About

Beliefs

The central teaching of Bahá’u’lláh is the principle of the oneness and wholeness of the human race. It is the hallmark of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation and the pivot of His teachings. Bahá’u’lláh taught there is one God whose successive Revelations to humanity have been the chief civilizing force in history. The agents of this process have been the Divine Messengers whom people have seen chiefly as the founders of separate religious systems but whose common purpose has been to bring the human race to spiritual and moral maturity.

Humanity’s coming of age makes the unification of the human family and the building of a peaceful, global society possible. Among the principles which the Bahá’í Faith promotes as vital to the achievement of this goal are:

• The abandonment of all forms of prejudice
• Full equality between women and men
• Recognition of the oneness and progressive nature of religious truth
• The elimination of extremes of poverty and wealth
• The realization of universal education
• The responsibility of each person to independently search for truth
• The establishment of a global commonwealth of nations
• Recognition that true religion is in harmony with reason and the pursuit of scientific knowledge

History

The Bahá’í Faith is the youngest of the world’s independent religions. Bahá’ís live in 235 countries and territories throughout the world. They come from over 2100 ethnic, racial, and tribal groups and number more than five million worldwide. Founded in Persia (today’s Iran) in 1844, the Bahá’í Faith was introduced to Canada in 1898. There are now more than 30,000 Canadian Bahá’ís living in local communities spread throughout every province and territory. For more than a century, Bahá’ís in Canada and around the world have been working to eliminate prejudice of all kinds, contributing to a new model of a global society that is characterized by unity and harmony, justice and peace.

Calgary Community

The Calgary Bahá’í community elected its first Spiritual Assembly in 1957.

Members of the Calgary Bahá’í community have been contributing to our City’s community life for well over 50 years through collaboration with other Faith-based, government and non-government organizations and working at the grassroots. The Calgary Bahá’í community provides opportunities for the development of spiritual characteristics, the celebration of Holy Days, the deepening of spiritual understanding of its members, worship and fellowship. Study circles, Devotional Gatherings, Children’s Classes and Junior Youth Groups are among regular activities taking place throughout the city.