What Is The Baháʼí Faith?

<!DOCTYPE html> <html xmlns="https://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en" xmlns:og="https://ogp.me/ns#" xmlns:fb="https://www.facebook.com/2008/fbml" class="patheos-library-major-path" data-content-type="patheos-library-major-path" data-keyword="library" data-channel="Library" data-channel-slug="library" data-topics="" data-faiths=""> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta name="referrer" content="origin"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">  <script type="text/javascript"> // Check that service workers are supported if ('serviceWorker' in navigator) { // Use the window load event to keep the page load performant window.addEventListener('load', () => { navigator.serviceWorker.register('/pt-cache-sw.min.js'); }); } </script>  <script src="https://cdn.p-n.io/pushly-sdk.min.js?domain_key=wuaocSunBfjwow8IRkbtgAiZYpxTzpgcwe2W" async=""></script> <script> window.PushlySDK = window.PushlySDK || []; function pushly() { window.PushlySDK.push(arguments) } pushly('load', { domainKey: 'wuaocSunBfjwow8IRkbtgAiZYpxTzpgcwe2W', sw: '/assets/pushly/pushly-sdk-worker.js', }); // include channel data in profile let html = document.querySelector('html'); if (html.hasAttribute('data-channel-slug')) { let channel = html.getAttribute('data-channel-slug'); pushly('profile_append', { 'channel': [channel] }); } //include faith data in profile if (html.hasAttribute('data-faiths') && html.getAttribute('data-faiths')) { let faiths = html.getAttribute('data-faiths'); pushly('profile_append', { 'faiths': faiths.split(',') }); } //include topic data in profile if (html.hasAttribute('data-topics') && html.getAttribute('data-topics')) { let topics = html.getAttribute('data-topics'); pushly('profile_append', { 'topics': topics.split(',') }); } </script>  <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com/" crossorigin="anonymous">   <link rel="preload" href="https://enviousshape.com/v2/0/wgwWCDdb2NiW1gz9y7pvfYreSsK5spr2b4pkfdg26e6IIxv4lclET_lRg68kIm2kwgg" as="script"> <link rel="modulepreload" as="script" href="/areas/patheos/app/dist/js/chunk-vendors.463729d9.js"> <link rel="modulepreload" as="script" href="/areas/patheos/app/dist/js/app.278fa33c.js"> <link rel="preload" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Abril+Fatface|Montserrat:100,300,400,700|Open+Sans+Condensed:300,700|Vollkorn:400,400i,700,700i&display=optional" as="style" crossorigin="">  <title>What Is The Baháʼí Faith? - Patheos Library </title> <meta property="og:title" content="Baha’I Origins, Baha’I History, Baha’I Beliefs"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-legacy-images/marketing/path_imagery/overview_imagery/bahai.jpg"> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg"> <meta property="og:image:width" content="700"> <meta property="og:image:height" content="182"> <meta name="news_keywords" content="Library,Baha'i,Baha’i overview,Baha’i origins,Baha’i history,Baha’i development,Baha’i beliefs,Baha’i ritual,Baha’i worship,Baha’i devotion,Baha’i symbol,Baha’i symbols,Baha’i symbolism,Baha’i ethics,Baha’i morality,Baha’i community"> <meta property="og:description" content="This is a comprehensive overview of the Baháʼí Faith and this library showcases the faith's history, practices, rituals and more."> <meta name="description" content="This is a comprehensive overview of the Baháʼí Faith and this library showcases the faith's history, practices, rituals and more."> <meta name="robots" content="INDEX, FOLLOW, noydir, noodp"> <meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:large"> <meta http-equiv="content-language" content="en"> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8"> <meta http-equiv="last-modified" content="2024-05-06@00:00:00 Z"> <meta http-equiv="X-Served-By" content="A4WEB013"> <link href="https://www.patheos.com/library/bahai" rel="canonical"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.patheos.com/library/bahai"> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://www.patheos.com/library/bahai">  <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/Areas/Patheos/assets/apple-touch-icon.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/Areas/Patheos/assets/favicon-32x32.png" sizes="32x32"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/Areas/Patheos/assets/android-chrome-192x192.png" sizes="192x192"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/Areas/Patheos/assets/favicon-16x16.png" sizes="16x16"> <link rel="manifest" href="/Areas/Patheos/assets/manifest.json"> <link rel="mask-icon" href="/Areas/Patheos/assets" color="#5bbad5"> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#00aba9"> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="/Areas/Patheos/assets/mstile-150x150.png?v=00rbb46rd6"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#ffffff"> <meta name="mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes">  <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@Patheos"> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@Patheos"> <meta name="twitter:title" content="What Is The Baháʼí Faith? - Patheos Library "> <meta name="twitter:description" content="This is a comprehensive overview of the Baháʼí Faith and this library showcases the faith's history, practices, rituals and more."> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-legacy-images/marketing/path_imagery/overview_imagery/bahai.jpg">  <meta property="fb:pages" content="94319190752">  <meta property="fb:pages" content="110176385723423"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="185230108170664"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="181539958548011"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="317806761569705"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="172552106115265"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="160984940665858"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="353226444742625"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="290163294432756"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="1761881787368191"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="208407099520739"> <meta property="fb:pages" content="1108139422538318">  <script> (function (w, d, s, l, i) { w[l] = w[l] || []; w[l].push({ 'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(), event: 'gtm.js' }); var f = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j = d.createElement(s), dl = l != 'dataLayer' ? '&l=' + l : ''; j.async = true; j.src = 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=' + i + dl; f.parentNode.insertBefore(j, f); })(window, document, 'script', 'dataLayer', 'GTM-W3V8F2');</script>   <script> (function (i, s, o, g, r, a, m) { i['GoogleAnalyticsObject'] = r; i[r] = i[r] || function () { (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments) }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date(); a = s.createElement(o), m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0]; a.async = 1; a.src = g; m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m) })(window, document, 'script', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js', 'ga'); ga('create', 'UA-6605286-6', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script>  <style type="text/css"> @font-face{font-family:Montserrat;font-style:normal;font-weight:100;font-display:optional;src:url(https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/montserrat/v25/JTUHjIg1_i6t8kCHKm4532VJOt5-QNFgpCtr6Xw5aX8.ttf) format('truetype')}@font-face{font-family:Montserrat;font-style:normal;font-weight:300;font-display:optional;src:url(https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/montserrat/v25/JTUHjIg1_i6t8kCHKm4532VJOt5-QNFgpCs16Hw5aX8.ttf) format('truetype')}@font-face{font-family:Montserrat;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:optional;src:url(https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/montserrat/v25/JTUHjIg1_i6t8kCHKm4532VJOt5-QNFgpCtr6Hw5aX8.ttf) format('truetype')}@font-face{font-family:Montserrat;font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-display:optional;src:url(https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/montserrat/v25/JTUHjIg1_i6t8kCHKm4532VJOt5-QNFgpCuM73w5aX8.ttf) format('truetype')}@font-face{font-family:'Open Sans Condensed';font-style:normal;font-weight:300;font-display:optional;src:url(https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensanscondensed/v23/z7NFdQDnbTkabZAIOl9il_O6KJj73e7Ff1GhDuXMQg.ttf) format('truetype')}@font-face{font-family:'Open Sans Condensed';font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-display:optional;src:url(https://fonts.gstatic.com/s/opensanscondensed/v23/z7NFdQDnbTkabZAIOl9il_O6KJj73e7Ff0GmDuXMQg.ttf) format('truetype')}@font-face{font-family:'Glyphicons Halflings';src:url('https://www.patheos.com/Areas/Patheos/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.eot');src:url('https://www.patheos.com/Areas/Patheos/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.eot?#iefix') format("embedded-opentype"),url('https://www.patheos.com/Areas/Patheos/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.woff2') format("woff2"),url('https://www.patheos.com/Areas/Patheos/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.woff') format("woff"),url('https://www.patheos.com/Areas/Patheos/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.ttf') format("truetype"),url('https://www.patheos.com/Areas/Patheos/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.svg#glyphicons_halflingsregular') format("svg")}@-ms-viewport{width:device-width}@media (max-width:1299px){h1{font-size:40px;line-height:42px}h3{font-size:28px;line-height:30px}.related-content{font-size:15px;margin-bottom:20px}.related-content-ad-row .ad-block{width:320px}#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons span{display:none}.buffer-top{margin-top:30px}.buffer-bottom{margin-bottom:30px}}@media (max-width:999px){h1{font-size:34px;line-height:36px}h3{font-size:25px;line-height:27px}.related-content-ad-row .ad-block{width:318px}}@media (max-width:1299px){.related-content{font-size:15px;margin-bottom:20px}.related-content-ad-row .ad-block{width:320px}}@media (max-width:999px){h1{font-size:34px;line-height:36px}h3{font-size:25px;line-height:27px}.stretch{letter-spacing:5px}.patheos-search-bar.in-dropdown{max-width:none}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block{display:none}.related-content-ad-row .ad-block{width:318px}}@media (max-width:999px) and (max-width:999px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container{text-align:center}}@media (max-width:767px){.related-content-ad-row .ad-block{width:100%}.hidden-xs{display:none!important}body,html{overflow-x:hidden;max-width:100%}}@media (max-width:1299px){#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons span{display:none}h1{font-size:40px;line-height:42px}h3{font-size:28px;line-height:30px}.buffer-top{margin-top:30px}.buffer-bottom{margin-bottom:30px}}@media (max-width:999px){.navbar-dark{font-family:sans-serif,"Open Sans Condensed"}.navbar-dark .navbar-nav{margin:0 -15px;letter-spacing:normal}.navbar-header{float:none}.navbar-toggle{display:block}.navbar-collapse{border-top:1px solid transparent;box-shadow:inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.1)}.navbar-collapse.collapse{display:none!important}.navbar-nav{float:none!important;margin-top:7.5px}.navbar-nav>li{float:none}.navbar-nav>li>a{padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px}nav .navbar-nav>li{clear:both}.dark-img-promo .title{font-size:34px;line-height:36px}#patheos-page-content{position:relative}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav{height:60px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .header-logo img{width:100px;height:30px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .patheos-logo-container{width:100px;padding-left:13px;padding-top:15px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-bar{display:none}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons{padding:0;margin:auto;border-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav{position:absolute;top:40px;padding-top:50px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer{border-top:0;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .items-right{float:none;width:100%;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .foot-item{width:100%}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{border:0;margin-bottom:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header{border-top:1px solid #292929;padding:8px 15px;text-align:center;margin:0 auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header::after{content:url(https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/patheos-megamenuCarat2.svg);width:12px;height:12px;margin-left:10px;display:inline-block}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header.no-carat:after{content:"";width:0;height:0;margin-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container{position:relative}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container a.subscription-support{text-decoration:underline;font-size:13px;position:relative;bottom:17px;left:auto;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:400}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .genericAccordion{display:block;max-height:0;overflow:hidden}h1{font-size:34px;line-height:36px}h3{font-size:25px;line-height:27px}.stretch{letter-spacing:5px}.patheos-search-bar.in-dropdown{max-width:none}.trending-topics{margin-top:0}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block{display:none}}@font-face{font-family:"Glyphicons Halflings";src:url('https://www.patheos.com/Areas/Patheos/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.eot');src:url('https://www.patheos.com/Areas/Patheos/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.eot?