The main principles of the Bahai Faith can be summed up into
the following points: - The abandonment of all forms of prejudice -
Full equality between women and men - Recognition of the oneness
and progressive nature of religious truth - The elimination of
extremes of poverty and wealth - The realization of universal
education - The responsibility of each person to independently
search for truth - The establishment of a global commonwealth of
nations - Recognition that true religion is in harmony with reason
and the pursuit of scientific knowledge The Bahai Faith is largely
centered around the idea of unity. Unity of the human race and
oneness of the worldly religions. It is made up of all ethnicities
and is celebrated in over 235 countries and territories across the
world, from Africa all the way to Canada. They believe the
principal challenge facing the peoples of the earth is to accept
the fact of their oneness and to assist in the processes of
unification. The Bahai Faith is unique in that it unreservedly
accepts the validity of the other great faiths.
Slide 3
He was an independent Messenger of God, whose mission was to
inaugurate a new cycle in humanity's spiritual development. His
writings prepared the way for the mission of Baha'u'llah and he
spread the word that a new Messenger of God was coming. The Bb was
executed in 1850 at the insistence of Islamic clergy, who felt
threatened by the principles He taught. The Shrine of the Bb,
Israel. He is regarded by Baha'is as the most recent in the line of
Messengers of God that stretches back beyond recorded time and that
includes Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster, Christ and
Muhammad. He showed great insight into a new age for humanity at a
very young age without any special schooling and left his life of
princely comfort for one of poverty and great suffering. Mirza
Husayn Ali, but He identified Himself as Baha'u'llah, which means
"Glory of God," a title bestowed by His Forerunner, the Bab.
Slide 4
Baha'u'llah married `Asiyih Khanum, the daughter of another
nobleman and they had three children. Baha'u'llah declined the
ministerial career open to Him in government, and chose instead to
devote His energies to a range of philanthropies which by the early
1840s, earned him the title "Father of the Poor." The Bbi movement
swept Iran like a whirlwind and influential members of the court
became worried. They ordered him into the notorious Black Pit in
Persia, and what they had hoped would be a death sentence became
the birth place for a new religious revelation. Upon His release,
Baha'u'llah was banished from His native land, and this was the
beginning of his 40 year exile, a time spent reflecting on the
implications of the task to which He had been called to do.
Beginning in September 1867, Baha'u'llah wrote a series of letters
to the world leaders of His time. He spoke of the dawn of a new
age. But first, He warned, there would be catastrophic upheavals in
the world's political and social order unless they pursued justice
and unity. Continued agitation from opponents caused the Turkish
Government to send the exiles to Acre, a penal city in Ottoman
Palestine.
Slide 5
Baha'u'llah and his family spent the remaining 24 years of his
life in Acre and its environs. The living conditions were very
dirty and small. Even the children, when they ventured outside,
were pursued and pelted with stones. As time passed though, several
of the town's governors and clergy, after examining the teachings
of the Faith, became devoted admirers. The prison of Acre It was in
Acre that Baha'u'llah's most important work was written. Known more
commonly among Baha'is by its Persian name, the Kitab-i-Aqdas (the
Most Holy Book), it outlines the essential laws and principles that
are to be observed by His followers, and lays the groundwork for
Baha'i administration. In the late 1870s, Baha'u'llah was given the
freedom to move outside the city's walls, and His followers were
able to meet with Him in relative peace and freedom. He took up
residence in an abandoned mansion and was able to further devote
Himself to writing. In 1892, Bahaullah passed away.
Slide 6
Slide 7
This symbol often appears on Bahai ringstones and other Bahai
identity jewelry. the world of God, the Creator, the world of His
Manifestations, and the world of man. The vertical line joins the
three horizontal bars together in the same way that the Divine
Messengers of God form the link between the world of God and the
world of man. The twin five-pointed stars on either side of the
design represent the Bb and Bah'u'llh, the twin Messengers of God
for this age. A nine pointed star is traditionally used for the
Bahais as a sign of their faith. The number nine holds special
value in that Nine years after the announcement of the Bb in
Shiraz, Bah'u'llh received the intimation of His mission in the
dungeon in Teheran and nine, as the highest single-digit number,
symbolizing completeness.
Slide 8
Daily prayer and meditation free the soul from conditioned
patterns and open it to new possibilities. Bahais have three
daily,obligatory prayers that are recited at morning, noon, and
evening. It is entirely up to the believer as to which they recite.
