What is the Baha’i Faith?
The Baha’i Faith, the world’s newest independent global belief system, teaches the oneness of God, the unity of humanity and the essential harmony of religion.
Baha’is believe in peace, justice, love,
altruism and unity. The Baha’i teachings promote the agreement of
science and religion, the equality of the sexes and the elimination of all prejudice and racism.
Just about anywhere you go on the planet,
you’ll find Baha’is—the Baha’i Faith is the world’s second-most
widespread religion after Christianity, spanning the globe and working
to unite it. Baha’is have no clergy or churches, gathering together in
democratically-led communities and welcoming everyone.
The millions of Baha’is in the world come
from every ethnicity, nationality, tribe, age, racial group, religious
background and economic and social class. Gentle, peaceful, warm and
welcoming, diverse Baha’i communities exist just about
everywhere. Baha’is accept the validity of each of the founders and
prophets of the major world religions, and believe in progressive
revelation, the unique Baha’i principle that views every great Faith as a
link in a single spiritual system progressively revealed by God to
humanity.
How Did Baha’i History Begin?
Tehran, the city where Baha’u’llah was born
Founded by Baha’u’llah
in 1863 in Persia, the Baha’i Faith has since spread to every region,
continent and nation. Baha’u’llah’s teachings emphasize justice, and in
Persia’s profoundly unjust and corrupt society at the time, they created
an uproar. Tortured, exiled and imprisoned for the last forty years of
his life for his progressive teachings, Baha’u’llah (a title that means “The Glory of God”)
and the early Baha’is suffered severe, genocidal persecution—more than
20,000 died for their beliefs. Even today, many Baha’is in Iran and
other Middle Eastern countries still face persecution.
Baha’u’llah spent forty years in
exile and in prison, suffering a life of torture and deprivation in
order to bring the world a new set of spiritual teachings. Persecuted
relentlessly, he still persevered in delivering that message, which has
now begun to revolutionize humanity’s future.Who are the Baha’is?
The millions of Baha’is in the world come from every ethnicity,
nationality, tribe, age, racial group, religious
background and economic and social class. Gentle, peaceful, warm and
welcoming, Baha’i communities exist just about everywhere. Baha’is
accept the validity of each of the founders and prophets of the major
world religions, and believe in progressive revelation, the unique
Baha’i principle that views every great Faith as a link in a
single spiritual system progressively revealed by God to humanity.
The Main Baha’i Teachings
Essentially a mystical Faith, the Baha’i teachings focus on the soul’s relationship with the eternal, unknowable essence of God,
and recommend daily prayer and meditation to everyone. Baha’is believe
that the human spirit lives eternally, and so endeavor to illumine their
souls with spiritual attributes—kindness, generosity, integrity,
truthfulness, humility and selfless service to others.
Also a practical Faith,
the primary Baha’i principles advocate international unity, the complete
cessation of all warfare, universal compulsory education for every
child, a spiritual solution to the extremes of wealth and poverty, an
end to religious fundamentalism and division, and a unified global
response to oppression, materialism, and the planet’s mounting
environmental crisis.
Baha’is believe in the independent
investigation of reality, and encourage everyone to question dogma,
tradition and superstition by embarking on a personal search to discover
the truth. The Baha’i Faith has no clergy. Instead, a distinctive
system of democratically-elected councils at the local, national and
international levels administer and guide Baha’i communities. This
unprecedented administrative order, fundamentally different from any
other system of religious or political authority, has now become the
first functioning system of democratic global governance, vesting power
and initiative in the entire body of the believers worldwide.
The Baha’i writings say that religion must be the source of unity and fellowship in the world—but if it produces enmity, hatred and bigotry, the absence of religion would be preferable.
Quotes from the Baha’i Writings
Unlike many religions of the past,
Baha’is have the original writings of the Baha’i founder Baha’u’llah, of
his son and successor Abdu’l-Baha, and of the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith, Shoghi Effendi. Baha’is
rely on and revere those inspiring, powerful works—and of course
they’re available to all. The Baha’i teachings have been translated into
hundreds of languages, including tribal and indigenous ones, to make
them available to all the people of the world. In those Baha’i
writings, Baha’u’llah’s new Faith calls on every human being to
investigate its claim as the return of the prophets of the past
religions, and the fulfillment of their promises of the dawn of a new
day:
The Revelation which, from time immemorial, hath been acclaimed as the Purpose and Promise of all the Prophets of God, and the most cherished Desire of His Messengers, hath now, by virtue of the pervasive Will of the Almighty and at His irresistible bidding, been revealed unto men. The advent of such a Revelation hath been heralded in all the sacred Scriptures… O ye lovers of the One true God! Strive, that ye may truly recognize and know Him, and observe befittingly His precepts. – Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 5.
O son of spirit! My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and everlasting. – Baha’u’llah, The Hidden Words, p. 3.That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race. The Great Being saith: Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth. In another passage He hath proclaimed: It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens. – Baha’u’llah, Tablets of Baha’u’llah, p. 167.
