The central message of the Baha´’í faith is one of unity and the breaking down of traditional barriers of race, class and creed. God, transcendent and unknowable but manifest in his creation, has provided successive revelations to mankind via a series of Divine Messengers whose common purpose has been to bring humankind to spiritual maturity. Each of these messengers has been the founder of one of the world’s great religions.

According to the UN, the Baha´’í international community works in partnership with others for universal peace and is strongly against all forms of prejudice, persecution and conflict. The purpose of life is seen as coming to know and worship God, and the development of God-given capacities, both to enhance one’s own life and for the service of humanity. There is no priesthood or set form of worship. Each local community meets once every 19 days for the Nineteen Day Feast, with its three-part programme of worship, consultation and socialising. Worship includes prayers and readings from the scriptures of the Baha´’í and of other religions.

The Baha´’í spiritual and administrative centre is at Haifa in the Holy Land. The Universal House of Justice, the elected governing body of the Baha´’í, directs spiritual and administrative ma-tters. In countries, cities and villages throughout the wo-rld, national and local elected assemblies deal with all matters relating to the community, including education. — Religions of the World (Concluded)