Introduction
The Bahá'í Faith is an independent world religion
with adherents in virtually every country. The Bahá'í
world community includes almost all nationalities, classes, trades
and professions. Its membership of over six million is comprised
of people living in approximately 127,380 localities in over
200 countries and territories190 of these independent nationsand
unites men and women of various religious and ethnic origins.
More than 2,112 ethnic groups and tribes are represented.
Bahá'í
Writings
The writings that guide the life of the Bahá'í
community include numerous works by Bahá'u'lláh,
the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, and interpretations
by His son, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and Bahá'u'lláh's
great grand son, Shoghi Effendi. Bahá'í literature
can be read today in over 800 languages and dialects.
Bahá'í
Principles
The central principles of the Bahá'í
Faith are the oneness of God, the oneness of religion, and the
oneness of mankind. Bahá'u'lláh taught that divine
revelation is a continuous and progressive process and that the
missions of the messengers of God represent successive stages
in the spiritual evolution of human society. Bahá'ís
believe that humanity is one family created by God. The Bahá'í
community promotes the unity of mankind and the establishment
of peace in the world. The teachings of the Bahá'í
Faith provide solutions to problems which have been barriers
to the achievement of unity and peace.
Characteristics of the
Bahá'í Community
There is no clergy in the Bahá'í
Faith. Local meetings are planned by the local Bahá'í
communities. Bahá'í meetings include devotional
services, study classes, discussions, social events, and the
observance of holy days. The institutions and programs of the
Bahá'í Faith are supported exclusively by voluntary
contributions from its own members. Bahá'í religious
and community activities are planned according to the Bahá'í
calendar. The Bahá'í Faith began in 1844 and each
new calendar year begins on the vernal equinox. The Bahá'í
year includes nine holy days and a period of fasting near the
end of the year. For Bahá'ís the purpose of human
life is to know and worship God, and carry forward a ever-advancing
civilization. Bahá'ís have, for over one hundred
years, striven to bring about the unity of mankind, world peace,
and world order. To achieve these goals the Bahá'í
teachings encourage:
1. The fostering of a good character
and the development of spiritual qualities, such as honesty,
trustworthiness, compassion, and justice. Prayer, meditation,
and work done in the spirit of service to humanity are expressions
of worship of God.
2. The eradication of prejudices of race, class,
nationality, and sex. Racism retards the unfoldment of the boundless
potentialities of its victims, corrupts its perpetrators, and
blights human progress. Recognition of the oneness of mankind,
implemented by appropriate legal measures, must be universally
upheld if prejudice is to be overcome.
3. The achievement of a dynamic coherence between the
spiritual and practical requirements of life on earth. There
are spiritual principles or values by which solutions can be
found for every social problem. The essential merit of a spiritual
principle is that it not only presents a perspective which harmonizes
with that which is immanent in human nature, it also induces
an attitude, a dynamic, a will, an aspiration, which facilitate
the discovery and implementation of practical measures.
4. The development of the unique talents and abilities of
each individual. Through the pursuit of knowledge, the acquisition
of skills for the practice of a trade or profession and participation
in community life both the individual and society as a whole
are enriched.
5. The equality of women and men. The denial of such equality
perpetrates an injustice against one half of the world's population
and promotes in men harmful attitudes and habits that are carried
from the family to the workplace, to political life, and ultimately
to international relations.
6. The cause of universal education. Ignorance is indisputably
the principle reason for the decline and fall of peoples and
the perpetuation of prejudice. No nation can achieve success
unless education is accorded to all its citizens.
Bahá'í
Laws
Besides spiritual laws requiring daily prayer and an annual period
of fasting, the Bahá'í Faith has social laws. It
prescribes monogamy and upholds the importance of chastity. Marriage
is conditional upon the consent of both parties and their parents.
Divorce is discouraged in the Bahá'í community
and the Bahá'í law requires a year of trial separation,
after which, if differences cannot be resolved, divorce is permissible.
Bahá'í law also prohibits the use of alcoholic
drinks and narcotics.
Non-Partisan Character
The Bahá'í Faith is not aligned with any government
or political party. While they may accept nonpartisan government
posts and appointments, Bahá'ís may not be members
of any political faction or ideology. Bahá'ís,
both individually and collectively, are enjoined to obey the
laws of their respective states and the authority of the legally
constituted governments under which they live. Without regard
for political affiliation, Bahá'ís may vote in
general elections and participate in the ordinary civic life
of their community.
Bahá'í
Administrative Order
Free from any form of ecclesiasticism, having neither priesthood
nor man-made ritual, and forbidding asceticism, monasticism,
and mendicancy, the Bahá'í Faith relies on a pattern
of local, national, and international administration, created
by Bahá'u'lláh, elaborated by 'Abdu'l-Bahá,
and implemented by Shoghi Effendi. There are approximately 11,740
local assemblies and 182 National Spiritual Assemblies throughout
the world.
