Feedback is appreciated.

Everyday Practices:

• The calendar:

  The Bahá’í calendar begins with Spring, and divides the year into 19 months of 19 days each, with 4 intercalary days before the last month (5 days in a leap year). This makes the calendar a solar one.

  A day begins at sunset and ends at the following sunset. All Bahá’í holidays and special observances are reckoned and observed accordingly.

  The beginnings of each Bahá’í month, each named after a name of God, are at sunset on March 20^th, April 8^th, April 27^th, May 16^th, June 4^th, June 23^rd, July 12^th, July 31^st, August 19^th, September 7^th, September 26^th, October 15^th, November 3^rd, November 22^nd, December 11^th, December 30^th, January 18^th, February 6^th and March 1^st.

• Worship:

  The beginning of each Bahá’í month is marked by a “19-Day Feast,” held normally during the first day. This is a spiritual, administrative and social gathering of Bahá’ís in one community (city, town, etc.) for worship of God, discussion of Bahá’í community affairs and activities, and fellowship with food. The Feast is for Bahá’ís only as well as their pre-youth (birth to 14 year old) children. Sometimes two or more communities may combine their Feasts into one larger “Unity Feast.”

  Any time Bahá’ís gather is worship. Generally there is prayer and “deepening,” study of the Scriptures. The Scriptures elevate work done in the spirit of service to humanity to worship of God. Community volunteerism among Bahá’ís is high.

  Private worship consists mainly of daily prayer and reading the Scriptures.

• Holy Days:

  There are nine Bahá’í Holy Days on which work and school are to be suspended (if possible). The names of these holy days and their beginning dates are Naw-Rúz (New Year’s) on March 20^th (at sunset) (corresponding to the beginning of the Spring season), Ridván 1 (Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh) on April 20^th, Ridván 9 on April 28^th, Ridván 12 on May 1^st, Declaration of the Báb on May 22^nd, Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh on May 28^th, Martyrdom of the Báb on July 8^th, Birth of the Báb on October 19^th and Birth of Bahá’u’lláh on November 11^th.

  There are also a few other special observances through the year. Especially notable are the 4 or 5 intercalary days, from sunset February 25^th until sunset March 1^st, which are intended for hospitality and gift-giving (sort of like Christmas). (The kids usually love 4 or 5 days of presents!)

  Non-Bahá’ís are usually invited to holy day events and other special observances.

  Bahá’ís may celebrate other religious, cultural and national holidays with their families and friends.

• Clergy:

  There is no clergy in the Bahá’í Faith. The traditional roles of clergy are either abolished or are the responsibility of individuals and/or Bahá’í institutions. The roles that are abolished include public or private confession of sins and spiritual leadership, preference or supremacy. Those that are assumed by individuals and institutions include administration of the Bahá’í community and teaching the Bahá’í Faith to others.

• How one becomes a Bahá’í:

  In most religions you must prove you love God, etc., before someone in the religion, typically a member of their clergy tells you that you are then a member of that religion.

  The Bahá’í Faith is different. You tell the Bahá’ís that you are a Bahá’í. If you know and love God and Bahá’u’lláh, and are sincere about wanting to know Him and observe His laws, then you are a Bahá’í. (We also need your name and address for the official rolls.)

  There are no ceremonies for this, though your Bahá’í friends or the local Bahá’í institution may present you with a small welcome gift.

• Funds:

  Bahá’ís have many opportunities to support the material needs of the Bahá’í Faith at the local, national and international levels. Individual solicitations are never made, only general appeals.

  Money or other valuables are neither solicited nor accepted from non-Bahá’ís for the Bahá’í funds. Supporting these funds is a privilege that the Bahá’ís guard rather jealously. There are occasions when the Bahá’ís may help raise funds from the general public for the needs of general public interest, e.g. disaster assistance or public community projects. These moneys are never commingled with general Bahá’í fund monies.