#iefix') format("embedded-opentype"),url('https://www.patheos.com/Areas/Patheos/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.woff2') format("woff2"),url('https://www.patheos.com/Areas/Patheos/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.woff') format("woff"),url('https://www.patheos.com/Areas/Patheos/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.ttf') format("truetype"),url('https://www.patheos.com/Areas/Patheos/fonts/bootstrap/glyphicons-halflings-regular.svg#glyphicons_halflingsregular') format("svg")}.col-lg-9,.col-md-6,.col-md-8,.col-sm-3,.col-xs-6{position:relative;min-height:1px;padding-left:15px;padding-right:15px}.col-xs-6{float:left}.col-xs-6{width:50%}.remove-padding{padding:0!important}.related-content{margin-bottom:40px;position:relative;line-height:1.3;overflow:hidden}.related-content.default{text-align:center}.related-content-ad-row .ad-block{padding:0}@media (max-width:1299px){h1{font-size:40px;line-height:42px}h3{font-size:28px;line-height:30px}.related-content{font-size:15px;margin-bottom:20px}.related-content-ad-row .ad-block{width:320px}}@media (max-width:999px){.related-content-ad-row .ad-block{width:318px}}.related-content-grid .col-sm-3,.related-content-grid .col-xs-6{margin:0 -2px}@media (max-width:999px)and (max-width:999px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container{text-align:center}}#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons span{padding:13px}@media (max-width:767px){.related-content-ad-row .ad-block{width:100%}.hidden-xs{display:none!important}body,html{overflow-x:hidden;max-width:100%}}@media (max-width:999px){h1{font-size:34px;line-height:36px}h3{font-size:25px;line-height:27px}.stretch{letter-spacing:5px}.patheos-search-bar.in-dropdown{max-width:none}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block{display:none}}h1,h3{font-family:sans-serif,"Open Sans Condensed";font-weight:700;line-height:1.1;color:#000}h1,h3{margin-top:19px;margin-bottom:9.5px}.col-lg-9,.col-md-6,.col-md-8{position:relative;min-height:1px;padding-left:15px;padding-right:15px}h1,h3{font-weight:700;letter-spacing:-1px}h1,h3{color:#000}@media (min-width:768px){.navbar{border-radius:5px}.navbar-header{float:left}.navbar-collapse{width:auto;border-top:0;box-shadow:none}.navbar-collapse.collapse{display:block!important;height:auto!important;padding-bottom:0;overflow:visible!important}.container>.navbar-collapse,.container>.navbar-header{margin-right:0;margin-left:0}.navbar-toggle{display:none}}@media (max-width:1299px){#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons span{display:none}h1{font-size:40px;line-height:42px}h3{font-size:28px;line-height:30px}.buffer-top{margin-top:30px}.buffer-bottom{margin-bottom:30px}}@media (max-width:999px){.buffer-top{margin-top:24px}.buffer-bottom{margin-bottom:24px}h1{font-size:34px;line-height:36px}h2{font-size:30px;line-height:32px}h3{font-size:25px;line-height:27px}.stretch{letter-spacing:5px}.navbar-dark{font-family:sans-serif,"Open Sans Condensed"}.navbar-dark .navbar-nav{margin:0 -15px;letter-spacing:normal}.navbar-header{float:none}.navbar-toggle{display:block}.navbar-collapse{border-top:1px solid transparent;box-shadow:inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.1)}.navbar-collapse.collapse{display:none!important}.navbar-nav{float:none!important;margin-top:7.5px}.navbar-nav>li{float:none}.navbar-nav>li>a{padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px}nav .navbar-nav>li{clear:both}.dark-img-promo .title{font-size:34px;line-height:36px}#patheos-page-content{position:relative}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav{height:60px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .header-logo img{width:100px;height:30px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .patheos-logo-container{width:100px;padding-left:13px;padding-top:15px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-bar{display:none}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel{display:none}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container{height:60px;width:60px;padding:20px 0 0 22px;position:absolute;right:0;top:-65px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{padding:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content{display:block;padding:0 0 20px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column{padding-right:0;text-align:center}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav li{margin:13px auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header a{text-align:center;display:inline-block}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-right .foot-item{text-align:center}}@media (max-width:767px){.navbar-dark{font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"}.navbar-dark .navbar-nav{margin:0 -15px}.navbar-dark .navbar-nav>li>a{width:100%}.DFPAdSlot{padding:0;margin:0 -15px}.ad{padding:20px 0}.ad-container{min-height:auto}.DFPAdSlot{padding:0;margin:0 -30px}}@media (max-width:999px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons{padding:0;margin:auto;border-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav{position:absolute;top:40px;padding-top:50px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer{border-top:0;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .items-right{float:none;width:100%;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .foot-item{width:100%}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{border:0;margin-bottom:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header{border-top:1px solid #292929;padding:8px 15px;text-align:center;margin:0 auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header::after{content:url(https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/patheos-megamenuCarat2.svg);width:12px;height:12px;margin-left:10px;display:inline-block}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header.no-carat:after{content:"";width:0;height:0;margin-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container{position:relative}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container a.subscription-support{text-decoration:underline;font-size:13px;position:relative;bottom:17px;left:auto;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:400}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .genericAccordion{display:block;max-height:0;overflow:hidden}.patheos-search-bar.in-dropdown{max-width:none}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block{display:none}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block.mobile{display:block}}a{background-color:transparent}.glyphicon{position:relative;top:1px;display:inline-block;font-family:'Glyphicons Halflings';font-style:normal;font-weight:400;line-height:1;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale}.glyphicon-chevron-down:before{content:"\e114"}@media (min-width:1000px){.col-md-4,.col-md-6,.col-md-8{float:left}.col-md-4{width:33.33333%}.col-md-6{width:50%}.col-md-8{width:66.66667%}div[class^=score-column].score-column1>.score-center{float:left;width:100%}}@media (min-width:768px){.navbar{border-radius:5px}.navbar-header{float:left}.navbar-collapse{width:auto;border-top:0;box-shadow:none}.navbar-collapse.collapse{display:block!important;height:auto!important;padding-bottom:0;overflow:visible!important}.container>.navbar-collapse,.container>.navbar-header{margin-right:0;margin-left:0}.navbar-toggle{display:none}}.navbar-toggle{position:relative;float:right;margin-right:15px;padding:9px 10px;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:8px;background-color:transparent;background-image:none;border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:5px}@media (max-width:767px){.visible-xs-block{display:block!important}.hidden-xs{display:none!important}body,html{overflow-x:hidden;max-width:100%}}@media (min-width:768px) and (max-width:999px){.hidden-sm{display:none!important}}@media (min-width:1000px) and (max-width:1299px){.hidden-md{display:none!important}}@media (max-width:999px){.buffer-top{margin-top:24px}.buffer-bottom{margin-bottom:24px}h1{font-size:34px;line-height:36px}h2{font-size:30px;line-height:32px}h3{font-size:25px;line-height:27px}.stretch{letter-spacing:5px}.navbar-dark{font-family:sans-serif,"Open Sans Condensed"}.navbar-dark .navbar-nav{margin:0 -15px;letter-spacing:normal}.navbar-header{float:none}.navbar-toggle{display:block}.navbar-collapse{border-top:1px solid transparent;box-shadow:inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.1)}.navbar-collapse.collapse{display:none!important}.navbar-nav{float:none!important;margin-top:7.5px}.navbar-nav>li{float:none}.navbar-nav>li>a{padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px}nav .navbar-nav>li{clear:both}.dark-img-promo .title{font-size:34px;line-height:36px}#patheos-page-content{position:relative}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav{height:60px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .header-logo img{width:100px;height:30px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .patheos-logo-container{width:100px;padding-left:13px;padding-top:15px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-bar{display:none}}@media (max-width:767px){.remove-padding-mobile{padding:0!important}.navbar-dark{font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"}.navbar-dark .navbar-nav{margin:0 -15px}.navbar-dark .navbar-nav>li>a{width:100%}.DFPAdSlot{padding:0;margin:0 -15px}.ad{padding:20px 0}.ad-container{min-height:auto}.DFPAdSlot{padding:0;margin:0 -30px}}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel::after{content:'|';color:#7ea198;margin-left:10px}@media (max-width:1299px){#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container{font-size:13px;padding:0}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel{margin-left:3px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel::after{margin-left:5px}}@media (max-width:999px){#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel{display:none}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container{height:60px;width:60px;padding:20px 0 0 22px;position:absolute;right:0;top:-65px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{padding:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content{display:block;padding:0 0 20px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column{padding-right:0;text-align:center}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav li{margin:13px auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header a{text-align:center;display:inline-block}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-right .foot-item{text-align:center}}@media (max-width:1299px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column.wide{flex-basis:38%}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons span{display:none}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons{padding-left:20px;margin-left:20px}}@media (max-width:999px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons{padding:0;margin:auto;border-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav{position:absolute;top:40px;padding-top:50px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer{border-top:0;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .items-right{float:none;width:100%;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .foot-item{width:100%}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{border:0;margin-bottom:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header{border-top:1px solid #292929;padding:8px 15px;text-align:center;margin:0 auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header::after{content:url(https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/patheos-megamenuCarat2.svg);width:12px;height:12px;margin-left:10px;display:inline-block}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header.no-carat:after{content:"";width:0;height:0;margin-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container{position:relative}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container a.subscription-support{text-decoration:underline;font-size:13px;position:relative;bottom:17px;left:auto;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:400}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .genericAccordion{display:block;max-height:0;overflow:hidden}.patheos-search-bar.in-dropdown{max-width:none}.trending-topics{margin-top:0}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block{display:none}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block.mobile{display:block}}.patheos-search-bar .searchbar{margin-bottom:auto;margin-top:auto;background-color:transparent;border-radius:30px;padding:10px;overflow:hidden;position:relative;top:1px;background-color:#fff}.sticky-ad{position:fixed;bottom:10px;width:768px;height:90px;left:50%;transform:translateX(-50%);z-index:999}.sticky-ad-close{position:absolute;left:687px;top:-16px;background:rgba(0,0,0,.4);padding:2px 5px;border-radius:10px 10px 0 0;color:#fff;font-family:serif;font-size:.7em;z-index:1}@media screen and (max-width:600px){.sticky-ad{visibility:hidden}}.cls-1{fill-rule:evenodd}html{font-family:sans-serif;-ms-text-size-adjust:100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%}body{margin:0}nav{display:block}a{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)}strong{font-weight:700}h1{font-size:2em;margin:.67em 0}img{border:0}svg:not(:root){overflow:hidden}button,input{color:inherit;font:inherit;margin:0}button{overflow:visible}button{text-transform:none}button{-webkit-appearance:button}button::-moz-focus-inner,input::-moz-focus-inner{border:0;padding:0}input{line-height:normal}.glyphicon{position:relative;top:1px;display:inline-block;font-family:"Glyphicons Halflings";font-style:normal;font-weight:400;line-height:1;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale}.glyphicon-chevron-down:before{content:""}*{-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;-moz-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box}:after,:before{-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;-moz-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box}html{font-size:10px}body{font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;line-height:1.2;color:#000;background-color:#fff}button,input{font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}a{color:#000;text-decoration:none}img{vertical-align:middle}.sr-only{position:absolute;width:1px;height:1px;margin:-1px;padding:0;overflow:hidden;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);border:0}h1,h2,h3{font-family:sans-serif,"Open Sans Condensed";font-weight:700;line-height:1.1;color:#000}h1,h2,h3{margin-top:19px;margin-bottom:9.5px}h1{font-size:48px}h2{font-size:34px}h3{font-size:28px}.text-center{text-align:center}ul{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:9.5px}.list-unstyled{padding-left:0;list-style:none}.container{margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto;padding-left:15px;padding-right:15px}.container:after,.container:before{content:" ";display:table}.container:after{clear:both}@media (min-width:768px){.container{width:750px}}@media (min-width:1000px){.container{width:1030px}}@media (min-width:1300px){.container{width:1330px}}.row{margin-left:-15px;margin-right:-15px}.row:after,.row:before{content:" ";display:table}.row:after{clear:both}.col-lg-3,.col-lg-9,.col-md-4,.col-md-6,.col-md-8{position:relative;min-height:1px;padding-left:15px;padding-right:15px}@media (min-width:1000px){.col-md-4,.col-md-6,.col-md-8{float:left}.col-md-4{width:33.3333333333%}.col-md-6{width:50%}.col-md-8{width:66.6666666667%}div[class^=score-column].score-column1>.score-center{float:left;width:100%}}@media (min-width:1300px){.col-lg-3,.col-lg-9{float:left}.col-lg-3{width:25%}.col-lg-9{width:75%}}.collapse{display:none}.nav{margin-bottom:0;padding-left:0;list-style:none}.nav:after,.nav:before{content:" ";display:table}.nav:after{clear:both}.nav>li{position:relative;display:block}.nav>li>a{position:relative;display:block;padding:10px 15px}.navbar{position:relative;min-height:50px;margin-bottom:19px;border:1px solid transparent}.navbar:after,.navbar:before{content:" ";display:table}.navbar:after{clear:both}@media (min-width:768px){.navbar{border-radius:5px}.navbar-header{float:left}}.navbar-dark{font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol";color:#fff;min-height:40px;border:none;border-radius:0;background-color:#000}.navbar-header:after,.navbar-header:before{content:" ";display:table}.navbar-header:after{clear:both}.navbar-collapse{overflow-x:visible;padding-right:15px;padding-left:15px;border-top:1px