IB World Religions - Bahá'í

Kitáb-i-Aqdas

“Most Holy Book”

Main Scripture of Bahá'í, as revealed by Bahá’u’lláh

Contains laws on prayer, fasting, pilgrimage

Nineteen Day Feast

Main form of communal worship for Bahá’í’s

Occurs once every nineteen days, Bahá’í community gathers in a home to pray, read scripture, and eat/socialize together cs unity

Nineteen Day Fast

Occurs annually, month (19 days) before Bahá’í New Year, usually in March

Time of spiritual preparation and regeneration for the new year

15 yrs and older must fast from sunrise to sunset, sundown = EAT!

Those exempt: sick, elderly, pregnant/expecting mothers, or its a Holy Day

Naw-Rúz

Bahá’í New Year! March 21/Spring Equinox

1st day of Bahá’í calendar

No work! oh yeaaaaah

Includes: prayers, celebrations, feasts, other festivities

Five Year Plan

A multi-year plan implemented in 5yr cycles that intends to guide Bahá’í’s towards spiritual and social development through the strengthening of community and service

Main focus includes: building facilities that aid the community (schools, clinics, social development centers, devotional centers, etc)

Bahá’u’lláh

“The Glory of God”

Most recent prophet/manifestation of God in Bahá’í faith, as foretold by the Báb

Revealed the most complete revelation

Imprisoned for 40 years

The Báb

herald of the Bahá’í faith, announced the coming of a divine prophet (Bahá’u’lláh)

claimed to bear the message destined to transform humanity’s spiritual life in the 19th century

Mission: to prepare the way of a 2nd messenger from God, greater than himself, who would usher the age of peace and justice

‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Eldest Son of Bahá’u’lláh, appointed/authorized interpreter of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings

Head of Faith

Shoghi Effendi

Grandson of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, successor of Bahá’í Faith/Guardian of Bahá’í Faith

Spent 36 years developing the religion

Manifestation

Prophet

God is known through manifestations/prophets including figures such as Abraham, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, Bahá’u’lláh

Each manifestation was a further stage in revelation of God, just incomplete/appropriate for their time period

More prophets to come!

Universal House of Justice

Council ordained by Bahá’u’lláh in Kitáb-i-Aqdas

Consists of 9 members, elected democratically every 5 years by national assemblies

Job: Apply Bahá’í teachings to society, legislate on matters not dealt with specifically in sacred texts, promote education peace, prosperity, and honor

Ridván

Festival from April 21-May 2

Marks Bahá’u’lláh’s time in Ridván Garden where he declared his mission

Communal prayers, no work, family time, BAHAI ELECTIONS

Obligatory Prayers

Mandatory prayers set by Báb, Bahá’u’lláh, and Abdu’l-Bahá, designed to encourage humility and devotion everyday, prayers are vital to spiritual life

Short, medium, long prayers everyday

Conversation with God

Ablutions

Washing oneself (hands+face) to prepare to pray obligatory prayers

The Birth of the Báb

October 20th, 1819

Celebrated by no work, prayers, devotional readings

Festives! social gatherings that are open to everyone

The Martyrdom of the Báb

July 9th at noon

Honors Báb’s execution in 1850 (second attempt at execution since he survived the first one)

Solemn, no work, special prayers @ noon

The Declaration of the Báb

May 22-23, 2hrs after sunset on 22nd

Marks Báb’s announcement as new divine messenger

No work!

Mashriqu’l-Adhkár

“The Dawning Place of the Mention of God”

Continental houses of worship as ordained by Bahá’u’lláh

Unites Bahá’í community in country/continent in concrete devotion and service

Structure: central house of worship + other dependencies for social n economic progress

National Spiritual Assembly

9 member national council responsible for for guiding, co-ordinating, and stimulating the activities of Local Spiritual Assemblies and individual members of the Bahá’í community within a given country

Elected by local assemblies!

Rational Soul

The divine quality of humans, immortal soul responsible for thinking, reasoning, and imagining

Once dead, soul continues for eternity to advance towards God

Strengthen our rational soul through prayer and service, u progress spiritually/get closer to God/”heaven” by serving others/striving towards unity

Thoughts on Proselytizing

Bahá’í’s do NOT proselytize/push ppl to convert

Although they believe they are the most complete religion, they respect all other religions and see them as valid

NOT an imperialist faith, doesn’t encourage evangelizing

Thoughts on gender

Gender = social construct

Sees men and women as equal, prioritizes women’s and children’s education over man if low resources

Bahá’í’s need to strive to end gender inequalities

Thoughts on Universal language/government

Bahá’í’s are in SUPPORT of a universal language and government cs it shows global unity + unity among humanity

ex - Esperanto, United Nations

Thoughts on Social Action

Bahá’í’s are very involved in social projects that aid the community socially and economically and legislative pushes for unity/ending inequalities such as gender inequality and poverty cs unity

ex - writing letters to Congress petitioning for equality, building schools, hospitals, etc

Thoughts on Worship and rituals

Worship - mainly encouraged to be done individually but theres still some communal worship practices; goal = to know and love God

ex - service to humanity is worship

Rituals - NO rituals cs it can lose spiritual purpose and imperialize on existing cultural practices

examples of “rituals” - obligatory daily prayers, reciting funeral rites, reciting marriage rites

Thoughts on Alcohol

NO alcohol, cs it inhibits judgement (given by rational soul) and can lead ppl into giving into their animal/bestial desires, straying away from God

Thoughts on Homosexuality

Bahá’í’s acknowledge homosexuality is not a choice, but engaging in homosexual acts is sinful/wrong cs family is the basic unit of religion and is not possible through homosexuality

Recommends praying the gay away or seeking help