Bahá'í

By Jeannie Lockerbie Stephenson

"Isn't this a glorious day!" I commented to my husband, Wally. We assumed the crowds around us were also viewing the stately homes, inhaling the lilacs, or heading to the lakefront on this spring morning. We were wrong. Instead, they turned into the magnificent Bahá'í House of Worship on Linden Avenue in Wilmette, Illinois.

We joined the mosaic of races, costumes, and languages and entered the nine-sided, domed structure famed for its architecture and surrounding gardens. In the museum-like lower floor, we read about the founder of the Bahá'í faith, Bahá'u'lláh, whose name means "Glory of God."

Bahá'u'lláh was born in Persia where he lived from 1817-1892. A religious leader known as the Báb influenced Bahá'u'lláh. The Báb declared himself not only the founder of a new religion but also the herald of a new and far greater messenger who would bring peace for all mankind. In 1863, Bahá'u'lláh declared he was the one prophesied by the Báb.

Over the doors and on the inner walls of the Bahá'í temple, the utterances of Bahá'u'lláh are inscribed: "Consort with the followers of all religions with friendliness." One plaque lists the messengers of God: Abraham, Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, The Báb, Bahá'u'lláh, followed by the saying: "All the prophets of God proclaim the same faith."

Bahá'í teachings are a designer mix of humanism, pluralism, and pacifism, asserting that the purpose of human life is to know and worship God and to bring about the unity of mankind. World peace and order can allegedly be achieved by:

Fostering good character and developing spiritual qualities, such as honesty, trustworthiness, compassion, and justice
Eradicating prejudices of race, creed, class, nation, and sex
Achieving a balance between the spiritual and practical requirements of life on earth
Developing the unique talents and abilities of each individual
Establishing equality of women and men
Providing universal education

Our hearts were sad as we left the Bahá'í House of Worship. These people were basing their hope in a false assumption of man's essential goodness and ability to achieve holiness through works. They could not know true hope until they knew Jesus Christ, Who claims, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). "For there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

Bahá'í Facts:

Adherents of the Bahá'í Faith live in nearly every country of the world.
Its five million members include almost all nationalities, classes, trades, and professions.
Bahá'í literature is available today in over 800 languages and dialects.
There is no clergy in the Bahá'í Faith. Meetings are planned by local communities and include devotional services, study classes, discussions, social events, and the observation of holy days.
The Bahá'í Faith prescribes monogamy and upholds the importance of chastity. Divorce is discouraged. Bahá'í law also prohibits the use of alcoholic drinks and narcotics.