His Name is Baha'u'llah.
More than 150 years ago, in an underground dungeon in Persia, a movement was born that is even now moving and reshaping our world. Baha'u'llah, Whose Name means "The Glory of God" or "The Glory of the Lord" was a prisoner in that dungeon. There in that stench-filled gloom He received a revelation from God that the "time foreordained unto the peoples and kindreds of the Earth is now come," and that He was the One Promised by all the world's religions to usher in the Day of God. The day of peace and unity for all mankind. This is His Mission.
For the remaining 40 years of His earthly life, Baha'u'llah remained a prisoner and exile of Persia and the Ottoman Empire. During that time He revealed hundreds of prayers, tablets (letters) and writings that provide us with the divine guidance we need to bring us peace in our hearts and in our world. So, what was it that Baha'u'llah said that caused governments and clergy so much consternation that they had to put him in prision and exile Him time and time again?
He said there is but one God, the Creator of us all. That the world's great religions are in fact one progressively revealed religion. That God has provided His loving guidance to us all down through the ages by sending His Messengers such as Moses, Jesus, and Buddha, and Muhammad, and that Baha'u'llah is God's latest Messenger. And that we are one people, one humanity Race is an illusion. And now the time has come for us to live in unity as one people on one planet!
In His Teachings He says the purpose of our lives is to know and worship God, to nurture and bring forth all the wonderful virtues and qualities with which we have been given, and to live a life of service to others. "Thou wert created to show love one to another." He said women and men are equal. There is no clergy in His Faith; our leaders are elected at the local, national and internaltional levels. His Teachings bring each of us closer to God, and closer to each other.
And from that prison more than a century ago His faith, the Baha'i Faith, has spread to nearly every country and territory on Earth, enlisting under it's banner millions of people of every race, color, tribe and enthic group. We're building a new world, a world of justice, peace and unity. And there's room for you just as you are!
There's SO much more! We invite you to explore on your own. One of the key Teachings of the Baha'i Faith is the independent investigation of truth. So the next step is yours. Go to our contact page to get information or to talk to someone here in Charlotte. And explore the links below to help you on your journey.
Main Baha'i sites:
http://reference.bahai.org/en/
http://free-ebooks.bahaibookstore.com/
Sites by Baha'is:
Baha'i inspired organizations:
http://ebbf.org/ (Business ethics)
http://www.tahirih.org/ (Women's rights)
http://www.healthforhumanity.us/ (Health and medical assistance)
http://www.iefworld.org/ (Environment)
http://bahai-charity.weebly.com/bahai-charitable-agencies.html (Charities)
Media:
https://wlgi.org/ (Radio Baha'i, South Carolina USA)
Baha'i Basics (12 short videos): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA76523A53FEF1838
From the Baha’i Writings:
“The Faith of the Blessed Beauty (Baha’u’llah) is summoning mankind to safety and love, to amity and peace; it hath raised up its tabernacle on the heights of the earth, and directeth its call to all nations. Wherefore, O ye who are God’s lovers, know ye the value of this precious Faith, obey its teachings, walk in this road that is drawn straight, and show ye this way to the people. Lift up your voices and sing out the song of the Kingdom. Spread far and wide the precepts and counsels of the loving Lord, so that this world will change into another world, and this darksome earth will be flooded with light, and the dead body of mankind will arise and live; so that every soul will ask for immortality, through the holy breaths of God.”
From the Baha’i teachings on how we are to live our lives:
“Let each one of God’s loved ones centre his attention on this: to be the Lord’s mercy to man; to be the Lord’s grace. Let him do some good to every person whose path he crosseth, and be of some benefit to him. Let him improve the character of each and all, and reorient the minds of men. In this way, the light of divine guidance will shine forth, and the blessings of God will cradle all mankind: for love is light, no matter in what abode it dwelleth; and hate is darkness, no matter where it may make its nest.”