A Vignette or Glimpse into the Baha'i Faith (may be a suitable title)

The Bahai' Faith is an independent world religion. All religions are one. The religion of God, and Mankind is one.

NB The Bahai's do accept all previous faiths

God's Messenger	Theme	Faith	Place	Holy Book	Date
Enoch	Immortality	Sabean	Arabia	Book of Enoch	5000 BC
Krishna	Detachment	Hindu	India	Bhagavid Gita	2000 BC
Moses	Justice	Judaism	Egypt	Torah	1330 BC
Zoroaster	Purity	Zoroastrian	Persia	Zenda Vesta	1000 BC
Buddha	Peace and Meditation	Buddhism	India	Darma	560 BC
Christ	Love	Christianity	Palestine	Gospel of Christ	1 AD
Muhammad	Submission to The will of God	Islam	Arabia	Koran	662 AD
The Bab	Universality	Babi	Persia	Bayon	1844 AD
Baháulláh	Oneness of Mankind	Baha'i	Persia	Kitab 1-Aqdas	1553 AD

All the messengers have promised others will come in the future when the world is desperate and requires Divine Intervention to resolve the major problems of this time.

The spiritual teachings are the same from all the messengers of God such as - do not kill, do not steal, worship and love God and love one another, honour your parents.

Each era has very differing major problems and Baháuálláhs teachings are centred on progressing to world unity and peace in the world and environment issues.

Main Principles of the Bahai's Faith

Recognises the basic oneness of all religions and the oneness of mankind.

States that religion must go hand in hand with science and that it constitutes the utmost the ultimate basis of a peaceful, ordered and progressive society. Encourages an independent, investigate of truth.

Exhorts work performed in the spirit of service to mankind to the rank of worship.

Condemns all forms of prejudice, religious, racial, class or natural.

Upholds the principle of equal opportunity, rights and privileges for men and women.

Advocates compulsory education.

Provides solutions to economic problems on national and international levels.

Includes adoption of an auxiliary universal language.

Establishing the institution of an international tribunal.

Laws and obligations of Bahai's

Pray every day

Observe the Fast March 2nd - 21st from dawn to sunset.

Consider work as worship

Spread the message of God

Avoid alcoholic drinks and hard drugs.

Observe Bahai' marriage laws

Obedience to the government

Avoid participation in Party Politics (vote for a person but not a party)

Avoid backbiting

Observe Holy Days

Attend 19 Day Feasts

Contribute to Bahai' Fund

Observe Baha'i burial laws - we must be buried no further than an hour's journey from our place of death.

Bahai's should make a will

We have no dietary laws

We have no clergy in the Baha'i Faith - we are expected to investigate for ourselves and make up our own minds. Children of Bahai's are encouraged to believe in God but the ultimate decision should be theirs after learning about other Faiths.

There are Bahai's now in every country in the world. Each country will have its own National Spiritual Assembly of 9 members voted for annually by delegates voted for by their Local Spiritual Assemblies throughout throughout their country. Local assemblies also have 9 members.

In 1963 The International Members Body for the Bahai's was established in Haifa Israel and is know as the "Universal House of Justice" it also has 9 members at present - these are voted every 5 years by all the National Assemblies around the world.

Haifa is our world centre as Báháullah was banished there. The Haifa and Acca area is our Kibli and we face there when we say certain prayers. We also try to go on a pilgrimage here for 9 days at least once in a lifetime.

We meet in various venues for our Holy Days, 19 Day Feasts, Devotionals and assembly meetings. Mainly it depends on how many Bahai's there are in the vicinity. Centres bought or rented or hired, small communities, based in homes. In the future there will be centres in every town and village. We have Houses of Worship in each continent and Oceana which are open to all mankind. At present - Willmette N. America. Central America, Panama, India, New Delhi, Australia Sydney, Africa, Kampala, Uganda, Oceana , Samoa, Apia, Europe, Frankfurt Germany, South America Santiago Chilled is at present being built.

Our 19 Day Feasts occur in the first day of every Baha'i month - our New Year is the 21st March (1st day of Spring). Each month is named after lofty attributes.

First Day

1 Baha Splendour March 31st

2 Jalal Glory April 9th

3 Jamal Beauty April 28th

4 Azamat Grandeur May 17th

5 Nur Light June 5th

6 Rahmat Mercy June 24th

7 Kalimat Words July 13th

8 Kamal Perfection August 1st

9 Asma Names August 20th

10 Izzat Might September 8th

11 Mashiyyat Will September 27th

12 Ilm Knowledge October 16th

13 Quadrat Power November 4th

14 Quaul Speech November 23rd

15 Masail Questions December 12th

16 Sharaf Honour December 31st

17 Sultan Sovereignty January 19th

18 Mulk Dominion Feb 7th

19 Ala Loftiness March 2nd start of fast - finish Eve March 20

These meetings have 3 parts.

1. Devotional - prayers and readings in Holy Writings - Read by those present
inc children

2. Any business - communications and events - consultations etc

3. Refreshments and socialising

Baha'i Holy Days

Feast of Ridvan (Declaration of Báháullah) April 21 - May 2
Declaration of the Bab (Gate) May 23
Ascension of Baháulláh May 29
Martyrdom of the Bab (Tabriz) 12 noon July 9
Birth of the Bab Oct 20
Birth of Báháullah Nov 12
Day of the Covenant Nov 26
Ascension of Abdul Baha (Son of Báháullah Nov 28
Feast of Naw Ruz (New Year) March 21

NOTE:

I would like to acknowledge the support of the Council, Police and Fire Service, Inter Faith and agencies which are providing help, support and hosting such opportunities for friendship within Fife.

Grateful thanks

The Bahai's of Fife