>Indeed they have. Those of the bahai faith have suffered miserably at times over the years and you can see it with the Chinese and the Feng Shue. Regardless of doctrinal difference (without diminishing how important it is to get this part 'right' <g>) no single human should be treated so cruelly simply on the basis of their personal beliefs.
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>However, I am reminded by what Paul wrote; "If I give my body to be burned and do not have agape (God's love) what I profess has absolutely no enduring spiritual value, redemptive or otherwise." (my translation <g>)

In addition to my previous message (I am still interested in your opinion on this subject): we, of course, consider the ca. 20000 Babís and Bahá'ís who where killed for their faith (most in Irán, most in the 19th. century) martyrs in the Cause of God. By the way, in many cases they were given the chance to recant from their faith. Although (if I understand correctly) Shia Islam considers a fake recantation, in case of danger, an acceptable practice, Babís and Bahá'ís do not - and most believers who had this choice stood firm by their beliefs, preferring to die.

Two clarifications may be in order.

1) We consider that our faith is based on the teachings (revelations) of two people: the Báb, and Bahá'u'lláh (both from the 19th. century). People who believed in the Báb were called "Babís". Eventually, most of them accepted Bahá'u'lláh, and eventually became known as "Bahá'ís".

2) Islám is divided into two major groups: Shia and Sunna. Shia is the smaller of the two (ca. 10% worldwide), but there are countries, especially Irán, with a majority of Shia believers.

Hilmar.