Bahai or Bahaism

world faith

After the founder Bahaullah (lit. glory of God), spiritual name of Mirza Husain Ali Noeri (Noer near Tehran 1817 – Acre 1892).

In 1844, Bahaullah was one of the first followers of the Bab (1819-1850), a religious leader who had broken away from Islam. After an attempt on the Shah, he was captured in 1852 and exiled to Baghdad, Constantinople and finally, in 1868, to the penal colony of Acre in Palestine.

He appointed his eldest son as spiritual heir.

Bahaism teaches that all religions proceed from the same divine source and that revelation is always continuing and increasing. The followers are urged to establish a reconciling world community based on the writings of the Prophet and his successors.

The doctrine has no professional clergy, initiations or rites.

The faith emerged in Western Europe just after the Second World War under the impetus of American 'pioneers'. Following in their wake were Iranian Bahái families who were persecuted in their country for their faith. The Bahái World Center is located in Haifa, Israel.

There are national centers in The Hague and Brussels.

 

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