Bahá'í Community of the Isle of Wight

Introduction to the Bahá'í Faith 

The Bahá'í Faith is the most recent independent world religion. It was founded in 1844 in Iran. Today, over 6 million Bahá'ís live in more than 200 countries and territories around the world, and Bahá'í literature has been translated into more than 800 languages.

The Bahá'í Faith is the second most widespread of the world religions, exceeded only by Christianity. The world-wide Bahá'í community includes people from over 2,100 ethnic, racial and tribal groups, and represents what may be the most diverse organised body of people on the planet today.

The Bahá'í Faith is based on the teachings of its founder, Bahá'u'lláh [pron: Ba-hah-u-lah]. The teachings are written in Persian and Arabic which were the languages Bahá'u'lláh spoke. The name Bahá'u'lláh means "the Glory of God". It was a title given him by His predecessor, who was known as the Báb, or Gate. It is probably easiest to think of the Báb as having a similar relationship to Bahá'u'lláh as John the Baptist had to Jesus Christ.

The main theme of the Bahá'í teachings is world unity, the oneness of humankind. In Bahá'u'lláh's words:

"Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch ..The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens."

Bahá'ís believe in the Oneness of God, the oneness of all religions, and the oneness of humankind. We are living in a time when conflict seems to threaten almost every aspect of our world. The Bahá'í Faith explains what is happening in the world, clearly states that, whatever the immediate future may bring, the future of humankind is very bright, and offers teachings through which we can achieve peace of mind and heart.

NB. The on-site introductory material was written by Andrew Gash . Please contact him if you wish to reproduce it elsewhere.