Understanding the Bahá'í Faith
WHAT BAHÁ’ÍS BELIEVE
In thousands upon thousands of locations around the world, the teachings of the Bahá'í Faith inspire individuals and communities as they work to improve their own lives and contribute to the advancement of civilization. Bahá'í beliefs address such essential themes as the oneness of God and religion, the oneness of humanity and freedom from prejudice, the inherent nobility of the human being, the progressive revelation of religious truth, the development of spiritual qualities, the integration of worship and service, the fundamental equality of the sexes, the harmony between religion and science, the centrality of justice to all human endeavors, the importance of education, and the dynamics of the relationships that are to bind together individuals, communities, and institutions as humanity advances towards its collective maturity.
He Who is your Lord, the All-Merciful,
cherished in His heart the desire of beholding
the entire human race as one soul and one body.
BAHÁ’U’LLÁH
THE HUMAN SOUL
Baha’u’llah’s Revelation affirms that the purpose of our lives is to know God and to attain His presence. Our true identity is our rational soul, whose free will and powers of understanding enable us to continually better ourselves and our society. Walking a path of service to God and to humanity gives life meaning and prepares us for the moment the soul separates from the body and continues on its eternal journey towards its Maker.
When death occurs in this world, the soul is separated from the body, and continues to progress in an eternal journey towards perfection.
LIFE AND DEATH
The life of the individual begins at conception, when the soul associates itself with the embryo. When death occurs, the body returns to the world of dust, while the soul continues to progress in the spiritual worlds of God.
Both here and in the next life, we advance with the assistance of God’s bounty and grace. Also important to the progress of our souls in the next world are the good deeds carried out in our names here on earth, and the sincere prayers of our families and friends. Seen in this light, death is not to be feared. Baha’u’llah refers to it as a “messenger of joy.”
Extracts from the official Bahá'í web site Bahai.org
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the information in these pages is accurate and in accordance with the teachings of the Bahá'í Faith. Springfield Funeral Home does not represent or speak on behalf of the Bahá'í community. Please defer to the Spiritual Assembly of Bahá'ís of your area if there is a discrepancy of information contained in these pages. We would appreciate being notified of any errors or omissions. Please send any such notices to contact@springfieldfuneralhome.com.