solid transparent;box-shadow:inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.1);-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch}.navbar-collapse:after,.navbar-collapse:before{content:" ";display:table}.navbar-collapse:after{clear:both}.container>.navbar-collapse,.container>.navbar-header{margin-right:-15px;margin-left:-15px}@media (min-width:768px){.navbar-collapse{width:auto;border-top:0;box-shadow:none}.navbar-collapse.collapse{display:block!important;height:auto!important;padding-bottom:0;overflow:visible!important}.container>.navbar-collapse,.container>.navbar-header{margin-right:0;margin-left:0}.navbar-toggle{display:none}}.navbar-toggle{position:relative;float:right;margin-right:15px;padding:9px 10px;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:8px;background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0);background-image:none;border:1px solid transparent;border-radius:5px}.navbar-nav{margin:7.75px -15px}.navbar-nav>li>a{padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px;line-height:19px}@media (min-width:768px){.navbar-nav{float:left;margin:0}.navbar-nav>li{float:left}.navbar-nav>li>a{padding-top:15.5px;padding-bottom:15.5px}}.navbar-inverse{background-color:#222;border-color:#090909}.navbar-inverse .navbar-nav>li>a{color:#fff}.navbar-inverse .navbar-nav>.active>a{color:#fff;background-color:#090909}.navbar-inverse .navbar-toggle{border-color:#333}.navbar-inverse .navbar-collapse{border-color:#101010}.clearfix:after,.clearfix:before{content:" ";display:table}.clearfix:after{clear:both}.hide{display:none!important}.hidden{display:none!important}.visible-xs-block{display:none!important}@media (max-width:767px){.visible-xs-block{display:block!important}.hidden-xs{display:none!important}body,html{overflow-x:hidden;max-width:100%}}@media (min-width:768px)and (max-width:999px){.hidden-sm{display:none!important}}@media (min-width:1000px)and (max-width:1299px){.hidden-md{display:none!important}}@media (min-width:1300px){.hidden-lg{display:none!important}}div[class^=score-column]{margin-left:-15px;margin-right:-15px}div[class^=score-column]:after,div[class^=score-column]:before{content:" ";display:table}div[class^=score-column]:after{clear:both}div[class^=score-column].score-column1>.score-center{position:relative;min-height:1px;padding-left:15px;padding-right:15px}.page-wrapper{width:100%}nav.navbar{margin-bottom:0}nav .navbar-nav>li{clear:both}@media only screen and (min-width:0){nav .navbar-nav>li{clear:both}}@media only screen and (min-width:768px){nav .navbar-nav>li{clear:none}}nav .navbar-nav>li>a{float:left}.navbar-collapse{max-height:initial}body{position:relative}a img{-moz-transform:scale(1);-webkit-transform:scale(1);transform:scale(1);opacity:1}body,html{-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"}.stripe{position:relative;overflow:hidden;margin:0;padding:30px 0}.stripe h1,.stripe h3{margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0}.stripe img.stripe-bg{position:absolute;bottom:0;right:0;width:100%;height:auto;object-fit:cover;min-height:100%}.stripe.stripe-prime-1{background-color:#000}.stripe.stripe-prime-1 img.stripe-bg{opacity:.4}.buffer-top{margin-top:50px}.buffer-bottom{margin-bottom:50px}@media (max-width:1299px){.buffer-top{margin-top:30px}.buffer-bottom{margin-bottom:30px}h1{font-size:40px;line-height:42px}h2{font-size:32px;line-height:34px}h3{font-size:28px;line-height:30px}}@media (max-width:999px){.buffer-top{margin-top:24px}.buffer-bottom{margin-bottom:24px}}.remove-margin{margin:0!important}.row .row{margin:0!important}.type-color-prime-3{color:#96959a}h1,h2,h3{font-weight:700;letter-spacing:-1px}h1,h2,h3{color:#000}h3 a{color:#000;font-weight:700}h3 a:visited{color:#000}.over-dark{color:#fff!important}.over-dark a{color:#fff!important}.over-dark a:visited{color:#fff!important}a{color:#000;text-decoration:none;font-weight:700}a:visited{color:#000}p a{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0);text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1px solid #bdd9d2;box-shadow:inset 0 -9px 0 #bdd9d2}p a:visited{text-decoration:none!important}p{margin:0 0 9.5px}.list-unstyled li{margin-bottom:10px;line-height:normal}.reduce-size{font-size:.85em;line-height:inherit}.stretch{letter-spacing:10px}@media (max-width:999px){h1{font-size:34px;line-height:36px}h2{font-size:30px;line-height:32px}h3{font-size:25px;line-height:27px}.stretch{letter-spacing:5px}}.navbar{font-family:sans-serif,"Open Sans Condensed";text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:1px;font-size:14px;font-weight:700}.navbar-toggle{border-radius:4px}.navbar-dark{font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol";color:#fff;min-height:40px;border:none;border-radius:0;background-color:#000;letter-spacing:1px}.navbar-dark .active>a{color:#000!important;background-color:#ff9981!important}.navbar-dark .navbar-nav>li>a{padding-top:4px;padding-bottom:4px}.navbar-dark .navbar-toggle{margin-right:0;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;background-color:#ff9981;border:0;border-radius:0;padding:9px 13px}@media (max-width:999px){.navbar-dark{font-family:sans-serif,"Open Sans Condensed"}.navbar-dark .navbar-nav{margin:0 -15px;letter-spacing:normal}.navbar-header{float:none}.navbar-toggle{display:block}.navbar-collapse{border-top:1px solid transparent;box-shadow:inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,.1)}.navbar-collapse.collapse{display:none!important}.navbar-nav{float:none!important;margin-top:7.5px}.navbar-nav>li{float:none}.navbar-nav>li>a{padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px}nav .navbar-nav>li{clear:both}}.DFPAdSlot{display:inline-block;overflow-y:hidden}@media (max-width:767px){.remove-padding-mobile{padding:0!important}.navbar-dark{font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"}.navbar-dark .navbar-nav{margin:0 -15px}.navbar-dark .navbar-nav>li>a{width:100%}.DFPAdSlot{padding:0;margin:0 -15px}}.DFPAdSlot::after{clear:both;content:"";display:block}.ad{padding:10px 0}.ad-container{width:100%;position:relative;text-align:center}.ad-container.top-ad{border-bottom:1px solid #e8e5f0;padding:20px}.ad-container .ad-notice{font-size:11px;color:#96959a;font-family:sans-serif,"Open Sans Condensed";font-weight:700}.ad-container .ad-notice::after{content:"ADVERTISEMENT"}.ad-container .ad-notice.alt-pos-above::after{content:""}.ad-container .ad-notice.alt-pos-above::before{content:"ADVERTISEMENT"}.ad-container .ad-notice.alt-text::after{content:"ADVERTISEMENT – feature continues below"}.ad-container .ad-notice.alt-text.alt-pos-above::after{content:""}.ad-container .ad-notice.alt-text.alt-pos-above::before{content:"ADVERTISEMENT – feature continues below"}@media (max-width:767px){.ad{padding:20px 0}.ad-container{min-height:auto}.DFPAdSlot{padding:0;margin:0 -30px}}button,input{font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit;background-color:#fff;border:1px solid #ccc;padding:6px 16px}input{border-radius:4px}.dark-img-promo{position:relative;color:#fff!important;padding:20px 0}.dark-img-promo a{color:#fff}.dark-img-promo .title{font-size:60px;margin:0}@media (max-width:1299px){.dark-img-promo{font-size:18px;padding:0}}a,body{-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%;-ms-text-size-adjust:100%}img{-ms-interpolation-mode:bicubic}img{border:0;height:auto;line-height:100%;outline:0;text-decoration:none}body{height:100%!important;margin:0!important;padding:0!important;width:100%!important}@media screen and (max-width:525px){.wrapper{width:100%!important;max-width:100%!important}.ad-container{padding:30px 0!important}}.episode-thumb-block .episode-bar .select select,.episode-thumb-block .episode-bar .select::after{grid-area:select}.editorial-series-episode-list .select select,.editorial-series-episode-list .select::after{background-color:#000;grid-area:select}#patheos-page-content{width:100%;position:relative;top:0;right:0}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav{width:100%;height:72px;position:relative;z-index:1000;background-color:#000;background:-webkit-linear-gradient(#000,#262626);background:-o-linear-gradient(#000,#262626);background:linear-gradient(#000,#262626)}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .patheos-logo-container{margin:auto;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;padding-top:17px;width:127px}@media (max-width:999px){.dark-img-promo .title{font-size:34px;line-height:36px}#patheos-page-content{position:relative}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav{height:60px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .header-logo img{width:100px;height:30px}#patheos-header-bar-mega-nav .patheos-logo-container{width:100px;padding-left:13px;padding-top:15px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-bar{display:none}}#patheos-channel-mega-nav{text-align:center}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-bar{position:relative;z-index:999;background-color:#000;width:100%;padding:15px!important;position:absolute}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container{margin:auto!important;text-align:center;font-size:15px;text-decoration:none;position:relative;z-index:1001;top:4px;padding:0}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container a{font-weight:400}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel{color:#d4d4d4!important;margin-left:5px;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel::after{content:"|";color:#7ea198;margin-left:10px}@media (max-width:1299px){#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container{font-size:13px;padding:0}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel{margin-left:3px}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel::after{margin-left:5px}}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container{position:relative;z-index:998;padding:0 6px;display:inline-block;color:#fff;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:600}@media (max-width:1299px){#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container{padding:0 4px}}@media (max-width:999px){#patheos-channel-mega-nav .subnav-channels-container .channel{display:none}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container{height:60px;width:60px;padding:20px 0 0 22px;position:absolute;right:0;top:-65px}}#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container .megamenuCollapse-icon{background:url(https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/patheos-menu-icon.svg) center center no-repeat;width:16px;height:12px;background-size:16px 12px;border:0;margin:4px 13px 0 0;display:inline-block;float:left}@media (max-width:999px){#patheos-channel-mega-nav .megamenuCollapse-container .megamenuCollapse-icon{height:20px;width:23px;background-size:20px 23px;margin:1px 13px 0 0}}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav{width:100%;z-index:998;background:#000;color:#fff;text-align:left;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol"!important;font-size:14px;border-bottom:5px solid #88b2a6;margin:auto!important;position:absolute}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content{padding:20px 0;margin:auto;position:relative;top:12px;z-index:999;display:flex}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{border-top:1px solid #3d3d3d;padding:20px 0 0;margin-bottom:20px}@media (max-width:999px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{padding:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content{display:block;padding:0 0 20px}}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column{text-align:left;font-size:15px;flex-basis:25%;padding-right:20px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column.wide{flex-basis:40%}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .remove-indent{margin-left:-15px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav li{margin:10px auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav li a{text-decoration:none;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:400}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header a{text-decoration:none;color:#fff;font-weight:600;margin:15px auto;border-bottom:0;text-align:left;font-size:17px;display:block}@media (max-width:999px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column{padding-right:0;text-align:center}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav li{margin:13px auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header a{text-align:center;display:inline-block}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-right .foot-item{text-align:center}}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer{border-top:1px solid #3d3d3d;padding:36px 0 50px;display:block;top:0;margin-top:40px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-right{float:right}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-right .foot-item{display:inline-block;position:relative}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-right .foot-item a.subscription-support{text-decoration:underline;font-size:13px;position:absolute;bottom:-24px;left:0;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:400}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .items-left{float:left}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons{border-left:1px solid #3d3d3d;padding-left:20px;margin-left:30px;display:inline-block;font-size:15px;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:700}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons span{padding:13px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons img.icon{width:35px;height:35px;margin:0 5px}@media (max-width:1299px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-column.wide{flex-basis:38%}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons span{display:none}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons{padding-left:20px;margin-left:20px}}@media (max-width:999px){#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer .social-icons{padding:0;margin:auto;border-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav{position:absolute;top:40px;padding-top:50px}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-footer{border-top:0;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .items-right{float:none;width:100%;margin:auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .foot-item{width:100%}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .menu-content.first{border:0;margin-bottom:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header{border-top:1px solid #292929;padding:8px 15px;text-align:center;margin:0 auto}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header::after{content:url(https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/patheos-megamenuCarat2.svg);width:12px;height:12px;margin-left:10px;display:inline-block}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .header.no-carat:after{content:"";width:0;height:0;margin-left:0}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container{position:relative}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .ad-free-container