Baha'i+Faith

How did the religion develop? Did someone found the religion?
The Baha’i faith was founded in Persia in the 19th century by a man called Bahá'u'lláh, meaning “Glory of God” ====** Baha'i faith was originally founded in the early 1900's in the middle east, a young man named Bab whom prophesied a second more powerful messenger of god was to be born. This came true when bahá'u'lláh was born into a wealthy Persian family. He always helped the poor and he had vision's from god telling him to teach his sayings to others. To be frank, the government didn't like that so they exiled him were he died in Palestine, 1895 **====

** (A Brief History of the Baha’i Faith).2 **
The religion was founded in Persia during the 19th century by a man named **//Mírzá Ḥusayn-`Alí Núrí. //**He later changed his name to **//Bahá'u'lláh //**, meaning “Glory of God”

Are there any important days? Which ones? What happens on those days?
The are twelve holy days recognized in this religion. Followers do not work on eight of these days. These days are celebrated to commemorate important anniversaries and other important milestones in the history of the Baha'i faith.


 * March 2-21 - Nineteen Day Fast March 21 - Bahá'í New Year
 * April 21 - First Day of the Ridván Festival*
 * April 29 - Ninth Day of the Ridván Festival*
 * May 2 - Twelfth Day of the Ridván Festival*
 * May 23 - Declaration of the Báb*
 * May 29 - Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh*
 * July 9 - Martyrdom of the Báb*
 * October 20 - Birth of the Báb*
 * November 12 - Birth of Bahá'u'lláh*
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">November 26 - Day of the Covenant
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">November 28 - Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">*no work

** This religion has eleven main holy days to remember special dates in this religion, **

 * =====** March 2-21 - Nineteen Day Fast **=====
 * =====** March 21 - Bahá'í New Year **=====
 * =====** April 21 - First Day of the Ridván Festival **=====
 * =====** April 29 - Ninth Day of the Ridván Festival **=====
 * =====** May 2 - Twelfth Day of the Ridván Festival **=====
 * =====** May 23 - Declaration of the Báb **=====
 * =====** May 29 - Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh **=====
 * =====** July 9 - Martyrdom of the Báb **=====
 * =====** October 20 - Birth of the Báb **=====
 * =====** November 12 - Birth of Bahá'u'lláh **=====
 * =====** November 26 - Day of the Covenant (work not suspended) **=====
 * =====** November 28 - Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá (work not suspended) **=====

** On these day's all services and schools are closed and all Baha'i faith activists pray and fast on this day. **
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There are 12 holy days / festivals:
 * =<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">March 2-21 - Nineteen Day Fast - regeneration + preparation for the new year. 15-70 year olds to fast if able =
 * =<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">March 21 - Bahá'í New Year - vernal equinox =
 * =<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">April 21 - First Day of the Ridván Festiv <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">al - <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bahá'u'lláh declared his mission - no work =
 * =<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">April 29 - Ninth Day of the Ridván Festival - <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bahá'u'lláh + family arrived in <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Najíbíyyih Garden - no work =
 * =<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">May 2 - Twelfth Day of the Ridván Festival - <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bahá'u'lláh left for Constantinople; end of festival - no work =
 * =<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">May 23 - Declaration of the Báb - Báb declared mission to Mulla Husayn - no work =
 * =<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">May 29 - Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh - <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bahá'u'lláh died in 1892 on May 29 - no work =
 * =<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">July 9 - Martyrdom of the Báb - Báb shot by firing squad - no work =
 * =<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">October 20 - Birth of the Báb - Báb’s birthday 1819 - no work =
 * =<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">November 12 - Birth of Bahá'u'lláh - <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bahá'u'lláh’s birthday 1817 - no work =
 * =<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">November 26 - Day of the Covenant (work not suspended) =
 * =<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">November 28 - Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá (work not suspended) =

How many gods does the religion have?
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bahá’ís have one god. They believe that this god is the creator of all things and is so powerful, no human is able to even contemplate his abilities. He is without beginning or end. In the Baha’i scripture, their god is often referred to as Almighty, All-Powerful, All-Wise, Incomparable, Gracious, Helper, All-Glorious, and Omniscient. Their god also has sent messengers down to share his word, the most famous being the Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá’u’lláh was born in Iran in 1817. Bahá’u’lláh means, “Glory of God”. He was sent into exile for forty years because of his teachings. He died in 1892. ====** This religion has only the one god, it is a monopolistic religion. The basic teachings of god came through a man named Bahá’u’lláh, translated this means "glory of god" ( **** "A Brief History of the Baha’i Faith). **====

