Baha'i Faith Teachings

Hawaii Bahai Community

Baha'i Faith Teachings

Return to https://windwardbahai.org (Visit our main Website)

(Return to Home Page)

Brief background about the Baha'i Faith:

"Founded a century and a half ago, the Baha'i Faith is today among the fastest-growing of the world's religions. With more than five million followers, who reside in virtually every nation on earth, it is the second-most widespread faith, surpassing every religion but Christianity in its geographic reach. Baha'is reside in more than 100,000 localities around the world, an expansion that reflects their dedication to the ideal of world citizenship."

Among the principles emphasized by Baha'u'llah (founder of the Baha'i Faith) are:

- the oneness of humanity
- the equality of women and men
- the elimination of prejudice
- the elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty
- the independent investigation of truth
- universal education
- religious tolerance
- the harmony of science and religion
- a world commonwealth of nations
- a universal auxiliary language

Baha'is strive to uphold a high moral standard.

Baha'u'llah stressed the importance of:

honesty
trustworthiness
chastity
service to others
purity of motive
generosity
deeds over words
unity
work as a form of worship

Baha'is follow the moral code of the Ten Commandments - and more.

Baha'u'llah forbids:

killing
stealing
lying
adultery and promiscuity
gambling
alcoholic drinks
drug abuse
gossip and backbiting

Pictured below is Abdu'l-Baha, the eldest son of Baha'u'llah, in Chicago visiting with several Baha'is while touring the United States in 1912.

"There is only one God, the Creator of the universe. Throughout history, God has revealed Himself to humanity through a series of divine Messengers- each of whom has founded a great religion. The Messengers have included Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad. This succession of divine Teachers reflects a single historic "plan of God" for educating humanity about the Creator and for cultivating the spiritual, intellectual, and moral capacities of the human race. The goal has been to prepare the way for a single, global, and ever-advancing civilization. Knowledge of God's will for humanity in the modern age was revealed just over 100 years ago by Baha'u'llah, who is the latest of these divine Messengers."

"That is the essence of Baha'u'llah's teachings about God, religion, and humanity. Baha'is often express these beliefs simply by speaking of the oneness of God, the oneness of religion, and the oneness of humankind. Unity is at all times the overarching theme of Baha'i belief; in theological terms, it manifests itself in the understanding that the Creator has a single plan for all humanity."

Nine Members of each local community are elected by secret ballot on an annual basis, to administer the affairs of the Baha'i Faith in their respective communities. There is no clergy in the Baha'i Faith. Pictured here are the nine members of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Ko'olaupoko. Both men and women serve on Local and National Spiritual Assemblies worldwide.

For more information about the Baha'i Faith go to:

https://www.bahaihawaii.org, or or www.bahai.us, or www.bahai.org

Watch the Full Movie, "The Gate - Dawn of the Baha'i Faith":

https://youtu.be/GPKEkSXhtgw