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- The Baha'i Faith
- and its World Community
-
- Introduction
- The Baha'i Faith is an independent world religion with adherents
- in virtually every country. The Baha'i world community includes
- almost all nationalities, classes, trades and professions. Its
- membership of over 4.5 million is comprised of people living in
- more than 118,000 localities in over 200 countries and
- territories - 166 of these independent nations - and unites men
- and women of various religious and ethnic origins. More than
- 2,000 ethnic groups and tribes are represented.
-
- Baha'i Writings
- The writings that guide the life of the Baha'i community include
- numerous works by Baha'u'llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i
- Faith, and interpretations by His son, Abdu'l-Baha, and
- Baha'u'llah's great-grandson, Shoghi Effendi. Baha'i literature
- can be read today in over 800 languages and dialects.
-
- Baha'i Principles
- The central principles of the Baha'i Faith are the oneness of
- God, the oneness of religion, and the oneness of mankind.
- Baha'u'llah 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. Baha'is believe that humanity is one family
- created by God. The Baha'i community promotes the unity of
- mankind and the establishment of peace in the world. The
- teachings of the Baha'i Faith provide solutions to problems which
- have been barriers to the achievement of unity and peace.
-
- Characteristics of the Baha'i Community
- There is no clergy in the Baha'i Faith. Local meetings are
- planned by the local Baha'i communities. Baha'i meetings include
- devotional services, study classes, discussions, social events,
- and the observation of holy days.
-
- Baha'i religious and community activities are planned according
- to the Baha'i calendar. The Baha'i Faith began in 1844 and each
- new calendar year begins on the vernal equinox. The Baha'i year
- includes nine holy days and a period of fasting near the end of
- the year. The purpose of human life for Baha'is is to know and
- to worship God, and to carry forward an ever-advancing
- civilization. Baha'is have, for over one hundred years, striven
- to bring about the unity of mankind, world peace, and world
- order. To achieve these goals the Baha'i teachings encourage:
- 1. The fostering of 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 the worship of God.
- 2. The eradication of prejudices of race, creed, 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 this problem 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 principal reason for the decline and
- fall of peoples and the perpetuation of prejudice. No
- nation can achieve success unless education is accorded
- all its citizens.
-
- Baha'i Laws
- Besides spiritual laws requiring daily prayer and an annual
- period of fasting, the Baha'i 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 Baha'i community
- and Baha'i law requires a year of trial separation, after which,
- if differences cannot be resolved, divorce is permissible.
- Baha'i law also prohibits the use of alcoholic drinks and
- narcotics.
-
-
- Non-Partisan Character
- The Baha'i Faith is not aligned with any government or political
- party. While they may accept non-partisan government posts and
- appointments, Baha'is may not be members of any political
- faction or ideology. Baha'is, 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,
- Baha'is may vote in general elections and participate in the
- ordinary civic life of their community. The institutions and
- programs of the Baha'i Faith are supported exclusively by
- voluntary contributions from its own members.
-
- Baha'i Administrative Order
- Free from any form of ecclesiasticism, having neither priesthood
- nor manmade ritual, and forbidding asceticism, monasticism, and
- mendicancy, the Baha'i Faith relies on a pattern of local,
- national, and international administration, created by
- Baha'u'llah, elaborated by Abdu'l-Baha, and implemented by Shoghi
- Effendi. There are currently approximately 20,000 local
- assemblies and over 145 National Assemblies throughout the world.
-
-
- The affairs of the local Baha'i 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 Baha'is 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 Baha'i elections are by secret ballot, with no
- nominations or electioneering.
-
- In administering the affairs of the community, the institutions
- of the Baha'i 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 points of view. The
- Baha'i writings state: "The shining spark of truth comes forth
- only after the 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 Baha'i
- individual and community life places emphasis on houses of
- worship in villages, towns, and cities. At present, Houses of
- Worship exist in Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A.; Frankfurt-am-Main,
- West Germany; Kampala, Uganda; Sidney, Australia; Panama City,
- Panama; New Delhi, India; and Apia, Western Samoa. Services of
- worship consist of the recitation of Baha'i 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 Baha'i community revolve.
- Many local Baha'i communities currently own properties used for
- activities.
-
- Social and Economic Development Projects
- Baha'i 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 900
- 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
- Baha'i teachings on the necessity of universal education has
- inspired the establishment of learning centers which include
- tutorial schools in fifteen African countries and more than 300
- training schools and centers in Asia.
-
- 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.
-
- Seven educational radio stations currently operate in Liberia,
- Panama, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and the United States, to
- serve the local populations. Programs in native languages offer
- advice on health care, crop management, animal husbandry, and
- child development.
-
-
- Relationship to the United Nations
- The Baha'i International Community has accredited consultative
- status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council
- (ECOSOC) and with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
- It is also affiliated with the United Nations Environment Program
- (UNEP) and, since 1948, with the UN Office of Public Information.
