One Family, One World: Discovering the Baháʼí Faith

Imagine every person on Earth is part of one big family. You might speak different languages, eat different foods, and live in different countries — but you are all connected. Does that idea seem possible? Some people have believed this for over 180 years. Today you will find out who they are.

The Baháʼí Faith is one of the world's youngest religions. It began in Iran in 1844. Today, about five to eight million Baháʼís live in almost every country on Earth. The founder of the Baháʼí Faith is called Baháʼu'lláh, which means 'Glory of God' in Arabic. Baháʼís believe that Baháʼu'lláh was a messenger from God — someone sent to guide humanity. Before him, they believe other messengers came too, including Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad. Baháʼís see all these teachers as part of one unfolding plan from God. The most important belief in the Baháʼí Faith is the oneness of humanity. This means every person on Earth is equal and belongs to one human family. There are no higher or lower races or classes of people. Baháʼís also believe in two other key ideas: • The oneness of God — there is only one God, known by many names in different religions. • The oneness of religion — all the world's major religions come from the same source and teach similar values. Baháʼís worship in places called Houses of Worship, also known as Temples. Every Baháʼí Temple in the world has nine sides and nine doors. The number nine is special in the Baháʼí Faith because it stands for completeness. The temples have no clergy — meaning there are no priests or imams to lead services. Anyone can read from the sacred writings. Baháʼís also spend time in prayer and meditation every day, read from their sacred writings, and work to serve their local community. They meet in small groups called devotional gatherings to pray and discuss ideas together. A well-known Baháʼí symbol is the nine-pointed star, which represents completeness and unity. Another symbol is the ringstone symbol — a design that stands for the connection between God, the messengers of God, and humanity.