Baha

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Bahai Teachings and Holy DaysDecember 6, 2004,
7 p.m. NMU University Center Nicolet Room Blast
From the Past Holidays Around the World program

• Dr. Rodney Clarken
• Northern Michigan University

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The first basis of belief in the Baha'i Faith

• is that there is one God, the Lord of Creation,
  the All-Powerful, the Unknowable, who has always
  been made known to the creatures of his creation
  through a series of holy beings in human form
  perfect men who have, from time to time, lived on
  the earth and taught men about God, shown them
  the spiritual path he wants them to tread, given
  them knowledge and laws to guide them. (see 4
  minute video)

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Christ, Muhammad, Buddha, Moses, Krishna,

• to name those we are familiar with--were perfect
  souls who reflected to mankind all the qualities
  of God, just as, for
• example, a mirror can
• reflect the sun and we
• see the sun in that mirror.

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The message of the Baha'i faith

• is that a new revelation has been given to
  mankind by Baha'ullah, the Glory of God, who
  through the power of the divine Spirit, brought
  to the world the teachings
• of God for this day. The Baha'i
• Faith has spread all over the
• earth, increasingly gaining
• adherents in every country.
• (see 11 minute video)

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Oneness of God--The Oneness of Religion

• Since there is only one God, there can be only
  one religion, the Religion of God. Religion by
  any other name is really only a section of
  religion. Baha'u'llah says that revelation is not
  for part of humanity but for the whole world,
  that the world must eventually be united in one
  common faith, accepting the new while maintaining
  the basic truths of the previous revelations.

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The Oneness of Humanity

• Baha'u'llah says that there is only one human
  race and that differences of race, language,
  color, country, etc., are merely variations in
  the human family. We are one family and once this
  is accepted, such things as wars, race, class,
  and political differences can no longer be
  justified. He calls on the nations to come
  together in unity, to outlaw war, and if any
  nation breaks that rule, all the rest should
  arise and put it down. Unity is essential and any
  grievance or injustice can be dealt with by a
  world court to which all must defer. (See 4
  minute movie)

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Equality of Men and Women

• Obviously, if mankind is one, both men and women
  must be seen as spiritually equal and treated as
  human souls with the same rights and obligations.
  (See 90 second movie)

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Harmony of Religion and Science

• Baha'u'llah taught that what we do in this world
  must be controlled and reinforced by our
  spiritual qualities. Therefore, religion and
  science must not be in opposition
• but in harmony, as different
• aspects of truth.

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Personal Conduct

• Baha'u'llah sets very high standards to guide us
  through life, all based on spiritual
  principles--selflessness, sacrifice of oneself,
  and purity of thought and deed as enjoined by
  previous revelations. He also gives
• some specific laws regarding
• prayer, fasting, the
• sanctity of marriage.

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The world

• The world must be governed on the basis of
  spiritual principles, accepting the oneness of
  all men, rather than the present expediency and
  controversy. America
• has a special destiny in
• bringing about peace
• and justice.
• (See 2 minute movie)

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The Bahá'i calendar includes nine holy days

• which all have the significance of major feasts
  whose observance is required. Seven of them are
  joyful days celebrated by picnics or festal
  gatherings at which music, the reading of verses
  and tablets, and short addresses suitable to the
  occasion are contributed by those present. The
  anniversaries of the Martyrdom of the Báb and the
  Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh are celebrated with
  solemnity by appropriate meetings and discourses,
  the reading of prayers and tablets. All Bahá'í
  holy days run from sundown to sundown.