- It has representatives with the United Nations in New York,
- Geneva, and Nairobi. Local Baha'i communities are encouraged to
- support the UN's various humanitarian projects. The Baha'i
- International Community participates in meetings of UN agencies
- concerned with human rights, social development, the status of
- women, the environment, human settlement, food, science and
- technology, population, the law of the sea, crime prevention,
- substance abuse, youth, children, the family, disarmament, and
- the United Nations University.
-
- Baha'i History
- The Baha'i Faith was founded in Persia (Iran) by Mirza Husayn-Ali
- (1817-1892), known as Baha'u'llah, the "Glory of God". The word
- "Baha'i" derives from baha ("glory" or "splendor") and means a
- follower of Baha'u'llah. The Baha'i Faith is linked with the
- Babi Faith, founded in 1844 by Mirza Ali-Muhammad (1819-1850),
- known as the Bab or "Gate". The Bab 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 Bab was 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 Bab.
-
- Baha'u'llah was exiled from Iran to various places within the
- Ottoman Empire, and in 1868 was sent as a prisoner to the
- fortress city of Akka in Palestine. He passed away in 1892. In
- His will, He appointed His eldest son, Abdu'l-Baha (1844-1921),
- to lead the Baha'i community and to interpret the Baha'i
- Writings. Abdu'l-Baha in turn appointed His eldest grandson,
- Shoghi Effendi (1896-1957), as His successor, the Guardian of the
- Cause, and the authorized interpreter of the Baha'i teachings.
- Today the affairs of the world-wide Baha'i community are
- administered by the Universal House of Justice.
-
- Baha'i World Center
- The Baha'i World Center is in the Holy Land. From the time of
- Baha'u'llah's exile to Akka, the spiritual and administrative
- center of the Faith has been established in the two cities of
- Akka and Haifa. The Baha'i Holy Places in Israel consist of the
- Shrines of Baha'u'llah and The Bab and historic sites associated
- with Them. Baha'u'llah 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.
-
- U.S. Baha'i Office of Public Information July 1988
-
- NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
- OF THE BAHA'IS OF THE UNITED STATES
-
- The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United
- States is the administrative body for the Baha'is of the U.S.
-
- The Assembly has nine members. They are chosen by 171 delegates
- representing all the adult Baha'is of the continental U.S. There
- are approximately 1,700 local Spiritual Assemblies in the 48
- contiguous states. Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico have their own
- National Spiritual Assembies.
-
- The Assembly directs, coordinates and stimulates the activities
- of individuals and local Spiritual Assemblies. It participates
- with other National Spiritual Assemblies in the election of the
- international governing body of the Faith, the Universal House of
- Justice, which is held in Haifa, Israel, every five years.
-
- The headquarters of the National Assembly is in the vicinity of
- the Baha'i House of Worship, Wilmette, Illinois, where the
- Assembly maintains an administrative staff, supervises a
- publishing trust, and publishes several periodicals including a
- quarterly magazine, World Order, and a quarterly newsletter, US
- Baha'i Report.
-
- The Assembly supports the proclamation of the Baha'i Faith
- throughout the world. Baha'i communities have been established
- in more than 200 countries, territories and islands; Baha'is now
- live in over 100,000 localities around the world. The Baha'is of
- the United States were among the first to carry the Faith to many
- lands.
-
- The Assembly has an official representative accredited with the
- United Nations Department of Public Information and is a member
- of the Baha'i International Community which has consultative
- status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council
- (ECOSOC) and the United Nations International Children's Fund
- (UNICEF). In addition, it has submitted comprehensive position
- papers to the U.N. on such topics as human rights, the
- environment, and the equality of men and women.
-
- The Assembly directs the operations of three permanent schools in
- California, Maine and Michigan and supervises Baha'i studies at
- the Native American Baha'i Institute in Arizona and at 36 other
- locations across the nation. The first Baha'i school in the
- United States was founded in 1900.
-
- The Assembly also operates the Louis G. Gregory Baha'i Institute
- in South Carolina, which provides training for teachers and
- administrators of the Faith, primarily from the southern states.
- WLGI, an educationally licensed 50,000-watt Baha'i radio station,
- broadcasts from the same site.
-
- The Assembly, in all of its deliberations, endeavors to reach
- decisions through "loving and frank consultation." In all of its
- efforts it strives to remain free from outside pressure and
- influence. Clear directives for its actions are contained in the
- sacred writings of the Baha'i Faith.
-
-
-
- PRINCIPAL TENETS OF THE BAHA'I FAITH
-
- The central teachings of the Baha'i Faith are based on the belief
- that religion is revealed by a succession of prophets inspired by
- one God. The pivotal social principle of the Faith is the
- oneness of mankind, implying:
-
- o establishment of universal peace upheld by a world federal
- system;
- o elimination of prejudice of all kinds;
- o recognition of the equality of men and women;
- o adoption of a universal auxiliary language;
- o acceptance of the essential harmony of science and
- religion;
- o implementation of universal compulsory education;
- o application of spiritual solutions to the world's
- problems.
-
- National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States
- Wilmette, Illinois 60091 - 708/869-9039
-
-
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