The Lowdown on Baha'i

Nathan Harris

Baha’i Faith is a worldwide religion with between four and six million members (depending on who you talk to), but for Ginger Gamble and Jhavid Rouhani it is much more personal.

After providing some very thorough answers for a Spartan Edge religion survey, the two co-chairs of the MSU Baha’i Association were willing to talk about some of the more individual aspects of their faith. The atmosphere was slightly hectic – Starbucks in the evening can’t be any less – but Rouhani and Gamble simply spoke up to make themselves heard

Rouhani, a computational math senior, was raised in a Baha’i family. He said his mother became a Baha’i in college, so he grew up with the religion around him.

Rouhani was soft-spoken and used frequent analogies or quotes from Baha’i sources to illustrate his points. He said it was important to know that the children of a Baha’i family cannot be full members of the faith until 15. At this age, children are allowed to declare themselves Baha’is, or not. He said the faith considers independent investigation important, and encourages children to learn about religion for themselves. Rouhani declared and became a Baha’i himself the earliest age he could, at 15.

He said Ruhi books, a seven book teaching series Baha’i doctrines as well as how to impart them to others, was helpful in his decision to declare himself a Baha’i.

Gamble, a sophomore majoring in global studies, said she was raised Presbyterian, but her parents became involved in the Baha’i Faith while she was still young. She declared when she was 16, and now is one of nine local Baha’is sitting on the East Lansing Spiritual Assembly.

She said she appreciates the value placed on the unity of science and religion in the Baha’i Faith.

The MSU Baha’i Association provides bi-monthly study circles, various activities and fellowship for student Baha’is, though non-Baha’is are welcome. Both Gamble and Rouhani said the group was an important connection because there are so few Baha’is at MSU.

A Few Things You Should Know About Baha’i

1. Vision of God

There is one, all-powerful God, but God is unknowable except through the progressive revelations of various Manifestations of God. 

2. Holy book and where it came from

The Kitab-i-Aqdás is the most important book written by Baháu’lláh, the latest Manifestation of God; it contains much of day to day Baha’i belief. 

3. Holy building and name for religious celebration (i.e. Mass)

There are seven Bahai Houses of Worship, at least one for each continent (excluding Antarctica). The nearest is in Chicago. 

4. Prophets/Historical figures

Most figures revered by other religions have been Manifestations of God, with teachings for their own time. These include Zoroaster, Buddha, Krishna, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. 
More recently, in the 19th century, Baháu’lláh and his forerunner, the Bab (pronounced “bob”), were the most recent Manifestations of God. 
Manifestations of God are pictured as perfect mirrors that reflect the light of God so that people can see it.  

5. Common sects/denominations

Unity is one of the main concerns of the Baha’i faith, so there are no significant sects. 

6. Common prayers/method of praying

A Baha’i is generally able to pray as he/she sees fit, though Baha’i prayer books do exist. There are three obligatory Baha’i prayers, one of which must be said every day at specified times, depending on the prayer chosen. A Baha’i should pray toward the tomb of Baháu’lláh in Israel. 

7. Name for spiritual leader on earth

In the past, descendents of Baháu’lláh have led the Baha’i faith, but the religion is currently governed by the Universal House of Justice, a nine member council housed in Haifa, Israel. This oversees various National Houses of Justice, with authority working its way down to local Baha’i assemblies. 

8. World regions where religion is located

Baha’i Faith is effectively headquartered in Haifa, Israel, where the International House of Justice is located with the tomb of Baháu’lláh nearby. 

9. Holidays

Baha’i uses its own calendar, made up of 19 19-day months with several inter-calendar holidays that are part of no month. On March 21, Baha’is will conclude a month of sunrise-to-sunset fasting and celebrate the Baha’i New Year, Naw-Rúz. 

10. Creation of the earth/how life began

God is the creator of all things. There is a unity of science and religion, exemplified by a quote from the son of Baháu’lláh, “Religion without science is superstition; science without religion is ignorance.” 

11. What happens after death

The afterlife is hopefully a chance to develop a nearness to God, a continuation of what should be going on during life. There is no definite sense of a heaven or hell, though. 

12. Vision of the soul

Humans are intrinsically different from animals. The soul is one aspect of this. A distinctive of the soul is that it progresses throughout life as Baha’is learn and improve themselves.  

13. Relations of humans to the environment and animals

Animals and the environment are on a level below humanity, but both should be “regarded with kindness.” 

14. Sacred objects/symbols

The nine-pointed star represents Manifestations of God within the Baha’i Faith, and the “ringstone” symbol relates the “world of God” to “the world of man.” There is also “the Greatest Name,” “an invocation which can be translated either as 'O Glory of Glories' or 'O Glory of the All-Glorious,'“ according to Baha’i.com. 

15. Nature of the individual relationship to god

God is primarily known and related to through the Manifestations of God, but there is a covenant between God and Baha’is that God will never abandon creation. 

16. Visions for the future

The world is moving toward a time in the future when it will be fully united, with a oneness in religion leading the way. The Baha’i structure of the Houses of Justice will be expanded to take in more and will be agents of this unity. This is sure to happen at some future time. 

17. View on abortion

The soul is created at conception, so any form of abortion is morally wrong. 

18. View on gay rights

Homosexuality is a condition, and gay or lesbian couples are not recognized by Baha’i Faith. Homosexuals are not looked down on or considered any less human. 

19. Rules/Guidelines

There is no concise moral code like the Ten Commandments, but Baha’is do follow a number of guidelines, including rules against gossip and backbiting, mind-altering substances like alcohol and non-prescription drugs, sex outside marriage and disobeying the laws of your country. 

20. How does gender play a role in the religion?

Gender equality is an important value of Baha’i Faith. Male and female are described as the wings of a bird that must be equal and cooperating for flight to occur. 

All information not otherwise attributed came from Ginger Gamble and Jhavid Rouhani, co-chairs of the MSU Baha’i Association.

Questions? Comments? Contact Nathan Harris at harri663@msu.edu

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