Theyre very different but I'm just wondering if any Bahais know about these religions?

When I think of churches, mosques and synagogues and the word temple, I think of sermons, prayers, congregations and rites. But almost everything I read or hear about the baha'i houses of worship says that they shouldn't have anything of that. In fact, the most common words I hear about them are "reflection" and "open to all".

I understand that there aren't that many houses and that most baha'is met in homes or maybe a communal center especially for the 19th day feast, but I also know that houses of worship are expected to be built everywhere. But I don't understand why.

Nor do I understand why they are called temples and houses of worship when the original name supposedly means something like "Dawning Place".

Can someone clear this up for me? Or maybe someone has experiences with a baha'i temple and can give insight what actually happens there?

G'Day everyone, I'm currently speaking to a woman who is collecting money for the operation of a relative in Iran urgently in need for a liver transplant by Wednesday. Is it appropriate to post such appeals here? Thank you for your answers.

In Conversation: Podcast explores BIC’s contributions to the discourse on societal harmony | BWNS (bahai.org)

Podcast explores Baha'i Intl Community’s contributions to the discourse on societal harmony

Hiya Friends,

People have really enjoyed the active groups on Facebook, including the Largest Baha'i Facebook Group and Baha'i Studies. I was a mod for several years with Baha'i Studies.

There have been questions about trying out a group on BlueSky, which is pretty much Twitter. More likely Reddit would be a good substitute, but a lot of casual users don't know much about Reddit. I don't know much about Reddit. I don't see that you make individual "friends" on Reddit.

So, for those who are familiar with both, what do you think of making some invitations and posts over on FB. I will stay around there, but this may portend a growth of Baha'i content on this platform.

Yes, I took up the ukulele this year and we are already planning our string band concert for Ayyam-i-Ha.

CHill

Out of curiosity, what have been people's experiences with how they physically feel during or after prayer. For example, my body sometimes warms when my prayers are very focused.

I'm reading Marilynne Robinson's new book, Reading Genesis. There is much here that is of interest to Baha'is. Speaking of the 70 genealogies of nations descending from the sons of Noah, she says "...the larger meaning, that humankind are one family, is served by the effort to include the far-flung world in this enumeration and by using the number seventy, which means a totality."

Baha'u'llah may have indicated a similar idea when He said, "We speak one word, and by it we intend one and seventy meanings; each one of these meanings we can explain."(Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 255). Not that each word has exactly, literally 71 meanings, but that each has many meanings, and some even beyond the totality that we could possibly imagine.

There are occasionally seekers that ask about the Baha'i Faith on r/religion and sometimes misinformation is shared about the Faith. It would be helpful to have more Bahai's on the subreddit to correct misinformation.

Is there Ocean software for Linux? I don't see one on their webpage.

Hi, friends. Ric H. (09/19/1980) here, and I am kind of new to Baha'i. I do know there is a Center near where i live in Hemingway, South Carolina and an FM Station 90.9. I was wondering if there is anything I should be reading and also what Believers would think of the concept of "Indigo Children"? Thanks so much---wishing all a peaceful day.

I see there is a “Bahai center” in Houston. Is that a substitute for a temple? Is this a place of worship?

As-salamu alaykum I am a Muslim and I asked this question on two Muslim sub reddits and it was removed from my understanding y'all believe in the Quran could someone help me understand surah 70 verses 29-30 "29 who guard their chastity 30 from all but their spouses or their slave-girls they are not to blame,". This just sounds wrong to me the part about not guarding your chastity from slave-girls. I think Bahai are a righteous people, and I hope someone can answer.

It is very nice that we can download the Baha'i Writings and read at our convenience. However, are there any audiobooks of the Baha'i Writings? TIA

Can anyone refer me to where in the lifetime of Baha'u'llah. He was asked to clarify if there needed to be any official membership or who was a Baha'i, and also donations.

"… in this wondrous Dispensation the earth will become another earth and the world of humanity will be arrayed with perfect composure and adornment. Strife, contention, and bloodshed will give way to peace, sincerity and harmony. Among the nations, peoples, kindreds, and governments, love and amity will prevail and cooperation and close connection will be firmly established. Ultimately, war will be entirely banned … The five continents of the world will become as one, its diverse nations will become one nation, the earth will become one homeland, and the human race will become one people. Countries will be so intimately connected, and peoples and nations so commingled and united, that the human race will become as one family and one kindred. The light of heavenly love will shine and the gloomy darkness of hatred and enmity will be dispelled as far as possible. Universal peace will raise its pavilion in the midmost heart of creation and the blessed Tree of Life will so grow and flourish as to stretch its sheltering shade over the East and the West."

-Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions

....

We're just not there yet. We get to be a part of building it.

"Muslim Mormon"

I get what this person was trying to say but we are neither Muslim or Mormon. I assume this person had a very vague understanding of Baha’is.

"Baha’is smell bad."

This felt like the world’s lamest insult.

"Islam Lite"

This is the same problem as the first one. I’m not Muslim.

"Jesus loves you!"

I know.

"Mountain Dew Baha’i Blast"

This one was pretty funny. I can’t complain. It was a good pun.

I'm trying to understand AI because I believe it plays a major role in our next few years.

I would like to understand what's happening in the coming years.

The most important place to start, I think, are the scriptures.

Is there anything related to human-created intelligence?

I hope there is, but maybe there are some verses around "tools of humanity" or "inorganic intelligence"?

