Though transcendent and inaccessible directly, his image is reflected in his creation. Many Bahá'í beliefs and practices are rooted in these priorities; but taken alone these would be an over-simplification of Bahá'í teachings. 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. If you can’t find any local Baha’is, feel free to email us here at support@BahaiTeachings.org, and we’ll be happy to put you in touch with a nearby Baha’i community. I do not want to believe in beings that could force me to sin. 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 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. Bahá'ís believe that God cannot become incarnate in a human being. 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. Watch Queue Queue. Yes. Watch Queue Queue. - '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. 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. Thank you so much! 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. Bahá'í religion may be unique in the way that it accepts all other faiths as true and valid. Many others think of God as some supernatural giant man who sits on a throne in the sky. Bah'ai believe that God is so beyond the limits of human understand that he is ultimately unknowable. 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. Baha’is rely on and revere those inspiring writings and see them as the source for humanity’s continual guidance. — Bahá’u’lláh. God is known through the lives and teachings of his great prophets, the most recent of whom was Bahá'u'lláh. 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. Bahá'ís believe there is one God and that all the universe and creation belong to him. 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 prison in 1852, Baha’u’llah received the revelation that inspired the Baha’i Faith and fulfilled the prophecies and promises of the Bab. 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. 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. 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. 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. Bahá'ís do not regard God as having a gender. All human beings have a soul that lives for ever. Baha’is believe that God sends different prophets, or Manifestations of God, to reveal divine messages to humanity. 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. Everything starts with the cross, without it one has denied Jesus’ purpose for coming. Is the Bahá'í Faith a religion? First, Baha’is believe that Bahá’u’lláh is a greater manifestation of God than Moses, Muhammad, or the Christian Messiah. The Babi movement known as the Babi Faith spread quickly, electrifying the masses and provoking severe reactions from the government and the clergy. 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. 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. All religions have the same spiritual foundation, despite their apparent differences. “He restates in every age God's purpose and will. How can they best reach you? If he is not aided, he is not able to do either good or evil. Any description of God is bound to be coloured and limited by the views and cultural background of the person making the description. The Baha’i Faith now counts millions of followers across every region, nation, and continent of the world. They share this belief in God's nature with Christians, Jews, and Muslims, although what each of these religions believes about the one and only God can be quite different. It was not that each religion was looking at a different reality called God (whatever that was) - they were all trying to describe the same reality, but their descriptions were built out of their own experiences and cultures, and so were different. To overcome this obstacle, God has made his nature and will known to humanity through means of a series of Messengers or Manifestations. The differences among the religions of the world are due to the varying types of minds. Becoming a Baha’i means accepting Baha’u’llah’s unifying teachings, and deciding to try to follow the path of spiritual development the Baha’i teachings outline. 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. 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. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so. Baháʼís believe in Muhammad as a prophet of God, and in the Qurʼan as the word of God. However, He has sent, and will continue to send, great prophets to humanity, through which the Holy Spirit has revealed the "Word of God. 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. 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. Examining Major Baha’i Teachings – Are The Compatible with Christianity? Hello. Does the "personal interpretation" part of the faith leave that up to the individual? 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. "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. Baha’is accept the validity of each of the founders and prophets of the major world religions and believe in progressive revelation. Thus the Baha’i thrust toward the unification of all religio… Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, Christ, and Muhammad were Manifestations of God. The Baháʼí view of God is essentially monotheistic. Read more. 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. 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. 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… The most appealing belief to me: a new order led by Bahá’í leaders that would usher in world peace. 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. But when the help of existence comes from the Generous Lord, he is able to do both good and evil; but if the help is cut off, he remains absolutely helpless. The Baha’i Faith provides the means for peace and tranquility through a progressive set of social teachings: – Abdu’l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 89. “Every created thing in the whole universe is but a door leading into His knowledge…”. 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. The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. 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. Skip navigation Sign in. The Purpose of Religion . This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Get in touch with the Baha’is in your community. God is the All-Powerful and Omniscient but Merciful Creator of the universe. God and His Creation | What Bahá’ís Believe. “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.” (Hebrews 1:1-2) 1. The Bahá'í writings would also seem to reject this approach, since they do not see Manifestations of God as ordinary human beings; rather, the Bahá'í writings indicate that the souls of the Manifestations are pre-existent, in contrast to ordinary human beings, whose souls come into existence at … The Bahá’í Writings explain that the reality of God is beyond the understanding of any mortal mind, though we may find expressions of … All human beings are members of a single race, which should soon be united in a single global community. 