Baha’is believe in one God, eternal in
the past and the future, who loves and progressively educates humanity
through successive revealed religions. The Baha’i writings say that the
Creator is an “unknowable essence,” far beyond the capacity of creation
to comprehend. To aid and enlighten us, God has provided humanity with
divinely-inspired prophets and messengers throughout history, who
founded the world’s great Faiths and brought ethical, moral and
spiritual teachings to everyone.
The Essential Unity of All Religions
Baha’is accept, respect and revere the religions of Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Muhammad,
and also the sacred traditions of the prophets and teachers of
indigenous peoples whose names written history may never have recorded.
The Baha’i Faith encompasses, embraces and advances the past teachings
of all those great Faiths, and Baha’is view Baha’u’llah as the most
recent of these divine teachers.
Baha’u’llah called each of these divine messengers and teachers “Manifestations of God”—perfect
mirrors of the Supreme Being’s love and concern for humanity, each of
them destined to inspire entire civilizations based on their spiritual
teachings and advance the collective maturation of humanity during their
dispensations:
Consider to what extent the love of God makes itself manifest. Among the signs of His love which appear in the world are the dawning-point of His Manifestations. What an infinite degree of love is reflected by the divine Manifestations toward mankind! For the sake of guiding the people they have willingly forfeited their lives to resuscitate human hearts. – Abdu’l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 89.
Baha’is Believe in the Oneness of Humanity
In the latest of the revelations in that
great universal chain of being, Baha’u’llah taught the central Baha’i
tenet of the oneness of humanity—saying “The earth is but one country,
and mankind its citizens.” Accordingly, Baha’is consider
themselves world citizens, working for the establishment of a universal
human civilization based on love, spiritual virtues and the desire of
all people for peace and prosperity:
O contending peoples and kindreds of the earth! Set your faces towards unity, and let the radiance of its light shine upon you. Gather ye together, and for the sake of God resolve to root out whatever is the source of contention amongst you. Then will the effulgence of the world’s great Luminary envelop the whole earth, and its inhabitants become the citizens of one city, and the occupants of one and the same throne. – Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 217.
Human Nature–Fundamentally Noble and Spiritual
Baha’is believe that human nature is
fundamentally spiritual, and that our souls make us noble beings.
Although we all temporarily exist in our physical bodies here on Earth, Baha’u’llah
taught, our true identities reside in our eternal souls. The primary
purpose of each human soul, the Baha’i teachings say, is to know and to
love God. Baha’is do not believe in doctrines of original sin or
ultimate evil—instead, the Baha’i teachings say, each person can make
the choice to characterize his or her life with divine attributes:
Man has two powers; and his development, two aspects. One power is connected with the material world, and by it he is capable of material advancement. The other power is spiritual, and through its development his inner, potential nature is awakened. These powers are like two wings. Both must be developed, for flight is impossible with one wing… We must strive unceasingly and without rest to accomplish the development of the spiritual nature in man, and endeavor with tireless energy to advance humanity toward the nobility of its true and intended station. – Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 59.
Our inborn spiritual nature can create
a mystical relationship with the Creator, giving meaning and purpose to
our lives. The Baha’i teachings say that process happens through
meditation and prayer, the inner growth driven by our spiritual search
for truth, the love we give to others, and ultimately as a result of our
selfless actions to serve humanity.
Like all great Faiths, the Baha’i
teachings have a dual aim—to speak to the inner spirit of each human
being, and to propel the process of positive social development forward:God’s purpose in sending His Prophets unto men is twofold. The first is to liberate the children of men from the darkness of ignorance, and guide them to the light of true understanding. The second is to ensure the peace and tranquility of mankind, and provide all the means by which they can be established. – Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 79.
The Baha’i Faith provides the means for peace and tranquility through a progressive set of social teachings:
- Independent Investigation of Truth
- Banishing Prejudice of Every Kind
- The Oneness of Humanity
- One Essential Foundation for All Religions
- Religion Should Cause Love, Affection and Joy
- The Harmony of Science and Religion
- A Universal Auxiliary Language
- Universal Compulsory Education
- Equality of the Sexes
- Establishing the Parliament of Man
- The Abolition of the Extremes of Wealth and Poverty
- Work as Worship
- The Non-Involvement of Religion with Politics
- The Power of the Holy Spirit
- Human Rights for All
These fundamental Baha’i principles call for a complete restructuring
of humanity’s priorities—from material to spiritual, from exclusive to
inclusive and from divisiveness to unity.
You can find Baha’is just about any place you look—but you will probably need to look.
That’s because Baha’is don’t press their
Faith on anyone else. Baha’u’llah wrote that Baha’is could
not proselytize or compel the beliefs of others. Baha’is uphold
the important principle of the independent investigation of truth:
Discover for yourselves the reality of things, and strive to assimilate the methods by which noble-mindedness and glory are attained among the nations and people of the world. No man should follow blindly his ancestors and forefathers. Nay, each must see with his own eyes, hear with his own ears and investigate independently in order that he may find the truth. – Abdu’l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 24.
