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CHAPTER FOURTEEN: BAHA’I

Chapter Outline and Unit Summaries

I. Introduction: The Basic Unity of Religious Truth

II. Origin and Development of Baha’i

A. Shi’ite Belief in the Lost / Hidden Twelfth Imam

1. Lost / Hidden Imam Disappeared in Ninth Century C.E.

2. Lost / Hidden Imam Will Reappear as the Messiah

B. Ali Muhammad Declares Himself Hidden Imam / Messhiah, 1844 C.E.

1. Shi’ite Muslim Living in Persia

2. New Name: Bab-ud Din (gate of faith)

3. Advocates Sweeping Social and Religious Reforms

4. Gathers Circle of Disciples called Babis

5. Persian Religious and Political Forces Execute Bab in 1850,


Imprison and Execute Babis

6. Before Death Bad Predicts a Figure Will Come After Him


and Found a Universal Religion

C. Husayn Ali, Disciple of Bab, Believes Self to be Promised One

1. Husayn Ali Exiled to Baghdad

2. Decides He is the One Foretold by Bab

3. Ridvan, Iraq,1863 C.E.: Husayn Reveals Identity to Babis on


Eve of Exile from Baghdad to Constantinople

4. Husayn Renamed Bahaullah (the glory of God)

5. Followers Renamed as Baha’i

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D. Bahaullah and Baha’is Exiled, Imprisoned

1. Bahaullah Imprisoned for Remainder of Life in Acre / Akko,


Turkish Prison City

2. Bahaullah Produces Writings, Sends Missionaries, Receives


Guests while Imprisoned

a. Wrote Series of Letters to Pope and Heads of State


Calling for Help in Fostering World Peace
b. Wrote Kitab-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book), Kitab-
i-Iqan (The Book of Certitudes), and The Hidden
Words

3. Bahaullah Dies in Prison at Age Seventy-five, 1892 C.E.

E. Leadership of Baha’is Moves to Bahaullah’s Son, Abbas Effendi


(Abdul Baha, servant of Baha)

1. Freed from Prison, Abdul Baha Travels in Europe and


American Spreading Baha’i Message, Founds Assemblies

2. 1920 C.E. British Confer “Order of the British Empire” on


Abdul Baha for His Work on Behalf of World Peace

3. Abhul Baha Dies 1921 C.e.

F. Leadership of Baha’is Moves to Abdul Baha’s Grandson, Shoghi


Effendi

1. Continues Missionary Work, Founding Global Assemblies

2. After Shoghi Effendi’s Death in 1957 C.E. Leadership


Assumed by Elected Body of Baha’i from Around World

III. The Teachings of Baha’i

A. Develops Far Beyond Shi’ite Islam Origins

1. Baha’is Do Not Revere Qur’an as Literal Revelation of


God’s Words, but consider it Allegorical, Symbolic Text

2. Baha’is Do Not Believe in Angels and Demons, Heaven or


Hell; Consider them Symbolic

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a. The Soul is Collective Humanity
b. When the Soul is Close to God that is Heaven
c. When the Soul is Close to God that is Hell
d. The Living and the Dead Commune Together in the
Collective Soul of Humanity
e. Evil is Not Real, Positive Entity; Evil is Only the
Absence of the Good

3. Christian, Jewish Scriptures, and all Sacred Writings from


Other Religions, Count as Baha’i Sacred Scripture

B. All Religions Come from Same Source

1. Divine Revelation is Continuous and Progressive Process

2. Holy Prophets and Sages Represent the Progressive


Development of Humanity’s Spiritual Growth

a. Bahaullah is Most Recent Messenger of God,


Fulfilling Prophecies of Past Manifestations of God,
Ushering in a New Age for Human Religion
b. Bahaullah’s Greatest Message Was Oneness of
Human Race

C. Core Baha’i Doctrines Preached by Abdul Baha

1. The Oneness of the Entire Human Race

2. There Must be an Independent Search for Truth, Unfettered


by Superstition or Tradition

3. There is a Basic Unity of All Religions

4. Condemns All Forms of Prejudice, Whether Religious,


Racial, Class, or National

5. Harmony Must Exist Between Religion and Science

6. Men and Women are Equal

7. Compulsory Education Must Prevail

8. There Should be a Universal Language

9. Extremes of Wealth and Poverty Should be Abolished

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10. A World Tribunal for Adjudication of Disputes Among
Nations Should be Instituted

11. Work Performed in the Spirit of Service Should be Exalted to


the Rank of Worship

12. Justice Should be Glorified as the Ruling Principle in Human


Society and Religion for the Protection of All Peoples and
Nations

13. The Establishment of a Permanent and Universal Peace


Should be the Supreme Goal of Humankind

IV. Baha’i Practices

A. Daily Prayer and Attitude of Prayerfulness

B. Marriage

1. Divorce Permitted in Extreme Cases of Incompatibility

2. Monogamy Between Mutually Consenting Adults

C. Alcohol and Narcotics Fobidden

D. Worship

1. So Special Buildings or Clergy for Worship

2. Home Worship the Norm

3. Simple Worship, Minimal Ritual

4. Readings from Bahaullah Common

5. No Sermons Given, No Offerings Made

E. Organization

1. Local Spiritual Assembly

a. Currently Twenty Thousand Exist


b. Governed by Elected Nine-Member Boards

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2. National Spiritual Assembly

a. Currently One Hundred Sixty Five Exist


b. Governed by Elected Nine-Member Boards

3. Universal House of Justice

a. Nine-Member International Body


b. Elected and Serve Five Year Terms

F. Baha’i Houses Worship

1. Magnificent Houses Located in Seven Countries

2. All Have Nine-Sided Design

a. Nine is Symbolic Number Representing Unity of


Humanity
b. Nine is Largest Unit Number

3. Largest Temple on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel

V. Baha’i Calendar and Holy Days

A. Calendar

1. Solar Calendar of Nineteen Months

2. Each Month Contains Nineteen Days

3. New Year on March 21st, Beginning of Spring

B. Holy Days

1. New Year: Baha’i Expected to Fast One Month Per Year (19
Days) Beginning with the New Year on March 21st

2. Feast of Rivdan (April 21 – May 2)

3. Birthday of Bahaullah: November 12th

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VI. Baha’i Today

A. Persecuted in Iran, Considered Heretics

1. Persecution after Iranian Revolution Particularly Harsh

2. Baha’i Currently Outlawed in Iran

B. Worldwide Presence

1. Over Six Million Baha’i Worldwide

2. Missionary Religion Members in 218 Countries

3. Most Bah’i in Asia and Africa

Key Names, Concepts, and Terms

Ali Muhammad / Bab-ud Din Abdul Baha Shoghi Effendi


Husayn Ali / Bahaullah Ridvan thirteen core teachings

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