By: Jeff STUDENT and Erin STUDENT

1. Bahai By: Jeff STUDENT and Erin STUDENT

2. Followers of the Bahai • There are over five million believers and that number is growing. • The religion originated in Iran in the mid-nineteenth century. • Followed in 236 countries and mostly found in African tribes.

3. Becoming a Bahai follower • Recognize Bahaullah as the messenger of God • Follow his laws and teachings and the administrative institutions • Enroll in the Bahai community by signifying you have belief and commitment, orally or in writing, to the Bahai institution

4. Requirements to be Clergy • Can be men and women. • Follow the faith. • Democratically elected by the members of all the national councils for the Head of the Universal House of Justice. • Currently there is no clergy. • Each Bahai takes the role of clergy upon themselves.

5. Leaders • Bahai is a religion that is personal, so they do not attend church. • They have local, national, and international leaders. The international leaders are elected by select national leaders. • Women are looked on as equals in every aspect of life and could be a leader.

6. The Bab(1819-1850) • Meaning “The Gate” • He is the messenger of God, who prepared the people for the coming of Bahaullah. • Declared his mission on May 23rd 1844 in Persia. • Founded the Babism. His followers were called Babi’s.

7. Bahullah (1817-1892) • Bahullah, which means “glory of god,” is recognized by millions as the messenger of god for this age. He is the fulfillment of the Bab’s promises. • Announced in 1863 that he was the Promised One foretold by the Bab. • He was the authority for the laws and institutions and source of its spiritual and social teachings of the Bahai religion.

8. Abdul-Baha (1844-1921) • Meaning “Servant of Baha” • Eldest son of Bahaullah • Appointed as the Interpreter of his teachings and the Centre of His Covenant • Protected the Bahai faith and passed on that duty to his grandson

9. Shoghi Effendi (1897-1957) • “The Guardian” • Appointed by his grandfather Abdul-Baha • The only interpreter of Bahaullah’s teachings after himself. • Guided the Baha’is for thirty-six years and developed the Administrative Order of the Faith. • Appointed twenty-seven individuals to promote and protect the faith and gave them the title “Hands of the Cause of God”. • After his passing, for six years the Hands of the Cause held the Bahai’s together until the Universal House of Justice was established.

10. Ecclesiastical Law • Pray everyday. • Observe the Bahai Fast from sunrise to sunset each day from March 2 through 21. • Consider work as worship. • Teach the Cause of God. • Avoid alcoholic drinks and drugs.

11. Ecclesiastical Law • Observe Bahai marriage. • Obey the government and not participate in politics. • Avoid backbiting and gossip. • Observe Bahai Holy Days. • Contribute to the Bahai Fund.

12. Holy Days/Work • They observe eleven holy days each year. • The most important are the Bahai’s New Year on March 21 and Ridvan which is a twelve day period in April that commemorates Bahullah. • The holy work is done daily through disciplines of the faith.

13. Rites/Rituals/Ceremonies • Have communion from birth and everyday after. • Rituals take place during feasts and holy days. • No special birth or death ceremony. • No baptisms take place. • Marriage is looked on as being the foundation of family life.

14. Religious Persecutions • The Bahai religion faces danger throughout Iran, the homeland. • The nine members of Iran’s Baha’is National Spiritual Assembly were believed to be abducted and executed in August 1980 and 20 were executed by the government. • Executions were common every year.

15. The Afterlife • Your soul never dies. It spends eternity in the spiritual world. • Here you are either close to god or far from him. • It’s progress depends on how well you followed the teachings of god’s messenger.

17. The Nine Executed National Spiritual Assembly

18. Sources • bahai.org • en.wikepedia.org • bahai-religion.org • probe.org • bahai-library.com