bahai ’i. universalizing exclusivist no branches

Bahai’i

Bahai’iuniversalizingexclusivistno branches

Divine Messengersfrom the Creator

Abra

ham

Divine Messengersfrom the Creator

Abra

ham

Kris

hna

Divine Messengersfrom the Creator

Abra

ham

Kris

hna

Mos

es

Divine Messengersfrom the Creator

Abra

ham

Kris

hna

Mos

esZo

roas

ter

Divine Messengersfrom the Creator

Abra

ham

Kris

hna

Mos

esZo

roas

ter

Budd

ha

Divine Messengersfrom the Creator

Abra

ham

Kris

hna

Mos

esZo

roas

ter

Budd

haJe

sus

Divine Messengersfrom the Creator

Abra

ham

Kris

hna

Mos

esZo

roas

ter

Budd

haJe

sus

Muh

amm

ad

Divine Messengersfrom the Creator

Abra

ham

Kris

hna

Mos

esZo

roas

ter

Budd

haJe

sus

Muh

amm

ad

Baha

’ulla

Baha’ullahThe final divine messenger

Born 1817 in Persia

Arrested and exiled for his preaching

Branch?

Branch?

Branch?

Branch?

Branch?

Branch?

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Branch?

Baha’i Holy Places

Most holy site – the Bahji Palace, final resting place of the earthly remains of Baha’ullah . . . ACRE

Holy site – Shine of the Bab, the tomb of the Bab who prophesied the coming of Baha’ullah . . . HAIFA

Administrative headquarters – Universal House of Justice and Archives Building. . . HAIFA

Baha’i Temples7 buildings – one on every

inhabited continent and another in Oceania

All have central dome

All have 9 doors

Baha’i Temples

OCEANIA: Apia, Western Samoa

Baha’i Temples

AUSTRALIA: Sydney, Australia

Baha’i Temples

AFRICA: Kampala, Uganda

Baha’i Temples

SOUTH AMERICA: Panama City

Baha’i Temples

EUROPE: near Frankfurt, Germany

Baha’i Temples

NORTH AMERICA: Wilmette, Illinois (Near Chicago)

Baha’i Temples

ASIA: New Delhi, India

The first House of Worship was built in Russia, in the city of Ashkhabad in Central Asia (red). Completed around 1908, the Ashkhabad House of Worship served the Bahá'í community of that region until 1938, when the site was appropriated by the Soviet Government. The building was demolished in 1962 after being damaged by an earthquake.

Now… about that Panama, South American

temple…

Columbia, under construction

Around the world, more than 120 sites have so far been set aside for future Houses of Worship (light green). Ultimately, every local Bahá'í community will have its own House of Worship. Like the first one in Ashkhabad, each will become the focus of community life, as well as a center for social, scientific, educational, and humanitarian services.

Diffusion of the Baha’iNo formal missionaries

Followers encouraged to move to locations with few or no Baha’i adherents and there become involved in a positive way in order to encourage interest in the faith

Spread word to neighbors through activity and involvement in local affairs

Growth

There are two distinct elements to the Bahá'í administration, the elected and appointed. The highest elected body is the Universal House of Justice, which possesses "the exclusive right to legislate on matters not explicitly revealed in the Most Holy Book." The highest appointed authority is the Institution of the Guardianship, which is a hereditary authority and has the exclusive "right of the interpretation of the Holy Writ solely conferred upon him."

Baha’i Administration