Why Baha’i?
The Baha’i Faith teaches that the Founders of all the great religions are Messengers of God Who brought teachings that are true and valid—then what would motivate someone to become a Baha’i?
All Divine Religions are prone to human interpretation and become fragmented and secular as they are translated and progress through time. When a new religion comes along, it reconciles the original meaning of the previous one and brings a new message for the world.
The Prophet of the age unleashes humanity’s untapped spiritual and material potential as it evolves.
When a new religion appears (approximately every 1,000 years), it brings a more relevant, advanced message to meet specific requirements and inaugurate a new era of civilization. However, core spiritual truths never change—like “The Golden Rule.”
“Chaos and confusion are daily increasing in the world.
They will attain such intensity as to render the frame of mankind unable to bear them. Then will men be awakened and become aware that religion is the impregnable stronghold and the manifest light of the world, and its laws, exhortations and teachings the source of life on earth.” —’Abdu’l-Bahá
A New World Order
What kind of structure puts the Baha’i teachings into action? And keeps everyone around the world on the same page? Answer: A remarkable, Divinely inspired system!
Many who look into the Baha’i Faith are attracted to teachings and principles such as the empowerment of women and the elimination of prejudice, to name a few. Or they may be influenced by Baha’is they have met along the way.
However, what makes this new, progressive Faith unlike any other religion in history? It’s called the Baha’i Administrative Order, and it unites local Baha’is to a Baha’i administrative system across the entire globe. It’s seamless, fast-moving and interconnected. It’s a model of communication that continues to be studied by groups and governments around the world! It’s a spiritual, idea-generating, problem-solving mechanism! It gives voice to individuals at the community level while, at the same time, imparting spiritual guidance from national and global institutions.
Details
Every nineteen days, at the grass roots level—in thousands of localities across the planet—Baha’i communities convene to pray, consult, and conduct the affairs of their local communities. This is where we build our Baha’i community!
Through a downstream flow, Baha’is receive communications from their elected world governing body (The Universal House of Justice); their respective elected National Assembly; and their respective elected Local Assembly. Then, in an upstream flow, Baha’is communicate their suggestions and recommendations to their elected local governing body, which, if needed, may convey these to the elected national body, and, if needed, all the way up to the elected universal (global) administrative body. Whew! Sounds complex, but it’s actually, simple and transparent.
The Universal House of Justice explains:
“The welfare of any segment of humanity is inextricably bound up with the welfare of the whole.”
Steps Of Consultation:
(1) Free yourself from your own agenda.
(2) Gather all the facts—not opinions.
(3) Practice frank and honest discussion.
(4) All participants should offer their ideas and insights.
(5) Once a decision is made, it is incumbent on the entire group to act on the decision with a united front—no hesitation. If additional adjustments need to be made to a group decision, they will become obvious.
The process is more important than the outcome.
The Art Of Consultation
It’s an amazing, creative, non-adversarial, decision-making, problem-solving method.
Current Western protocols tend to be linear and competitive—which is not in itself a ‘bad thing.’ Decision-making usually involves a few willful people arguing their own agenda.
Each step of true Baha’i consultation allows for a genuine, free flow of valuable information to bubble up.
This “art of consultation” is used by Baha’i families and in Baha’i gatherings and meetings. With all activities, Baha’is follow a process of action, learning, and reflection.
Bahá’ís believe the crucial need facing humanity is to find a unifying world vision. To learn more visit Bahai.org
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