The Bahá’í belief in one God means that the universe and all creatures and forces within it have been created by a single supernatural Being. Since we can't comprehend God directly, the best way to get an idea of God is by looking at the lives and teachings of his messengers (the Manifestations of God) and at the world God created. The official website on the life of Baha’u’llah, The official website of the Universal House of Justice, The official website of the Baha’is of the United States, The official website of the Baha’is of Canada, Check your email for the latest from BahaiTeachings.org, Your message was successfully sent to BahaiTeachings.org. Baha’is never ask others for monetary contributions — in fact, only Baha’is can contribute to the Baha’i funds, and all contributions are completely confidential. Bahá'í Faith and comparative theology. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so. Bahá'í Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Do Bahai's believe in God? Incarnations The prophets of … To overcome this obstacle, God has made his nature and will known to humanity through means of a series of Messengers or Manifestations. What do Bahá í believe? Belief in Deity One personal God Almighty, creator, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent--incorporeal spirit. Bah'ai believe that God is so beyond the limits of human understand that he is ultimately unknowable. Bahá'ís believe there is one God and that all the universe and creation belong to him. Many Bahá'í beliefs and practices are rooted in these priorities; but taken alone these would be an over-simplification of Bahá'í teachings. ... you can say without hesitation that the concept of Satan or the Devil as an actual being opposed to God is rejected by the Bahá'í teachings but that the term is understood by Bahá'ís to mean the promptings of self and desire and the dark side of … Bahá'í religion may be unique in the way that it accepts all other faiths as true and valid. Diverse and inclusive, most Baha’i meetings give participants the opportunity to meet and get to know people from different backgrounds, cultures, and nations. Baha’is view Baha’u’llah as the latest divine messenger to found a major world religion and usher in a new age of human development. Born Mirza Husayn Ali in Tehran, Persia in 1817, Baha’u’llah was known early in his adult life as “the father of the poor” for his selfless work assisting the destitute and homeless. The Babi movement known as the Babi Faith spread quickly, electrifying the masses and provoking severe reactions from the government and the clergy. The Bahá’í Writings explain that the reality of God is beyond the understanding of any mortal mind, though we may find expressions of … His teachings are a revelation from God. Bahai's believe that there is one God even though He may be called by different names such as God, Jehovah, Allah or Bhagwan. The Purpose of Religion . God and His Creation | What Bahá’ís Believe. According to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, Prophet-Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, science and religion are both complementary and necessary for the progress of … The Bahá’í Faith and Atheism Revised and edited transcript of two talks given by Dr. Steven Phelps at the Swedish Bahá’í Summer School in Lundsbrunn in July 2009. Yes. Though inaccessible directly, God is nevertheless seen as conscious of his creation, with a mind, will and purpose. Baha’i events — meetings, elections, parties, devotionals, holy day celebrations, a Baha’i “Feast” at the beginning of every month — tend to include lots of social interaction, with laughter, music, and a general sense of joy and happiness. I do not want to believe in beings that could force me to sin. The official website of the Baha'i Faith is: The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. He is described as "a personal God, unknowable, inaccessible, the source of all Revelation, eternal, omniscient, omnipresent and almighty". The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. So when we attribute properties to God we are actually making a false analogy based on human ideas - but it's the best that we can do. The Bab also proclaimed that he had come to herald the birth of a new, universal revelation, one greater than his own, and to prepare the way for the Promised One of all ages. In 1863, he began openly teaching the Baha’i Faith, with its revolutionary messages of the oneness of humanity, the oneness of religion, the equality of men and women, the agreement of science and religion, and the establishment of a global system of governance. The Baha’i teachings focus on the soul’s relationship with the eternal, unknowable essence of God, and recommend daily prayer and meditation to everyone. The Baha’i House of Worship is located just outside of Chicago, and is the only Baha’i Temple in North America. God is the imperishable, uncreated being who is the source of all existence. As seen, the Bahá'í Faith recognizes the divine origins of Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the Bábí movement. Thank you so much! What is the Baha'i view? God is omnipotent, perfect and has complete knowledge of life. Bahá'ís believe that God's prophets or messengers (whom they call manifestations of God) provide the most complete knowledge of God … Examining Major Baha’i Teachings – Are The Compatible with Christianity? All human beings are members of a single race, which should soon be united in a single global community. Bahá’ís believe that God expresses this will at all times and in many ways, including through a series of divine messengers referred to as Manifestations of God or sometimes divine educators.In expressing God's intent, these Manifestations are seen to establish religi… He asked his followers to spread this message, but advised, “The path of guidance is one of love and compassion, not of force