Baha’is eagerly welcome anyone on a path
of spiritual search—or anyone who would like to learn more about the
Baha’i Faith. Many Baha’i communities around the world have informal
meetings where seekers can examine and explore the teachings of this new
Faith. Called “firesides” or study classes, those Baha’i
meetings encourage questions and open-minded discussion about life.
Everyone is welcome.
The Baha’i Houses of Worship
On each continent in the world, a Baha’i
House of Worship welcomes everyone. With nine sides symbolizing the many
paths to the one true God, Baha’i Houses of Worship are open to all, no
matter what beliefs they hold. Similar to a church, mosque or
temple—but with no rituals, rites or sermons—Baha’i Houses of Worship
function as the center of a community’s spiritual life, and its
humanitarian, educational and altruistic service and outreach. More than
a hundred Baha’i Houses of Worship are in the planning stages, and
seven now exist, with an eighth one, in Chile, set to open soon:
Baha’i House of Worship in India
- North America: Wilmette, Illinois, USA
- Central America: Panama City, Panama
- South America: Chile
- Europe: Frankfurt, Germany
- Africa: Kampala, Uganda
- Asia: New Delhi, India
- Australia: Sydney
- Oceania: Apia, Western Samoa
The Baha’i teachings ultimately envision
these interfaith Houses of Worship in every community, serving as the
dawning places of the mention of God and the central focal points of a
number of charitable, public benefit institutions. The Baha’i teachings
call the House of Worship:
…one of the most vital institutions in the world, and it hath many subsidiary branches. Although it is a House of Worship, it is also connected with a hospital, a drug dispensary, a traveller’s hospice, a school for orphans, and a university for advanced studies. – Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, pp. 99-100.
Many of these temples (like the Baha’i
Lotus Temple in India, pictured) have become magnets for those from
every Faith and no Faith, as a place to reflect, meditate and pray, and
as beautiful monuments to the Baha’i ideals of the oneness of God,
religion and humanity.
The Baha’i Gardens
Baha’i Gardens in Haifa, Israel
The International Baha’i Centre, located
in Haifa, Israel, now also attracts people from all over the world, not
only as holy places of pilgrimage for Baha’is but as tourist
destinations known for their serenity and delightful majesty. The Baha’i
shrines and buildings on Mt. Carmel in Haifa, for example, have become
known as the Baha’i Gardens, because of their extensive terraces, flowering gardens and the golden dome of the Shrine of the Bab, a landmark in northern Israel and a beacon of peace and hope worldwide.
The International Baha’i Centre also houses the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the democratically-elected administrative leadership body of the global Baha’i community.
Baha’is love beauty, as you’ll see if you
visit the International Baha’i Centre or any of the world’s Baha’i
Houses of Worship. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and fragrant flowers,
illumined by creative, light-filled architecture and suffused with the
peace and serenity of a truly spiritual atmosphere, these places host
millions of visitors every year, silently proclaiming the peace and
unity Baha’u’llah taught and the Baha’is work to achieve.
Becoming a Baha’i
Anyone can become a Baha’i.
Becoming a Baha’i means accepting Baha’u’llah’s
unifying teachings, and deciding to try to follow the path of spiritual
development the Baha’i teachings outline. There is no service, baptism
or ceremony involved—becoming a Baha’i simply requires an inner,
spiritual decision to embrace the teachings of the Faith and join your
local Baha’i community. In many countries, Baha’is also sign a
declaration card, which enrolls them in the Baha’i community and allows
them to receive invitations to community events and gatherings.
When you make the decision to become a
Baha’i, you also take part in a planetary movement to change the world.
Baha’is work for peace, justice, equality, racial unity and
environmental sustainability—all based on addressing the underlying,
spiritual causes of such inequities. The new, optimistic model the
Baha’i teachings offer the world takes a fresh approach to
problem-solving, tapping into the deep well of human concern for others
with a thoughtful, integrated and comprehensive spiritual energy.
Becoming a Baha’i makes you a world
citizen, a part of the world’s newest major Faith and an immediate
member of a loving, inclusive global community of truly remarkable
souls.
Baha’i events—meetings, elections,
parties, devotionals, holy day celebrations, a Baha’i “Feast” at the
beginning of every month (the feast is a community gathering that
usually includes prayers and readings from the Baha’i writings, a period
of community consultation and refreshments)—tend to include lots of
social interaction, with laughter, music and a general sense of joy and
happiness. Depending on their size, Baha’i communities often meet in
homes, local Baha’i centers or meeting rooms. Diverse and inclusive,
most Baha’i meetings give participants the opportunity to meet and get
to know people from different backgrounds, cultures and nations.
Baha’is never ask others for monetary
contributions—in fact, only Baha’is can contribute to the Baha’i funds,
and all contributions are completely confidential. No one ever passes a
plate or requires anyone to participate, since every donation is
considered private and personal.
Baha’is come from every walk of life,
every social strata of society and every ethnicity, racial background,
nation and age group. To answer the question “What is a Baha’i?” Abdu’l-Baha answered:
To be a Baha’i simply means to love all the world; to love humanity and try to serve it; to work for universal peace and universal brotherhood.” – Baha’u’llah and the New Era, p. 83.
published from:bahaiteachings.org
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