$JES 911 Essence of World Religions Reference Book

Author(s): Pravin K Shah
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

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Essence of World Religions
and other religious scriptures, study classes, discussions, social events, and the observance of holy days. Baha'is do not enroll in political parties, but are encouraged to vote and be active in community affairs. The eradication of prejudice of race, creed, class, nationality, and sex is the primary motto of the faith. Racism retards the unfoldment of the boundless potentialities of its victims, corrupts its perpetrators, and blights human progress. Recognition of the oneness of mankind, implemented by appropriate legal measures, must be universally upheld if this problem is to be overcome. Belief in the equality of women and men. The denial of such equality perpetrates an injustice against one half of the world's population and promotes harmful attitudes in men that are carried from the family to the workplace, to political life, and ultimately to international relations. Baha'i World Center The spiritual and administrative center of the Faith has been established in the Holy Land of Akka and Haifa. The Baha'i holy places in Israel consist of the shrines of Bahäullah and the Bäb and historic sites associated with them. The Universal House of Justice is located on Mt. Carmel in Haifa. Houses of Worship (Baha'i Temple) Throughout the world Bahä'is have built several Houses of Worship for prayer and meditation. Services of worship consist of the recitation of Baha'i scriptures and scriptures of the other divinely revealed religions. Sometimes "a Capella” music is played. Baha'is believe the number nine symbolizes completeness and hence Baha'i temples are designed with nine sides, with a door on each side. At present, seven Baha'i temples exist in the following location: Wilmette (Chicago) Illinois, USA; Frankfurt-am-Main, West Germany; Kampala, Uganda; Sidney, Australia; Panama City, Panama, New Delhi, India, and Apia, Western Samoa. Eventually, each locality will have its own house of worship, which will serve as the point around which the scientific, educational, humanitarian, and administrative institutions of the Baha'i community revolve.
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