Brief Introduction to
the Bahá'í Faith
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Brief Introduction to
the Bahá'í Faith |
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In just over 100 years, the Bahá'í Faith [founded by Baha'u'llah (1817 - 1892)] has grown from an obscure and persecuted religious movement in the Middle East to one of the most widespread of the world's religions. The Bahá'í Faith has been recognized as a major religion by the United Nations, the Vatican and the World Parliament of Religions, and has significant communities in virtually every country and territory of the world. It has followers from more than 2,100 ethnic, racial and tribal groups, and its literature has been translated into over 800 languages .
According to the 1995 Encyclopedia Brittanica Yearbook, the Bahá'í Faith is the second most widespread religion on the planet, surpassed only by all the sects and denominations of Christianity combined. It is not divided however, and has no sects or denominations. This unity is one of its unique features, and has contributed to its phenomenal growth over the past century. In fact, the World Christian Encyclopedia recently noted the growth of the Bahá'í Faith, calling it the world's fastest growing independent religion. .
The word "Bahá'í" means a follower of Baha'u'llah. Bahá'ís believe that Baha'u'llah is the latest in a long line of Divine Messengers which stretches back before recorded time and includes Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ, Buddha, Krishna and Muhammad.
The main theme of Baha'u'llah's message is unity. He taught that there is only one God, that all the world's religions represent one changeless and eternal Faith of God, and that all humanity is one race, destined to live in peace and harmony.
A related theme of the Bahá'í Faith is that humanity is a single race and that the day has come for us to strive for the unification of the world into one global society - a society which embraces this essential unity while it also preserves the delightful diversity of the human experience.
Born in 1817, Baha'u'llah was a member of one of the great patrician families of Persia - a family which traced its lineage to the ruling dynasties of Persia's imperial past, and was endowed with wealth and vast estates. Turning his back on the position at court which these advantages offered him, Baha'u'llah became known for his generosity and kindliness, which made him deeply loved by his countrymen. In 1863, Baha'u'llah announced himself as the second coming foretold by previous Messengers in all religions. Like every prophet throughout history, Baha'u'llah was subsequently denounced by the ruling clergy of his day. He was subjected to imprisonment, torture and a series of banishments, which ended finally in the prison-city of Akka in the Holy Land, where he arrived in 1868.
From prison, Baha'u'llah addressed a series of letters to the kings and rulers of the world, messages which are among the most remarkable documents in religious history. They proclaim the coming unification of humanity and the subsequent emergence of a world civilization, and call upon the rulers to reconcile their differences, curtail their armaments, and devote their energies to universal peace.
Baha'u'llah passed away at Bahji, just north of Akka, in 1892 and His earthly remains are buried there. His teachings quickly spread beyond the confines of the Middle East. The Bahá'í community today numbers over five million members in over 200 countries and territories. Its rich diversity embraces people from most of the planet's races, creeds and cultures, including over 2100 different cultural groups. According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, the Bahá'í Faith is now the world's second most widespread religion, second only to all the combined sects of Christianity in geographic distribution.
Among the principles of the Bahá'í Faith are:
- The oneness of humankind
- The elimination of all sorts of prejudice
- The equality of men and women
- The right of every individual to an independent search for truth
- The essential harmony of science and religion
- The elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty
- The promotion of universal education
There are no clergy in the Bahá'í Faith. Elected councils, called Spiritual Assemblies, are formed each year to oversee the affiars of the Faith in each locality and nation. All adult believers are equally eligible, and election is by democratic balloting in a spiritual atmosphere with no campaigning or discussion of candidates.
The work of the Bahá'í Faith is entirely supported by voluntary contributions from its members. Since giving to the Faith is considered a privilege of membership, the Bahá'ís do not accept outside contributions.
Bahá'í Houses of Worship are open to all peoples, and large, magnificent structures dedicated to the worship of God are located on each continent, as well as on the island of Samoa. In other areas, devotional programs are held in local Bahá'í Centers or the homes of individual Bahá'ís, depending on the size of the community. Devotional meetings are simple, and consist of prayers, meditations and readings from the Sacred Scriptures of the Bahá'í Faith and other world religions.
Bahá'ís gather for frequent Holy Day celebrations throughout the year, and members of the public are often invited to attend these gatherings. Many Bahá'í communities also host informal gatherings, called firesides, where enquirers may come to learn more about the Faith, to ask questions, and to socialize with Bahá'ís.
If you have any other questions about the Bahá'í Faith in the Mariana Islands, if you wish to receive free literature, or if you wish to be directed to the nearest Bahá'í fireside meeting or Holy Day celebration, please feel free to call the Bahá'í National Office in Guam at (671)--828-8639. You may also send us an email at: nsamar@kuentos.guam.net, or write to us at the following address:
National
Spiritual Assembly of
the Bahá'ís of the Mariana Islands
PO Box 20280, GMF
Barrigada, Guam 96921
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