The Bahá’í Faith
is a world religion based on the teachings of
Bahá’u'lláh. He explained that there is only one
God and one human family, and that all religions
are spiritually united. Bahá’u'lláh’s writings
offer spiritual guidance as well as directives
for personal and social conduct. The main theme
of Bahá'u'lláh's message is the unity and
oneness of humankind. 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. The Bahá'í Faith
provides a structure through which universal
peace can be obtained and established in this
age.
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The more than
five million Bahá’ís around the world are
engaged in the process of learning how to
translate that guidance into realities of
individual and community life. Though they come
from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds,
they are united by their belief in Bahá’u'lláh
and by their desire for a united, prosperous,
and peaceful future for all of humanity.
Some Basic Teachings of the Bahá'í Faith:
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1. The
oneness of mankind
A
fundamental teaching of Bahá'u'lláh is
the oneness of the world of humanity.
Addressing mankind He says, "Ye are all
leaves of one tree and the fruits of one
branch." By this it is meant that the
world of humanity is like a tree, the
nations or peoples are the different
limbs or branches of that tree and the
individual human creatures are as the
fruits and blossoms thereof.
"It is not for him to pride himself
who loveth his own country, but rather
for him who loveth the whole world.
The earth is but one country and mankind
its citizens." (Gleanings from the
Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 250)
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2. The
oneness of religion
"All these divisions we see on all
sides, all these disputes and
opposition, are caused because men cling
to ritual and outward observances, and
forget the simple, underlying truth. It
is the outward practices of religion
that are so different, and it is they
that cause disputes and enmity--while
the reality is always the same, and one.
The Reality is the Truth, and truth has
no division. Truth is God's guidance, it
is the light of the world, it is love,
it is mercy. These attributes of truth
are also human virtues inspired by the
Holy Spirit." `Abdúl-Bahá, Paris Talks,
pp. 120-1. |
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3.
Independent investigation of truth
"Furthermore, know ye that God has
created in man the power of reason,
whereby man is enabled to investigate
reality. God has not intended man to
imitate blindly his fathers and
ancestors. He has endowed him with mind,
or the faculty of reasoning, by the
exercise of which he is to investigate
and discover the truth, and that which
he finds real and true he must accept."
`Abdúl-Bahá, The Promulgation of
Universal Peace, p. 291. |
4.
Religion as a source of unity
"He (Bahá'u'lláh) sets forth a new
principle for this day in the
announcement that religion must be the
cause of unity, harmony and agreement
among mankind. If it be the cause of
discord and hostility, if it leads to
separation and creates conflict, the
absence of religion would be preferable
in the world." `Abdúl-Bahá, Bahá'í World
Faith, p. 247.
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5. The
evolutionary nature of religion
Bahá'í's view religion as a progressive,
evolutionary process which needs to be
updated as humanity evolves mentally,
socially, and spiritually. Every so
often a new Prophet is sent to humanity
to update religion to the current needs
of mankind. These Prophets bring
essentially the same spiritual message
to mankind; in a form that meets the
needs of the people of Their time.
Bahá'í's believe that Bahá'u'lláh has
brought an updated message for mankind
today.
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6.
Harmony between religion, science and
reason
"Religion and science are the two
wings upon which man's intelligence can
soar into the heights, with which the
human soul can progress. It is not
possible to fly with one wing alone!
Should a man try to fly with the wing of
religion alone he would quickly fall
into the quagmire of superstition,
whilst on the other hand, with the wing
of science alone he would also make no
progress, but fall into the despairing
slough of materialism." `Abdúl-Bahá,
Paris Talks, p.143. |
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7.
Peaceful consultation as a means for
resolving differences
In the Bahá'í Faith, difference of
opinion is not squelched, in fact it is
encouraged. "The shining spark of truth
cometh forth only after the clash of
differing opinions." (Selections from
the Writings of 'Abdúl-Bahá, p.87.)
However, differences of opinion can be
expressed in a way that doesn't
humiliate another human being. The
Bahá'í principle of consultation
requires that an individual be detached
from his or her opinions and always be
open to the truth, from whoever or
wherever it comes. |
8. An
international auxiliary language
"It behoveth the sovereigns of the
world may God assist them or the
ministers of the earth to take counsel
together and to adopt one of the
existing languages or a new one to be
taught to children in schools throughout
the world, and likewise one script. Thus
the whole earth will come to be regarded
as one country." (Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh,
p. 22.)
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9.
Universal education
"Unto every father hath been
enjoined the instruction of his son and
daughter in the art of reading and
writing and in all that hath been laid
down in the Holy Tablet. He that putteth
away that which is commanded unto him,
the Trustees of the House of Justice are
then to recover from him that which is
required for their instruction, if he be
wealthy, and if not the matter devolveth
upon the House of Justice. Verily, have
We made it a shelter for the poor and
needy. He that bringeth up his son or
the son of another, it is as though he
hath brought up a son of Mine; upon him
rest My Glory, My Loving-Kindness, My
Mercy, that have compassed the world."
(Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p.128).
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10. The
elimination of all forms of prejudice
"...again, as to religious, racial,
national and political bias: all these
prejudices strike at the very root of
human life; one and all they beget
bloodshed, and the ruination of the
world. So long as these prejudices
survive, there will be continuous and
fearsome wars." (Selections from the
Writings of `Abdúl-Bahá, p.249)
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11.
Equality of men and women
"The world of humanity is possessed
of two wings: the male and the female.
So long as these two wings are not
equivalent in strength, the bird will
not fly."
"The fact which is to be considered,
however, is that woman, having formerly
been deprived, must now be allowed equal
opportunities with man for education and
training. There must be no difference in
their education. Until the reality of
equality between man and woman is fully
established and attained, the highest
social development of mankind is not
possible." `Abdúl-Bahá, The Promulgation
of Universal Peace, p.76.
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12. The
abolition of the extremes of wealth and
poverty
"O Ye Rich Ones on Earth! The poor
in your midst are My trust; guard ye My
trust, and be not intent only on your
own ease." (The Hidden Words of
Bahá'u'lláh, p.41.) "We see amongst us
men who are overburdened with riches on
the one hand, and on the other those
unfortunate ones who starve with
nothing; those who possess several
stately palaces, and those who have not
where to lay their head. Some we find
with numerous courses of costly and
dainty food; whilst others can scarce
find sufficient crusts to keep them
alive. Whilst some are clothed in
velvets, furs and fine linen, others
have insufficient, poor and thin
garments with which to protect them from
the cold. This condition of affairs is
wrong and must be remedied. Now the
remedy must be carefully undertaken. It
cannot be done by bringing to pass
absolute equality between men." `Abdúl-Bahá,
Paris Talks, p.151.
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13.
Universal peace
"The time must come when the
imperative necessity for the holding of
a vast, an all- embracing assemblage of
men will be universally realized. The
rulers and kings of the earth must needs
attend it, and, participating in its
deliberations, must consider such ways
and means as will lay the foundations of
the world's Great Peace amongst men.
Such a peace demandeth that the Great
Powers should resolve, for the sake of
the tranquillity of the peoples of the
earth, to be fully reconciled among
themselves. Should any king take up arms
against another, all should unitedly
arise and prevent him. If this be done,
the nations of the world will no longer
require any armaments, except for the
purpose of preserving the security of
their realms and of maintaining internal
order within their territories."
(Gleanings from the Writings of
Bahá'u'lláh, p. 249)
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of the
Bahá'í Faith
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