a.subscription-support{text-decoration:underline;font-size:13px;position:relative;bottom:17px;left:auto;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:400}#patheos-dropdown-mega-nav .genericAccordion{display:block;max-height:0;overflow:hidden}}.patheos-search-bar{border-radius:100px;height:36px}.patheos-search-bar.in-header{position:relative;float:right;min-width:42px;top:18px;right:23px}.patheos-search-bar.in-header .searchbar{height:36px;width:260px}.patheos-search-bar.in-dropdown{float:none;margin:auto!important;position:inherit;width:80%;max-width:300px;position:relative}.patheos-search-bar.in-dropdown .searchbar{text-align:center;height:36px;width:100%;right:0}.patheos-search-bar .searchbar{margin-bottom:auto;margin-top:auto;background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0);border-radius:30px;padding:10px;overflow:hidden;position:relative;top:1px;background-color:#fff}.patheos-search-bar .search_input{color:#383838;border:0;outline:0;background:0 0;line-height:18px;position:relative;top:-7px;left:10px;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol";font-size:15px;font-weight:400;opacity:1;width:100%}.patheos-search-bar .search_icon{position:absolute;top:10px;left:12px;opacity:1}.patheos-search-bar .search_icon svg{width:16px}.trending-topics{border-bottom:1px solid #cfcece;font-size:15px;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Oxygen-Sans,Ubuntu,Cantarell,"Helvetica Neue",sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji","Segoe UI Symbol";margin-top:10px}.trending-topics ul{list-style:none;padding:0;margin:0}.trending-topics li{display:inline-block;padding:6px 10px}.trending-topics li:nth-child(1){background-color:#7cb4a6;color:#fff;font-weight:700}.trending-topics a{font-weight:400}.trending-topics .list-divider{color:#7cb4a6;padding:6px 0}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block{float:right;margin-top:36px;position:relative}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block.mobile{display:none;float:none;text-align:center}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block.mobile .footer-social-icons{border-left:0;padding-left:0;margin:auto;display:block;text-align:center}@media (max-width:999px){.patheos-search-bar.in-dropdown{max-width:none}.trending-topics li{display:inline;line-height:30px;line-break:auto}.trending-topics{margin-top:0;max-height:30px;overflow:hidden}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block{display:none}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block.mobile{display:block}}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block.mobile a.subscription-support{bottom:32px;left:auto;display:block}#site-footer-2022 .extras-block a.subscription-support{text-decoration:underline;font-size:13px;position:relative;bottom:-38px;left:281px;color:#cbcbcb}#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons{border-left:1px solid #3d3d3d;padding-left:30px;margin-left:30px;display:inline-block;font-size:15px;color:#cbcbcb;font-weight:700}#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons img.icon{width:35px;height:35px;margin:0 5px}@media (max-width:1299px){#site-footer-2022 .footer-social-icons{padding-left:20px;margin-left:20px}}#site-footer-2022 a{color:#fff;font-weight:400}#site-footer-2022 a:visited{color:#fff}.section-title-2022{font-family:Montserrat,sans-serif;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:30px;font-weight:300;margin:38px 10px}@media (max-width:999px){.section-title-2022{font-size:24px;margin:30px 15px}}.score-column1{margin:0 0 0 0 !important;}.col-md-6{width:100% !important;} </style> <style type="text/css"> component { display: none } .lazyblur { -webkit-filter: blur(5px); /* Safari 6.0 - 9.0 */ filter: blur(5px); } .lazyblur.lazyloaded { -webkit-filter: none; /* Safari 6.0 - 9.0 */ filter: none; transition: filter 200ms; } .sticky-ad { position: fixed; bottom: 10px; width: 768px; height: 90px; left: 50%; transform: translateX(-50%); z-index: 999; } .sticky-ad-close { position: absolute; cursor: pointer; left: 687px; top: -16px; background: rgba(0,0,0,0.4); padding: 2px 5px 2px 5px; border-radius: 10px 10px 0 0; color: #ffffff; font-family: serif; font-size: 0.7em; z-index: 1; } @media screen and (max-width: 600px) { .sticky-ad { visibility: hidden; } } </style>   <link rel="preconnect" href="https://01.cdn.mediatradecraft.com/" crossorigin=""> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://01.cdn.mediatradecraft.com/"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/" crossorigin=""> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://c.amazon-adsystem.com/" crossorigin=""> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://c.amazon-adsystem.com/"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://micro.rubiconproject.com/" crossorigin=""> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://micro.rubiconproject.com/"> <script src="https://c.amazon-adsystem.com/aax2/apstag.js" async="true"></script> <script src="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js" async="true"></script> <script src="https://01.cdn.mediatradecraft.com/patheos/main/main.js?template=patheos_library_major_path" async="true"></script> <link href="https://01.cdn.mediatradecraft.com/patheos/main/main.css" media="print" onload="this.media='all'" rel="stylesheet">   <script src="https://cookie-cdn.cookiepro.com/scripttemplates/otSDKStub.js" type="text/javascript" charset="UTF-8" data-domain-script="3f93598f-6412-4eae-a452-60ccd114b1eb"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> function OptanonWrapper() { } </script>   <script type="text/javascript"> window.admiral = window.admiral || function () { (admiral.q = admiral.q || []).push(arguments); }; window.admiral('targeting', 'pause', 5e3); (function () { console.info('checking premium post'); if (document.querySelector('html').getAttribute('data-page-type') == 'post') { console.info('page type is post, checking premium post'); var premiumBlog = document.querySelector('html').getAttribute('data-premium-blog'); // if front end runs first, use this selector var tagList = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('.tagged-with-include-rss li')).map(tag => tag.innerText.toLowerCase()); // if nothing found, try running this selector which would work if front end hasn't run yet if (tagList.length == 0) { tagList = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('rad-tagged-with li')).map(tag => tag.innerText.toLowerCase()); } if ((premiumBlog || tagList.includes("premium")) && !tagList.includes("free")) { console.debug('Calling Admiral to set premium flag'); window.admiral('targeting', 'set', 'premium', 'true'); // check if user is logged in and subscribed with an offer id. if so, add to targeting var cookies = document.cookie.split(';'); for (var i = 0; i < cookies.length; i++) { var keyvalues = cookies[i].split('='); var key = keyvalues[0].trim(); if ('offerID' === key) { window.admiral('targeting', 'set', 'offerId', keyvalues[1].trim()); // Unhide content document.getElementById('premium-content').classList.remove('blur'); document.getElementById('premium-content').classList.remove('fade-out'); } } console.debug('premium flag set'); } else { console.info('not a premium post.'); } } else { console.info('not a premium post'); } console.debug('checking metered content'); if (document.querySelector('html').getAttribute('data-is-metered') == '1') { window.admiral('targeting', 'set', 'metered', 'true'); console.debug('metered content flag set'); } })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript">!(function (o, n, t) { t = o.createElement(n), o = o.getElementsByTagName(n)[0], t.async = 1, t.src = "https://enviousshape.com/v2/0/wgwWCDdb2NiW1gz9y7pvfYreSsK5spr2b4pkfdg26e6IIxv4lclET_lRg68kIm2kwgg", o.parentNode.insertBefore(t, o) })(document, "script"), (function (o, n) { o[n] = o[n] || function () { (o[n].q = o[n].q || []).push(arguments) } })(window, "admiral"); !(function (n, e, r, t) { function o() { if ((function o(t) { try { return (t = localStorage.getItem("v4ac1eiZr0")) && 0 < t.split(",")[4] } catch (n) { } return !1 })()) { var t = n[e].pubads(); typeof t.setTargeting === r && t.setTargeting("admiral-engaged", "true") } } (t = n[e] = n[e] || {}).cmd = t.cmd || [], typeof t.pubads === r ? o() : typeof t.cmd.unshift === r ? t.cmd.unshift(o) : t.cmd.push(o) })(window, "googletag", "function");;;;;</script>   <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","name":"Patheos","url":"https://www.patheos.com","logo":"https://www.patheos.com/~/media/images/components/navigation/patheos/patheos-logo-header.png","contactPoint":{"contactType":"Customer Service","@type":"ContactPoint","url":"https://www.patheos.com/about-patheos","availableLanguage":["English"]},"sameAs":["https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patheos","https://www.instagram.com/patheosofficial/","https://www.tiktok.com/@patheospodcasts","https://twitter.com/patheos","https://www.facebook.com/Patheos/"]}</script> <script type="application/ld+json">{"@type":"Article","articleBody":"<h2>What is the What is the Baháʼí Faith?</h2>\n<h3>Introduction to the Baháʼí Faith</h3>\n<p>The Baháʼí faith, founded in 1863 (in Iran), is a universalist tradition which is technically a brake-off of Shia Islam.</p>\n<p>The name Baháʼí derives from an Arabic word, Bahá, and implies “light,” “glory,” or “splendor.”</p>\n<p>The religion carries this name because its founder, an Iranian nobleman named Baháʼu'lláh (1817-1892), referred to himself as “Bahá”—meaning he perceived himself as the “glory” or “splendor” of God.</p>\n<p>While an unfamiliar religion to most Westerners, and a fairly small one as well (having only 8 million members as of 2020), next to Christianity, the Baháʼí faith is the most widespread religion in the world, having a presence in more than 200 countries.</p>\n<h3>Historical Foundations</h3>\n<p>Baháʼí holds that an Iranian merchant, named Sayyed `Alí Muḥammad of Shiraz (1819-1850), was a “messenger” of God (the “all Merciful” One).</p>\n<p>He was known as the “Báb,” meaning the “door” or “gate,” because he is believed to have been a “deputy” of the Mahdi or messianic figure (known as Muhammad al-Mahdi) in “Twelver Shia Islam.”</p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" src=\"~/media/2db5ac553e674ecc8e94c6da10106de8.ashx?h=367&w=487\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto;\" />It is held that the “deputies” are those through whom the Twelfth (and invisible) Imam speaks to the Shia community.</p>\n<p>Eventually, the Báb founded Bábism, a monotheistic religion (and breakoff of Shia Islam) which holds that there exists a single, incomprehensible, and non-corporeal deity, who appears (through theophanies) in order to reveal His will to humankind.</p>\n<p>The founder of Bábism, the Báb, became one of the central figures of the Baháʼí tradition and, in his writings, he spoke of “He whom God shall make manifest”—namely, the messianic figure of Bábism, or a future prophet akin to Moses, Muhammed, or Jesus.</p>\n<p>Baháʼu'lláh, the one credited with starting the Baháʼí faith, is widely believed to have been the fulfillment of the Báb’s prediction of a coming messiah or prophetic figure.</p>\n<p>Baháʼu'lláh was a devoted follower of the Báb and, some thirteen years after the Báb’s death, he claimed to be the “Promised One” that had been predicted would soon come.</p>\n<h3>Core Beliefs</h3>\n<p>Among the most important beliefs of the Baháʼí faith are these: “The oneness of God, the oneness of religion, and the oneness of humanity.”</p>\n<p>Regarding the “oneness of God,” Baháʼu'lláh (whose birth-name was Mirza Husayan-Ali) rejected polytheism and even trinitarianism.</p>\n<p>As in Islam, he believed that there was only one God—whom he described as being of a “different” nature than human beings.</p>\n<p>He also held that God was ultimately beyond comprehension.</p>\n<p>Thus, while Baháʼu'lláh believed God was omnipotent, omniscience, and omnipresent, he held that we could only have an understanding of and relationship with God through His qualities, that of compassion, generosity, kindness, justice, love, majesty, mercy, patience, and self-subsistence.</p>\n<p>All things reflect the attributes of God and humans can know and have a relationship with Him through developing and reflecting His divine attributes.</p>\n<p>Regarding the “oneness of religion,” the Baháʼí faith teaches that humans need divine messengers (or “manifestations of God”) to lead and to guide humanity in the right way.</p>\n<p>These “manifestations” are unique and set-apart souls whom God sends to teach humans truth.</p>\n<p>They each lived before human beings were created, have a special relationship with the divine, and have direct access to revelation from God.</p>\n<p>While they are born, grow, learn, and die, they always have an innate knowledge of God and God’s will for humanity.</p>\n<p>The Baháʼí scriptures identify at least fourteen “Manifestations of God,” including Adam, Noah, Salih, Hud, Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Zarathustra, the Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb, Baháʼu'lláh, and one unnamed Korean “manifestation.”</p>\n<p>Because of the belief in these various figures, Baháʼí is a prophetic tradition—different from, but connected to the beliefs of the three Abrahamic traditions and their emphasis on prophetic messengers sent from God.</p>\n<p>The Baháʼí tradition has been called a “progressively unfolding religion” that rolls forth in stages; but each stage is simply a more advanced version of the previous one (e.g., Judaism, leading to Christianity, leading to Islam, leading to Baháʼí, etc.)</p>\n<h3>Goals of the Baháʼí</h3>\n<p>Finally, regarding the “oneness of humanity,” Baháʼí believes in the unity and equality of all people.</p>\n<p>Practitioners reject racism, sexism, or other “isms,” and are encouraged to seek fellowship with the followers of all religions, because they are all heirs to the divine guidance God has sent through His various “manifestations.”</p>\n<p>While religions differ in their doctrines and practices, most have in common the ethical and even spiritual principles which stand at their core.</p>\n<p>Thus, in the things which matter most, religions are generally in agreement—and should seek the unity that flows from the fact.</p>\n<p>Consequently, the Baháʼí faith is formally apolitical (or non-partisan), and practitioners are not to join any political party.</p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" src=\"~/media/9ce6f60095fb4533a53fd643f9b8df55.ashx?h=331&w=445\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto;\" /></p>\n<p>Political parties create factions and divided loyalties—something Baháʼí seeks to overcome in the world.</p>\n<p>Unity is the “key principle” that underlies nearly everything in the Baháʼí tradition.</p>\n<p>Central to efforts at unity, are love and justice.