\n\n Chicago Bahá'í Community : Teachings

"O SON OF SPIRIT!
The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.”

~ Bahá'u'lláh


Core Beliefs

The principle of the oneness of mankind is the pivot round which all the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh revolve.

Delegates and observers at the 2005 national convention of the Bahá’ís of the United States pictured outside the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois. (Bahá’í Media Bank)


Bahá'u'lláh taught that humanity, after a long and turbulent adolescence, is at long last reaching its stage of maturity, when its organic unity in a global and just society can finally be established.

To this end, the Bahá’í Faith prescribes laws of personal morality and behavior, as well as social laws and principles to establish the oneness of humanity.

Bahá’ís believe:

  • the purpose of life is to know and worship God, to acquire virtues, to promote the oneness of mankind, and to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.
  • all humanity was created by one God and is part of one human race.
  • work performed in the spirit of service is a form of worship.
  • the soul, created at the moment of conception, is destined by God to reach the afterlife where it will continue to progress until it attains the presence of God.

Bahá’ís practice:

  • daily prayer and communion with God.
  • high moral principles, including trustworthiness, chastity and honesty.
  • independent investigation of Truth.
  • a life dedicated to the service of humanity.
  • fellowship with the followers of all religions.
  • avoidance of excessive materialism, partisan politics, backbiting, alcohol, drugs, and gambling.
Social principles include:
  • full equality between women and men in all departments of life and at every level of society.
  • harmony between science and religion as two complementary systems of knowledge that must work together to advance the well-being and progress of humanity.
  • the elimination of all forms of prejudice.
  • the establishment of a world commonwealth of nations.
  • recognition of the common origin and fundamental unity of purpose of all religions.
  • spiritual solutions to economic problems and the removal of economic barriers and restrictions.
  • the abolition of extremes of wealth and poverty.
  • the adoption of a world auxiliary language, a world script, a uniform and universal system of currency and of weights and measures.
Please click here to find out more about the Bahá'í Faith from the official U.S. Bahá'í website.
Chicago Bahá'í Center   |   312 225 1919   |   secretariat@bahaichicago.org
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