What We Believe
God is transcendent and beyond human comprehension
For Bahá'ís, God is the creative source of all existence. This divine Reality, imperceptible and invisible, transcends human intelligence and understanding: It encompasses all things and therefore cannot itself be encompassed. Any conception we may have of the Divine is limited by our material existence. The qualities we attribute to God help us shape our understanding of Reality, but the true nature of this Supreme Essence is unknowable.
A progressively unfolding Revelation
This conception of the divine explains why different traditions have developed various names and understandings of one same divine Reality: God, Allah, Yahweh, the Tao, the Manitou, the Heavenly Father, and so on. From this perspective, the different religions are not contradictory constructions, but rather responses adapted to the specific needs of the societies that received them. Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, and more recently Bahá'u'lláh, the Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, are regarded, among others, as Messengers emanating from the same divine Source, each bringing spiritual teachings suited to the time and context in which they appear.
Divine Educators throughout history
Each Revelation builds upon the one before it, conveying a message that is unified in its fundamental truth. Thus, Bahá'ís believe that there is fundamentally only one religion and that successive religious revelations lay, one after another, the spiritual foundations for the continuous progress of civilization.
The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.
— Abdú'l-Bahá
Essential principles of the Bahá'í Faith
The independent investigation of truth
The independent investigation of truth is a central principle of the Bahá'í Faith, and a protection from the blind acceptance of dogma. Each individual is encouraged to seek, question, and discover for themselves. All forms of proselytism are prohibited.
The harmony between science and religion
The harmony between science and religion affirms that these two systems of knowledge, far from being in conflict, complement one another.
Gender equality
The equality of women and men is a fundamental spiritual principle essential to the progress of humanity
Universal education
Universal education for all, without discrimination, is regarded as a moral and social duty.
Elimination of the extremes of wealth and poverty
The elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty is sought through the establishment of more equitable systems. The spiritual and moral progress of society as a whole is also essential, since material transformation and the elevation of human consciousness are inseparable in the pursuit of true social justice.
To learn more about the Bahá'í Faith: www.bahai.org