Here is a brief account of the Bah?'? teachings from our Web site, www.Bahai.org, that we hope will explain our beliefs and the principles that guide our daily lives.
Like all the foregoing chapters of religion at this early stage -- we date the beginning of our Faith at 1844 -- our numbers are relatively few. But in this day of world-wide communication and transportation, they are growing rapidly.
Bah?'? teachings focus on unity -- the oneness of God, the oneness of religion, and the oneness of the human race.
A central belief is progressive revelation -- that God progressively reveals His teachings for humanity through a series of divine educators that become the founders of the world's great religions. Among these religions are the Bah?'? Faith, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Zoroastrianism.
The founder of the Bah?'? Faith was Bah?'u'll?h, who wrote the equivalent of a hundred volumes and laid down principles for a new pattern of human society. Some of these principles are:
· The independent investigation of truth by each person,
· The elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty,
· A spiritual solution to economic problems,
· The unity of all peoples and the elimination of prejudice,
· The equality of women and men,
· The harmony of science and religion,
· Universal education,
· The establishment of a universal auxiliary language.
An integral part of the religion is its administration, which was laid down by Bah?'u'll?h and is based on elected bodies of nine individuals at the local, national and international levels. The international governing body is the Universal House of Justice.
Elections are conducted according to specific guidelines that forbid nominations and campaigning, and instead require those casting ballots to vote, with a prayerful attitude, for individuals "of selfless devotion, of a well-trained mind, of recognized ability and mature experience."
The Bah?'? Faith has no clergy.
On an individual level, Bah?'?s strive to uphold the highest moral standards. Among the writings of Bah?'u'll?h are teachings that emphasize service to others, purity of motive, and work as a form of worship, and forbid drinking alcohol, gambling, abusing drugs, gossip and backbiting and participation in partisan politics.
Bah?'?s belief that each person has a soul that survives throughout eternity, independent of the earthly body. Daily prayer and, once a year, fasting for 19 days from sunup to sundown are part of the spiritual life of each Bah?'?.
At the local level, Bah?'?s meet regularly at the Nineteen Day Feast (the term refers to a spiritual "feast" of prayers, consultation and fellowship). Some localities have a Bah?'? meeting center, but in many towns, Bah?'?s gather in members' homes. Bah?'?s observe nine holy days on which work should be suspended. These include anniversaries of the births and deaths of Bah?'u'll?h and the B?b, anniversaries of the declaration of their missions, and commemoration of the new year on 21 March.
In Norman, we have regular meetings at the Bah?'? Center, 526 Iowa St. (www.BahaisofNorman.org), and study groups in various homes. We welcome everyone to learn more about the Bah?'? Faith.
Religion
Who are the Bah?'?s?
- Religion
-
-
Norman church sends work, witness team to Belize
For eight days, 23 members of the Norman Community Church of the Nazarene built more than pews for a church in Belize, they also built friendships....
-
Church to participate in National Preach-In on Global Warming
Unity Church in Norman, 3001 S. Berry Road, will take part in the National Preach-In on Global Warming, from today until Sunday. The church will join more than 1,000 others participating nationwide in the third annual event, which is ...
-
The heart behind Trinity Lutheran School
Cheryl Anderson sees every day the power that education and faith can have on children. As administrator of Trinity Lutheran School and Childcare, Anderson is so passionate about the school that she is anxious to get the word out about ...
-
Holy Ascension Orthodox Christian Church plans open house Saturday
Holy Ascension Orthodox Christian Church is inviting Norman residents to an open house from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at 3350 12th Ave. NE....
-
Church briefs
St. Joseph’s to celebrate Mardi Gras St. Joseph’s Catholic Church will host its annual Mardi Gras celebration from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 18 in the parish center gymnasium, 421 E. Acres St. A New Orleans menu of pork shoulder, Cajun ...
-
Something is in the air
Reports of snow in the air are circulating as we prepare for this weekend. The weather forecasts are predicting snow by Sunday evening and our children (and their teachers) are dreaming of a snow day on Monday. Ahhhh, but something else is ...
-
Religion roundup
Church-wide garage sale Saturday St. Joseph Catholic Church will hold a church-wide garage sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday in the Parish Center Gymnasium, 421 E. Acres St....
-
Relics of Saints to be installed at Our Lady of Lebanon
A local Catholic parish will celebrate the installation of relics on the feast day of its patron saint, Sunday....
-
Mondays can be revolutionary
Mondays are so hard, right? Ever felt the Monday morning blues? Many a song has been written about this challenging day. Who can forget the melodious voice of Karen Carpenter singing “Hangin’ around, nothing to do but frown; rainy days ...
-
What is the best way for people to live their faith?
Heart, soul, might Rabbi Mark Levin of Congregation Beth Torah, Overland Park, Kan.: Faith is the love and service of God. Deuteronomy 6:5 commands us to love God with all our “heart, soul and might.” Each person balances them differently, ...
- More Religion Headlines
-