</p>\n<p>Love binds us all together—regardless of our race, gender, nationality, religion, political party, or sexual orientation.</p>\n<p>Justice demands corrective actions to regulate (or change) behaviors which are outside of the teachings of the “manifestations of God”—behaviors which are harmful to unity and love.</p>\n<p>The moral or ethical teachings of Baháʼí include the rejection of gossip, lying (or any kind of deceit), the use of alcohol or recreational drugs, and any sexual relationships outside the bonds of marriage.</p>\n<p>While the movement is quite clear regarding its stand on these matters, it largely leaves the application of their “moral code of conduct” up to the practitioner—and it would caution believers about the impropriety of comparing one’s own sin to those of another person.</p>\n<p>In the end, the world exists to be enjoyed, but in moderation, moral constraint, and with an attitude of detachment.</p>\n<h3>Sacred Texts</h3>\n<p>For scriptures, practitioners of the Baháʼí faith use the writings of Baháʼu'lláh, those of the Báb, and the writings of Baháʼu'lláh’s son (and successor), ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.</p>\n<p>While they will also use as “authoritative” texts the non-scriptural writings of Shoghi Effendi (the fourth leader of Baháʼí), his writings are not considered “sacred” (as the three previously mentioned texts are).</p>\n<p>Similarly, in the Baháʼí tradition, believers will very often use or recite passages from the Qur’an, the Bible, or the sacred texts of other religious traditions.</p>\n<p>However, they do not consider those to be “scripture” (or on par with the writings of Baháʼu'lláh, the Báb, or ‘Abdu’l-Bahá).</p>\n<p>Nor do they use such texts to develop rules on how to live their lives—as some of the teachings in those non-Baháʼí texts have been superseded by the content of Baháʼí scripture.</p>\n<p>Perhaps the most summative way to describe the Baháʼí faith and its people is “unifying.”</p>\n<p>As in any other faith tradition, there are practitioners of Baháʼí who do not live up to the principles of their faith.</p>\n<p>Nonetheless, the Baháʼí tradition consists of a century and a half of seeking peace, love, unity, and acceptance.</p>\n<p>And, while most religious traditions command such behaviors, those in the Baháʼí faith worry less about theology (and who is “right” or “wrong” in their beliefs); instead, placing their emphasis on how we should live as religious people who claim to love God and want to please Him.</p>\n<p>In this, they are unique in focus and uniquely successful in application.</p>\n<h3>Common questions of the Baháʼí Faith answered by Patheos: </h3>\n<p>Does the the Baháʼí Faith believe in Reincarnation?</p>\n<p>Does the Baháʼí Faith believe in God?</p>\n<p><a href=\"~/link.aspx?_id=8DD34F9BB3B34CF28AF4A3B2351A6B5E&_z=z\">Do those of Baháʼí Faith drink alcohol?</a></p>\n<p><a href=\"~/link.aspx?_id=0ABD4416F96B44B1BD6D8FC9F021B80A&_z=z\">Do those of Baháʼí Faith eat pork?</a></p>\n<p><a href=\"~/link.aspx?_id=184ABAFD420047F3A2B1AAE128B91D9E&_z=z\">Do those of Baháʼí Faith fast?</a></p>\n<hr />\nNatalie Mobini explains what it means to be a <a href=\"http://www.patheos.com/library/bahai.html\">Baha'i</a> in today's world.\n<object classid=\"clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000\" codebase=\"http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0\" height=\"295\" width=\"480\" id=\"IE_NEEDS_AN_ID_0\">\n<param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\" />\n<param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\" />\n<param name=\"src\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/Vir4N-p3LTE&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0\" /><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/Vir4N-p3LTE&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"480\" height=\"295\" />\n</object>\n<br clear=\"all\" />","articleSection":[],"dateModified":"2024-05-06T18:54:10Z","description":"This is a comprehensive overview of the Baháʼí Faith and this library showcases the faith's history, practices, rituals and more.","headline":"What is the Baháʼí Faith? - Patheos Library ","thumbnailUrl":"https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/site-headers/religion-library/religion-library-bahai-m.jpg?as=1&mh=333&mw=333","inLanguage":"en","datePublished":"2017-09-07T15:13:21Z","author":{"@type":"Person","name":null,"url":null,"image":null},"image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","contentUrl":"https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/site-headers/religion-library/religion-library-bahai-m.jpg?as=1&mh=333&mw=333","caption":"Bahai Background","width":"750","height":"400","creditText":"Bahai Background","dateCreated":"2017-07-27T20:03:32Z","dateModified":"2017-07-27T20:03:35Z","sourceOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Bahai Background","mainEntityOfPage":null}}],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","url":"https://www.patheos.com/library/bahai","dateModified":"2024-05-06T18:54:10Z","inLanguage":"en","name":"What is the Baháʼí Faith? - Patheos Library ","headline":"What is the Baháʼí Faith? - Patheos Library ","description":"This is a comprehensive overview of the Baháʼí Faith and this library showcases the faith's history, practices, rituals and more.","datePublished":"2017-09-07T15:13:21Z"}}</script> <script type='text/javascript'> (function () { /** CONFIGURATION START **/ var _sf_async_config = window._sf_async_config = (window._sf_async_config || {}); _sf_async_config.uid = 21057; // UID IS SAME FOR ALL SITES ON YOUR ACCOUNT _sf_async_config.domain = 'patheos.com'; // DON'T INCLUDE HTTP(S) OR WWW _sf_async_config.useCanonical = true; _sf_async_config.useCanonicalDomain = true; _sf_async_config.flickerControl = false; _sf_async_config.sections = ''; //SET PAGE-LEVEL SECTION(S) _sf_async_config.authors = ''; //SET PAGE-LEVEL AUTHOR(S) /** CONFIGURATION END **/ function loadChartbeat() { var e = document.createElement('script'); var n = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; e.type = 'text/javascript'; e.async = true; e.src = '//static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat.js'; n.parentNode.insertBefore(e, n); } loadChartbeat(); })(); </script> <script async="" src="//static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat_mab.js"></script> </head> <body>  <noscript> <iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-W3V8F2" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe> </noscript>   <div> <div class="wrapper">  <div id="patheos-page-content">  <div id="patheos-header-bar-mega-nav"> <div class="patheos-logo-container"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/" class="header-logo"><img src="https://www.patheos.com/~/media/images/components/navigation/patheos/patheos-logo-header.png" alt="Patheos" width="127" height="38"></a> </div> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/special-offers" class="nav-special-action desktop">Special Offers</a> <div class="patheos-search-bar in-header hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <div class="searchbar "> <form name="search" class="desktop-search-form" method="get" action="/search"> <input class="search_input" type="text" name="q" placeholder="Search Patheos"> <a href="#" class="search_icon" onclick="document.getElementsByClassName('desktop-search-form')[0].submit(); return false;"> <svg id="Layer_1" data-name="Layer 1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 32.41 32.19"> <defs> <style> .cls-1 { fill-rule: evenodd; } </style> </defs> <path class="cls-1" d="M32,31.9a2,2,0,0,1-2.9.1l-8.4-8.5A12.38,12.38,0,0,1,13.1,26,12.8,12.8,0,0,1,13.1.4,12.91,12.91,0,0,1,26,13.2a12.42,12.42,0,0,1-2.3,7.3L32.2,29A2.06,2.06,0,0,1,32,31.9ZM13.2,3.5A9.8,9.8,0,1,0,23,13.3,9.82,9.82,0,0,0,13.2,3.5Z" transform="translate(-0.3 -0.4)"></path> </svg> </a> </form> </div> </div> </div>  <div id="patheos-channel-mega-nav"> <div class="subnav-bar"></div> <div class="subnav-channels-container container"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/buddhist" class="channel">Buddhist</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/catholic" class="channel">Catholic</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/contemplative" class="channel">Contemplative</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/evangelical" class="channel">Evangelical</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/general-christian" class="channel">General Christian</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/hindu" class="channel">Hindu</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/jewish" class="channel">Jewish</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/latter-day-saint" class="channel">Latter-day Saint</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/muslim" class="channel">Muslim</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/new-visions" class="channel">New Visions</a><a href="https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian" class="channel">Progressive Christian</a> <rad-toggle-button target-div="patheos-dropdown-mega-nav" toggle-div="megamenuCollapse" toggle-message="close menu"> <div id="megamenuCollapse" class="megamenuCollapse-container"> <div class="megamenuCollapse-icon"></div> </div> </rad-toggle-button> </div> </div>  <nav id="patheos-dropdown-mega-nav" class="collapse"> <div class="container menu-content first"> <div class="menu-column"> <rad-toggle-button target-div="accordion04826e48-40bc-4597-ac6d-6bc7904354c4" added-class="open" :disable-desktop="true"> <div class="header"> <a href="javascript:void(0);">Beliefs</a></div> </rad-toggle-button> <div id="accordion04826e48-40bc-4597-ac6d-6bc7904354c4" class="genericAccordion"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/buddhist">Buddhist</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/catholic">Catholic</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/contemplative">Contemplative</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/evangelical">Evangelical</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/general-christian">General Christian</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/hindu">Hindu</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/jewish">Jewish</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/latter-day-saint">Latter-day Saint</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/more-voices">More Voices</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/muslim">Muslim</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/new-visions">New Visions</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/pagan">Pagan</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian">Progressive Christian</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-column"> <rad-toggle-button target-div="accordion2d36a0af-1b0c-496b-b3ff-1fdaec5178e6" added-class="open" :disable-desktop="true"> <div class="header"> <a href="javascript:void(0);">Topics</a></div> </rad-toggle-button> <div id="accordion2d36a0af-1b0c-496b-b3ff-1fdaec5178e6" class="genericAccordion"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/religion-news">Religion News</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/food-and-religion">Food and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/sports-and-religion">Sports and Religion</a></li> <li class="" style="z-index: 1;"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/religious-art">Religious Art</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/religious-music-and-entertainment">Religious Music and Entertainment</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/religious-events">Religious Events</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/history-and-religion">History and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/style-and-religion">Style and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/politics-and-religion">Politics and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/women-in-religion">Women in Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/recreation-outdoors-and-religion">Recreation Outdoors and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/business-finance-and-religion">Business Finance and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/careers-workplace-and-religion">Careers Workplace and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/education-and-religion">Education and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/family-parenting-and-religion">Family Parenting and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/health-fitness-and-religion">Health Fitness and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/home-and-religion">Home and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/relationships-and-religion">Relationships and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/technology-and-religion">Technology and Religion</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/topic/travel-and-religion">Travel and Religion</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-column"> <rad-toggle-button target-div="accordion74a2c6b1-15a6-4578-8ec0-b6fd8bad8f90" added-class="open" :disable-desktop="true"> <div class="header"> <a href="javascript:void(0);">Columnists</a></div> </rad-toggle-button> <div id="accordion74a2c6b1-15a6-4578-8ec0-b6fd8bad8f90" class="genericAccordion"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/buddhist-blogs">Buddhist Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/business-finance-and-religion-blogs">Business Finance and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/careers-workplace-and-religion-blogs">Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/catholic-blogs">Catholic Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/contemplative-blogs">Contemplative Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/education-and-religion-blogs">Education and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/evangelical-blogs">Evangelists Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/family-parenting-and-religion-blogs">Family Parenting and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/general-christian-blogs">General Christian Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/health-fitness-and-religion-blogs">Health Fitness and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/hindu-blogs">Hindu Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/history-and-religion-blogs">History and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/home-and-religion-blogs">Home and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/jewish-blogs">Jewish Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/more-voices-blogs">More Voices Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/latter-day-saint-blogs">Latter Day Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/muslim-blogs">Muslim Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/new-visions-blogs">New Visions Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/nonreligious-blogs">Nonreligious Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/pagan-blogs">Pagan Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/politics-and-religion-blogs">Politics