How do the followers contact or pray to their gods?
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bahá’ís worship their leaders through meditation and prayer, and also by their services in their community, this is considered a form of worshipping god. They also have devotional gatherings. Everyday they recite three prayers from the teachings of the Bahá’u’lláh. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">God is worshiped by meditating and praying. Prayers are recited 3 times a day.
 * They contact and worship god through praying and through constant meditation. They follow the teachings of there bible very strongly, witch is called the, **** "Kitáb-i-Aqdas" ( **** "A Brief History of the Baha’i Faith). **

What are the rules? What do people have to do in their lifetime?
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There are twelve basic principles in the Baha'i faith. These twelve principles sum up all of the revelations given by the Bahá’u’lláh.
 * 1) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Oneness of the World of Humanity.
 * 2) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Independent Investigation of the Truth.
 * 3) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> The Foundation of all Religions is One.
 * 4) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Religion Must be a Source of Unity.
 * 5) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">True Science and True Religion must Correspond
 * 6) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Equality of Men and Women
 * 7) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Removal of all Prejudice
 * 8) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Universal Peace upheld by a Spiritual World Government
 * 9) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Universal Compulsory Education
 * 10) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A Spiritual Solution to the Economic Problem
 * 11) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A Universal Auxiliary Language
 * 12) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Universal House of Justice with the Davidic Kin


 * The 12 principles or teachings of Baha'i faith are as follows, **


 * ** The Oneness of the World of Humanity. **
 * ** The Independent Investigation of the Truth. **
 * ** The Foundation of all Religions is One. **
 * ** Religion Must be a Source of Unity. **
 * ** True Science and True Religion must Correspond **
 * ** The Equality of Men and __#|Women__ **
 * ** Removal of all Prejudice **
 * ** Universal Peace upheld by a Spiritual World Government **
 * ** Universal Compulsory Education **
 * ** A Spiritual Solution to the Economic Problem **
 * ** A Universal Auxiliary Language **
 * ** Universal House of Justice with the Davidic Kin **

("Bahá'í Faith Principles.").
There are twelve teachings or priciples to be followed by the Baha'i
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Oneness of the World of Humanity.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Independent Investigation of the Truth.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Foundation of all Religions is One.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Religion Must be a Source of Unity.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">True Science and True Religion must Correspond
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Equality of Men and __#|Women__
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Removal of all Prejudice
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Universal Peace upheld by a Spiritual World Government
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Universal Compulsory Education
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A Spiritual Solution to the Economic Problem
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A Universal Auxiliary Language
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Universal House of Justice with the Davidic King

Are there any sacred books? What are they called?
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Their holy book is called Kitáb-i-Aqdas. It is a book filled with laws and scriptures. There are estimated to be around one hundred volumes, covering many topics ranging from laws and principals and personal conduct, to writings about the souls’ progress and journey to God.
 * The holy book of the Baha'i faith is called the, "Kitáb-i-Aqdas". in comparison to the bible they are very similar, in the pages of these books there is every thing from heaven to laws ( **** Baha'i faith). **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Most Holy book is the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, many volumes of the laws and scriptures of the Baha'i written by Bahá'u'lláh.

What do the holy buildings look like?
====** There are only seven in existence the largest of with is located in india. There are only two temples and three holy places world wide, now thats something to think about (The Baha'is: Holy Places and Houses of Worship). **====

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Only eight continental Houses of Worship have been built around the world. They all share some architectural elements such as a nine sided circular shape. All current Bahá'í houses of worship have a dore, though that is not an essential element. pictures, statues or images may not be displayed within the House of Worship, according to Bahá'í scripture.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The temples vary in appearance but all have nine sides and a door on each side. There are only seven Baha’i temples.

** If you we're a good person you will be closer to god than if your were bad you would be farther away from him. this is similar to the hell and heaven idea ("Baha'i faith."). **
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When the human body dies, the shoulder does not. It endures forever. It begins its journey through the spiritual world. The spiritual world is an extension from our world and is timeless and placeless. To baha'i followers, heaven is a place where one is near to god, and hell is a place where one is far away. Bahá'u'lláh compared the afterlife to life before birth with this quote, “The world beyond is as different from this world as this world is different from that of the child while still in the womb of its mother."

