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. BBC © 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. What do Bahá í believe? God is the All-Powerful and Omniscient but Merciful Creator of the universe. Bahá'ís believe that God cannot become incarnate in a human being. 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 Coming of Age of Humanity . Everything starts with the cross, without it one has denied Jesus’ purpose for coming. 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. All human beings have a soul that lives for ever. Read more. God's prophets. 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. God is the imperishable, uncreated being who is the source of all existence. ... 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… Does the "personal interpretation" part of the faith leave that up to the individual? "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. Loading... Close. Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, Christ, and Muhammad were Manifestations of God. Yes. Bahá'ís believe there is one God and that all the universe and creation belong to him. ... question the idea of God’s existence, doing everything they can to make belief in God seem irrational , Belief in Deity One personal God Almighty, creator, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent--incorporeal spirit. 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. 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. Many Bahá'í beliefs and practices are rooted in these priorities; but taken alone these would be an over-simplification of Bahá'í teachings. Yes. Muhammad in the Baháʼí Faith. They believe each one was a further stage in the revelation of God. The Baha’i teachings promote the agreement of science and religion, gender equality, and the elimination of all prejudice and racism. "Members of the Bahá'í Faith believe that the Great Manifestations of God up to this time have been: . 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. 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. 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. Manifestations of God . 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. Depending on their size, Baha’i communities often meet in homes, local Baha’i centers, or meeting rooms. An Unknowable God . 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. Incarnations The prophets of … 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. 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. The Essential Unity of All Religions Consider to what extent the love of God makes itself manifest. 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. 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. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. I do not want to believe in beings that could force me to sin. The differences among the religions of the world are due to the varying types of minds. 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. Search. “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 … This Being, Whom we call God, has absolute control over His creation (omnipotence) as well as perfect and complete knowledge of it (omniscience). When you make the decision to become a Baha’i, you also take part in a planetary movement to change the world. ... 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 … No one ever passes a plate or requires anyone to participate, since every donation is considered private and personal. Though inaccessible directly, God is nevertheless seen as conscious of his creation, with a mind, will and purpose. 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 … They have been translated into hundreds of languages, including tribal and indigenous ones, to make them available to everyone. The Babi movement known as the Babi Faith spread quickly, electrifying the masses and provoking severe reactions from the government and the clergy. Watch Queue Queue. Bahá'ís believe in a single, imperishable God, the creator of all things, … Adam (? What do Baha'i believe about prophets? 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. 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. “He restates in every age God's purpose and will. “Every created thing in the whole universe is but a door leading into His knowledge…”. 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. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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". Examining Major Baha’i Teachings – Are The Compatible with Christianity? Baha’is believe that God sends different prophets, or Manifestations of God, to reveal divine messages to humanity. Read more. Bahá'u'lláh thought that this was why different religions had different ideas of God. The Bahá’í Writings explain that the reality of God is beyond the understanding of any mortal mind, though we may find expressions of … Sign up for our newsletter and get all our latest content, © 2021 BahaiTeachings.org All Rights Reserved. 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. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so. 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. To overcome this obstacle, God has made his nature and will known to humanity through means of a series of Messengers or Manifestations. Bahá'í Faith and comparative theology. 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 . Any description of God is bound to be coloured and limited by the views and cultural background of the person making the description. 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. There is no service, baptism, or ceremony involved — becoming a Baha’i simply requires an inner, spiritual decision to embrace the teachings of the Faith and join your local Baha’i community. 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. Is the Bahá'í Faith a religion? 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. Many others think of God as some supernatural giant man who sits on a throne in the sky. We believe God created us to be one human family. 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. After the Bab’s execution in 1850, Baha’u’llah gradually assumed the leadership of the Babis. Bahá'í Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Do Bahai's believe in God? 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. What do Bahá í believe? 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”). Furthermore, they contend that holding a belief in God is a “delusional” act with disastrous consequences for global society on multiple fronts. Baha’i believes their prophet is a manifestation of God who is greater than Jesus Christ. How can they best reach you? The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the official views of the Baha'i Faith. It is the world’s second-most widespread religion after Christianity, spanning the globe and working to unite it. 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. 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. All human beings are members of a single race, which should soon be united in a single global community. Together, ... Bahá’í House of Worship. 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. God is known through the lives and teachings of his great prophets, the most recent of whom was Bahá'u'lláh. 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. 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. 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 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. God and His Creation | What Bahá’ís Believe. The Baháʼí view of God is essentially monotheistic. 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. 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. 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. Thus the Baha’i thrust toward the unification of all religio… Though transcendent and inaccessible directly, his image is reflected in his creation. In 2 Cor.2:5 Paul states “that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 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. Looking for something specific? 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. However, He has sent, and will continue to send, great prophets to humanity, through which the Holy Spirit has revealed the "Word of God. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. 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. Bahá'ís do not regard God as having a gender. 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