Question – How Shoghi Effendi changed the course of Baha’ism?

Shoghi Effendi applied the structure of the European parties he saw, and created the Local Spiritual Assembly and National Spiritual Assembly and had them registered as religious organizations or even as commercial organizations in different countries. It is because of these structured organizations that Baha’ism is still present.

Shoghi brought ‘shunning’ to the Baha’i faith, meaning that whoever objects the guardian in any fashion, will first be shunned from the organization and if needed, shunned from his family too. Contrary to this, `Abdu’l-Bahá has previously said: Why should we say he is a Jewish or he is a Christian, and they are Buddhists, this (matter) doesn’t have anything to do with us. God has created us all and burdened us to be polite to all. However issues related to beliefs (of people) is for God (to judge) and at the Judgement Day he will punish and recompense. God has not chosen us as their reckoner.

The Israelis established themselves at `Abdu’l-Bahá’s era, and as a result of his service to the Israelis, the Baha’i assets and affairs have been free from tax ever since.