The Baha'i faith was founded in Iran in the mid 19th

century by Mirza Hoseyn 'Ali Nuri, who is known as

Baha ' Ullah (arabic for "Glory of God"). The basis

of the faith is that Baha ' Ullah and his forerunner,

who was known as the Bab as well as the founders

of all other major religions, were manifestations of

God, who in his essence is unknowable. There is an

essential unity of all religions and the unity of humanity.

The founders of the major religions are part of and

agents of the carrying out of a progressive divine plan

for the education and growth of man. Despite their

apparent differences the worlds religions teach the

same truth. Baba' Ullah's was to overcome the

disunity of religions and establish the beginning of

a universal faith. Baha'is believe in the oneness of

humainity and devote themselves to the abolition

of racial, class, and religious prejudices. The

majority of the teachings are concerned with social

ethics, the faith has no priesthood and does not

employ ritual forms in its worship.

In 1848 after much persecution the followers of

Bab- declared a formal break with Islam. The

faith went through a rapid growth during the

1960s and by the 1990s had 150 National Spiritual

assemblies and 20,000 local assemblies. With the

rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the 1980s

300,000 Baha'is were persecuted in Iran by the

government.

The writtings and the spoken words of Bab,

Baha'Ullah, and 'Alol ol-'Baha form the sacred

literature of the faith. Membership is open to all

who profess faith in Baha'Ullah and accept his

teachings. There is no initiation, no sacrements

and no clergy. There is no preaching, the service

consists of the recitation of the scriptures of all

religions. Every Baha'i, however, is under

spiritual obligation to pray daily, to abstain

completely from the use of narcotics, alcohol,

or any substance that affects the mind, to practice

monogamy, to obtain consent of parents in marriage,

and to attend 19 Day Feasts on the first day of each

month of the Baha'i calendar. If capable and

between 15-70 years of age to fast 19 days a year,

going without food from sunrise to sunset.

The Baha's calendar consists of 19 months of

19 days each, with 4 extra days. The year

begins March 21 which is one of the several

holy days in the calendar.