and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/progressive-christian-blogs">Progressive Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/recreation-outdoors-and-religion-blogs">Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/relationships-and-religion-blogs">Relationships and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/religion-news-blogs">Religion News Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/religious-art-blogs">Religious Art Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/religious-events-blogs">Religious Events Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/religious-music-and-entertainment-blogs">Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/sports-and-religion-blogs">Sports and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/style-and-religion-blogs">Style and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/technology-and-religion-blogs">Technology and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/travel-and-religion-blogs">Travel and Religion Columnists</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/women-in-religion-blogs">Women in Religion Columnists</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-column wide"> <rad-toggle-button target-div="accordionbaf48be0-e2c2-4a0b-bc29-24d6bab1a724" added-class="open" :disable-desktop="true"> <div class="header"> <a href="javascript:void(0);">Resource Library</a></div> </rad-toggle-button> <div id="accordionbaf48be0-e2c2-4a0b-bc29-24d6bab1a724" class="genericAccordion"> <ul class="list-unstyled remove-indent col-md-6"> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library">Library of World Religions</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/sacred-spaces/overview">The 100 Most Holy Places on Earth</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/answers">Patheos Answers</a></li> <li class="" style="z-index: 1;"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/editorial/podcasts">Podcasts</a></li> <li class="" style="z-index: 1;"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/editorial/videos/answers">Videos</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/faith-figures-database">Faith Leaders Database</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/anglican">Anglican Episcopalian</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/bahai">Bahai</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/baptist">Baptist</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/buddhism">Buddhism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/christianity">Christianity</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/confucianism">Confucianism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/eastern-orthodoxy">Eastern Orthodoxy</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/hinduism">Hinduism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/pentecostal">Holiness and Pentecostal</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/iskcon-hare-krishna">ISKCON</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/islam">Islam</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/judaism">Judaism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/lutheran">Lutheran</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/methodist">Methodist</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/mormonism">The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</a></li> </ul> <ul class="list-unstyled remove-indent col-md-6"> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/new-age">New Age</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/pagan">Paganism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/presbyterian">Presbytarian and Reformed</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/protestantism">Protestantism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/religion-behind-the-scenes" class="tier-2">Religion Behind the Scenes</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/roman-catholicism">Roman Catholic</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/scientology">Scientology</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/shia-islam">Shia Islam</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/sikhism">Sikhism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/sufism">Sufism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/sunni-islam">Sunni Islam</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/taoism">Taoism</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/zen">Zen</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library">See all religions</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> <div class="container menu-content"> <div class="menu-column"> <rad-toggle-button target-div="accordionfe6afc3a-18a0-4286-845c-a4e6cc8f9388" added-class="open" :disable-desktop="true"> <div class="header"> <a href="javascript:void(0);">Research Tools</a></div> </rad-toggle-button> <div id="accordionfe6afc3a-18a0-4286-845c-a4e6cc8f9388" class="genericAccordion"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/lenses/side-by-side">Comparison Lens</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/preachers">Preacher Resources</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/teachers">Teacher Resources</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-column"> <div class="header no-carat"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/editorial/videos">Video</a></div> <div class="header no-carat"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/editorial/podcasts">Podcasts</a></div> <div class="header no-carat"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/articles-and-essays">Thought Readers</a></div> </div> <div class="menu-column"> <rad-toggle-button target-div="accordion321e7ea8-e9d4-4710-85e1-421650309974" added-class="open" :disable-desktop="true"> <div class="header"> <a href="javascript:void(0);">E-Books and Other Special Offers</a></div> </rad-toggle-button> <div id="accordion321e7ea8-e9d4-4710-85e1-421650309974" class="genericAccordion"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-gods-cheat-sheet-to-finance">God's Cheat Sheet to Finances</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-books-of-bible-signup?track1=HouseNav_BooksBible_P">Books of the Bible Study series</a></li> <li> <a href="https://l.patheos.com/excavating-the-history-of-the-bible-la/">History of the Bible</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-marriage-prayer-challenge-signup?track1=HouseNav_Marriage_P">7 Day Prayer Challenge for Spouses</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-different-christian-signup/?sourceid=101&track1=HouseNav_DKoC_P">A Different Kind of Christian</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-jesusislove-signup/?sourceid=97&track1=HouseNav_JIL_P">Jesus is Love</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-devotional-signup?track1=HouseNav_Dev_P&sourceid=176">Prayer Devotional</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-catholic-coloringbook-signup?track1=HouseNav_CCB_P&sourceid=111">The Saints We Love</a></li> <li> <a href="https://cr.patheos.com/path-conversation-cards?track1=HouseNav_Convo_P">FaithChatter Conversation Cards</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-column wide"> <div class="header no-carat"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/subscribe/newsletters">Newsletters</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> <div class="clearfix"></div>  <a href="https://www.patheos.com/special-offers" class="nav-special-action mobile">Special Offers</a> <div class="patheos-search-bar in-dropdown hidden-md hidden-lg"> <div class="searchbar "> <form name="search" class="desktop-search-form" method="get" action="/search"> <input class="search_input" type="text" name="q" placeholder="Search Patheos"> <a href="#" class="search_icon" onclick="document.getElementsByClassName('desktop-search-form')[0].submit(); return false;"> <svg id="Layer_1" data-name="Layer 1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 32.41 32.19"> <defs> <style> .cls-1 { fill-rule: evenodd; } </style> </defs> <path class="cls-1" d="M32,31.9a2,2,0,0,1-2.9.1l-8.4-8.5A12.38,12.38,0,0,1,13.1,26,12.8,12.8,0,0,1,13.1.4,12.91,12.91,0,0,1,26,13.2a12.42,12.42,0,0,1-2.3,7.3L32.2,29A2.06,2.06,0,0,1,32,31.9ZM13.2,3.5A9.8,9.8,0,1,0,23,13.3,9.82,9.82,0,0,0,13.2,3.5Z" transform="translate(-0.3 -0.4)"></path> </svg> </a> </form> </div> </div> <div class="ad-free-container hidden-md hidden-lg"> <rad-admiral-login anchor-class="ad-free-login"> <img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/profile-icon.svg" alt="" width="29" height="29">Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In </rad-admiral-login> <a href="mailto:support@getadmiral.com?subject=Patheos Subscription Support" class="subscription-support">Subscription Support</a> </div> <div class="container menu-content menu-footer"> <div class="items-left hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/" class="header-logo"><img src="https://www.patheos.com/~/media/images/components/navigation/patheos/patheos-logo-header.png" alt="Patheos" width="130" height="39"></a> </div> <div class="items-right"> <div class="foot-item hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <rad-admiral-login anchor-class="ad-free-login"> <img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/profile-icon.svg" alt="" width="29" height="29">Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In </rad-admiral-login> <a href="mailto:support@getadmiral.com?subject=Patheos Subscription Support" class="subscription-support">Subscription Support</a> </div> <div class="foot-item"> <div class="social-icons"> <span>Follow Patheos</span> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Patheos/"><img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-Facebook-Icon.svg?w=25" alt="Patheos on Facebook" class="icon lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-Facebook-Icon.svg"></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5u2f85lX38wm6NEne5pXFw"><img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-YouTube-Icon.svg?w=25" alt="Patheos on YouTube" class="icon lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-YouTube-Icon.svg"></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav>  </div> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="score-column1 "> <div class="score-center"> <div class="row "> <div class="container full-width remove-padding-mobile"> <div class="trending-topics"> <ul> <li>Trending:</li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/trending-topics/e/election">Election</a></li> <li class="list-divider">|</li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/trending-topics/t/trump">Trump</a></li> <li class="list-divider">|</li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/trending-topics/k/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a></li> <li class="list-divider">|</li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/trending-topics/s/seasonal-holidays">Seasonal Holidays</a></li> <li class="list-divider">|</li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/trending-topics/f/forgiveness">Forgiveness</a></li> <li class="list-divider">|</li> <li><a href="https://www.patheos.com/trending-topics/r/resurrection">Resurrection</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/WebPage" class="page-wrapper "> <link itemprop="mainEntityOfPage" href="https://www.patheos.com/library/bahai"> <div class="container full-width"> <div class="score-column1 "> <div class="score-center"> <div id="mtc-top-ad" class="score-component ad ad-container hidden-xs top-ad " style="height: 325px !important;"> </div> <div class="stripe stripe-prime-1"> <picture> <source media="(min-width: 1000px)" srcset="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/site-headers/religion-library/religion-library-bahai.jpg?as=1&w=1000" class="stripe-bg" no-lazy-load=""> <source srcset="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/site-headers/religion-library/religion-library-bahai-m.jpg?as=1&w=390" class="stripe-bg" no-lazy-load=""> <img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/site-headers/religion-library/religion-library-bahai-m.jpg?as=1&w=390" alt="" class="stripe-bg" width="390" height="208" no-lazy-load=""> </source></source></picture> <div class="container text-center dark-img-promo"> <div class=" blurb"> <div class="over-dark"> <h3 class="over-dark remove-margin"><a href="//www.patheos.com/library"><div class="reduce-size stretch">RELIGION LIBRARY</div></a></h3> <h1 class="over-dark title" itemprop="name"> Baha'i </h1> </div> </div> </div> </div> <nav class="navbar navbar-inverse navbar-dark"> <div class="container">  <div class="navbar-header"> <button type="button" class="navbar-toggle collapsed" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#defaultNavbar1"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle navigation</span> <i class="glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-down"></i> </button> </div>  <div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="defaultNavbar1"> <ul class="nav navbar-nav"> <li class="active " style="z-index: 1;"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/bahai">Overview</a></li> <li class=" " style="z-index: 1;"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/bahai/origins">Origins</a></li> <li class=" " style="z-index: 1;"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/bahai/historical-development">History</a></li> <li class=" " style="z-index: 1;"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/bahai/beliefs">Beliefs</a></li> <li class=" " style="z-index: 1;"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/bahai/ritual-worship-devotion-symbolism">Rituals and Worship</a></li> <li class=" " style="z-index: 1;"><a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/bahai/ethics-morality-community">Ethics and Community</a></li> </ul> </div>  </div>  </nav> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="score-column1 "> <div class="score-center"> <div class="row "> <div class="container buffer-top"> <div class="col-md-8 col-lg-9"> <div class="row "> <div class="section-title-2022"> overview </div> </div> <div class="row "> <div class="dropcap buffer-bottom"> <h2>What is the What is the Baháʼí Faith?</h2> <h3>Introduction to the Baháʼí Faith</h3> <p>The Baháʼí faith, founded in 1863 (in Iran), is a universalist tradition which is technically a brake-off of Shia Islam.</p> <p>The name Baháʼí derives from an Arabic word, Bahá, and implies “light,” “glory,” or “splendor.”</p> <p>The religion carries this name because its founder, an Iranian nobleman named Baháʼu'lláh (1817-1892), referred to himself as “Bahá”—meaning he perceived himself as the “glory” or “splendor” of God.</p> <p>While an unfamiliar religion to most Westerners, and a fairly small one as well (having only 8 million members as of 2020), next to Christianity, the Baháʼí faith is the most widespread religion in the world, having a presence in more than 200 countries.