  There is a sort of tithe. It amounts to subtracting “needful expenses” (housing, food, medical expenses, taxes, etc.) from income and sending 19% of the remainder to a special fund. Similarly, Bahá’í-owned businesses send 19% of their net income. Contributions to other Bahá’í funds come out of the remaining 81%.

  All contributions to the Bahá’í funds are a spiritual obligation; no auditing is ever done.

  The Bahá’í funds have had tax-exempt status in the USA since the early 1900’s. Contributions are deductible on federal and all US state tax returns. (Consult your tax advisor.)

• Prayer:

  Prayer is one’s soul’s communion with God.

  There are hundreds of prayers available in the Bahá’í Scriptures on a wide array of subjects and for a variety of occasions. This makes making up prayers unnecessary and is, in my experience, never done.

  A special daily prayer is obligatory. The believer has a choice of among three such prayers revealed expressly for this purpose.

• Scriptures:

  There are many volumes of scriptures in the Bahá’í Faith. There are some that are discussion, some are question and answer, some are meditations, some are prayers, some are highly mystical.

  All questions about Bahá’í theology, practice, etc., are referred thereto. Final interpretation rests with the Universal House of Justice.

• The Fast:

  Annually, during the last month of the Bahá’í calendar, corresponding to March 2^nd through the 20^th, from sunrise to sunset, Bahá’ís ages 15 through 70 abstain from food, drink and smoking. This amounts mainly to finishing breakfast by sunrise, about 6:00am, skipping lunch and daytime snacks, and eating again at sunset, about 6:00pm. Those living in extreme latitudes may use clocks to time the fast from 6:00am to 6:00pm.

  Exemptions are numerous, e.g. illness, long travel, pregnancy, heavy labor. No make-ups are necessary. Those availing themselves of an exemption are urged to show respect for this law by using discretion and restraint.

• Diet:

  Eating meat is OK, though we are told in the Bahá’í Scriptures that one day humanity will figure out that eating meat is not necessary for good health. (I know many vegetarian Bahá’ís.)

  Alcohol and prescription drugs are permitted only if they are medically necessary.

  Smoking is strongly condemned, but is not specifically disallowed.

• Family:

  Marriage is recommended but is not obligatory. Monogamy. One man and one woman. Mixed religion is OK, even two non-Bahá’ís may have a Bahá’í wedding. Mixed race marriages are allowed and are even encouraged.

  There is no prescribed Bahá’í wedding ceremony. The parties to the marriage may arrange any ceremony they wish. Certain prerequisites must be satisfied.

  Divorce is strongly condemned but is permissible in certain cases. A mandatory “year of patience” during separation is required to encourage the parties to reunite. A reasonable attempt at counseling and guided reconciliation may be required.

  Re-marriage is OK if a Bahá’í divorce was granted or after death of spouse.

  Raising children is encouraged, health permitting. “Family planning” is OK except when it becomes avoidance. Adoption is encouraged.

• Household:

  There are no special requirements for household decorations. Most Bahá’ís display a rendering of the Greatest Name (O Thou Glory of the Most Glorious) in Arabic calligraphic script in their homes as well as a photograph of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. These are usually displayed in a place of distinction. These displays are usually simple and are never gaudy.

  Replacing worn or tattered furnishings is encouraged.

• Hygiene:

  Cleanliness is a part of Godliness. Regular bathing/showering in clean water is required; no public baths. Wear only clean, untorn, good-fitting clothing. Hair should be clean and neatly arranged. Men’s facial hair is OK.

  Generally, any arrangement that is neat, clean, and doesn’t make us look like a spectacle is acceptable.

• Health:

  All disease, etc., is considered to have physical as well as spiritual causes, therefore physical and spiritual remedies are indicated, but never one to the exclusion of the other. All reasonable medical methods, appliances, donated organs or blood, etc., may be applied to an ill, injured or dying person to revive them. Some individuals may wish less than this in some situations. This would be their own choice. Prayer can always be used.

• Death:

  Death is a natural end to life in this world. Although we profoundly miss our loved ones we are encouraged by the fact that they are alive in a new glorious state of life, beyond this world, drawing ever closer to God.

