Major Debates and Disputations of Belief in History and the Bahá’í Dispensation

Abstract

Religious and scientific differences of views and opinions throughout human history have resulted in incalculable debates and disputations. Despite its short life, the Bahá'í history has also witnessed some major debates of its own. A brief survey of some of the most famous and important historical debates such as the disputation of Barcelona between the Jews and Christians, the debate between Galileo and ten cardinals representing Pope Urban VIII and the Oxford debate of 1860 on Darwinian evolution will be presented. Following this introduction, the presentation will focus on some major debates of the Bahá'í history including the Trial of the Báb in Tabriz, the debate between `Abdu'l-Bahá and Pastor Menier in Paris, and the face to face encounter of a Bahá'í teacher with Muzaffaruddin-Shah.