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Worship & Spirituality |
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| 1. Do Baha'i
go to Church? 2. How do Baha'is pray/worship/meditate and connect with God? 3. Do Baha'is have devotional services? 4. Do Baha'is believe in the soul? 5. What is the Baha'i view of life and death? 1. Do Baha'is go to Church?
Baha'is meet every nineteen days for "Feast" which is a gathering, as described by Baha'u'llah, for the development of the spiritual and social and administrative character for bringing about closer fellowship and unity among the Baha'i community. The Feast is viewed as an institution within the Baha'i Faith. It was first established by the Bab, later confirmed by Baha'u'llah, and is now a prominent part of the administrative order of the Faith. The Feast is composed of a "devotional," and "administrative," and a "social" portions. During the devotional part of Feast, songs of praise, prayer and the writings of the Bab, Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha are read, as well as from the sacred scriptures of the Bible and Qur'an. The Feast is held every 19 days because the Baha'i calendar operates on a year made up of nineteen months of nineteen days. Every month is named after an attribute of God (Beauty, Honor, Splendor, etc). The administrative section is devoted to staying abreast of current issues throughout the Baha'i world, dealing with local issues, etc. This is the time when the community can consult with the Local Spiritual Assembly (the local, elected governing body of the Baha'i Faith), and the Assembly can communicate back to the community members. The social portion is just that -- a time to have fun, talk, have some refreshments and so on. The Feast was instituted as a "celebration" for the members of the Baha'i Faith as it deals with specific issues of the Faith and community. Many communities offer other events that are open to the public that generally fall into a category that would be categorized as a "church" activity. These might include devotional meetings, Sunday school classes for adults and/or children, weekday lessons on Baha'i topics, and so on. If you would like to find out about Baha'i events such as these your area, you can call the 1-800-22-Unite toll free number, or go to the "Contact Us" page linked from this Baha'i Study web site, and a Baha'i near you will contact you. Top
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2. How do Baha'is pray/worship/meditate and connect with God?
There are many ways to worship God. One of these is through a daily obligatory prayer that Baha'is say. Other daily acts include time for meditation and reflection, and reading the words of Baha'u'llah, the prophet founder of the Baha'i Faith. One of the most unique aspects of the Baha'i Faith is that work done in the spirit of service to humanity is considered worship as well. Baha'is will also gather together on Feast days or Holy Days to pray, and will come together at devotional meetings. It is up to each individual Baha'i to pursue their own course of prayer, worship and reflection. Baha'is believe that prayer is a time when we talk with God, and is a sacred and beautiful act of love and devotion. Top
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3. Do Baha'is have devotional services?
Yes, Baha'is do have devotional services. Most Baha'i communities have organized devotional meetings, and there is no set formula as to how to conduct a Baha'i devotional meeting. They can range from Gospel choirs singing to African or Latino rhythms, to Persian chanting to quiet readings and meditations. Top
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4. Do Baha'is believe in the soul?
Baha'is believe that every human being is a unique and a precious creation of God. Every individual comes into being through God's love and mercy, and every individual has a pure, beautiful soul that is a reflection of this love. The soul can not be seen or touched, but is the immortal, divine aspect of humanity. The soul is a reflection of God, just as a mirror is a reflection of the sun. Baha'is strive to polish the mirror of their soul through living spiritually rich lives that include service to humanity, applying virtues and principles to their everyday life, and prayer. Top
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5. What is the Baha'i view of life and death?
Baha'is believe that the soul is immortal, and will last as long as God endures. The end of physical life does not mean the end of all forms of life. The soul continues on, freed from its physical body - the Temple of the soul. The Baha'i writings liken the body to a cage and the soul to a bird. When the cage breaks, the bird can escape unharmed, and is finally free. Baha'u'llah calls death "a messenger of joy". He also teaches that pain, suffering and sorrow are all results of physical realities, and do not exist in the realms of the spirit. Baha'is believe that after death, a person will attain happiness according to how close they have become to God. There is no concept of heaven and hell as physical places. Rather, they are conditions of proximity to God. Baha'is believe that individuals who are spiritually aware will be "immersed in a sea of light". Baha'is also believe that God is merciful, kind and loving as well as being just. Top
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