</p> <h3>Historical Foundations</h3> <p>Baháʼí holds that an Iranian merchant, named Sayyed `Alí Muḥammad of Shiraz (1819-1850), was a “messenger” of God (the “all Merciful” One).</p> <p>He was known as the “Báb,” meaning the “door” or “gate,” because he is believed to have been a “deputy” of the Mahdi or messianic figure (known as Muhammad al-Mahdi) in “Twelver Shia Islam.”</p> <p><img alt="" src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/patheos%20answers/do-bahai-believve-in-reincarnation_credit-adobe-stock.jpg?w=25&la=en" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto;" loading="lazy" width="487" class=" lazyblur lazyload" data-src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/patheos%20answers/do-bahai-believve-in-reincarnation_credit-adobe-stock.jpg?h=367&w=487&la=en">It is held that the “deputies” are those through whom the Twelfth (and invisible) Imam speaks to the Shia community.</p> <p>Eventually, the Báb founded Bábism, a monotheistic religion (and breakoff of Shia Islam) which holds that there exists a single, incomprehensible, and non-corporeal deity, who appears (through theophanies) in order to reveal His will to humankind.</p> <p>The founder of Bábism, the Báb, became one of the central figures of the Baháʼí tradition and, in his writings, he spoke of “He whom God shall make manifest”—namely, the messianic figure of Bábism, or a future prophet akin to Moses, Muhammed, or Jesus.</p> <p>Baháʼu'lláh, the one credited with starting the Baháʼí faith, is widely believed to have been the fulfillment of the Báb’s prediction of a coming messiah or prophetic figure.</p> <p>Baháʼu'lláh was a devoted follower of the Báb and, some thirteen years after the Báb’s death, he claimed to be the “Promised One” that had been predicted would soon come.</p> <h3>Core Beliefs</h3> <p>Among the most important beliefs of the Baháʼí faith are these: “The oneness of God, the oneness of religion, and the oneness of humanity.”</p> <p>Regarding the “oneness of God,” Baháʼu'lláh (whose birth-name was Mirza Husayan-Ali) rejected polytheism and even trinitarianism.</p> <p>As in Islam, he believed that there was only one God—whom he described as being of a “different” nature than human beings.</p> <p>He also held that God was ultimately beyond comprehension.</p> <p>Thus, while Baháʼu'lláh believed God was omnipotent, omniscience, and omnipresent, he held that we could only have an understanding of and relationship with God through His qualities, that of compassion, generosity, kindness, justice, love, majesty, mercy, patience, and self-subsistence.</p> <p>All things reflect the attributes of God and humans can know and have a relationship with Him through developing and reflecting His divine attributes.</p> <p>Regarding the “oneness of religion,” the Baháʼí faith teaches that humans need divine messengers (or “manifestations of God”) to lead and to guide humanity in the right way.</p> <p>These “manifestations” are unique and set-apart souls whom God sends to teach humans truth.</p> <p>They each lived before human beings were created, have a special relationship with the divine, and have direct access to revelation from God.</p> <p>While they are born, grow, learn, and die, they always have an innate knowledge of God and God’s will for humanity.</p> <p>The Baháʼí scriptures identify at least fourteen “Manifestations of God,” including Adam, Noah, Salih, Hud, Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Zarathustra, the Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb, Baháʼu'lláh, and one unnamed Korean “manifestation.”</p> <p>Because of the belief in these various figures, Baháʼí is a prophetic tradition—different from, but connected to the beliefs of the three Abrahamic traditions and their emphasis on prophetic messengers sent from God.</p> <p>The Baháʼí tradition has been called a “progressively unfolding religion” that rolls forth in stages; but each stage is simply a more advanced version of the previous one (e.g., Judaism, leading to Christianity, leading to Islam, leading to Baháʼí, etc.)</p> <h3>Goals of the Baháʼí</h3> <p>Finally, regarding the “oneness of humanity,” Baháʼí believes in the unity and equality of all people.</p> <p>Practitioners reject racism, sexism, or other “isms,” and are encouraged to seek fellowship with the followers of all religions, because they are all heirs to the divine guidance God has sent through His various “manifestations.”</p> <p>While religions differ in their doctrines and practices, most have in common the ethical and even spiritual principles which stand at their core.</p> <p>Thus, in the things which matter most, religions are generally in agreement—and should seek the unity that flows from the fact.</p> <p>Consequently, the Baháʼí faith is formally apolitical (or non-partisan), and practitioners are not to join any political party.</p> <p><img alt="" src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/patheos%20answers/does-the-bahai-faith-believe-in-god_credit-adobe-stock.jpg?w=25&la=en" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto;" loading="lazy" width="445" class=" lazyblur lazyload" data-src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/patheos%20answers/does-the-bahai-faith-believe-in-god_credit-adobe-stock.jpg?h=331&w=445&la=en"></p> <p>Political parties create factions and divided loyalties—something Baháʼí seeks to overcome in the world.</p> <p>Unity is the “key principle” that underlies nearly everything in the Baháʼí tradition.</p> <p>Central to efforts at unity, are love and justice.</p> <p>Love binds us all together—regardless of our race, gender, nationality, religion, political party, or sexual orientation.</p> <p>Justice demands corrective actions to regulate (or change) behaviors which are outside of the teachings of the “manifestations of God”—behaviors which are harmful to unity and love.</p> <p>The moral or ethical teachings of Baháʼí include the rejection of gossip, lying (or any kind of deceit), the use of alcohol or recreational drugs, and any sexual relationships outside the bonds of marriage.</p> <p>While the movement is quite clear regarding its stand on these matters, it largely leaves the application of their “moral code of conduct” up to the practitioner—and it would caution believers about the impropriety of comparing one’s own sin to those of another person.</p> <p>In the end, the world exists to be enjoyed, but in moderation, moral constraint, and with an attitude of detachment.</p> <h3>Sacred Texts</h3> <p>For scriptures, practitioners of the Baháʼí faith use the writings of Baháʼu'lláh, those of the Báb, and the writings of Baháʼu'lláh’s son (and successor), ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.</p> <p>While they will also use as “authoritative” texts the non-scriptural writings of Shoghi Effendi (the fourth leader of Baháʼí), his writings are not considered “sacred” (as the three previously mentioned texts are).</p> <p>Similarly, in the Baháʼí tradition, believers will very often use or recite passages from the Qur’an, the Bible, or the sacred texts of other religious traditions.</p> <p>However, they do not consider those to be “scripture” (or on par with the writings of Baháʼu'lláh, the Báb, or ‘Abdu’l-Bahá).</p> <p>Nor do they use such texts to develop rules on how to live their lives—as some of the teachings in those non-Baháʼí texts have been superseded by the content of Baháʼí scripture.</p> <p>Perhaps the most summative way to describe the Baháʼí faith and its people is “unifying.”</p> <p>As in any other faith tradition, there are practitioners of Baháʼí who do not live up to the principles of their faith.</p> <p>Nonetheless, the Baháʼí tradition consists of a century and a half of seeking peace, love, unity, and acceptance.</p> <p>And, while most religious traditions command such behaviors, those in the Baháʼí faith worry less about theology (and who is “right” or “wrong” in their beliefs); instead, placing their emphasis on how we should live as religious people who claim to love God and want to please Him.</p> <p>In this, they are unique in focus and uniquely successful in application.</p> <h3>Common questions of the Baháʼí Faith answered by Patheos: </h3> <p>Does the the Baháʼí Faith believe in Reincarnation?</p> <p>Does the Baháʼí Faith believe in God?</p> <p><a href="https://www.patheos.com/answers/do-bahai-drink-alcohol">Do those of Baháʼí Faith drink alcohol?</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.patheos.com/answers/do-members-of-the-bahai-faith-eat-pork">Do those of Baháʼí Faith eat pork?</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.patheos.com/answers/do-bahai-fast">Do those of Baháʼí Faith fast?</a></p> <hr> Natalie Mobini explains what it means to be a <a href="http://www.patheos.com/library/bahai.html">Baha'i</a> in today's world. <object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" height="295" width="480" id="IE_NEEDS_AN_ID_0"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> <param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vir4N-p3LTE&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vir4N-p3LTE&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="295"> </object> <br clear="all"> </div> <h2 class="type-color-prime-3">Quick Facts</h2> <table class="table table-striped table-bordered caps"> <tbody> <tr> <td>Formed</td> <td>1863</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Adherents</td> <td>5,000,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Deity</td> <td>God (monotheistic)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Sacred Text</td> <td>The collected writings of Baha'u'llah, especially his Kitab-i-Aqdas</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Origin</td> <td>Iran (Persia)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Headquarters</td> <td>Haifa and 'Akka (Acco), Israel</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div class="clearfix "> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/library/bahai/origins" class="btn btn-bold btn-prime-1 col-xs-12">Origins<i class="glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-right"></i></a> </div> <a href="/library" class="btn btn-prime-3 col-xs-12 add-top-margin">Back to Religion Library</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-4 col-lg-3"> <rad-affix> </rad-affix> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container full-width"> <div class="score-column1 "> <div class="score-center"> <rad-newsletters-signup-wide source-desc="3" header="Get%20Patheos%20Newsletters" blurb="Get%20the%20latest%20from%20Patheos%20by%20signing%20up%20for%20our%20newsletters.%20Try%20our%203%20most%20popular%2C%20or%20select%20from%20our%20huge%20collection%20of%20unique%20and%20thought-provoking%20newsletters." email-button-text="Enter email address" signup-button-text="sign me up" partner-mail-blurb="From time to time you will also receive Special Offers from our partners that help us make this content free for you. You can opt out of these offers at any time." see-all-text="see%20our%20full%20list%20of%20newsletters" :newsletters="["57","46","43"]" :newsletters-titles="["Best of Patheos","Sharing the Gospel","Christians For a Better Christianity"]" :newsletters-blurbs="["Simply the finest and most popular features from Patheos columnists.","The best in evangelical thought, commentary on current events and culture, and biblical wisdom designed to energize your Christian faith.","News and commentary from today’s top Progressive Christian voices on faith and politics, social justice, transforming theology, the Bible and more."]" path-url="https://cr.patheos.com/admiral"> </rad-newsletters-signup-wide> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="score-column1 "> <div class="score-center"> <div class="section-title decorated"> <div class="titletext">editors picks <a href="https://www.patheos.com/channels" class="btn btn-sm btn-prime-2 supporting-btn">View all columns</a></div> </div> <section class="buffer-top"> <div class="row related-content-grid" data-tb-region="Related Content: Global Editors Picks"> <div class="row related-content-ad-row"> <div class="related-content-item col-xs-6 col-sm-3 content"> <div class="related-content clearfix default" data-tb-region-item=""> <div class="image-container four-three"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/evangelicalpulpit/2021/01/before-you-unplug-or-sign-out-for-good/"><img src="" alt="" class="ratio-4-3 lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/483/2021/01/typing-hand-computer-keyboard-finger-technology-electronic-device-1622668-pxhere.com_-350x350.jpg"></a> </div> <div class="tag-decorated"> <a href="">Evangelical</a> </div> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/evangelicalpulpit/2021/01/before-you-unplug-or-sign-out-for-good/">Before You Unplug or Sign Out for Good</a> </div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div class="by-line"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/evangelicalpulpit">Guest Contributor</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="related-content-item col-xs-6 col-sm-3 content"> <div class="related-content clearfix default" data-tb-region-item=""> <div class="image-container four-three"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/randyalcorn/2020/11/spiritual-gifts/"><img src="" alt="" class="ratio-4-3 lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/644/2020/10/flowers-spiritual-gift-350x350.jpg"></a> </div> <div class="tag-decorated"> <a href="">Evangelical</a> </div> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/randyalcorn/2020/11/spiritual-gifts/">What Is the Purpose of Spiritual Gifts, and How Do You Discover Yours?