faith since 1968.
Abdul Baha & Shoghi Effendi: Past leaders whose actions are seen as setting a precedent for confused population figures.
Dr. Rahmatulláh Muhájir & Amatu'l-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khánum: Hands of the Cause whose visits accelerated conversion activities, particularly in India. Muhajir is also implicitly linked to the exaggeration of census figures.
Larry Rowe: Believes exaggeration is meant to placate those promised "entry by troops."
National Spiritual Assembly (NSA) of the Baháʼís of India: Noted for deleting the 2.2 million figure from their official site but failing to replace it with accurate numbers.
Universal House of Justice: Called upon to accept the reality of declining numbers.
Indian Government Census Department / Officials: Credited for providing accurate, lower Baháʼí population figures.
Quiz: Baháʼí Census Figures
Instructions: Answer each question in 2-3 sentences.
What is the main accusation leveled against the Baháʼí Faith administration regarding its membership numbers?
Provide two specific examples of the discrepancy between Baháʼí claimed figures and official census data for India.
According to Shalom Scott, what was one way potential converts were misled about the Baháʼí Faith's membership?
What is the concept of "Once a Baháʼí, always a Baháʼí" and how does it contribute to inflated numbers?
What trend was observed in the US Baháʼí numbers for 2022, and what additional factor might contribute to this decline?
How does the retention rate of the Baháʼí Faith compare to typical Christian denominations, according to Professor Juan Cole?
What motivated the Baháʼís in India to exaggerate their membership figures?
Which national Baháʼí community is specifically commended in the text for "upholding the truth" regarding its numbers?
What is suggested as the deeper, "well-planned strategy" behind the Baháʼí administration's exaggeration of census figures?
What happened to the reported number of Local Spiritual Assemblies (LSAs) in India after the "Muhajir Era"?
Quiz Answer Key
The main accusation against the Baháʼí Faith administration is that it has consistently and deliberately inflated its membership numbers. This is alleged to be a strategic effort to present an inaccurate picture of growth and influence to the world.
For India, the Baháʼí administration claimed 2 million or 2.2 million adherents, whereas the official Indian government census figures were significantly lower, such as 5,575 in 1991 and 11,324 in 2001. Another figure provided for the 2010/2011 census was "not more than 12,000," and 4,573 for 2016 data.
According to Shalom Scott, potential converts were lied to by Baháʼís regarding the actual membership numbers of the Faith. This deception was part of an effort by the leadership to make the Faith appear more successful and influential than it truly was.
"Once a Baháʼí, always a Baháʼí" refers to the practice where individuals are purportedly never removed from the membership rolls unless they formally renounce their belief in writing. This means that inactive members or those who have joined other religions remain on the books, contributing to inflated census figures.
The US Baháʼí numbers are reported to be dropping at a rate of 300-400 per year in 2022. An additional factor contributing to this decline is an increase in "bad addresses," suggesting that many recorded members may be bogus entries.
According to Professor Juan Cole, since 1968, 50% of people who entered the Baháʼí Faith have left it. This is significantly lower than the approximately 80% retention rate typically seen in most Christian denominations.
The Baháʼís in India exaggerated their figures primarily to achieve "minority status" in the country. This status presumably comes with certain benefits or recognition that they sought to obtain.
The New Zealand Baháʼí community is specifically commended for "upholding the truth" because it acknowledged a reverse growth trend in its numbers. This community's reported figures aligned with the official census data, unlike most other Baháʼí communities worldwide.
The deeper, "well-planned strategy" behind the exaggeration is attributed to the Haifa-based Baháʼí administration. The goal is to project high acceptability and success globally, allowing them to claim the Baháʼí Faith as one of the major religions of the world.
In the Post-Muhajir Era (1984 to 2010), the number of Local Spiritual Assemblies (LSAs) in India reportedly started decreasing significantly from a peak of 10,000. By 2010, the Baháʼí administration claimed only 500 LSAs, which is just 5% of the number reported in 1984.
Essay Format Questions
Analyze the various methods and justifications presented in the sources for the alleged exaggeration of Baháʼí census figures. Discuss the perceived benefits for the Baháʼí administration that these inflated numbers might provide.
