The Bahai faith is the youngest of our world’s major independent religions and is one that centers on unity. Founded in the mid-nineteenth century by Baha’u’llah, who was a Persian nobleman, the core theme of the Bahai faith is that all of humanity is one and that the time has come for all people to unite as one global community. This unity is seen as a way to break down the barriers of class, creed and race, thus giving birth to a more peaceful and universal civilization.
To understand this better it is best to know the beginnings of the Bahai faith. In 1863, Baha’u’llah, whose given name was Mirza Husayn Ali, claimed that he had a Divine Message to bring, concerning the unity and spiritual rebirth of people everywhere. His belief was that this would eventually lead to world peace and establish a “Kingdom of God on Earth”. He also believed that God sends Divine Messengers who are known as Manifestations of God and that they help humanity to reach higher levels of both spiritual and material advancement. In the Bahai faith, Baha’u’llah is seen as the latest in a line of Divine Messengers which include Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster and the Bab. The Bab (who lived from 1819-1850) passed on his teachings to Baha’u’llah and gave him his title, which means “Glory of God”.
Basic teachings of the Bahai faith
Along with the teachings of all the Divine Messengers, the goal of the Bahai faith is for the oneness of all humanity, the elimination of poverty, a harmony between science and spirituality and equality between men and women. It also strives to bring social principles that are relevant to the needs of a global society. These principles focus of things such as justice, ethics and morality, education and peace. The Bahai say that all religions are one and yet by this it is not meant that all have the same structure and creeds. Rather they believe this means that all the world’s religions are expressions of a single, unfolding Divine plan.
The concept of God
The Baha’u’llah taught that God is the Creator of the universe and the ultimate Reality. The Bahai believe the nature of God is unknowable and inaccessible to humankind, but that instead we learn about God through the Divine Messengers. They believe that all references such as God, Yahweh and Allah, refer to the One Divine Being.
The concept of life, death and the soul
The Bahai faith teaches that although human beings exist in the earth in physical bodies, they are fundamentally spiritual in nature and have an invisible, everlasting soul. The soul is believed to grow and develop through a person’s relationship with God through the teachings of the Divine Messengers, through prayer, love for God, humanitarian service and moral self-discipline. The Bahai believe that the soul lives on after the body’s death and then journeys through many planes of existence towards God. They do not have a belief in heaven and hell in the literal sense, but rather see it as a spiritual progression towards the light of God. If a soul fails to develop, it is seen as remaining distant and remote from God.
Bahai devotional gatherings and holy days
The Bahai see daily prayer and communion with God as the foundation for spiritual advancement. Along with private prayer in the home, Baha’is gather in each other’s homes and communities to celebrate and worship. Readings at these gatherings are taken from the Bahai teachings and from the scriptures of Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and Zoroastrianism. Music for the gatherings are diverse and from many cultures. There is no set, established ritual to the gatherings and there is never a solicitation for funds.
The Bahai year consists of 19 months that consist of 19 days each; the months are named after the attributes of God. There is a Nineteen Day Feast that begins on the first day of each Bahai month and each Feast consists of spiritual, social and administrative functions that focus on fellowship and community. The last day of the Bahai year, which is March 2-20 on the Gregorian calendar, is dedicated to the Fast. During this time, Baha’is who are between 15 and 70 years of age must not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset for these 19 days. There are exemptions for those who are ill or pregnant, for nursing mothers and for those whose work involves extreme physical labor.
There is much more that you can learn about the Bahai faith, and to do so you can visit The International Web Site of the Baha'is.
