Welcome to the Philadelphia Bahá'í Community
We invite you to explore the teachings of our faith and to join us in creating a better world, one heart, one family, one neighborhood at a time.
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“The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony,
as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a
perfect chord.”
'Abdu'l-Bahá
Building community in Philadelphia
Photo credit: Tieshka Smith (http://photographywithoutthepretense.com/)
Across the city of brotherly love, Bahá'ís and their friends, neighbors and co-workers are participating in devotional gatherings, study circles, junior youth groups and children's classes that serve to bring people of varied backgrounds together in a spirit of friendliness, fellowship and service.
Devotional gatherings aim to create a new spiritual atmosphere in neighborhoods, through prayer and reflection.
Study circles gather people of varied backgrounds to consider teachings from the Bahá'í Writings on the purpose of life, the nature of reality, and the significance of service. Participants seeks to put the learning acquired into practice in an effort to explore the application of spiritual teachings to their individual and collective lives. Study circles meet in homes and other information settings.
Junior youth groups channel the surging energies of junior youth toward a twofold moral purpose -- to take charge of their own personal growth and to contribute to the transformation of society.
Children's classes nurture the tender hearts and minds of children through stories, games, arts and music.
Devotional gatherings aim to create a new spiritual atmosphere in neighborhoods, through prayer and reflection.
Study circles gather people of varied backgrounds to consider teachings from the Bahá'í Writings on the purpose of life, the nature of reality, and the significance of service. Participants seeks to put the learning acquired into practice in an effort to explore the application of spiritual teachings to their individual and collective lives. Study circles meet in homes and other information settings.
Junior youth groups channel the surging energies of junior youth toward a twofold moral purpose -- to take charge of their own personal growth and to contribute to the transformation of society.
Children's classes nurture the tender hearts and minds of children through stories, games, arts and music.
Find out more
This site will help you learn more about the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh as well as about the activities and history of the Bahá'í community. It will also help you to find out how you can find Bahá'ís near you and join with Bahá'ís and others to build community in your own neighborhood.
Bahá'í beliefs...
...the oneness of God
The Bahá'í belief in one God means that the universe and all creatures and forces within it have been created by a single supernatural Being.
Such designations as God, Allah, Yahweh, and Brahma all refer to the One Divine Being, Whose nature is unknowable and inaccessible to humankind. We learn about God through His Messengers, who teach and guide humanity.
Such designations as God, Allah, Yahweh, and Brahma all refer to the One Divine Being, Whose nature is unknowable and inaccessible to humankind. We learn about God through His Messengers, who teach and guide humanity.
...the oneness of religion
When Bahá'ís say that the various religions are one, they do not mean that all the creeds and organizations are the same. Rather, they believe God has revealed Himself through a succession of Divine Messengers, Whose purpose is to guide and educate mankind.
They are expressions of a single unfolding Divine purpose, "the changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future."
They are expressions of a single unfolding Divine purpose, "the changeless Faith of God, eternal in the past, eternal in the future."
...all humanity is one family
Dr. Gity Etemad and former Mayor Michael Nutter
The Bahá’í teachings emphasize that all of us, as creations of one God, are part of one human family.
Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Bahá’í Faith said, “The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch.”
People of nearly every background, in every nation, have become Bahá’ís.
Dr. Gity Banan-Etemad and former Mayor Michael Nutter receive the 2016 Dare To Understand Award from the Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia for their decades-long work in eliminating prejudice and injustice in Philadelphia
Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Bahá’í Faith said, “The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch.”
People of nearly every background, in every nation, have become Bahá’ís.
Dr. Gity Banan-Etemad and former Mayor Michael Nutter receive the 2016 Dare To Understand Award from the Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia for their decades-long work in eliminating prejudice and injustice in Philadelphia
...all prejudice -- racial, religious, national and economic -- is destructive and must be overcome
Bahá’u’lláh gave special attention to the problem of prejudice. At the heart of His message is a call for mutual understanding and fellowship among nations, cultures, and peoples.
There is, Bahá'u'lláh insists, only one human race. Prejudice—whether based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, or social background—must be overcome if humanity is to create a peaceful and just global society.
There is, Bahá'u'lláh insists, only one human race. Prejudice—whether based on race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, or social background—must be overcome if humanity is to create a peaceful and just global society.
...women and men are equal
Full equality and a firm sense of partnership between women and men are essential to human progress and the transformation of society. "Women and men have been and will always be equal in the sight of God," said Bahá'u'lláh.
The worldwide Bahá'í community has been at the forefront of the movement to advance the rights of women for more than a century.
The worldwide Bahá'í community has been at the forefront of the movement to advance the rights of women for more than a century.
...science and religion are in harmony
The Bahá'í teachings stress the fundamental harmony of science and religion. Bahá'ís consider that it is the same unique God who is both the Author of revelation and the Creator of the reality which science investigates.
If indeed there is only one truth (reality), it is not possible for something to be scientifically false and religiously true; contradictions are attributed to human fallibility and arrogance.
If indeed there is only one truth (reality), it is not possible for something to be scientifically false and religiously true; contradictions are attributed to human fallibility and arrogance.
...our economic problems are linked to spiritual problems
The Bahá'í teachings envision that economic justice and prosperity will come about only when the essential connection between the spiritual and practical aspects of life is recognized.
A satisfactory solution to the world's present economic crisis lies in a profound change of heart and mind which only religion can produce.
A satisfactory solution to the world's present economic crisis lies in a profound change of heart and mind which only religion can produce.
...the family and its unity are very important
Bahá'u'lláh came to bring unity to the world, and a fundamental unity is that of the family.
Bahá’ís understand that the family is the basic unit of society and unless this all-important building block is healthy and unified, society itself cannot be healthy and unified.
Bahá’í writings say, “If love and agreement are manifest in a single family, that family will advance, become illumined and spiritual.”
Bahá’ís understand that the family is the basic unit of society and unless this all-important building block is healthy and unified, society itself cannot be healthy and unified.
Bahá’í writings say, “If love and agreement are manifest in a single family, that family will advance, become illumined and spiritual.”
...world peace is the crying need of our time
Whether peace is to be reached only after unimaginable horrors precipitated by humanity's stubborn clinging to old patterns of behaviour, or is to be embraced now by an act of consultative will, is the choice before all who inhabit the earth.
The Bahá'í community believes that humanity can confront this supreme trial with confidence in its ultimate outcome.
The Bahá'í community believes that humanity can confront this supreme trial with confidence in its ultimate outcome.
...the independent investigation of truth is fundamental
Photo credit: Tieshka Smith (http://photographywithoutthepretense.com/)
One of the main sources of conflict in the world today is the fact that many people blindly and uncritically follow various traditions, movements, and opinions.
Bahá’u’lláh emphasizes the fundamental obligation of human beings to acquire knowledge with their "own eyes and not through the eyes of others."
Bahá’u’lláh emphasizes the fundamental obligation of human beings to acquire knowledge with their "own eyes and not through the eyes of others."
...reflecting under the trees
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Copyright 2012 The Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Philadelphia. All rights reserved.