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"In the sacred laws of God,

• in every cycle and dispensation there are blessed
  feasts, holidays and workless days. On such days
  all kinds of occupations, commerce, industry,
  agriculture, classes, etc. should be suspended."
• All should rejoice together, hold
• general meetings, become as one
• assembly, so that the national oneness,
• unity and harmony may be
• demonstrated in the eyes of all. Abdu'l-Baha

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Bahai Holy Days

•  March 21 Naw-Ruz - New Year.
• April 21, April 29, May 2 - Ridvan
•  Declaration of the Báb - May 23
•  Ascension of the Bahá'u'lláh - May 29
• Martyrdom of the Báb - July 9
• October  20 Birth of Bab   
• November  12 Birth of Bahá'u'lláh

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The Bahá'í New Year (Naw Rúz)  March 21

• The festival of the New Year, Naw Rúz, marks the
  end of the month of fasting and is a joyous time
  of celebration.

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The Festival of Ridván (Paradise) April 21 - May
2

• The Ridván (pronounced "riz-vawn") festival has
  three significant days and commemorates the first
  public declaration by Bahá'u'lláh of his mission,
  (in 1863). First Day  April 21 Ninth Day 
  April 29 Twelfth Day  May 2

http//www.artoflegendindia.com/browse/PBI
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Declaration of the Báb  May 23

• Commemorates the date in 1844 when the Báb first
  declared His mission (Mt Carmel movie 5 mins.)

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Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh  May 29

• Commemorates the date in 1892 when Bahá'u'lláh
  ascended to heaven (i.e., passed away)

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Martyrdom of the Báb July 9

• Commemorates the date in 1850 when the Báb was
  executed by a 750-man firing squad in Tabríz, Iran

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Birth of the Báb  Oct. 20

• Commemorates the date in 1819 when the Báb was
  born in Shíráz, Iran

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Birth of Bahá'u'lláh  Nov. 12

• Commemorates the date in 1817 when Bahá'u'lláh
  was born in Tehran, Iran

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'Ayyám-i-Há The Intercalary Days, February 26 to
March 1

• Days of preparation for the Fast (March 2-20),
  days of hospitality, charity and the giving of
  presents.
• My God, my Fire and my Light! The days which Thou
  hast named the Ayyam-i-Ha (the Days of Ha
  light, Intercalary days) in Thy Book have
  begun, O Thou Who art the King of names, and the
  fast which Thy most exalted Pen hath enjoined
  unto all who are in the kingdom of Thy creation
  to observe is approaching.

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What Bahá'ís actually do during the holidays

• Basically do what anyone else does on a
  holiday--spend time with people they like, eat
  food they like, listen to music, enjoy and
  observe the day.  

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The Bahá'í year is based on the solar year of 365
days.

•   Each year is divided into nineteen months of
  nineteen days each with four Intercalary Days
  (five in a leap year), called Ayyám-i-Há which
  should precede the
• nineteenth month.
• New Year's Day (Naw Rúz)
• falls on the Spring Equinox.

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Nineteen Day Feasts

• There are no clergy and very little ritual. 
  Every nineteen days the Bahá'ís get together for
  community worship in what is called the Nineteen
  Day Feast, where adherents read scripture, pray,
  discuss, consult and socialize. 

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• 1 Splendor March 21
• 2 Glory April 9
• 3 Beauty April 28
• 4 Grandeur May 17
• 5 Light June 5
• 6 Mercy June 24
• 7 Words July 13
• 8 Perfection August 1
• 9 Names August 20
• 10 Might September 8
• 11 Will September 27

• 12 Knowledge October 16
• 13 Power November 4
• 14 Speech November 23
• 15 Questions December 12
• 16 Honor December 31
• 17 Sovereignty January 19
• 18 Dominion February 7
• --Intercalary February 26
• 19 Loftiness March 2

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The world is but one country, and mankind it
citizens 1 minute movie We are one (streaming 8
minute video with Dan Seales)
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References

• Most of the text and pictures were taken from
  various sources and websites.
• Text from Bahá'í writings
• http//www.theonet.dk/update/update-v9-i3-85/bahai
  _faith.html
• Photos personal photos
• http//www.bahai-biblio.org/biblio-photo-a.htm
• http//www.users.globalnet.co.uk/njtrg/Bahai/Phot
  o20Gallery.htm