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When you die your soul journeys towards God through many worlds or planes of existence. It is a journey that is timeless. Some souls are ‘undeveloped’ and can’t find their way to God, that is essentially ‘hell’.

** There is one religious symbol signifying peace and coexisting with other religions. it is a five pointed star and is usually white. (Baha'i faith." Baha'i faith). **
An asymmetrical five pointed star is the official symbol of the baha'i faith. It was taken from an unidentified tablet in the bab’s handwriting. The nine pointed star is also commonly used. There is also another symbol that often appears on ringtones. The symbol has three levels. The highest level represents God, the creator. The middle level represents the world of his Manifestations and teachings. The lowest level represents the world of mant. These three levels are joined by a vertical line, representing the link between God and man. The identical five-pointed stars on eother side represent the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh, the twin messengers of God for this age.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Bahá'u'lláh wrote several holy books. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A nine pointed star is used commonly, although the official symbol is a five pointed star.

** There are no priests and no official clothing. they might were clothing according to there village, and they might were jeans with a sari's (Baha'i faith). **
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There are no special articles of clothing or rules pertaining to how one must dress. It is all left up to you to make that decision for yourself. However, Baha’u’llah encourages one to be modest in the way they dress and act. Clothing choice is often decided by the climate in which one lives.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There is no obligation to wear special clothes.

** In the middle east and southern parts of asia, including persia witch is now iran ( **** "Baha'i Faith."). **
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Bahá’í World Centre is in the Haifa/’Akká area of Israel, which is where Bahá’u’lláh was exiled in 1868 and his death was in 1892. The area is today the site of the Faith’s most sacred shrines. The baha'i faith is common in the middle east and in modern day Iran.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There are many Baha’i in the middle east and Iran, but Baha’i can be found almost anywhere.

** Today there are 5 million Baha’is represented in 188 countries (A Brief History of the Baha’i Faith). **
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0000ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Their most recent survey yielded an estimate of 5,000,000 Bahá'ís in 1991.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #9900ff; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Over 5 million people around the world are Baha’i

** How is the Baha'i calendar different to ours? **
=== The Baha'i calender consists of nineteen months, each with nineteen days plus four intercalery days, (five on leap years). The first day of the year is May 21, the first day of spring. ​This day is recognized as a holy day. ===

** "Baha'i Faith." Bahá’í Prayers. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2013. <http://www.bahaiprayers.org/bahaifaith.htm>. **
= =


 * "A Brief History of the Baha’i Faith | Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry." CARM - Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2013. <http://carm.org/a-brief-history-of-the-bahai-faith>. **


 * Baha'i faith." Baha'i faith. N.p., 6 Jan. 2013. Web. 6 Jan. 2013. <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahá'%C3%AD_Faith>. **

** "Baha'i faith." Baha'i faith. N.p., 6 Jan. 2013. Web. 6 Jan. 2013. <en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahá'%C3%AD_Faith>. **
Works Cited

"12 Principles of the Baha'i Faith." First Principle of the Baha'i Faith. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013.

"The BahÃÂ¡'ÃÂ­ Faith." The BahÃÂ¡'ÃÂ­ Faith. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013.

"BahÃ¡'Ã­ Religious Practices." Baha'i Practices. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2013.
"Baha'i Faith - ReligionFacts." Baha'i Faith - ReligionFacts. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013.

BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013.

"Does the BahÃ¡'Ã­ Faith Have an International Center?" The BahÃ¡'Ã­s: Does the BahÃ¡'Ã­ Faith Have an International Center? N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013.

"The KitÃ¡b-i-Aqdas." BahÃ¡'Ã­ Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Jan. 2013.

Works Cited

"12 Principles of the Baha'i Faith." First Principle of the Baha'i Faith. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2013. <http://uhj.net/bahaiprinciples/oneness.html>.

"The BahÃ Â¡'Ã Â­ Faith." The BahÃ Â¡'Ã Â­ Faith. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2013. <http://www.bahai.org/>.

"Baha'i Faith - ReligionFacts." Baha'i Faith - ReligionFacts. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2013. <http://www.religionfacts.com/bahai/index.htm>.

"Does the BahÃ¡'Ã­ Faith Have an International Center?" The BahÃ¡'Ã­s: Does the BahÃ¡'Ã­ Faith Have an International Center? N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2013. <http://www.bahai.org/faq/facts/bwc>.

"The KitÃ¡b-i-Aqdas." BahÃ¡'Ã­ Reference Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2013. <http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/KA/>.