BAHÁ’ÍS
OF BETHESDA
"SO POWERFUL IS THE LIGHT OF UNITY THAT IT CAN ILLUMINATE THE WHOLE EARTH."
-Bahá’u’lláh (founder of the Bahá’í Faith)
OUR COMMUNITY
The Bethesda Bahá’í community is as diverse as the city we live in. All races, ages, and social classes come together to create a warm and authentic sense of community. What the members of this community share in common is their adherence to the Bahá’í Faith.
A core focus of the Bahá'í faith is the unity of mankind. For us, this begins at the level of neighbors and immediate community. Our community is full of dedicated people who are engaged daily in community-building activities. Here you can find core activities that are going on in or near your own community, and which you are welcome to participate in, regardless of your beliefs or background.
BAHÁ’Í
COMMUNITY LIFE
Bahá’í communities carry out various grassroots efforts to further unity and social transformation, along with their friends of many different religions, races, and backgrounds. Through activities that respond to the reality of every region, and uphold the principle of the unity of mankind, they are discovering what it takes to make a society fruitful, both materially and spiritually. Some of these activities—sometimes called “core activities”—include moral and spiritual development classes for children, pre-teen and teen empowerment programs, study groups, and prayer gatherings.
BAHÁ’Í
PRINCIPLES
Bahá’í beliefs address such essential themes as the oneness of God and religion, the oneness of humanity and freedom from prejudice, the inherent nobility of the human being, the progressive revelation of religious truth, the development of spiritual qualities, the integration of worship and service, the fundamental equality of the sexes, the harmony between religion and science, the centrality of justice to all human endeavours, the importance of education, and the dynamics of the relationships that are to bind together individuals, communities, and institutions as humanity advances towards its collective maturity.
WHAT
BAHÁ’ÍS DO
Bahá’ís hail from all walks of life. Young and old, men and women alike, they live alongside others in every land and belong to every nation. They share a common goal of serving humanity and refining their inner-lives in accordance with the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. The community to which they belong is one of learning and action, free from any sense of superiority or claim to exclusive understanding of truth. It is a community that strives to cultivate hope for the future of humanity, to foster purposeful effort, and to celebrate the endeavors of all those in the world who work to promote unity and alleviate human suffering.
