Core beliefs of the Baha'is: What Baha'is believe, what Baha'is practice and Baha'i social principles
The principle of the oneness of humankind is the pivot around which all the teachings of Baha'u'llah revolve.
Baha'u'llah taught that humanity, after a long and turbulent adolescence, is at last reaching a stage of maturity in which unity in a global and just society finally can be established.
To this end, the Baha'i Faith prescribes laws of personal morality and behavior, as well as social laws and principles, to establish the oneness of humanity.
What Baha'is believe:
- The purpose of life is to know and worship God, to acquire virtues, to promote the oneness of humankind 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.
What Baha'is 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.
(For more information, read a description of Baha'i laws excerpted from A Short Introduction on the Baha'i Faith, by Dr. Moojan Momen.)
Baha'i Social principles:
- Equality of women and men
- The harmony of 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 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 poverty and wealth
- The adoption of a world auxiliary language, a world script, and a uniform and universal system of currency and weights and measures