"Of one tree are all ye the fruit and of one bough the leaves.… The world is but one country and mankind its citizens.… Let not a man glory in that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind."

 

Bahá'ís believe in the Oneness of God, the Oneness of Religion, and the Oneness of Humanity.

 

For Bahá'ís, humanity has been created to carry forwards an ever-advancing civilisation. Each Divine Messenger - or Manifestation - renews religion successively and establishes a covenant with humanity. The spiritual principles are constant and unchanging; the social principles are cast anew to suit humanity's increasing capacity. So the various stages of religion are like the chapters of a book.

 

The social principles of the Bahá'í Faith include:

 

• Independent investigation - no proselytization
• Equivalence of religion and science
• Progressive revelation
• Education for all, especially girls
• Elimination of all kinds of prejudice
• Reducing social and material inequality
• A universal second language and script
• The promotion of world peace
• A new perspective of work and service

 

Devotion and communion with God are personal and not performative. There is no priesthood, and ritual is purposefully de-emphasised.

 

Baha'is in every locality meet regularly to share the revealed Writings, consult on matters affecting their wider communities, and associate with each other with joy, love, and fellowship.

 

For a Bahá'í, personal spiritual development of necessity goes hand-in-hand with association with and service to our fellow humanity: they each support the development of the other. This is called "the two-fold moral purpose."

 

More information can be found on the following websites:

 

UK Bahá'ís

 

International Website

 

"Ye are all torches that I have lighted with mine own hands. Go forth, light others till all the separate waiting servants are linked together in a great Unity."