Compare and contrast the Baháʼí population trends and official census data provided for India, the United States, and New Zealand. What similarities and differences are observed, and what implications do these trends suggest about the Baháʼí Faith's actual growth?
Discuss the role of key individuals and internal practices, such as "Once a Baháʼí, always a Baháʼí" and the "Ruhi book courses," in contributing to the claimed discrepancies in Baháʼí membership figures.
Evaluate the criticisms leveled against the Baháʼí Faith in the provided sources, including its characterization as a "cult" or a "footnote religion." To what extent do the presented statistics and observations support these characterizations?
Beyond mere numerical discrepancy, what ethical and practical concerns are raised by the alleged intentional inflation of membership figures by a religious administration? Consider the impact on potential converts, existing members, and external perceptions.
Glossary of Key Terms
Abdul Baha: Son of the Founder of the Baháʼí Faith, mentioned as a historical figure whose era saw confusion in population figures.
Baháʼí Administration: The governing body of the Baháʼí Faith, consistently accused in the sources of inflating membership numbers. Often specifically refers to the "Haifa-based organization" or leadership.
Baháʼuʼlláh: The Founder of the Baháʼí Faith. His message of peace and religious renewal was brought to Western societies by 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
Census of India: Official government surveys conducted by India that report Baháʼí population figures significantly lower than those claimed by the Baháʼí administration.
"Deceptive Conversion": A term used in the sources to describe conversion activities that are allegedly carried out in a misleading manner, particularly in India, where such practices are stated to be banned.
"Entry by Troops": A concept or promise cited by Larry Rowe, suggesting that the gross exaggeration of Baháʼí membership numbers, especially in North America, was meant to fulfill an expectation of mass conversions that did not materialize.
Haifa-based organization: Refers to the central administration of the Baháʼí Faith, located in Haifa, Israel, which is alleged to strategize the exaggeration of census figures.
Hands of the Cause: A distinguished rank of Baháʼís appointed to promote and protect the Faith. Dr. Rahmatulláh Muhájir and Amatu'l-Bahá Ruhiyyih Khánum are mentioned in relation to accelerating conversion activities.
Juan Cole: A Professor of Religious History and Studies at the University of Michigan, cited for his observation that 50% of people who entered the Baháʼí Faith since 1968 have left it.
Local Spiritual Assemblies (LSAs): Local governing bodies of the Baháʼí Faith. The sources discuss a significant decrease in their reported numbers in India in the Post-Muhajir Era.
Lotus Temple: A Baháʼí House of Worship located in Delhi, India, mentioned as a factor that accelerated conversion activities.
Muhajir Era: A period from 1956 to 1983, during which Dr. Rahmatulláh Muhájir was active and a significant increase in reported Local Spiritual Assemblies in India (10,000) was noted, which later sharply declined.
National Spiritual Assembly (NSA): A national governing body of the Baháʼí Faith in a specific country. The NSA of India is mentioned for deleting exaggerated figures from its official site.
New Zealand Baháʼí Community: Noted in the sources as an exception for acknowledging a decline in its membership numbers, aligning with official census data, and thus "upholding the truth."
"Once a Baháʼí, always a Baháʼí": A practice described where individuals are purportedly retained on Baháʼí membership rolls indefinitely unless they formally resign, contributing to inflated numbers.
Persian Domination: The Baháʼí Faith organization is characterized as being "essentially Persian dominated" in the sources.
Ruhi book courses: Educational courses within the Baháʼí Faith, described in the sources as a means to collect addresses and inaccurately claim individuals as Baháʼís.
Self-deception: The psychological process of denying or rationalizing away opposing evidence, suggested as a factor in the exaggerated Baháʼí census figures.
Shalom Scott: A former Baháʼí whose observations are quoted, alleging that Baháʼís lied to potential converts and inflated numbers to create an inaccurate perception of success.
Shoghi Effendi: Deceased Guardian of the Baháʼí Faith, whose words about spreading the Faith are interpreted in the sources as a basis for exaggerating numbers.
Universal House of Justice: The supreme governing body of the Baháʼí Faith, called upon in the sources to acknowledge the reality of declining numbers.