the Bahá’í Faith at a Glance

We live in a time of rapid, often unsettling change, inspiring mixed feelings of dread, anxiety, anticipation, and hope.

In the midst of this turbulence, the Baha’i Faith can be a haven. The optimistic teachings of the Baha’i Faith answer essential questions about the human condition and the relationships that bind us together.

We welcome you to begin your journey of learning, exploration and participation today.

One God

Called by different names throughout the ages, the eternal God, the one Creator of the universe. God is limitless, all-knowing, all-powerful, all-merciful. God is one. While the reality of God is beyond human understanding, we may find expressions of God’s attributes in every created thing. All the best human qualities are reflections of God’s divine attributes.

“The peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God.”
— BAHA’U’LLAH

As God’s creation, we may never understand God completely. God communicates through Messengers, also referred to as Divine Educators. We can know God through studying the words and scriptures of these Messengers.

One Human Family

Beyond all differences of race, culture, class or ethnicity, regardless of differences in customs, opinions, or temperaments, every individual is a member of one gloriously diverse human family. Each unique individual has a role to play in carrying forward an ever-advancing material and spiritual civilization.

“Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship.”
— BAHA’U’LLAH

This core belief in oneness calls us to actively root out our prejudices and the systemic inequalities that divide people of different ethnic backgrounds, national origins, genders and social classes.

One Unfolding Religion

Humanity’s spiritual, intellectual and moral capacities have been cultivated through the successive teachings of the Founders of the world’s religions—the Manifestations of God. Among Them are Krishna, Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Muhammad and, most recently, the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. Each religion originates with God and is suited to the age and place in which it is revealed. In essence, the religion of God is one and whose progressive revelation is unfolding.

“This is the changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future.”
— BAHA’U’LLAH

Basic Teachings

Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings offer hope to a troubled world. He identified the spiritual principles on which humanity may, with divine assistance, establish lasting peace:
• The oneness of humanity
• Independent investigation of truth
• Elimination of prejudice
• Racial and social justice
• The nobility of each human being
• Equality of women and men
• Harmony between science and religion
• Universal education
• Spiritually guided solutions to economic inequality
• Justice and equity as foundations for world peace

“A new life is, in this age, stirring within all the peoples of the earth.”
— BAHA’U’LLAH

Daily Practices

Each Baha’i takes time every day to pray, read from scripture, meditate, and reflect on how to translate Baha’i teachings into action. There is no clergy or priesthood in the Baha’i Faith. Each person is responsible for his or her own relationship with God and spiritual development.

SACRED WRITINGS
Baha’u’llah revealed over a hundred volumes of sacred texts, including prayers, and meditations, a book of laws, mystical passages and the Book of Certitude, which covers theology.

Baha’u’llah’s Hidden Words are perhaps one of the most accessible scriptural collections, explaining the essence of faith in short and beautiful passages.

Organization

Each year, the Baha’i community elects local and national councils, known as Spiritual Assemblies. All Baha’is 18 and older are eligible to both vote and be elected. Diverse membership, non-partisan elections, and collective decision-making are basic features of the Baha’i model of leadership. In place of clergy or priesthood, these local assemblies ensure community members feel cared for and connected to one another.

An international council, known as the Universal House of Justice, is elected once every five years.

"God’s purpose is none other than to usher in the Golden Age of a long-divided, a long afflicted humanity. Its present state is distressingly dark. Its distant future, however, is gloriously radiant — so radiant that no eye can visualize it." — Shoghí Effendí, Guardian of the Baha'i Faith

Our Core
Community Building Activities

We believe lasting social change starts at the neighborhood level when we build relationships based on love and mutual respect. So, we start small by holding gatherings in community centers and homes with opportunities for all age groups to grow together.

Baha’is often host informal “fireside” meetings in their homes for introductory conversations about the Baha’i Faith. A fireside is a great setting for people to ask questions and learn about how the Faith’s teachings relate to contemporary life.

In addition, our core community building activities include:

Devotional GATHERINGS

(all ages) bring people of all backgrounds and beliefs together in prayer, song and meditation. They reflect the diverse cultural character of local communities and seek to stimulate meaningful conversations that can lead to action. As worship is linked with acts of service, a unifying spirit begins to permeate the community. Gatherings are held wherever "the mention of God [can] be made."

Children’s CLASSES

(ages 5–11) are for a community’s youngest and most precious treasures. They provide the early seeds of moral and spiritual education and introduce the oneness of humanity. All of the community’s children are welcome. These classes help children discover and strengthen their inherent spiritual qualities like kindness, patience and generosity through stories, songs, prayers and art.

Junior youth GROUPS

(ages 12–14) motivate young people to explore complex issues, consult about neighborhood needs, plan and carry out acts of service and find positive avenues for recreation and artistic expression. Faced with navigating a crucial time in their lives, participants work to build moral clarity for the many decisions they’ll face. Working with mentors called “animators,” youth from all backgrounds develop a global identity, wisdom, compassion, decision-making skills and a mindset of service to others.

Study CIRCLES

(ages 15–adult) are small groups that meet regularly, usually in the home of a group member, to study passages from the Bahá’í writings on the life of the soul and such themes as learning about consultation, accompanying one another in service and promoting the arts. This training builds capacity, skills and knowledge for a life of service to the community. Participants come to recognize that they have the power to re-create the world around them.

Anyone can participate in, and even host these activities, whether or not you choose to become a Baha’i. We welcome you to find an activity near you.

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The BahÁ’Í Faith

at a Glance

We live in a time of rapid, often unsettling change, inspiring mixed feelings of dread, anxiety, anticipation, and hope.

One God

One God

One Human Family

One Human Family

One Unfolding Religion

One Unfolding Religion

Basic Teachings

Basic Teachings

Daily Practices

Daily Practices

Organization

Organization

Our Core Community Building Activities

Devotional GATHERINGS

Devotional GATHERINGS

Children’s CLASSES

Children’s CLASSES

Junior youth GROUPS

Junior youth GROUPS

Study CIRCLES

Study CIRCLES

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Our Core
Community Building Activities