Bahá’í Faith
The Bahá’í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded in 19th-century Persia by Bahá’u’lláh, centered on the unity of God, religion, and humanity.
The religion traces its origins to the Báb, who in 1844 announced himself as the forerunner of a promised messenger from God, and to Bahá’u’lláh, who in 1863 declared himself that promised messenger, teaching a message centered on the spiritual unity of all people.
Central Bahá’í teachings include the oneness of God, the oneness of religion, seeing the major world faiths as successive chapters of a single unfolding revelation, and the oneness of humanity, alongside principles including the equality of women and men and the harmony of science and religion.
Bahá’u’lláh spent much of his life imprisoned and exiled by Persian and Ottoman authorities, eventually settling near Akka, in present-day Israel, where the faith's holiest shrines are now located. The religion has since spread worldwide and has no clergy, with local and national elected councils guiding community affairs.
