Baha’is believe in the oneness of humankind

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By BOB REEVES/Lincoln Journal Star

Baha’u’llah means “the glory of God.” It’s a name adopted by a Persian prophet who in 1852 began a religious movement that envisions all human beings as part of a single worldwide community.

Followers of his movement are known as Baha’is, which means “followers of glory.” Today the Baha’i Faith is the second most widespread religion next to Christianity, with more than 5 million Baha’i adherents in 233 countries.

It started in 1844, when a preacher known as the Bab (“the gate”), in what is now Iran,  prophesied the dawning of a new spiritual era. He said another prophet would follow him, bringing teachings for a new age.

The Bab was executed by Muslim leaders, who also massacred 20,000 of his followers. Baha’u’llah, who lived from 1817 to 1892, took up his cause. He was exiled to Iraq and eventually took refuge in Haifa, in what is now Israel. His  writings became the scriptures of the Baha’i Faith.

Baha’is believe in the oneness of humanity and the oneness of God. They believe that Baha’u’llah is the latest in a series of prophets, including Moses, Zoroaster, Jesus, Buddha and Muhammad, through whom God has revealed himself to humankind.

While Baha’u’llah is the latest, Bahais believe that God will send other messengers in the future.

Bahais believe that all religions share the same basic moral and spiritual principles and that all people are equal in the sight of God. 

“The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens,” Baha’u’llah wrote.

He called for an end to racial, religious, political and economic discrimination and advocated adoption of a common world language, equal rights for men and women, a universal system of education, an end to poverty and institution of a world government.

After Baha’u’llah’s death in 1892, leadership passed to his son, Abdu’l Baha, who traveled throughout the world spreading the new faith and establishing Bahai assemblies. 

Abdu’l Baha visited Lincoln in 1912, leaving a prayer in a guest book at Fairview, the home of William Jennings Bryan. The prayer is a blessing for Bryan, who shared Abdu’l Baha’s ideas on nonviolence and racial harmony.

The world center of the Bahai Faith is the Universal House of Justice in Haifa. Bahai temples, known as Houses of Worship, are on every continent. The North American House of Worship is in Wilmette, Ill.

Baha’is belong to local democratic assemblies, with no clergy or priests. Baha’is have continued to suffer persecution in Iran and Iraq but are generally accepted in other countries.

One somewhat unusual principle is that Bahais are encouraged not to get involved in politics. They may serve in appointed government positions but may not run for elected office.

Local assemblies meet in weekly “firesides,” informal gatherings, usually in members’ homes. Worship consists of readings from the writings of Baha’u’llah and sacred texts of other religions, along with prayers and meditation.

Baha’is have a unique calendar, consisting of 19 months of 19 days, with every 19th day being a feast day. Four “intercalary days” (five in leap years) are added to adjust to the 365-day year.

Locally, the Bahai community has about 100 members, who meet regularly in homes. For information, call Ruth Hansen at 489-1570.

(Sources for this article include local Baha’i members as well as  “The Baha’is,” published by the Bahai International Community. For more information visit www.bahai.org, www.us.bahai.org or www.lincolnbahai.org.)

Reach Bob Reeves at 473-7212 or breeves@journalstar.com.