The Baha'i Faith originated in nineteenth-century Iran and has spread all over the world. In this accessible and illuminating reference work, Dr. Peter Smith, the Social Sciences Co-ordinator at Mahidol University International College in Thailand, presents portraits of its key figures and a chronology of its development. This paperback also contains an overview of Baha'i scriptures, doctrines, practices, social teachings, and organization.
The founder of the Baha'i Faith wrote the equivalent of 80 books the size of the Quran. With no clergy and a minimum of ritual, the emphasis is upon daily prayer and "deepening" in Baha'i teaching through study, discussion, and meditation. The purpose of life is to know, love, and worship God. "Living the life" means healing the damage caused by inequality, injustice, and violence. Baha'is are fierce advocates of religious tolerance, human rights, and the equality of women. They are against asceticism, begging, alcohol, cremation, and the confession of sins. The international governing body of the Baha'i Faith is the Universal House of Justice.