According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Baha'i Faith is the second-most widespread faith, surpassing every religion but Christianity in its geographic reach. The Baha'i Faith has a Prophet revealed by God, a Holy Book, a brand-new view of the world, and  its teachings. Therefore, it should not to be regarded as a sect or an order of some other religion existing in the world, or a  reform movement. Representing a cross section of humanity, Baha'is come from virtually every nation, ethnic group, culture, profession and social and economic class. Since it also forms a single community, free of schism or fractions, the Baha'i Faith comprises what is very likely the most diverse and widespread organized body of people on earth. Baha'u'llah, the prophet-founder of the Baha'i Faith,  brought the teachings meeting the conditions and the needs of the age we are in, to ensure that the mankind can live in the athmosphere of love, unity and peace.

The Baha'is from the diverse places of the world, The Baha'i World Congress, New York, 1992

BAHA'I WORLD COMMUNITY

It comprises the Baha'is including more than 2100 different ethnic and tribal groups, coming from diverse race, belief and culture, and living in 190 independent countries and 45 territories dependent on them. There is no class of religious functionaries in the Baha'i Faith. The Baha'i Writings have been translated into the languages over 800, in order to facilitate that the individuals can learn the divine teachings and practice them in their lives. There are a number of schools and Baha'i radio stations at different places of the world to help the training endeavors of the Baha'i communities. The institutions called "Spiritual Assembly" administrate the activities of the Baha'i communities. Today, there are 181 National Assemblies and more than 17.000 Local Assemblies around the world. In many countries where the Baha'i Faith is officially recognized, the legal rights are given to these institutions. The officiality of the Baha'i marriages is approved in many localities. Baha'i International Community has consultative status with the United Nations Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC) and with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as an international non-governmental organization at the United Nations. It also has working relations with the World Health Organization (WHO), and is associated with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). In a parallel way to these workings,  the number of social and economic development projects which have been launched in many regions of the world by local Baha'i communities has reached 1.800 with a great increase in recent years.

Last Updated: 24/3/03