Truthseeker96

I recently found the baha'i faith last month and i been doing research on it. It has been very interesting and i want to start to follow this reilgion in december on my 15 birthday. Which of the writing should i read in what order,how should i ask my parents about wanting to follow the baha'is. Can i follow it even if there is no way for me to go to their church and or meetings, how can i celebrate nov.12 by myself? Thanks in advance cor the answers. i am very excited to start following the Baha'i Faith

arthra

Here are some suggestions:

We don't want there to be conflicts in your home over becoming a Baha'i..Please see this

Dear Parent ... a Message from a Baha'i Parent



(1) you could call 1-800-22-UNITE and get into contact with the nearest Baha'is where you live..also they can send you free literature...

(2) You can go to your public library and check out books about the Baha'i Faith such as Baha'u'llah and the New Era or say Gleanings or Hidden Words ...

(3) You can read Baha'i Writings on-line at

Baha'i Reference Library

(4) I recommend you should try to obtain a Baha'i Prayer Book as soon as
possible. Baha'i Prayers are also online... but here's a place you can order a Prayer Book:

Bahai Distribution Service

I would order an inexpensive paper edition.

Later your Baha'i friends may give you free books.

(5) Baha'is will be observing the Holy Day of the anniversary of the BIrth of Baha'u'llah this Friday after sunset and the next day. You can read the following prayer called the Tablet of Visitation for Baha'u'llah's Birthday:

TABLET OF VISITATION

“The praise which hath dawned from Thy most…”


(This Tablet is read at the Shrines of Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb. It is also frequently used in commemorating Their anniversaries.)

The praise which hath dawned from Thy most august Self, and the glory which hath shone forth from Thy most effulgent Beauty, rest upon Thee, O Thou Who art the Manifestation of Grandeur, and the King of Eternity, and the Lord of all who are in heaven and on earth! I testify that through Thee the sovereignty of God and His dominion, and the majesty of God and His grandeur, were revealed, and the Daystars of ancient splendor have shed their radiance in the heaven of Thine irrevocable decree, and the Beauty of the Unseen hath shone forth above the horizon of creation. I testify, moreover, that with but a movement of Thy Pen Thine injunction “Be Thou” hath been enforced, and God’s hidden Secret hath been divulged, and all created things have been called into being, and all the Revelations have been sent down.

I bear witness, moreover, that through Thy beauty the beauty of the Adored One hath been unveiled, and through Thy face the face of the Desired One hath shone forth, and that through a word from Thee Thou hast decided between all created things, caused them who are devoted to Thee to ascend unto the summit of glory, and the infidels to fall into the lowest abyss.
I bear witness that he who hath known Thee hath known God, and he who hath attained unto Thy presence hath attained unto the presence of God. Great, therefore, is the blessedness of him who hath believed in Thee, and in Thy signs, and hath humbled himself before Thy sovereignty, and hath been honored with meeting Thee, and hath attained the good pleasure of Thy will, and circled around Thee, and stood before Thy throne. Woe betide him that hath transgressed against Thee, and hath denied Thee, and repudiated Thy signs, and gainsaid Thy sovereignty, and risen up against Thee, and waxed proud before Thy face, and hath disputed Thy testimonies, and fled from Thy rule and Thy dominion, and been numbered 232 with the infidels whose names have been inscribed by the fingers of Thy behest upon Thy holy Tablets.

Waft, then, unto me, O my God and my Beloved, from the right hand of Thy mercy and Thy loving-kindness, the holy breaths of Thy favors, that they may draw me away from myself and from the world unto the courts of Thy nearness and Thy presence. Potent art Thou to do what pleaseth Thee. Thou, truly, hast been supreme over all things.

The remembrance of God and His praise, and the glory of God and His splendor, rest upon Thee, O Thou Who art His Beauty! I bear witness that the eye of creation hath never gazed upon one wronged like Thee. Thou wast immersed all the days of Thy life beneath an ocean of tribulations. At one time Thou wast in chains and fetters; at another Thou wast threatened by the sword of Thine enemies. Yet, despite all this, Thou didst enjoin upon all men to observe what had been prescribed unto Thee by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

May my spirit be a sacrifice to the wrongs Thou didst suffer, and my soul be a ransom for the adversities Thou didst sustain. I beseech God, by Thee and by them whose faces have been illumined with the splendors of the light of Thy countenance, and who, for love of Thee, have observed all whereunto they were bidden, to remove the veils that have come in between Thee and Thy creatures, and to supply me with the good of this world and the world to come. Thou art, in truth, the Almighty, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Compassionate.

Bless Thou, O Lord my God, the Divine Lote-Tree and its leaves, and its boughs, and its branches, and its stems, and its offshoots, as long as Thy most excellent titles will endure and Thy most august attributes will last. Protect it, then, from the mischief of the aggressor and the hosts of tyranny. Thou art, in truth, the Almighty, the Most Powerful. Bless Thou, also, O Lord my God, Thy servants and Thy handmaidens who have attained unto Thee. Thou, truly, art the All-Bountiful, Whose grace is infinite. No God is there save Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous.

—Bahá’u’lláh

BruceDLimber

Hi!

Another book you should definitely read is Some Answered Questions, which you can find here:

Some Answered Questions

Another excellent area you should check out is the discussion forum at Planet Baha'i: it contains a great mix of Baha'is and others, and many fascinating threads! It's available here:

Planet Baha'i

Best regards, and I wish you good hunting! :-)

Please feel free to ask us any further questions: we LOVE 'em!

tonyfish58

Welcome and may your search be rewarding - Regards Tony

Truthseeker96

Thanks guys for giving me a quixk reaponse,i really apperiate it. But one question, why are so many people agaist the Baha'i Faith, it truly is a wonderful one so why hate it? Any ideals?

Yeshua

I know that you meant to say the word "ideas" instead of "ideals" in your post above, however it was a happy fluke because I firmly believe that anybody who can say that they hate the Baha'i faith must be severely lacking in "ideals" The Baha'i Faith is like consolation for humanity. Yes, the human race has made terrible mistakes in the past but guess what? There's light on the horizon, we can progress, civilisation can and will move on to a brighter future for all. Just look at Abdu'l-Baha - could you envision a holier or more "ideal" representation of human nature at its best? You'd be hard pushed I think. Even the Roman Catholic Church, in an official document prepared by the Bishops of England and Wales, described him as follows:

"...'Abdu'l-Bahá (the servant of the Glory), eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh, [...] was appointed by his father as the Centre of His Covenant and the one to whom all must turn for instruction and guidance. 'Abdu'l-Bahá was the close companion and constant helper of his father, whose sufferings he shared. He remained a prisoner until 1908, when the old regime in Turkey was overthrown and all religious and political prisoners were liberated. Afterwards he travelled widely in Egypt, Europe and America, explaining the principles of the Faith and inspiring and directing the activities of its followers throughout the world. He passed away in Haifa in 1921, mourned by people of all faiths. His life was and continues to be a shining example to all..."

I'm Catholic btw

cire perdue

Arthra, WHAT A GREAT post of instructions with really good steps to follow. That ought to be a standard reply!!!!!! Wow! CP