2. In General
• Youngest world religion
• Originated in the 19th century as an offshoot of Islam
• May 24,1844 Persian, Siyyid-Muhammad, assumed
the title, Bab (Gate), explaining that he had the
mission of announcing the arrival of “One greater than
himself.”
• Bab declared this from the Grand Mosque in Mecca
• His followers decided that Siyyid was the Mahdi, the
direct prophet of God and greater than Muhammad
• Persecution developed and Siyyid was executed in
1850
3. In General
• Siyyid had written that Mirza Yaha was to be his
successor
• 1863 - Husayn Ali, Yaha’s half brother, said he, not
Yaha, was to be the successor
• Took the name Baha’ullah (glory of God). His
followers became known as Baha’is
• He preached extensively and wrote the Bahai sacred
works, The Most Holy Book, The Book of Certitudes,
and The Hidden Words
• The last 40 years of his life were spent in exile or
prison
4. In General
• The last 22 years of Baha’ullah’s life were spent in
prison at Acre, near Haifa, Israel
• The central shrine of the faith is located in Haifa
• Membership of the faith
– Worldwide – 6 million
– India – 2.5 million
– United States - 140,000
Many believe these figures are grossly inflated. Truer numbers,
according to One Nation Under God, are estimated at 1 million
worldwide and 26,000 to 28,000 in the United States.
5. Beliefs
• Monotheistic, believing one God is the source
of all creation
• God is transcendent and unknowable
• He has sent and will continue to send great
prophets as manifestations of himself
• 10 have come: Adam, Abraham, Krishna,
Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus Christ,
Muhammad, the Bab, and Baha’ullah
6. Ten Principles of the Bahai Faith
• The essential unity of humankind – principle of
oneness
• The independent investigation of truth
• The common foundation of all religions
• The essential harmony of religion and science
• The equality of men and women
• The elimination of all prejudice
• Universal compulsory education
• A spiritual solution to economic problems
• A universal auxiliary language
• Universal peace upheld by world government
