The Bahai Faith has established significant communities in more countries and territories than any other independent religion, with the exception of Christianity. This is how it came about:

As the human race has developed through time we have gradually understood more clearly the world around us. During our progress God has sent us Messengers whose Messages were according to our understanding in the time during which we lived.

All of these messengers taught to love one another, do good, be sincere, truthful and look at our own faults before we condemn the faults of others. Each religion has a Figurehead, who is believed to be transcendent of the issues of mankind and there is a book (Quran, Bible, Hindu & Buddist texts etc.) based on His teaching. There is so much in common it is hard to understand why there is so much competitiveness amongst the followers of any of the messengers. Abraham, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Christ, Mohammad, The Bab, Baha-u-llah.

The followers of the Great Leaders have concentrated on the differences between religions and created a competitive atmosphere, which had no part in the Message of their Founders. The Founders preached unity and concord. Each used the "language" of the time which suited to the particular needs of a particular age, their Message was in essence one.

Needs change, yesterdays needs are not the needs of today. It is similar to going through a school, call it a school of life; each teacher has a curriculum for a certain age group. When the child has learned the lesson he is then able to progress to the next grade. The First grade teacher is not stupid, nor did the first grade teacher fail because they did not teach trigonometry. The first grade teacher has all of the wisdom & knowledge to teach Trigonometry, but their responsibility is to limit their teaching to the level of understanding of the child. The same holds true with Gods messengers. They all had the same degree of wisdom, as there were manifestations of God. Therefore they knew all, but their message had to be limited to the level of understanding reached by mankind at that time. An example of this is when Moses said, "Love thy neighbor as thyself," he had to accept the fact that Gentiles also were their neighbors. Jesus emphasized that love should go beyond the Jewish race. But His followers were not able to understand oneness of mankind. Only recently have we been able to regard the human race as one family.

Baha-u-llah, came to this world prepared by the long line of earlier Messengers of God. This is a major aspect of his teaching. All the Messengers were aware of the truth taught by Baha-u-llah, but until now man has not been ready to receive its full force. Knowing the limitations of the men of His age,
Jesus said:
"I have yet many things to say unto you but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you unto all truth:" John 16:12

The following is excerpted from "A Thief in the Night" by William Sears.
" The Profit Ezekiel foretold that the Messiah would come to the Holy Land Israel, from the East. He even gave the title by which He would be known in that day: The Glory of God. Ezekiel recorded his vision of the last days, saying:
" And behold, The Glory of God of Israel came from the way of the East…" Ezekiel 43:2
"And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east." Ezekiel 43:4

The Name Baha-u-llah is Persian and when translated into English means "The Glory of God" or "Glory of the Lord" His Herald was called the Bab. This is also Persian, and translated into English means "The Gate". The Bab was the Gate by which Baha-u-llah, "The Glory of God" entered into the hearts of men. Baha-u-llah had come to Isreal in exile from Persia which is to the East."

Baha-u-llah is the Messenger of God for this age and the Promised One of all religions.
He declared His station in 1863. He suffered 40 years of torture, imprisonment and exile.
He was exiled from Tehran in Persia (Iran) to Baghdad and then Turkey before being sent to 'Akka, in the Holy Land, where Baha-u-llah passed away in the year 1892. Baha-u-llahs eldest son suffered with Baha-u-llah in Prison. As He gained in years was able to travel to the West. Before Baha-u-llahs' death he appointed his son, Abdu'l-Baha, as the Interpreter of His teachings and the Center of His Covenant. "Abdu'l-Baha" means "Servant of Baha"

'Abdu'l-Baha protected the Bahai Faith from division and passed on that duty to His grandson, Shoghi Effendi.

Shoghi Effendi led the Bahá'ís until his passing in 1957.

There is no clergy in the Bahai Faith. In each community, nine-member boards known as Local Spiritual Assemblies are elected annually. At the national level are National Spiritual Assemblies, also consisting of nine members, elected annually by representatives of the Bahais in each country. At the international level is the Universal House of Justice, centered in Haifa, Israel consists of nine members and is elected every five years by members of the National Spiritual Assemblies throughout the world. The Universal House of Justice has final responsibility for overseeing the international Bahai community.

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