and coercion.” Tens of thousands of Babis, including the Bab himself, were tortured, massacred and publicly executed for their beliefs. :) My personal view of God is that He is the sum of the physical laws of the universe. Watch Queue Queue. The differences among the religions of the world are due to the varying types of minds. Coupled with these ideas is an understanding that human nature is fundamentally spiritual. We believe God created us to be one human family. Baha’is work for peace, justice, equality, racial unity, and environmental sustainability — all based on addressing the underlying, spiritual causes of such inequities. The monetary contributions Baha’is make foster social development programs, community service activities, the maintenance of Baha’i centers and gardens, and the spiritual education for children, youth, and adults. In many countries, Baha’is also sign a declaration card, which enrolls them in the Baha’i community and allows them to receive invitations to community events and gatherings. Bahá'ís believe in a single, imperishable God, the creator of all things, … “Every created thing in the whole universe is but a door leading into His knowledge…”. Baha'i teachings 'affirm that Islam is a true religion revealed by Allah'; accordingly, members of the faith can give full assent to the traditional words of the Shahadah. They believe each one was a further stage in the revelation of God. An Unknowable God . Although the Bahá'í writings use a masculine pronoun to refer to God, this is to suit the language in which they were originally written. Read more. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Baha’is believe that the human spirit lives eternally, and so endeavor to illumine their souls with spiritual attributes — kindness, generosity, integrity, truthfulness, humility, and selfless service to others. The Coming of Age of Humanity . No one ever passes a plate or requires anyone to participate, since every donation is considered private and personal. This Being, Whom we call God, has absolute control over His creation (omnipotence) as well as perfect and complete knowledge of it (omniscience). Thus the Baha’i thrust toward the unification of all religio… It is primarily a space for quiet prayer and contemplation. Baha’u’llah’s teachings emphasize justice, equality, and religious unity, so even today many Baha’is in Iran and other Middle Eastern countries still face persecution for their beliefs. "Members of the Bahá'í Faith believe that the Great Manifestations of God up to this time have been: . Adam (? At a time when clerics played an oppressive role in Persian society, the Bab encouraged people to think for themselves and let go of superstition and dogma. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Any description of God is bound to be coloured and limited by the views and cultural background of the person making the description. Thus for a Bahá'í the different views of God held by different religions are the closest that that particular culture and time can come to an idea of the absolute reality of God, and are helpful to the people of that culture. Called The Bab (pronounced bob), which means “The Gate,” this new prophet created a furor in Persian society with his revolutionary teachings — spiritual and moral transformation, women’s emancipation, and the raising up of the poor. Many others think of God as some supernatural giant man who sits on a throne in the sky. If the foregoing conclusion is correct, however, we still have a difficulty: how do we resolve the apparent contradiction, already noted, that the authoritative Bahá'í texts recognise human limitations in the construction of the Bible, yet sometimes use the Bible as if it could be regarded as the undifferentiated and undiluted Word of God? We believe just the same as all Bahá'ís believed before 1957 that the Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh requires obedience to the Guardian of the Cause of God. Baháʼís believe in Muhammad as a prophet of God, and in the Qurʼan as the word of God. ... One God There is only one Creator – the Source of all light and life, the ultimate reality, that unknowable essence of essences we call God… The Baha’i teachings promote the agreement of science and religion, gender equality, and the elimination of all prejudice and racism. Sign up for our newsletter and get all our latest content, © 2021 BahaiTeachings.org All Rights Reserved. The new, optimistic model the Baha’i teachings offer the world takes a fresh approach to problem-solving, tapping into the deep well of human concern for others with a thoughtful, integrated, and comprehensive spiritual energy. Furthermore, they contend that holding a belief in God is a “delusional” act with disastrous consequences for global society on multiple fronts. Baha’is believe that God sends different prophets, or Manifestations of God, to reveal divine messages to humanity. Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, Christ, and Muhammad were Manifestations of God. Hello. But Baha’is also believe that the next life isn’t something we’re supposed to concern ourselves about in such a way that it reduces our life here to the status of a waiting room. Loading... Close. God is the All-Powerful and Omniscient but Merciful Creator of the universe. All religions have the same spiritual foundation, despite their apparent differences. The most appealing belief to me: a new order led by Bahá’í leaders that would usher in world peace. I do think that your belief in the Lord Jesus Christ does not preclude you from becoming an Orthodox Bahá'í and I do believe that it would make you a better Christian. - 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, p. 77 Bahá'ís, I learned, believe that humanity has a dual nature--essentially spirits associated for a time with physical bodies, and that both aspects have innate characteristics. God has never created an evil spirit; all such ideas and nomenclature are symbols expressing the mere human or earthly nature of man. " Depending on their size, Baha’i communities often meet in homes, local Baha’i centers, or meeting rooms. The Baháʼí view of God is essentially monotheistic. “He restates in every age God's purpose and will. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. Baha’i communities carry out various grassroots efforts to further unity and social transformation, along with their friends of many different religions, races, and backgrounds. Participating in these programs is open to everyone who wishes to be a part of building communities based on spiritual principles such as justice, kindness, and love. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Baha’is believe that God sends different prophets, or Manifestations of God, to reveal divine messages to humanity. Remove all; Baha’is believe in each person’s capacity to find the truth for themselves, and there is no clergy — Baha’is gather together in democratically-led communities and welcome everyone. But these ideas of God are nothing like the true reality of God, because humans don't have the mental ability to understand that reality. They have been translated into hundreds of languages, including tribal and indigenous ones, to make them available to everyone. Baha’is come from every walk of life, every social strata of society and every ethnicity, racial background, nation, and age group. In prison in 1852, Baha’u’llah received the revelation that inspired the Baha’i Faith and fulfilled the prophecies and promises of the Bab. Get in touch with the Baha’is in your community. It is the world’s second-most widespread religion after Christianity, spanning the globe and working to unite it. Looking for something specific? Baha’i believes their prophet is a manifestation of God who is greater than Jesus Christ. He also proclaimed that he had come to prepare the way for a new, universal revelation and that the promised one spoken of in all previous religions and holy texts would soon make himself known. Love lights a fla, Strive ye with all your hearts, raise up your voic, How can faith-based individuals and organizations, My hope for you is that you will ever avoid tyrann, As we suffer these misfortunes we must remember th, One Essential Foundation for All Religions, Religion Should Cause Love, Affection, and Joy, The Abolition of the Extremes of Wealth and Poverty, The Non-Involvement of Religion With Politics, Finding Beacons of Hope in Monuments and Public Art. Unlike many religions of the past, Baha’is have the original writings of Baha’u’llah, his son and successor, Abdu’l-Baha — as well as the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith, Shoghi Effendi, and, since 1963, the Universal House of Justice, the nine-member democratically-elected global governing body of the Baha’i Faith. Baha’is rely on and revere those inspiring writings and see them as the source for humanity’s continual guidance. In a troubled time and place — Shiraz, Persia in 1844 — a young merchant and mystic made a startling announcement: that he brought the world a new message from God. God is transcendent and unknowable. "Glory" is a word that means "importance", "power", and "beauty". "Love is heaven’s kindly light... Love is the on, The happiness of mankind will be realized when wom, Masud Olufani welcomes his father for a conversati, Love gives life to the lifeless. After the Bab’s execution in 1850, Baha’u’llah gradually assumed the leadership of the Babis. This is why in the Holy Books they speak of the help and assistance of God. While Bahá’í claims to believe in Christ they deny the very reason He came. What do Bahá í believe? Some of these activities—sometimes called “core activities”—include moral and spiritual development classes for children, pre-teen and teen empowerment programs, study groups, and prayer gatherings. BASIC BELIEFS OF THE Bahá'í Adherents of Baha'i BELIEVE IN ONE GOD, they are monotheistic (who sends messengers which the Bahá'í call “the Manifestation of God”). Unity is at all times the overarching theme of Bahá'í belief; in theological terms, it manifests itself in the understanding that the sole Creator has a single plan for the one humanity. Yes. 1) We are the "true Bahá'ís" We have not altered the true Faith of God. The Baha’i Faith, the world’s newest independent global belief system, teaches the oneness of God, the unity of humanity, and the essential harmony of religion. Skip navigation Sign in. To answer the question “What is a Baha’i?” Abdu’l-Baha answered: To be a Baha’i simply means to love all the world; to love humanity and try to serve it; to work for universal peace and universal brotherhood.” If you’d like to meet Baha’is in your local area, they’re usually listed online, in a local newspaper or phone book, or in directories of places of worship. Sabeanism is also acknowledged (as in Islam), but historians are unsure as to precisely what a Sabean is or was. These Manifestations include Abraham, Zoroaster, Moses, the Buddha, Krishna, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, the Bab , and the founder of the Baha’i Faith, Baha‘u’llah . Bahá’ís believe in the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and strive to live their lives by these principles of ... To learn more about the Bahá’í Faith, please visit www.bahai.org. The Baha’i writings say: “To Israel He was neither more nor less than the incarnation of the “Everlasting Father”, the “Lord of Hosts” come down “with ten thousands of saints”; to Christendom Christ returned “in the glory of the Father”; to Shí’ah Islám the return of the Imám Ḥusayn; to Sunní Islám the descent of the “Spirit of God” (Jesus Christ); to the Zoroastrians the promised Sháh-Bahrám; to the Hindus the reincarnation of Krishna; to the Buddhists the fifth Buddha.”. 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