The problem I see with AI is that at some point it is said, it will evolve into a superintelligence, at which point we wouldn't understand why it's procesing and answering the way it does-- because it'll be so much more comples than us.

I'm trying to understand the "soul" of AI, with the help of some of our scriptures.

My guess is, there's no Soul, it is a big pile of conscious and subconscious under the power of the one with the biggest computing power-- and only as smart as the one wielding the keyboard behind it.

So it has no soul, no being, it's just an extension of the soul behind it.

Is there anything close or related to this phenomena that we're birthing as we speak?

Hi everyone,

I'm a 24 year-old male Baha'i, and I would really like to hear your perspectives on relationships and dating. If you don't mind, I would like to give some context about some of my experiences and get this community's thoughts about whether I'm being "delusional" regarding my expectations. I'm going to keep this as brief as possible, but if you'd like me to clarify anything, please ask in the comments and I absolutely can.

When I was 19, I met a girl who I developed really strong feelings for. I found her really beautiful, and a friend of mine encouraged me to talk to her. We had a few awkward interactions, but eventually we warmed up to each other and became good friends. While she wasn't interested in being more than friends, I developed really powerful feelings for her because of her personality. She was really funny, intelligent, an amazing painter, open-minded, was interested in the same topics I am. One time at dinner, I shied away from talking about the Baha'i Faith, and she just started egging me on to tell her about my religion. It was that sort of curiosity and honesty that I just loved, and I had very rarely found in others, even up to this day.

It just felt like it was, "meant to be", if that makes sense. Sadly, she led a lifestyle that was quite different from mine as a Baha'i, so even if she were interested, it wouldn't have worked out. She smoked a lot of weed, which normally doesn't bother me, but I think she may have had an addiction.

Anyways, while I have gotten over her, I struggle with the idea of relationships as a Baha'i. I've been asking out girls since I was 12, but I've never liked anyone as much as her. In fact, the girls I've liked the most have been non-Baha'is from my high school or university. Sometimes I end up liking a Baha'i, but then when I start to talk to her, I realize she doesn't have the conversational skills I'm looking for in a partner. I think what's challenging is that I'm someone who loves questioning things and exploring new topics, and that's something that most religious people simply aren't inclined towards. I mean let's be honest here - most Baha'is are part of this religion because they're just emulating their families. Most of us can't really explain why we're Baha'is as opposed to a different religion.

I feel bad, because there are some nice Baha'i girls who have shown interest in me over the past few years, but I'm just not attracted to them mentally or even physically, for that matter. Is it just time for me to "grow up" and date one of these girls, even if I don't like them?

I feel a bit lost as to the morality of things like this. Like obviously the girls I mentioned in the prior paragraphs would be better partners on paper than the girl from university, but I just can't seem to force myself to ask them to hang out. It just feels....disingenous. And yet I've also read advice online that says, "Go for the girl who likes you, not the one you like."

Can you guys tell me whether I'm being naive? Is it worth trying to find someone more compatible, or is this just a sign I need to let go of the idea of romance and just find someone nice to be in a partnership with?

I know Bahai's and attend some online meetings. I live my life as a Bahai, where I read the writings, do obligatory prayers,meditate, but I'm not a declared/registered Bahai. I really don't know what is holding me back. Any thoughts or encouragement welcome. I've been on my spiritual investigation for a long, long, time. I love it all! I find goodness and truths in most every faith.

What was your Baha'i wedding ceremony like? What writings did you read? I am having a Baha'i ceremony in which I need to put a program together for, but I have no idea how to get started.

I have the letters from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'í's of the United States congratulating the election of presidents going back a few decades. I most recently found the one sent to the Obama administrations in 2008 and 2012 but have not been able to find the ones sent to the Trump or Biden administrations in 2016 and 2020. Does anyone have them archived?

Thanks!

2024: Year in Review | BWNS (bahai.org)

We have hope for the future, we have activities to encourage people to attend, help out and run, we are building new communities based on love, unity and the Teachings. THIS is what will change the world. I've seen it in my community.

Part of the reason why I became Bahai is because of decolonization and the emphasis on human equality and celebration of diversity. I read a lot about indigenous cultures in the Americas, and there are a lot of surviving native people trying hard to preserve their own dwindling languages.

I problem I see with preservation efforts is the lack of common and interesting literature. Because to retain a language, there needs to be something constantly consumed from it. And its why many languages are disappearing due to the predominance of other languages such as English and Spanish.

But then I look at indigenous numbers, and there's still a large want for native-language works.

Mayans - 6 million Mayans in Central America trying to revive their language

Navajo - 400,000 people working to preserve their language

Cherokee - 450,000 enrolled tribal members but only about 2,000 fluent Cherokee speakers

Hawaiian - 680,000 Native Hawaiians with 30,000 speakers

As a religious organization dedicated to diversity and the support of historically oppressed people, I'm surprised translating texts aren't a priority more among Bahai members. Jehovah's Witnesses are aiming to translate their bible to over 1,000 languages, to reach out to indigenous peoples across pacific and African regions as well.

As a group that celebrates diversity so well, are there any major efforts among Bahai's to translate Baha'u'llah' works?

Is the Baha'i Faith an offshoot of Islam?

How do Baha’is view Salafism, considering that they recognize Muhammad as an actual prophet? Do they see any overlap in beliefs or practices, or do the theological differences between the Baha’i Faith and Salafism create a sharp contrast?

There’s constant bad news, war, innocent children being effected. People across the world have such different lives and It makes me feel ashamed when I think about what my mind has been occupied with. How do you deal with this?