Baha'i

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Baha'i

Baha'i, or Bahaism is a religious movement founded by the prophet Bahá'u'lláh in the 19th century. It emphasizes the unity of humanity. The religions major prophets are Buddha, Jesus Christ, Krishna, Moses and Muhammad.

Doctrine

"The Bahá’í Faith upholds the unity of God, recognizes the unity of His Prophets, and inculcates the principle of the oneness and wholeness of the entire human race. It proclaims the necessity and the inevitability of the unification of mankind, asserts that it is gradually approaching, and claims that nothing short of the transmuting spirit of God, working through His chosen Mouthpiece in this day, can ultimately succeed in bringing it about. It, moreover, enjoins upon its followers the primary duty of an unfettered search after truth, condemns all manner of prejudice and superstition, declares the purpose of religion to be the promotion of amity and concord, proclaims its essential harmony with science, and recognizes it as the foremost agency for the pacification and the orderly progress of human society. It unequivocally maintains the principle of equal rights, opportunities and privileges for men and women, insists on compulsory education, eliminates extremes of poverty and wealth, abolishes the institution of priesthood, prohibits slavery, asceticism, mendicancy and monasticism, prescribes monogamy, discourages divorce, emphasizes the necessity of strict obedience to one’s government, exalts any work performed in the spirit of service to the level of worship, urges either the creation or the selection of an auxiliary international language, and delineates the outlines of those institutions that must establish and perpetuate the general peace of mankind."

Criticism

19 day fast

In the Baha'i religion, followers are expected to take part in a 19 day fast. This can cause health problems to some people if practiced.

External Links

• Bahá'í at a glance on BBC Religion & Ethics
• Official website on the Bahá'í Faith
• Baha'i on Faith in the Holy Land Series on Israel's Youtube channel

References

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