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. Bahá'ís accept the divine nature of the missions of Abraham, Moses, Zoroaster, the Buddha, Jesus and the Prophet Muhammad. Bahá'ís believe in a single, imperishable God, the creator of all things, … 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. What do Baha'i believe about prophets? :) My personal view of God is that He is the sum of the physical laws of the universe. Through activities that respond to the reality of every region, and uphold the principle of the unity of mankind, they are discovering what it takes to make a society fruitful, both materially and spiritually. What do Orthodox Bahá'ís believe? Diverse and inclusive, most Baha’i meetings give participants the opportunity to meet and get to know people from different backgrounds, cultures, and nations. Muhammad in the Baháʼí Faith. The Bahá'í Faith is monotheistic, believing in one, all-powerful creator God. It is primarily a space for quiet prayer and contemplation. Depending on their size, Baha’i communities often meet in homes, local Baha’i centers, or meeting rooms. 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. To put you in touch with a Baha’i in your area who can answer your questions, we would like to kindly ask for a few details about yourself. God has never created an evil spirit; all such ideas and nomenclature are symbols expressing the mere human or earthly nature of man. " What do Bahá í believe? 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. In 2 Cor.2:5 Paul states “that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of 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. His teachings are a revelation from God. It is the world’s second-most widespread religion after Christianity, spanning the globe and working to unite it. ... question the idea of God’s existence, doing everything they can to make belief in God seem irrational , ... 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 … Read more. This unique Baha’i principle views every great Faith as a link in a single, spiritual, system, progressively revealed, similar to how chapters in a book tell an evolving story — by God to humanity. Though inaccessible directly, God is nevertheless seen as conscious of his creation, with a mind, will and purpose. God is omnipotent, perfect and has complete knowledge of life. Quotations – An introductory selection of extracts from the Bahá’í writings on the theme of God’s relationship with humanity. No one ever passes a plate or requires anyone to participate, since every donation is considered private and personal. The Bahá'í Faith is an Abrahamic religion started in the 1800s by an Iranian person called Bahá'u'lláh who was born in Tehran, Iran.Followers of this religion call themselves Bahá'ís.The name Bahá'u'lláh is Arabic for "The Glory of God". A summary of Bahá'í beliefs about God and how human beings can come to know God. The Baha’i House of Worship is located just outside of Chicago, and is the only Baha’i Temple in North America. Click through the table of contents to find what you are looking for. Baha’u’llah suffered 40 years of exile, torture, and imprisonment  — all for announcing that a new revelation had been born. Incarnations The prophets of … ... 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… An Unknowable God . The Bahá'í Faith is a world religion whose purpose is to unite all the races and peoples in one universal Cause and one common Faith.Bahá’ís are the followers of Bahá’u’lláh, Who they believe is the Promised One of all Ages. Bahá'í Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Do Bahai's believe in God? This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. Looking for something specific? As seen, the Bahá'í Faith recognizes the divine origins of Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the Bábí movement. Bahá'ís believe there is one God and that all the universe and creation belong to him, God is omnipotent, perfect and has complete knowledge of life, Bahá'ís believe that there has only ever been one God, who is called by different names in different religions, God is too great to be ever understood by the finite human mind, Knowledge of God means knowledge of the attributes of God, The only thing we can actually know about God is that God exists. The Coming of Age of Humanity . When you make the decision to become a Baha’i, you also take part in a planetary movement to change the world. We believe God created us to be one human family. 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 . What is the Baha'i view? Bahá'ís believe that God's prophets or messengers (whom they call manifestations of God) provide the most complete knowledge of God … Together, ... Bahá’í House of Worship. Other prophets and Manifestations are also accepted. 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. He is described as "a personal God, unknowable, inaccessible, the source of all Revelation, eternal, omniscient, omnipresent and almighty". Bahá’ís believe in a single, imperishable God, the creator of all things, including all the creatures and forces in the universe. Bahá'í Faith and comparative theology. Sign up for our newsletter and get all our latest content, © 2021 BahaiTeachings.org All Rights Reserved. All human beings are different, but equal; there should be no inequality between races or sexes. Baha’i believes their prophet is a manifestation of God who is greater than Jesus Christ. 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. Bahá'u'lláh thought that this was why different religions had different ideas of God. 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”). The purpose of creation is for the created to have the … Belief in Deity One personal God Almighty, creator, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent--incorporeal spirit. Search. BBC © 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. "Members of the Bahá'í Faith believe that the Great Manifestations of God up to this time have been: . They have been translated into hundreds of languages, including tribal and indigenous ones, to make them available to everyone. God is transcendent and unknowable. This video is unavailable. Baha’is work for peace, justice, equality, racial unity, and environmental sustainability — all based on addressing the underlying, spiritual causes of such inequities. In English, Baha’u’llah means “The Glory of God,” and Baha’is believe that His coming is foretold in many of the world religions. 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. Baha’is believe that God sends different prophets, or Manifestations of God, to reveal divine messages to humanity. While Bahá’í claims to believe in Christ they deny the very reason He came. 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