RSSThe Bahá'í faith was founded in the mid-19th century CE in Iran. In 1844 Siyyid ʿAlī Moḥammad, a Shi'ite Muslim, proclaimed that he was "the Bāb," "the Gate," a special sort of interpreter of the Qu'ran with special religious insight and prophetic abilities; he was the "Hidden Imam." The Bāb's prophetic message spread in Iran, which angered both the government and the Shi'ite leadership. He was arrested and then executed. One of the Bāb's disciples, Mīrzā Ḥoseyn ʿAlī Nūrī, known as Bahá'u'lláh, spread the Bāb's teachings; these teachings eventually evolved into the Bahá'í Faith, and it is Bahá'u'lláh who is most typically known as the founder of the tradition. Bahá'í propounds that God is utterly transcendent and ultimately unknowable to humanity. God's manifestation is understood in Bahá'í to come not just through the Bāb and Bahá'u'lláh, but also through the world's religious prophets, including Abraham, Moses, the Buddha, Krishna, and Mohammed. Bahá'í sacred literature includes the writings and oral history of the Bāb and Bahá'u'lláh. The Bahá'í do not have any clergy; all spiritual authority is held by local and national councils called "Spiritual Assemblies." Bahá'í is open to all who accept the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh. Bahá'í religious practices and rituals include daily prayer and devotions. Bahá'í followers are expected to fast for 19 days a year and participate in the Nineteen Day Feast. Essential Bahá'í theological tenets include the unity of humanity and the unity of all religions with the ultimate goal of creating a unified humanity without racial, ethnic, class, or religious prejudice. Bahá'í has spread to virtually every country in the world, and Bahá'í temples can be found on every continent except Antartica.
Baha'i
Baha'i Quick Facts
| Formed | 1863 CE |
| Origin | Persia |
| Followers | 6,500,000 |
| Deity | God (monotheistic) |
| Sacred Texts | Includes The Kitab-I-Aqdas Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah |
| Headquarters | Haifa, Israel |
Baha'i
Baha'i Overview
-- Baha'i Beginnings
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-- Baha'i Influences
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-- Baha'i Founders
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-- Baha'i Scriptures
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-- Baha'i Historical Perspectives
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-- Baha'i Early Developments
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-- Baha'i Schisms, Sects
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-- Baha'i Exploration, Conquest, Empire (incl. violence, persecution)
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-- Baha'i Missions, Spread, Changes, Regional Adaptations
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-- Baha'i Modern Age
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-- Baha'i Sacred Narratives
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-- Baha'i Ultimate Reality and Divine Beings
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-- Baha'i Human Nature and the Purpose of Existence
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-- Baha'i Suffering and the Problem of Evil
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-- Baha'i Afterlife and Salvation
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-- Baha'i Sacred Time
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-- Baha'i Sacred Space
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-- Baha'i Rites and Ceremonies
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-- Baha'i Worship and Devotion in Daily Life
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-- Baha'i Symbolism
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-- Baha'i Leadership/Clergy
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-- Baha'i Community Organization and Structure
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-- Principles of Moral Thought and Action
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-- Baha'i Vision of Society
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-- Baha'i Gender and Sexuality
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