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
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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