</a> </div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div class="by-line"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/randyalcorn">Randy Alcorn</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="related-content-item col-xs-6 col-sm-3 content wide"> <div class="related-content clearfix default" data-tb-region-item=""> <div class="image-container four-three"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wakeupcall/2020/10/5-ways-to-hear-what-god-is-telling-you/"><img src="" alt="" class="ratio-4-3 lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/267/2020/10/rob-mulally-oacHEtIlXsA-unsplash-350x350.jpg"></a> </div> <div class="tag-decorated"> <a href="">New Visions</a> </div> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wakeupcall/2020/10/5-ways-to-hear-what-god-is-telling-you/">5 Ways to Hear What God is Telling You</a> </div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div class="by-line"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/wakeupcall">Tom Rapsas</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="related-content-item col-xs-6 col-sm-3 ad-block hidden-xs"> <div class="related-content clearfix default" data-tb-region-item=""> <div id="" class="score-component ad ad-container hidden-xs remove-padding hidden-xs " style=""> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row flexer"> <div class="related-content-item col-xs-6 col-sm-3 content"> <div class="related-content clearfix default" data-tb-region-item=""> <div class="image-container four-three"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/livingtradition/2020/11/how-awake-are-we-when-waking-up-is-falling-asleep/"><img src="" alt="" class="ratio-4-3 lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/674/2020/11/fairy-tale-1081151_1280-350x350.jpg"></a> </div> <div class="tag-decorated"> <a href="">Muslim</a> </div> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/livingtradition/2020/11/how-awake-are-we-when-waking-up-is-falling-asleep/">How Awake Are We? When Waking Up is Falling Asleep</a> </div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div class="by-line"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/livingtradition">Daniel Thomas Dyer</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="related-content-item col-xs-6 col-sm-3 content"> <div class="related-content clearfix default" data-tb-region-item=""> <div class="image-container four-three"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeterson/2020/10/the-church-supports-the-use-of-vaccinations.html"><img src="" alt="" class="ratio-4-3 lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/186/2020/10/Burying_Plague_Victims_of_Tournai.jpg"></a> </div> <div class="tag-decorated"> <a href="">Latter-day Saint</a> </div> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeterson/2020/10/the-church-supports-the-use-of-vaccinations.html">"The Church supports the use of vaccinations"</a> </div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div class="by-line"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeterson">Dan Peterson</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="related-content-item col-xs-6 col-sm-3 content"> <div class="related-content clearfix default" data-tb-region-item=""> <div class="image-container four-three"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/chorusinthechaos/luther-and-the-beauty-of-christ/"><img src="" alt="" class="ratio-4-3 lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/671/2020/11/Luther-350x350.jpg"></a> </div> <div class="tag-decorated"> <a href="">Evangelical</a> </div> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/chorusinthechaos/luther-and-the-beauty-of-christ/">Luther and the Beauty of Christ</a> </div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div class="by-line"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/chorusinthechaos">Guest Contributor</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="related-content-item col-xs-6 col-sm-3 content"> <div class="related-content clearfix default" data-tb-region-item=""> <div class="image-container four-three"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/reelfaith/2020/11/the-soul-of-gospel-music-explored-in-new-netflix-series-voices-of-fire.html"><img src="" alt="" class="ratio-4-3 lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/720/2020/11/PatrickRiddick.jpg"></a> </div> <div class="tag-decorated"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/">Patheos</a> </div> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/reelfaith/2020/11/the-soul-of-gospel-music-explored-in-new-netflix-series-voices-of-fire.html">The Soul of Gospel Music Explored in New Netflix Series "Voices of Fire"</a> </div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div class="by-line"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/reelfaith">DeWayne Hamby</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row related-content-ad-row"> <div class="related-content-item col-xs-6 col-sm-3 ad-block hidden-xs"> <div class="related-content clearfix default" data-tb-region-item=""> <div id="" class="score-component ad ad-container hidden-xs remove-padding hidden-xs " style=""> </div> </div> </div> <div class="related-content-item col-xs-6 col-sm-3 content wide"> <div class="related-content clearfix default" data-tb-region-item=""> <div class="image-container four-three"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/carlmccolman/2020/11/seven-ways-to-think-about-christian-mysticism/"><img src="" alt="" class="ratio-4-3 lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/388/2020/11/FredandGinger-350x350.jpg"></a> </div> <div class="tag-decorated"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/">Patheos</a> </div> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/carlmccolman/2020/11/seven-ways-to-think-about-christian-mysticism/">Seven Ways to Think About Christian Mysticism</a> </div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div class="by-line"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/carlmccolman">Carl McColman</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="related-content-item col-xs-6 col-sm-3 content"> <div class="related-content clearfix default" data-tb-region-item=""> <div class="image-container four-three"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2021/02/cancelling-alice-walker/"><img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/images/components/default-thumbs-patheos/default/default-img-flower-touch.jpg?w=25" alt="" class="ratio-4-3 lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/images/components/default-thumbs-patheos/default/default-img-flower-touch.jpg?h=500"></a> </div> <div class="tag-decorated"> <a href="">Evangelical</a> </div> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench/2021/02/cancelling-alice-walker/">Cancelling Alice Walker?</a> </div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div class="by-line"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/anxiousbench">Philip Jenkins</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="related-content-item col-xs-6 col-sm-3 content"> <div class="related-content clearfix default" data-tb-region-item=""> <div class="image-container four-three"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/rogereolson/2021/02/does-god-have-his-own-logic/"><img src="" alt="" class="ratio-4-3 lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/21/2016/11/photo-1439123122285-89a9b408d3e6_opt.jpg"></a> </div> <div class="tag-decorated"> <a href="">Evangelical</a> </div> <div class="title"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/blogs/rogereolson/2021/02/does-god-have-his-own-logic/">Does God Have His Own Logic?</a> </div> <div class="decorated-divider"></div> <div class="by-line"> <a href="https://www.patheos.com/about-patheos/roger-e-olson">Roger E. Olson</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> <div class="hide" itemprop="publisher" itemscope="itemscope" id="patheospub-itemprop" itemtype="https://schema.org/Organization"> <a itemprop="url" href="//www.patheos.com"> <span itemprop="logo" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject"> <img itemprop="url" src="//www.patheos.com/~/media/images/components/navigation/patheos/patheos-logo-header.png" alt="Patheos Logo"> <meta itemprop="width" content="127"> <meta itemprop="height" content="38"> </span> <span itemprop="name">Patheos</span> <span itemprop="description">Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.</span> </a> </div> </div> <div id="site-footer-2022"> <div class="container"> <div class="extras-block mobile"> <div class="footer-social-icons"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Patheos/"><img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-Facebook-Icon.svg?w=25" alt="Patheos on Facebook" class="icon lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-Facebook-Icon.svg"></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5u2f85lX38wm6NEne5pXFw"><img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-YouTube-Icon.svg?w=25" alt="Patheos on YouTube" class="icon lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-YouTube-Icon.svg"></a> </div> <rad-admiral-login anchor-class="ad-free-login"> <img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/profile-icon.svg" alt="" width="29" height="29">Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In </rad-admiral-login> <a href="mailto:support@getadmiral.com?subject=Patheos Subscription Support" class="subscription-support">Subscription Support</a> </div> <div class="footer-nav-links"> <ul> <li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/about-patheos">About Us</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/editorial/videos">Videos</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/editorial/podcasts">Podcasts</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/library">Library of World Religions</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/about-patheos/advertising">Advertise With Us</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/write-for-us">Write for Us</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/terms-of-use">Terms of Service</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://privacyportal.cookiepro.com/webform/8becd7f7-c923-4cd4-814a-e08c34baf60b/draft/f9dd159d-d007-43b0-a267-2b05605a52c3">Do Not Sell My Data</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/about-patheos">Contact Us</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.radiantdigital.com/">Radiant Digital</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/subscribe/preference-center">Manage Newsletter Subscriptions</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/push-notifications">Unsubscribe From Notifications</a></li><li><a class="dropdown-Item" href="https://www.patheos.com/sitemaps">Sitemap</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="logo-block"> <div class="footer-logo"></div> Copyright 2008-2024, Patheos. All rights reserved. </div> <div class="extras-block"> <a href="mailto:support@getadmiral.com?subject=Patheos Subscription Support" class="subscription-support">Subscription Support</a> <rad-admiral-login anchor-class="ad-free-login"> <img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/profile-icon.svg" alt="" width="29" height="29">Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In </rad-admiral-login> <div class="footer-social-icons"> <span>Follow Patheos</span> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Patheos/"><img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-Facebook-Icon.svg?w=25" alt="Patheos on Facebook" class="icon lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-Facebook-Icon.svg"></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5u2f85lX38wm6NEne5pXFw"><img src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-YouTube-Icon.svg?w=25" alt="Patheos on YouTube" class="icon lazyblur lazyload" loading="lazy" data-src="https://media.patheos.com/~/media/patheos-images/images/components/icons/Patheos-YouTube-Icon.svg"></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>   <script type='text/javascript'> window.rad = window.rad || {}; window.rad.ads = window.rad.ads || {}; window.rad.ads.preload = {"pageConfig":{"channel":"Library","hierarchy":"/29966721/PATH/library","tags":["Library","Baha'i","Baha’i overview","Baha’i origins","Baha’i history","Baha’i development","Baha’i beliefs","Baha’i ritual","Baha’i worship","Baha’i devotion","Baha’i symbol","Baha’i symbols","Baha’i symbolism","Baha’i ethics","Baha’i morality","Baha’i community"],"audience":null,"contentid":"086f4bc3","title":"Baha'i","type":"patheos-library-major-path","disabled":false,"enableHeaderBidding":true,"enableAdmiral":true,"enableOptimera":true,"admiralAdFreeOfferIds":["5d3f6796da6fa95e8589a652","5e45c46f0cb01b0d8a4a3a1a","5d3f66970cb01b379f35f8df","5e45c42d5c443b73b53cc7a5","623b4296cf541f46827b865d"],"cookieConsentDomainId":"3f93598f-6412-4eae-a452-60ccd114b1eb","creativeConfigInsertLocationIds":["overlay-inject-location","writer-theme-logo","patheos-main-nav","path-main-navigation"],"creativeConfigNavId":"patheos-main-nav","creativeConfigEnableScrollingNav":false,"analyticsTrackingId":"UA-6605286-6","prebidAdapters":{"pubmatic":{"publisherId":"159758","pubmaticAdSlots":[{"id":"3214316","size":[300,250],"mobile":false},{"id":"3214317","size":[728,90],"mobile":false},{"id":"3214318","size":[300,600],"mobile":false},{"id":"3214319","size":[970,250],"mobile":false},{"id":"3214320","size":[300,100],"mobile":true},{"id":"3214321","size":[320,50],"mobile":true},{"id":"3214322","size":[300,250],"mobile":true}]},"appnexus":{"placementId":"26373425","adSizes":[[970,250],[300,600],[300,250],[320,50],[160,600],[728,90],[300,100],[468,60]]},"rubicon":{"accountId":"24710","siteId":"432530","zoneId":"2474518"}},"customTargeting":[{"key":"p_channel","value":""},{"key":"faiths","value":[]},{"key":"topics","value":[]}],"ipApiKey":"oQJeoTOiJjO6efS","liveIntentPublisherId":null}}; </script> <script> !function (f, b, e, v, n, t, s) { if (f.fbq) return; n = f.fbq = function () { n.callMethod ? n.callMethod.apply(n, arguments) : n.queue.push(arguments) }; if (!f._fbq) f._fbq = n; n.push = n; n.loaded = !0; n.version = '2.0'; n.queue = []; t = b.createElement(e); t.async = !0; t.src = v; s = b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t, s) }(window, document, 'script', 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); fbq('init', '1510929182549648'); fbq('track', 'PageView', { fbc: '', fbp: '' }, { eventID: '63868166168153' }); </script> <noscript> <img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1510929182549648&ev=PageView&eid=63868166168153&ud[fbp]=&ud[fbc]=&noscript=1"> </noscript> <script type="text/javascript"> var xmlHttp = new XMLHttpRequest(); xmlHttp.open("POST", "/ptapi/pageload/event", true); xmlHttp.setRequestHeader("Content-Type", "application/json;charset=UTF-8"); xmlHttp.send(JSON.stringify({ "Referer": window.location.href, "EventID": "63868166168153" })); </script>  <script type="module" src="/areas/patheos/app/dist/js/chunk-vendors.463729d9.js"></script> <script type="module" src="/areas/patheos/app/dist/js/app.278fa33c.js"></script> <script>!function () { var e = document, t = e.createElement("script"); if (!("noModule" in t) && "onbeforeload" in t) { var n = !1; e.addEventListener("beforeload", function (e) { if (e.target === t) n = !0; else if (!e.target.hasAttribute("nomodule") || !n) return; e.preventDefault() }, !0), t.type = "module", t.src = ".", e.head.appendChild(t), t.remove() } }();</script> <script src="/areas/patheos/app/dist/js/" nomodule=""></script> <script src="/areas/patheos/app/dist/js/" nomodule=""></script> <link rel="preload" href="/areas/patheos/css/main.css?v=943c05561ef7734300b92ab1b7dfb6ff" as="style" onload="this.onload=null;this.rel='stylesheet'"> <noscript><link rel="stylesheet" href="/areas/patheos/css/main.css?v=943c05561ef7734300b92ab1b7dfb6ff"></noscript>  <script src="/areas/patheos/js/vendor/lazysizes.min.js" async=""></script>  <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Abril+Fatface|Montserrat:100,300,400,700|Open+Sans+Condensed:300,700|Vollkorn:400,400i,700,700i&display=optional" crossorigin="">  </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

What Is The Baháʼí Faith? - Patheos Library