Joining in projects with people of various backgrounds breaks down
traditional prejudices. The use of alcohol or narcotic drugs is
avoided, except when prescribed for medical reasons, because these
substances eventually deaden the mind. The sanctity of marriage,
recognition of equality between the husband and wife, and the use
of consultation (consensus) are especially emphasized. Daily prayer
and meditation are held at the same importance as working, raising
a family, and interacting with the outside, diverse world. As in
many other worldly religions, Bahais fast yearly. From March 2 nd
to the 20 th, Bahais abstain from food and drink from sunrise to
sunset. It is a time of deep reflection and spiritual renewal and
those pregnant, ill, travelling, or elderly are not obligated to
participate.
Slide 9
Slide 10
A religion of unity There is only one religion, all the
religions of the past are one changeless faith of God. History is
filled with many messengers of God Openness towards all religions
Elimination of racial prejudice The making of art is no different
than prayer Creativity is prayer Term fashioner is given to God as
an alternative word to Creator and is used at the ends of prayer.
When you are an artist, you are a fashioner. If religion be a cause
of disunity, it were better that there were no religion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cPkzROkJLU
http://www.soulpancake.com/view_post/204942/what-is-
soulpancake.html
Slide 11
Bahai Temple, Wilmette, Illinois Bahai Temple, Santiago, Chile
Bahai Temple, Kampala, Uganda Bahai Temple, Near New Delhi, known
as the Lotus Temple The purpose of a Bahai House of Worship is to
bring men and women together in unity. The auditorium of the temple
is open to all for worship and meditation, no race or religion is
excluded. Services are not elaborate as there is no set ritualism
or professional clergy. Services are for prayer, meditation, and
the reading of selections from the Sacred Scriptures of the Bahai
Faith and other great Faiths of the world. The only music is by
soloists and a cappella choir.
Slide 12
Baha'is observe eleven holy days each year. These include days
associated with the lives of Bahullh and the Bb, as well as the Bah
new year, on March 21. The most important of the holidays is Ridvn,
a twelve-day period in the end of April/beginning of May that
commemorates Bahullhs declaration of His mission and Revelation.
The holy days are commemorated with community gatherings for
prayer, reflection, and fellowship. On nine of these holy days,
Baha'is abstain from work. The Baha'i calendar begins on 21 March,
the vernal equinox, and divides the year into 19 months of 19 days
each. With the division of the year into 19 months, four
intercalary days are needed. These days occur at the end of
February and are celebrated as a gift-giving time known as
Ayym-i-H.
Slide 13
Bahais generally do not celebrate Christmas in their own homes.
However, because Bahais recognize Christ as a Divine Messenger,
theyshare in the seasons spirit of goodwill. Based on Bahaullahs
instruction to Consort with the followers of all religions in a
spirit of friendliness and fellowship, Bahais with Christian
friends and family enjoy various Christmas activities. Bahais also
do not celebrate Easter, but they hold the spirit of Jesus
resurrection very highly. Easter is a holy day of reflection,
thoughtfulness and reverence celebrated with Christian relatives or
friends with love and unity. Heaven and Hell are not physical
places but spiritual realities. When we die, the condition of their
souls determines our experience in the afterlife. Baha'i law limits
permissible sexual relations to those between a man and a woman in
marriage, however they do not attempt to impose their moral
standards on those who have not accepted the Revelation of
Bahaullah. To regard homosexuals with prejudice would be contrary
to the spirit of the Baha'i teachings.
Slide 14
Slide 15
There are currently more than five million Baha'is resident in
some 100,000 localities in every part of the world. The Faith is
recognized as the second-most geographically widespread religion
after Christianity. Persecution in Iran The Bahai Faith is Irans
largest minority religion. It is not accepted as a legitimate
religion because Baha'u'llah after Muhammad. Muhammad is designated
in the Qur'an, the Muslim Holy Book, as the Seal of the Prophets
and Muslims have interpreted this verse to mean that Muhammad is
the final prophet of God. Therefore, any claim of prophethood after
Muhammad is considered blasphemous by the Muslim religious leaders.
Consequently, Bahai followers in Iran have been the targets of
countless acts of violence and discrimination. Their legal rights
have been revoked, they are denied jobs, pensions, and the right to
inherit property, and more than 10 000 Baha'is have been released
from government and university posts, with Bahai students being
denied access to higher education.