The affairs of the local Bahá'í community are administered
by a nine-member local Spiritual Assembly elected annually. Nationally,
a nine-member body is elected each year by delegates who have
in turn been elected by Bahá'ís at the local level.
The international governing body, the Universal House of Justice
is elected once every five years in Haifa, Israel at an international
convention attended by members of the National assemblies. All
Bahá'í elections are by secret ballot, with no
nominations or electioneering.
In administering the affairs of the community, the institutions
of the Bahá'í Faith practice a form of consultation
that involves full and frank discussion of issues under consideration.
Matters are discussed with a desire to ascertain the facts and
to come to a decision that is based on spiritual principles and
is unencumbered by personal attachment to point of view. The
Bahá'í writings state: "The shining spark
of truth comes forth only after to clash of differing opinions."
While the goal of consultation is unanimous agreement upon a
course of action, when unanimity cannot be reached, a vote is
taken, and the decision of the majority prevails.
Houses of Worship
The central position of prayer and meditation in Bahá'í
individual and community life places emphasis on houses of worship
in villages, towns, and cities. At present, Houses of Worship
exist in Wilmette, Illinois, USA; Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany;
Kampala, Uganda; Sydney, Australia; Panama City, Panama; New
Delhi, India; and Apia, Western Samoa. Services of worship consist
of the recitation of Bahá'í scriptures and scriptures
of the other divinely revealed religions and "a capella"
music is also allowed. Eventually each locality will have its
own house of worship, which will serve as the point around which
the scientific, educational, humanitarian, and administrative
institutions of the Bahá'í community revolve. Many
local Bahá'í communities currently own properties
used for activities.
Social and Economic
Development Projects
Bahá'í communities throughout the world are involved
in social and economic development activities that serve the
needs of local populations.
National Spiritual Assemblies currently manage over 600 development
projects. The majority of the projects are the result of grassroots
efforts operating with little or no outside support.
Activities in health and social services, communications, agriculture
and forestry, and community development encourage work in the
spirit of service to mankind. The emphasis in Bahá'í
teachings on the necessity of universal education has inspired
the establishment of more than 900 tutorial schools and training
centers in Africa, Asia and the Americas. Bahá'í
communities operate over 30 formal primary and secondary schools.
Social and economic development projects world-wide also include
medical centers, programs for women, cooperative savings programs,
building renovation, arts and theater groups, communal farms
and cooperative fishing projects, homes for refugees and for
the aged, and computer education to assist low income families.
Bahá'í
History
The Bahá'í Faith was founded in Persia (Irán)
by Mirzá Husayn-'Alí (1817-1892). known as Bahá'u'lláh,
the "Glory of God". The word Bahá'í derives
from bahá ("glory' or "splendor") and means
a follower of Bahá'u'lláh. The Bahá'í
Faith is linked with the Báb'í Faith, founded in
1844 by Mirzá 'Ali-Muhammad (1819-1850) known as the Báb
or "Gate". The Báb announced that He was not
only the founder of an independent religion, but the herald of
a new and far greater prophet or messenger of God, Who would
usher in an age of peace for all mankind. The Báb was
publicly executed by Persian authorities in 1850 in an attempt
to crush His religion. In 1863, Baha'u'llah declared that He
was the one prophesied by the Báb.
Bahá'u'lláh was exiled from Irán to various
places within the Ottoman Empire, and in 1868 was sent as a prisoner
to the fortress city of 'Akká in Palestine. He passed
away in 1892. In His will, He appointed His eldest son, 'Abdu'l-Bahá
(1844-1921), to lead the Bahá'í community and to
interpret the Bahá'í Writings. 'Abdul-Bahá
in turn appointed His eldest grandson, Shoghi Effendi (1896-1957),
as His successor, the Guardian of the Cause, and the authorized
interpreter of Bahá'í teachings. Today the affairs
of the world-wide Bahá'í community are administered
by the Universal House of Justice.
Bahá'í
World Center
The Bahá'í World enter is in the Holy Land. From
the time of Bahá'u'lláh's exile to 'Akká,
the spiritual and administrative center of the Faith has been
established in the two cities of 'Akká and Haifa. The
Bahá'í Holy Places in Israel consist of the Shrines
of Bahá'u'lláh and The Báb and historic
sites associated with Them. Bahá'u'lláh instructed
that the World Center of His Faith should be in the vicinity
of these Shrines. The Seat of the Universal House of Justice
is Located on Mt. Carmel in Haifa, Israel.
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