Who we are

The Bahá’ís are members of a global community that believes in one loving Creator, one unfolding religion and one human family.

“The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.” –Bahá’u’lláh

The Bahá’í Faith is the youngest of the world’s independent religions. Since its inception in Persia (now Iran) in 1844, it has grown to more than five million followers in 236 countries and territories. Bahá’ís believe that  there is one loving, all-powerful and unknowable God; the world’s great religions come from God, and that all humanity is one family.
Chicago Baha'is and their family members

“Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch.
Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship.”Bahá’u’lláh

The main theme of the Bahá’í message is unity. Bahá’u’lláh, God’s Messenger for this day, taught that there is only one God, that all the world’s religions represent one changeless and eternal faith of God, and that all humanity is one race, destined to live in peace and harmony. There is no clergy in the Bahá’í Faith. It conducts its business through a distinctive system of global administration, which features a network of democratically elected local and national governing councils called Spiritual Assemblies in nearly 200 countries.


What we Believe

Humanity is one species, one race, one family.
In a tumultuous age, world peace is attainable through unity.
The global Bahá’í community is building toward this vision.

The central theme of Bahá’u’lláh’s message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for its unification in one global society that celebrates the rich cultural diversity of its members.

The principal challenge facing the peoples of the earth is to accept our common humanity and to work together toward a peaceful, just and united world. In the chaos of the last century and a half, historical forces have broken down the traditional barriers of race, class, creed, and nation. Although the process has been frightening and disheartening at times, Bahá’ís believe that humanity is now capable of uniting into a peaceful global civilization.

The worldwide Bahá’í community comprises five million members who represent most of the nations, races and cultures on earth. It is working to build that global civilization based on principles of justice, the equality of men and women, and the harmony of science and religion, among others. They welcome the collaboration of all who share their vision of humanity as one global family and the earth as one homeland.

Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings offer hope to a troubled world. He identified the spiritual principles on which humanity may, with divine assistance, establish lasting peace:

• The oneness of humanity
• Independent investigation of truth
• Elimination of prejudice
• Racial and social justice
• The nobility of each human being
• Equality of women and men
• Harmony between science and religion
• Universal education
• Spiritually guided solutions to economic inequality
• Justice and equity as foundations for world peace

Chicago Baha'is and their family members

What we do

In neighborhoods across the country, Bahá’ís and their friends are engaged in a community-building process that cultivates love and translates it into action.
America is going through a tumultuous time. Tensions and divisions surface every day, reminding us that the stains of injustice and racial prejudice are set deeply in the fabric of our society. Bahá’ís are committed to reshaping society around principles of oneness by cultivating love, inclusivity, and reciprocity. We hope to join hands with the countless like-minded Americans working for these same goals, and invite everyone to take a look at our approach. Read more about our beliefs in action.

Gardens during the autumn season at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, near Chicago (Photo by Nancy Wong)