BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Baha'i Faith Baha'i?

Well, yes and no.

While we Baha'is recognize the other great religions as legitimate and God-sent, our faith, laws, and procedures are based directly on the Baha'i scriptures, which amount to around 200 volumes! (We do refer to, read, and use other scriptures as well; they're simply not our basis.)

And actually, IOV there's only a single ever-evolving faith, the Faith of God! The various great religions are simply stages in this one faith.

Best, :-)

Bruce

Ok I get it now. Thanks for clearing that up.

Hi again! :-)



Well, we're in fact following our own scriptures in doing this, as this sort of investigation is what they prescribe. (Of course, it's perfectly OK to refer to and use other scriptures as well, and we often do!)

We see all the great religions as being complimentary stages along a single path!

As I said, each individual has the responsibility to investigate the various religions for him- or herself, decide where the truth lies, and follow that!

No one else may interfere in this process, which is one of the reasons why we Baha'is have no clergy.

Baha'i parents have the responsibility to see that their children are informed about all the major religions, and Baha'i schools help in this. (For example, when my son was six, he was already in a comparative-religion class at our area Baha'i school.)

Then, when the child reaches the age of maturity (15), it's up to him or her to decide whether to become a Baha'i, become something else, or join nothing whatever! And the parents have no right to interfere in this process or object to whatever decision is made.

As I mentioned, we find all this works very well!

Best, :-)

Bruce

Hi!

Not really that they're all mixed together given that each is a distinct, independant faith.

More that all these religions are successive stages in a single ever-evolving faith, the Faith of God!

Best regards, :-)

Bruce

Ok thank you!

No, FB, we're not pagan; the Baha'i Faith has its own scriptures (fully 200 volumes of them!) and is very much a continuation of the Abrahamic tradition, though we do recognize the other great religions as legitimate and God-sent, too!

So it's really not a "do your own thing" sort of religion, though Baha'is do enjoy considerable flexibility and freedom of conscience in their daily lives.

Best regards, :-)

Cool so what is the proper term to describe followers of the Baha'i Faith?

Hi again! :-)



Quite simply, we're Baha'i. (Plural Baha'is.)

(And we informally refer to each other as "the Friends.")

If it'll help, "baha" means "spendor or glory," and the suffix forms the adjective, so that "Baha'i" literally means "of Glory."
And "Baha'u'llah" the title of our Founder, literally means "Glory of God" or "Glory of the Lord."

Best, :-)

Bruce

Thank you! you have been very helpful and understanding!

One does what one can, doesn't one? :-)

Bruce