The Bahai Faith

At a Glance

In thousands upon thousands of locations around the world, the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith inspire individuals and communities as they work to improve their own lives and contribute to the advancement of civilization. Bahá’í beliefs address such essential themes as the oneness of God and religion, the oneness of humanity and freedom from prejudice, the inherent nobility of the human being, the progressive revelation of religious truth, the development of spiritual qualities, the integration of worship and service, the fundamental equality of the sexes, the harmony between religion and science, the centrality of justice to all human endeavours, the importance of education, and the dynamics of the relationships that are to bind together individuals, communities, and institutions as humanity advances towards its collective maturity.

WHAT BAHÁ’ÍS BELIEVE

Here are some of the central Bahá’í beliefs, organized into a few thematic areas to provide a clear and comprehensive understanding.

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One God

“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

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One Human Family

“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

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One Unfolding Religion

“This is the changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future.”

— BAHA’U’LLAH

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:

Devotiona;
GATHERINGS

Children
CLASSES

Junior
YOUTH

Study
CIRCLES

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

“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.

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.