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CHAPTER FOURTEEN: BAHAI

Chapter Outline and Unit Summaries

I.

Introduction: The Basic Unity of Religious Truth

II. Origin and Development of BahaiA. Shiite Belief in the Lost / Hidden Twelfth Imam

1. Lost / Hidden Imam Disappeared in Ninth Century C.E.2. Lost / Hidden Imam Will Reappear as the Messiah

B. Ali Muhammad Declares Himself Hidden Imam / Messhiah, 1844 C.E.1. Shiite Muslim Living in Persia2. New Name: Bab-ud Din (gate of faith)3. Advocates Sweeping Social and Religious Reforms4. Gathers Circle of Disciples called Babis5. Persian Religious and Political Forces Execute Bab in 1850,

Imprison and Execute Babis

6. Before Death Bad Predicts a Figure Will Come After Himand Found a Universal Religion

C. Husayn Ali, Disciple of Bab, Believes Self to be Promised One1. Husayn Ali Exiled to Baghdad2. Decides He is the One Foretold by Bab3. Ridvan, Iraq,1863 C.E.: Husayn Reveals Identity to Babis on

Eve of Exile from Baghdad to Constantinople

4. Husayn Renamed Bahaullah (the glory of God)5. Followers Renamed as Bahai


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D. Bahaullah and Bahais Exiled, Imprisoned1. Bahaullah Imprisoned for Remainder of Life in Acre / Akko,

Turkish Prison City

2.

Bahaullah Produces Writings, Sends Missionaries, ReceivesGuests while Imprisoned

a. Wrote Series of Letters to Pope and Heads of StateCalling for Help in Fostering World Peace

b. WroteKitab-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book),Kitab-i-Iqan (The Book of Certitudes), and The Hidden

Words

3. Bahaullah Dies in Prison at Age Seventy-five, 1892 C.E.E.

Leadership of Bahais Moves to Bahaullahs Son, Abbas Effendi(Abdul Baha, servant of Baha)

1. Freed from Prison, Abdul Baha Travels in Europe andAmerican Spreading Bahai Message, Founds Assemblies

2. 1920 C.E. British Confer Order of the British Empire onAbdul Baha for His Work on Behalf of World Peace

3. Abhul Baha Dies 1921 C.e.F. Leadership of Bahais Moves to Abdul Bahas Grandson, Shoghi

Effendi

1. Continues Missionary Work, Founding Global Assemblies2. After Shoghi Effendis Death in 1957 C.E. Leadership

Assumed by Elected Body of Bahai from Around World

III.The Teachings of BahaiA. Develops Far Beyond Shiite Islam Origins

1. Bahais Do Not Revere Quran as Literal Revelation ofGods Words, but consider it Allegorical, Symbolic Text

2. Bahais Do Not Believe in Angels and Demons, Heaven orHell; Consider them Symbolic


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a. The Soul is Collective Humanityb. When the Soul is Close to God that is Heavenc. When the Soul is Close to God that is Helld. The Living and the Dead Commune Together in the

Collective Soul of Humanity

e.

Evil is Not Real, Positive Entity; Evil is Only theAbsence of the Good

3. Christian, Jewish Scriptures, and all Sacred Writings fromOther Religions, Count as Bahai Sacred Scripture

B. All Religions Come from Same Source1. Divine Revelation is Continuous and Progressive Process2. Holy Prophets and Sages Represent the Progressive

Development of Humanitys Spiritual Growth

a. Bahaullah is Most Recent Messenger of God,Fulfilling Prophecies of Past Manifestations of God,

Ushering in a New Age for Human Religionb. Bahaullahs Greatest Message Was Oneness of

Human Race

C. Core Bahai Doctrines Preached by Abdul Baha1. The Oneness of the Entire Human Race2. There Must be an Independent Search for Truth, Unfettered

by Superstition or Tradition

3. There is a Basic Unity of All Religions4. Condemns All Forms of Prejudice, Whether Religious,

Racial, Class, or National

5. Harmony Must Exist Between Religion and Science6. Men and Women are Equal7. Compulsory Education Must Prevail8. There Should be a Universal Language9. Extremes of Wealth and Poverty Should be Abolished


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10.A World Tribunal for Adjudication of Disputes AmongNations Should be Instituted

11.Work Performed in the Spirit of Service Should be Exalted tothe Rank of Worship

12.Justice Should be Glorified as the Ruling Principle in HumanSociety and Religion for the Protection of All Peoples and

Nations

13.The Establishment of a Permanent and Universal PeaceShould be the Supreme Goal of Humankind

IV.Bahai PracticesA. Daily Prayer and Attitude of PrayerfulnessB. Marriage

1. Divorce Permitted in Extreme Cases of Incompatibility2. Monogamy Between Mutually Consenting Adults

C. Alcohol and Narcotics FobiddenD. Worship

1. So Special Buildings or Clergy for Worship2. Home Worship the Norm3. Simple Worship, Minimal Ritual4. Readings from Bahaullah Common5. No Sermons Given, No Offerings Made

E. Organization1. Local Spiritual Assembly

a. Currently Twenty Thousand Existb. Governed by Elected Nine-Member Boards


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2. National Spiritual Assemblya. Currently One Hundred Sixty Five Existb. Governed by Elected Nine-Member Boards

3.

Universal House of Justice

a. Nine-Member International Bodyb. Elected and Serve Five Year Terms

F. Bahai Houses Worship1. Magnificent Houses Located in Seven Countries2. All Have Nine-Sided Design

a.

Nine is Symbolic Number Representing Unity ofHumanity

b. Nine is Largest Unit Number3. Largest Temple on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel

V. Bahai Calendar and Holy DaysA. Calendar

1. Solar Calendar of Nineteen Months2. Each Month Contains Nineteen Days3. New Year on March 21st, Beginning of Spring

B. Holy Days1. New Year: Bahai Expected to Fast One Month Per Year (19

Days) Beginning with the New Year on March 21st

2. Feast of Rivdan (April 21 May 2)3. Birthday of Bahaullah: November 12th


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VI.Bahai TodayA. Persecuted in Iran, Considered Heretics

1. Persecution after Iranian Revolution Particularly Harsh2. Bahai Currently Outlawed in Iran

B. Worldwide Presence1. Over Six Million Bahai Worldwide2. Missionary Religion Members in 218 Countries3. Most Bahi in Asia and Africa

Key Names, Concepts, and Terms

Ali Muhammad / Bab-ud Din Abdul Baha Shoghi EffendiHusayn Ali / Bahaullah Ridvan thirteen core teachings

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