Baha'i
The Baha’i faith is one of the youngest of the world’s major religions. It was founded by Baha’u’llah in Iran in the 19th Century. It has 6 million followers worldwide and its global spread is second only to that of Christianity. Baha’i’s seek to remove barriers to race gender and belief and unity is at the centre of their faith. They believe that people should work together for the common belief of humanity.
Scriptures
The writings of the Bab and Baha’u’llah are regarded as Divine Revelation. The writings of Abdul Baha are recognised as sacred. The scriptures of other faiths including teachings of previous manifestations of God such as Buddha, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad are regarded as Divine Revelations. For example the Quran is recognised as authoritative and the Judaeo-Christian Bible as authentic.
Key Beliefs
- The faith accepts all religions as having true and valid origins
- The faith teaches that humanity is a single people with a common destiny.
- Baha’i’s believe in one God.
- Baha’i’s believe God progressively reveals more about his will to successive generations.
- God was revealed through Manifestations (prophets or messengers) who provided appropriate guidance for their times and cultures.
- Baha’i’s recognise Zoroaster, the Buddha, Jesus Christ, the Prophet Muhammad and others as Manifestations of God
Worship
Baha’i’s worship is through spiritual practice and the main purpose of life for Baha’is is to know and love God. Communal worship concentrates on prayer and meditation and on social action in Baha’i thinking. This means that congregational worship plays a much smaller part in Baha’i life than it does in other faiths. There are no congregational prayers as part of worship unless it is the Obligatory Prayer for the dead. Baha’i’s believe prayer is private. They avoid ritual because it can degenerate and become meaningless and form of cultural imperialism.
- There are three rituals:
- Obligatory daily prayers
- Reciting the prayer for the dead at a funeral
- The simple marriage rite
Diet and dress
Alcohol is forbidden and drugs can only be taken for medical reasons. There are no special dress requirements
Festivals
- The main festivals are:
- Feast of Naw Ruz;
- First, ninth and twelfth day of Ridvan;
- Declaration of the Bab;
- Ascension of Baha’u’llah;
- Noon Martyrdom of the Bab;
- Birth of the Bab;
- Birth of Baha’u’llah;
- Day of the Covenant;
- Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha.