  Burial of the dead in the earth is required, not farther than one hour’s journey from the place of death. A ritual washing and shrouding of the body is prescribed. Embalming is not permitted unless required by local law. Burial may be followed by a reception. Expressions of sympathy are appropriate.

  Respect for the body is essential as it was the exalted temple of the human soul. Donating organs or body tissues after death for life-saving transplant or for research is permissible. There are a few special rules and a special prayer.

  Anniversary prayer meetings are sometimes observed for the family and friends of the departed.

• Bahá’í Administration:

  There are elected and appointed institutions. The elected Spiritual Assemblies administer and guide the affairs of the Bahá’í communities, locally, nationally and internationally. The local Spiritual Assemblies arrange the 19-day Feasts, authorize marriages and divorces, guide local activities, and settle any disputes and disagreements in its jurisdiction. The national Spiritual Assembly guides the affairs of all local institutions under its jurisdiction and settles disputes the local Assemblies cannot. The international elected institution, the Universal House of Justice, guides the whole Bahá’í world, and settles disputes relating to Scriptures. This institution has inerrancy conferred upon it in the Scriptures.

  All adult Bahá’ís vote annually for the local Assembly, and annually for delegates who vote for the national Assembly. The national Assembly members vote every 5 years for the Universal House of Justice. There is no canvassing for votes. All votes are cast in secret and after consideration of qualifications only.

  Appointed institutions include the Continental Counselors and the Auxiliary Board. These serve as the learned of the Faith, providing advice, counsel and assistance where and when asked.

  Generally Bahá’í administrative bodies focus on guiding their communities and avoid getting bogged down in “splitting hairs” when making their decisions. They are accountable to the Faith and their best interpretations of Scripture, based on careful and deliberate consultation. They are not accountable to the electorate. Individuals may appeal decisions to the higher bodies as they wish.

  In all matters the Scriptures are the authority. In matters that are not expressly discussed in the Scriptures the Universal House of Justice may legislate.

  There are no special forms of address for Bahá’í officers.

• Civil Government:

  Obedience to all applicable civil law is required. Civil law supersedes any religious practice laws. Matters that are entirely of conscience--e.g., faith and belief--do not fall under this. In some countries the Bahá’ís are singled out and are disallowed by law from peaceably assembling to practice their religion and organize religious schools and other institutions as other religionists there do. Therefore they don’t. Even where Bahá’ís are not permitted to worship publicly they pray and associate with each other as best they can.

  Partisan politics is to be avoided as it is considered to be inherently divisive, and the Bahá’í Faith is made essentially to unify humankind. Bahá’ís may vote for and hold public office as long as these activities don’t involve partisanship.

• Community Involvement:

  Association with members of other religions is encouraged; affiliation (membership) with other religions is not permitted.

  Any club or group whose constitution is to be either disunifying or divisive is to be avoided.

  Volunteerism is encouraged.

  The Bahá’í community at large, the world over, has always been at the forefront of dialog and efforts to understand and curb racism, discrimination against women, and to encourage and assist with the education of children, social and economic development of communities, and bringing about world peace. The Bahá’í Faith frequently takes the lead in projects around the world relating to the environment, women’s rights, education, inter-religious understanding and acceptance (not just tolerance!), participated in the 1945 conference that founded the United Nations, and has had a permanent place as a non-governmental advisor to that institution since 1948.

• A Brief Glossary of some Bahá’í terms:
  
  

  Following is a small glossary of some Bahá’í terms used that are different than customarily used.
  
  

  • Manifestation -- This is roughly equivalent to other religion’s use of the word ‘Prophet’, etc. Basically, the Manifestation is:
    • the God-chosen Person Who reveals God to the world, infallibly
    • the Prophet-Founder of the religion
    • the personal representative of God
  • Writings -- This is similar to other religion’s use of the word ‘Scriptures’. It is the Divine Revelation as recorded in Books, Letters and Tablets.

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